By Rabbi Mayer Gurkov, a Crown Heights resident
It can’t happen in Crown Heights for a simple reason: Crown Heights is dysfunctional. There’s no leadership, there’s no accountability, and there seems to be no interest. The crazy rent is not the source of the Crown Heights issues, it happens to arise out of a leaderless, irresponsible, and selfish attitude of long time residents and so-called community leadership and activists.
The Crown Heights dysfunction is based off age-old feuds and fights. No one under 50 years old who lives in Crown Heights cares about the personal vendettas of the 70’s and 80’s. Certainly the childish gimmicks of the 90’s and 00’s perpetrated by unqualified and incoherent individuals, though causing much harm, don’t really register as memorable by anyone in the community.
This community has so much ancient infighting, but most people don’t really care anymore. I’m not just referring to the cheirum and money fights, but even the plain old struggles for power. A community with endless bickering just leads to endless chaos.
Here’s a list of practical issues which have direct consequences for every single member of the Crown Heights community (including the non-Jews).
These issues could be very much taken care of if we had people who were knowledgeable and caring activists, interested helping others rather than filling their walls with photo ops.
1) Alternate side parking can be reduced to just one day a week (on each side (as it is in Borough Park, Flatbush, Williamsburg and others)) if we had people who could advocate to the community boards (they submit the reports to the city) in an eloquent and smart manner.
2) The proposed bike lane on Kingston Avenue shouldn’t have even been a thought, but unfortunately we don’t have people with the will to make sure it doesn’t happen. We need community leaders to tackle this issue, and fast.
3) With all the buildings going up (see previous article Crown Heights is Unaffordable) it seems like all of the builders are getting a free pass to forgo on parking spots. Each building that goes up without parking spots with city clearance, is making it almost impossible to park on the street. It seems like the builders have more connections with the city than those in Crown Heights who claim to have power and influence.
We need people who have real political prowess, who are caring about these (and many other) issues to take a lead on this. Some may suggest that we have Community Council/Vaad Hakohol for this, but that’s obviously not the case and Part III will tackle that mess of a situation.
The biggest problem is that ch doesn’t have enough pizza shops. Because if they had more pizza shops they would have more fat people. If we had a lot of fat people we would have a lot of doctors. If we would have a lot of doctors we would have more money. If we had more money we would have more leaders. Because all leaders are rich.
r.g how about running,?
Greed 7 selfish nes sits why rents are higher housing prices are astronomical 7 if you complain you are the bad one! what’s een more Bizarre is all those who not only put up with it but rush to get ripped off & theri life possibly shortened why are people willing to pay $1.2 – 1.5 m for house many in bad shape some require gut renovation in the end you are paying a mortgage of $6000 a month more e or less for what? for that same price in other neighborhoods some not far you can buy 2 or… Read more »
Kings plaza is not in milbasin, its beofore. and where i liv in milbasin, u dont ever need to move ur car. Everyone cares to sweep in front of their home. but let me tell u its very expensive here.
How can i contact you.
HOW Can we reach you.
SERIOUS ISSUES IN CROWN HEIGHTS
DIVIORCE RATE RL.
SUITABLE CHINUCH FOR ALL CHILDREN. AND I STRESS FOR ALL CHILDREN EVEN THOSE WHO DONT HAVE PROTESKIA GESHER MONEY ETC ETC.
SHIDDUCHIM. WHO IS TAKING CARE OF OUR OLDER SINGLES.
11 What? What? Crown heights has many issues. The three mentioned above are at the bottom of the list of problems. (Perhaps number 3 belongs at the beginning but not for the reason you describe). I would whole heartedly agree our community needs leaders. Leaders who occupy themselves with helping the community rather than spend their time protecting their kavod or making machoas. But to suggest that alternate side parking and bike lanes are the issues at the forefront is unsound and wrong. We live in a community where underage drinking is sanctioned but cell phones are banned, where you… Read more »
That’s why I moved to Simcha Monica CA where the community is caring and the WEATHER is great all year on the other hand housing is not cheap but you can’t have everything. The QUALITY of life is worth it.
the real big issue with all due respect is the amount of divorces going on in Crown heights. with all their repercussions on all levels, and i think the reason this is happening with such frequency is like the author says:
‘no leadership, there’s no accountability, and there seems to be no interest’ thank you on the dot!
