Concerned neighbor

I passed a small apartment building in Brooklyn that had a modest collection of dead leaves and a few pieces of litter out front:

I barely even noticed this pile, having been a Craphurst resident for several years now. But someone taped this note to the front door: 

Wowzers! Upon reading the note I felt a sense of shame that I myself have grown so unfazed to a comparatively* small pile of crap that I didn't even register this as a dirty sidewalk condition (*compared to my neighborhood, where practically every domicile has a pile like this out front, but in addition to leaves and tissues our building fronts are decorated with old broken furniture and appliances, drug bags, Georgi bottles, bloody rags, pee bags/bottles, et cetera et cetera).

 The building in this photo was in Brooklyn, adjacent to the BQE, with a gas station on one corner, and blocks away from any stores or restaurants. The buildings on this block were nothing fancy, but they were NEAT. The sidewalks were immaculate (barring that in front of this building). People who live on this block make an effort- they keep their sidewalks clean, put out flower planters, decorations; even though it's not in a great location, through their efforts it looks like a nice, cozy block on which to live. Goes to show that even if you don't live in a pretty area, you can still make it a nice place by being a decent freaking person and at least keeping it clean!

Well, fear not, I returned to Craphurst shortly thereafter, and was greeted by the usual sight:

Pee bottle and empty booze bottles, in front of restaurants that were doing a booming business this Saturday night but didn't feel it necessary to take care of this mess out front. (Why bother, they had plenty of customers who didn't seem to care.) Yay Elmhurst!

Mail dumped on 43rd Ave, but who cares?

As someone who has had multiple packages stolen, along with one known (because it was important and expected) missing letter, and as the very same someone who has found a bundled pile of her mail- including a ripped open packet that once held a book she had ordered- on the sidewalk a block away, I always pay close attention to envelopes that I find while cleaning 43rd Ave. When I find an undelivered piece of mail I drop it in the nearest mailbox; if it is addressed to a nearby building, I just deliver it myself.

Today I found a PILE of letters, tucked UNDER the still-present smashed television (see previous post). These were addressed to 3 different addresses. I suspect that the mail carrier du jour* stuck them there. (*We have an awesome regular mail carrier, but unfortunately he has a lot vacation time, so we get a lot of subs.)

I really wanted to report these undelivered letters to, I dunno, the USPS Inspector. The title implies a person (or agency) that inspects-investigates-inquires about issues pertaining to mail. Well, first I tried the USPS Inspector's web site, but they only list a link to report stolen packages. I tried calling the phone number listed on the Inspector's site. After a good 7 minutes of "listening to the following options," I finally reached a human being. I explained to her that I had found a pile of undelivered mail, semi-hidden under a dumped TV on a notoriously sh*tty and lawless block. Her response?- "Hmm, maybe bring this to the attention of your mail carrier?"

I also asked a 311 operator what I should do about this sitch. She transferred me to the same USPS Inspector's toll-free number.

?!?!?!?!

Am I insane? Is it no longer a crime to (1)steal mail, or (2) to dump mail that you are entrusted by the public to deliver? What about that "Tampering with mail is a federal offense" line? Is that just a load of hooey? If anyone reading this has suggestions, or any leads on how to contact a postal authority who might actually give a tiny shred of a f*ck, please let me know!! In the meantime, I am going to document what I found with this post and the photo below, and drop these letters in a mailbox.

43rd Avenue between 74th and 72nd Street provides a perfect spot to catch up on your TV watching.

Just pull up a seat..... whoops, this photo is actually a couple weeks old; the DSNY❤️ has since removed this lovely piece of furniture:

This smashed up TV is still on the Avenue (when I checked last Sunday at least). It may not broadcast programs anymore, but there is still enough screen left to reflect the activities on 43rd Avenue. If you like to watch hours of people doing drugs, engaging in prostitution, and dumping furniture and appliances and construction debris, then pop a squat! Watch where you sit though, or you may well end up with a used jizz sack stuck to the seat of your pants.

Need a refreshment while watching the tv "show"-? Take a frothy gulp from this p-bottle.

UPDATE: Sunday, August 6, 2017: The TV and Microwave have been removed!! Thank you DSNY❤️❤️😘

Attempted Rape on 43rd Avenue and 74th Street

110 Precinct's Tweet from 7/22/17: 

At 440am we received a report for an attempted rape in the vicinity of 74St & 43Ave by a Male 5ft5in. Anyone with info plz call the 110pct

(718) 476-9311 Precinct Phone Number

(800) 577-TIPS CrimeStoppers Hotline

Please be careful everyone!!! 

Update-- I found more details posted on the COMET site:

"Saturday 7/22/17, at approximately 4:42 am patrol officers received a call from a sexual assault in the vicinity of 74th Street and 43 Ave. Upon arrival officers were met by a 28 year old female Hispanic who stated that she was walking home from the 74th Street and Broadway train station and when she arrived at her home she noticed a male standing behind her. The male then threw her to the ground and placed his hands over her mouth, while attempting to pull up her skirt. The victim was able to scream for help and the perpetrator ran off in an unknown direction. The case is currently being investigated by Special Victims Squad, if anyone has any info about the incident please contact the 110th Detective squad at 718-476-9318. I will keep you updated on the case as I receive more information. Thank you. - Det. Jeanine Rivera, 110th Pct."