Picturing Sunset Park(ing): Evan Sklar Sees Cars

Sunset Park(ing). Who doesn’t love a clever pun?

Evan Sklar, the photographer who did the great series in Sunset Park a few weeks ago, doesn’t mind him one. In his most recent blogpost, dubbed “Sunset Parked”, he returned to focus on the neighborhood’s well-wheeled set.

The subject is apt. The colorful characters in the neighborhood like this plumbing truck (?!) certainly merit a double take.

You wouldn’t know to look at these bright subjects, but parking brings out the fierceness in local residents. I’ve mentioned commuter vans raising the ire of some, but locals who live on the east side of Fifth Avenue get heated about parking in general. Orange cones and garbage cans double as parking-spot holders. More than one argument has broken out over prime curbside real-estate. Parking problems stemming from street sweeping policies in the neighborhood also get car-owners riled up (more on that soon).

Do you know of a Sunset Park ride that missed its 15 minutes? Send a picture to sunsetparkchron@gmail.com.

Community Board 7 To Hold Hearing on Playpen Liquor License

Community Board 7 will hold a Public Hearing this coming Wednesday, December 9, on a liquor license for Peyton’s Playpen. The Playpen’s application has apparently been a point of contention–check out the Best View in Brooklyn archives to read about Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors (SPAN) rally against the club and questions about adult businesses in the area.

Below find information on the hearing:

Community Board 7’s Holiday Gift Drive

Best View in Brooklyn asked me to post this flier for Community Board 7 holiday gift drive. As everyone knows, this year is hard all over. Almost 25 percent of Sunset Park lives below the poverty line. Those are the official numbers. For those that can afford to give time or donations, this gift drive  offers one opportunity. Community groups around the neighborhood and food pantries present another. If you know of other drives to  help those in need, please let me know. I’ll happily post it for the community.

Updated: Shooting on Thanksgiving Night Leaves One Dead in Sunset Park

A man shot three times outside a local barber shop in Sunset Park, Brooklyn on Thanksgiving night died Sunday, according to authorities.

Police found 28-year-old Samuel Oliveri in critical condition with three gunshot wounds to the neck and thigh on November 26 at about 6pm. An ambulance rushed the victim to Lutheran Medical Center. He passed away as a result of his injuries at 7:30pm on November 28, police said.

Lutheran Awarded $200,000 for Dental Clinics and BestView Blogs on Truck Routes

In the News: As debate on health care rages on in Washington, New York city hopes to brighten matters one smile at a time. The New York State Health Foundation awarded Lutheran Family Health Centers a grant of $200,000 grant to offset costs as it takes control of 15 school-based dental clinics that serve some of the city’s most vulnerable students. Read more at The Brooklyn Eagle.

On the Streets: BestView wrote an extensive post on trucks in the neighborhood. Regulations confine trucks not making local stops to only two streets in Sunset Park, but according to BestView and other locals they regularly make use of un-designated side streets. Read more on Best View in Brooklyn.

In the News: Alleged Sex Trafficking and Two Dead in Van Fire

This is certainly not the best news having to do with Sunset Park. Nor is it the only. For a counterpoint, check out the recent posts on neighborhood spots at BestViewinBrooklyn.

Many of you may have seen the disturbing story about the arrest of alleged sex-traffickers in Sunset Park. The details of the story provided by NBC New York, the Daily News the New York Post have been grisly. Some have noted that this is not technically Sunset Park–it’s east of Ninth Avenue–but it’s been reported so in the news.

ABC local also just posted that two men died when a van caught fire under the freeway at Third Avenue and 45th Street. The van had been under the expressway for a while, and the men may have been homeless. ABC reports a pair of teens saw the car smoking and tried to help, but it burst into flames. Update Nov. 30: A preliminary investigation into the van fire on Friday that left two men dead had revealed no criminal activity, police said. The bodies found in the van have not yet been identified, nor has the precise source of the fire. Authorities believe it was an accident.

Small Crowd Protests for Vet Outside 5th Ave McDonald’s

NY1 captured a sparse but passionate crowd gathered yesterday to support decorated Iraq War Veteran allegedly harassed and beaten by McDonald’s employees in Sunset Park. Luis Montalvan, the disabled veteran who said he was mistreated by employees at the Fifth Ave restaurant, made a statement excoriating the company for its treatment of the disabled and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“McDonald’s should be ashamed of themselves,” Montalvan said. “They should be ashamed of their mistreatment of people with disabilities.”

Letter from the Blogger: Help Report on the McDonald’s Protest

Dear Readers,

I’m hoping to report on the gathering planned outside the Fifth Avenue McDonald’s today, November 24th at 1:30pm to protest the alleged beating of Luis Montalvan. I’m not sure, however, that I will get there in time–so I’m turning to you.

If any of take pictures or speak to the organizers, please send your reporting into sunsetparkchron@gmail.com. Include the names of sources, your name and any other relevant information. If you have an opinion on the issue, post a comment or send an email and tell us what you think. I’ll create a post using the community’s coverage.

Soon,

Lisa

Picturing Sunset Park: After Sunset by Photographer Evan Sklar

Brooklyn-based photographer Evan Sklar went shooting in Sunset Park this weekend, and caught this video-arcade patron doing the same.

Disabled Vet Allegedly Beaten by McDonald’s Employees

Luis Montalvan with Tuesday, his service dog. Image courtesy of Caitlin Brown.

Combat disabled Iraq war veteran claims two men he believes McDonald’s employees beat him as he prepared to file a complaint against the Sunset Park franchise.