At Mill Basen by Kings Plaza they only have to move their cars once a week
To all the bashers….if u urself couldn’t put a name to ur comment- than u r the coward here Now smart ppl know that the first step to solve any problem us to raise the awareness loud and clear…to all of u laughing and denying this article is especially for u – since you prob don’t suffer from these issues since u own housing and parking…this letter is to let u know how there’s a big young crowd out here that are…. So ty R Gurkov and let’s all think b4 we write cuz putting down others ideas is a… Read more »
I think that Followers make leaders!
Maybe its not the leaders who are the problem, maybe nobody listens!
exactly what I thought – Mayer Gurkov keep it up, don’t be spurned by the negativity.
Then there is #2. Huh?
I started reading comments for entertainment. Boy, I get alot almost daily. Sad but oddly fun!
Ley me explain to you how the marketplace works.
When thousands of people are living in housing they don’t pay for I.e. Public housing or section 8, they have a lot of extra money to spend on cars/eating out/boutique shopping on Kingston/etc. This is what happens when the government interferes with the marketplace.
If the marketplace is allows to function without interference, the problem with parking would solve itself.
Every day we hear of a new building going up, targeting young singles, or a property purchased, by Jewish developers from outside of Crown Hts. Shame on them for their NIMBY greed, and on our local politicians for letting it happen. This is the single biggest issue facing the longterm survival of this community.
how a guy bravely mans up and puts his name on an opinion and what do we do?
We BASH him. We DESTROY him.
THIS has to be the biggest problem in our community yet.
We don’t value bravery, we don’t value courage and we don’t even value people who are trying to raise awareness.
We just put each other down.
So functional.
When I first opened this article I was anticipating some great content. However I laughed and was disappointed when I kept reading and saw what you wrote. Seriously, parking and bike lanes are not our major concern for this community. There are FAR MORE greater items to be discussed.
Thank you Rabbi for holding a light up to some of the darkness in the community which lacks leadership, accountability and interest. 1) Leadership – The CHJCC has not shown up at the monthly Community Board meetings for over a year. They also do not regularly attend the monthly 71st Precinct meeting. 2) Accountability – With the exception of Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, who voted against both of the Mayor’s upzoning proposals, the Jewish community’s community board members need to be held accountable for not voting against the Mayor’s Upzoning ( Mandatory Inclusionary Housing) (MIH) which only provided for 2 BR,… Read more »
All i see from this article is the author trying to get folks to do the things which he himself is unwilling to do, STOP telling other people that they need to do the things which you deem important, do it yourself!
On another note, what the author mentioned about the Community Council, is so true, what a useless organization….
Another serious issue – many people are overweight. And going around our small crown heights Jewish neighborhood on the car!!! Get on the bike, help your health. And reduce the traffic on Kingston.
Do you know something: Kingston supposed to be a low traffic street because it is dead ended on both ends. Do you want the proof: walk on it during Yom Tov that falls on Weekday. Our Jewish community creates traffic there
My understanding about the Parking issue with new buildings is a loophole that our delightful new mayor installed to push his “affordable” housing plan.
He put into place a work around that if a developer says he will be including affordable housing in his development, then the city will set aside any requirements of Parking spaces in relation to their building.
The result is that suddenly evry developer is claiming that they are “including” affordable housing in their developments.
I couldn’t afford crown heights and moved to PA. Come live like a mentch. No machlochas nice shul and low tution. Move or just live in crown heights.
Mr facts straight,
In Flatbush and Boro park, you have to move your car once a week(I dont know Williamsburg). It’s not just Queens.
Move to Cincinnati, a nice growing Chabad community with affordable housing (less then $200 K) low tuition …..
Sad but true. Hashem Yishmor!!
As someone who works in Williamsburg and boro park, they have alternate side parking just like us. 4 days a week. The only borough that does not is queens as they are mostly populated with driveways, so the streets stay cleaner. As for the developers – any new development after 2008 had to a lot parking spaces for only 60 % of their building occupancy. And this is only for buildings of 20 units or more ( if I’m not mistaken) I agree that we need real, unbiased, new leadership, even for the reasons you stated but next time have… Read more »
Very easy to write and write. Becoming clear you young and foolish.
Houses for sale on other side of the hospital for about 550. Walk to 770, bus to school and nice blocks.
Mayer gurkov I admire the fact that you’re outspoken and I agree with you but just get your facts strait, Williamsburg has 2 days of alternate parking just like us. On eastern parkway there’s 3 days of alternate side which is out of control.
The biggest problem we have is no affordable housing.A community without young people is a dying community.
We need to get rid of poeple who are handing over property to the highest bidder that are not members of our community.Local landlords need to fix apartments and rent them out.
If your home and you don’t have to go to work, then you can move your car 4 times a week but if you have to go to work it is sometimes impossible to find parking on the right side, especially if you come home after 9pm or later, so if they did change the alternate side parking rules to once a week it would be great
Lets make a public time and local shul where all the people who care can come to make a difference. Does any one care that a building on crown and kingston was just sold last month and the new owners are slowly pushing jews out????? Lets get all teh young and old. Show these landlords we are not a pushover! No BIKE LANES!!
Dear Rabbi gurkov, I am talking on behalf of many young ppl. PLEASE POST YOUR CONTACT INFO SO WE CAN MAKE CHANGE> EVERY SINGEL BUILDING IS BEING SOLD TO LANDLORDS WHO DONT CARE TO KEEP THE JEWISH CHARACTER OF CROWN HEIGHTS!!! REZONING MEANS THE END OF THIS NEIGHBERHOOD> LETS TALK ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE
you seem reasonably thoughtful and intelligent. do you have solutions to any of the issues mr. gurkov identified as urgent? the fact that the three challenges are “more complicated than they appear” doesn’t make the challenges less urgent, nor less worthy of addressing. Gurkov simply pointed out these challenges might be resolved if we had people who have “real political prowess, who are caring about these issues.” I think, though, there’s really one urgent issue for all CH folks that underlies any issue you will put forth: Finding people who are capable, intelligent, organized, self-driven, consistent, trustworthy, and knowledgeable in… Read more »
lets start with new elections for young caring community leaders,
crown heights is many small communities in one neighborhood once these becomes one community people where start caring for each other, at this point each one leaves for itself , people do help others on a personal level , it is not done in a community leadership level,
here in melbourne australia there are no alternate side parking rules and the rubbish is still picked up every week and on time.
The biggest issue is the shidduch crisis. Everyone knows that.
Crownheights has many issues. The three mentioned above are at the bottom of the list of problems. (Perhaps number 3 belongs at the beginning but not for the reason you describe). I would whole heartedly agree our community needs leaders. Leaders who occupy themselves with helping the community rather than spend their time protecting their kavod or making machoas. But to suggest that alternate side parking and bike lanes are the issues at the forefront is unsound and wrong. We live in a community where underage drinking is sanctioned but cell phones are banned, where you can get thrown out… Read more »
This is a kehilo kdoisho in a mokoim kodoish. Sure not everything is perfect and you may have some points. But why this negative bitter tone. Aderabo you want to do something constructive or even just create some awareness. But please keep a positive tone. We had enough of our share of nasty shmutz thrown around here over the years. We don’t need anymore of it. Thank you for understanding.
On to the building violations. Building a parking area is insanely costly to a developer. It’s not even about greed. Parking takes up an enormous amount of space, and requires special structural engineering, materials, and permits. Now, you might argue that there is “no choice”, and that it should be “part and parcel” of any development. However, bear in mind that once the developer tallys it all up, he will end up charging far more money for the sale or rent of the units, which brings back your original problem: the cost of housing.
It sounds like you have a lot of good ideas. It is nice to see that these things bother you enough to write an article. But please keep in mind the following: Writing an article blaming all the problems in this world on egos and fights, and ignoring all amazing good work in a community, will denigrate you in people’s eyes. I challenge you to actually do something tangible to make a difference, it will earn you great respect in the eyes of others. You will find that it is is not so easy to make a difference. You will… Read more »
A parking garage.
Rabbi Gurkow,
Please Address Serious Isues in this Community.
Thank you.
A Proud Crown Heights Family..
Rabbi Mayer you have very good ideas and i agree with them. I am extremely disappointed that instead of writing an article with ideas, you chose to attack the community, its leaders and residents. Your article if full of smart points but is also full of hate. I think articles like this add to the problem.
Thank you COLlive for posting
All CH issues were parking related 🙂
The issues of which you speak are far more complicated than they appear. Like Trump says, everything boils down to a negotiation. Alternate side parking requires negotiations with the city, which means the city will want something in return. Reducing cleaning by 75% means that dozens of cleaning truck drivers and traffic cops will either be laid off or get reduced hours. The city does not want to forego the revenue generated by alternate side traffic tickets, nor do they want to lay off dozens of city workers, lest the Unions get angry. So again, what are we offering the… Read more »
Thank you for finding solutions to crown heights problems. You are evidently a young lad with great solutions. I think your free time that you spend brain storming these ideas should be spent teaching by example (And I mean leading a chasidishe bala batishe home here in crown heights)
Alternate side parking the way it is now is a blessing, otherwise subway commuters will park their cars here all day and it’ll be impossible to find parking during the day in Crown Heights. Do you notice how much harder it is to find parking on Wednesdays?