Could there be a weird, hidden enforcement force in my neighborhood?

[slackerinabox]

I live in a part of Brooklyn (Bushwick) that, while in the process of gentrification, is still very old world - there are many mexican families here and there's a definite social structure that exists, but I respect it and view it as a positive and not a negative.

I moved in 8 months ago and noticed some interesting things:
1. There was a graffiti vandal who "bombed" a few houses one night. Normally that would be the start of more graffiti, and open call to other vandals - in this neighborhood it just stopped after that one night

2. A few months ago party happy tenants move in and blasted their music and partied all weekend- this stopped after that weekend and nary a peep is heard from anyone

3. I sometimes smoke outside of my house at relatively late hours - 11 PM or so. I noticed some unsavory sorts hanging out, playing basketball up the block and being rude to people.. This went on for a little while and I noticed neighbors watching them - peering through their windows. Now this group of boys are no more

4. I cleaned out my garbage cans for spring cleaning and left one unchained (it was a cheapie and I planned on replacing it with one with wheels). This garbage can was stolen on say a Saturday. I took note, mentioned to a friendly neighbor in passing "someone stole my $6 garbage can!".. On Sunday night the garbage can was back, with a new liner...

It's all a little weird - how possibly criminal/quality of life issues are being addressed silently with the police not being involved. I wonder, is this common in mexican/latino communities? I'm not knocking this at all, I personally think it's pretty fantastic.

 

[blackdogdeek]

what's the first rule of fight club again?

 

[feralkid]

He works while you sleep..

 

[Crono]

The best superhero remains unseen and unheard.

I always hated those idiot superheroes flying around with capes and brightly colored undies.

Way to make yourself and those you love a target for blackmail and vengeance.

 

[Crono]

In all likelihood, those type of disturbances are dealt with like that if:

A) There is some kind of effective community watch/vigilante group (possible)
B) There is a greater criminal force (usually drug trafficking) behind closed doors, and petty outside stuff is taken care of to prevent drawing law enforcement

or

C) It's just coincidence and you have some nice neighbors

 

[slackerinabox]

In all likelihood, those type of disturbances are dealt with like that if:

A) There is some kind of effective community watch/vigilante group (possible)
B) There is a greater criminal force (usually drug trafficking) behind closed doors, and petty outside stuff is taken care of to prevent drawing law enforcement

or

C) It's just coincidence and you have some nice neighbors

Interesting - there's no advertised community watch group, but maybe there's an informal one at work.

I used to think that it was all coincidence until my garbage can magically re-appeared.

 

[ivan2]

easy, all mischiefs were done by your neighbor's kid and he knows it. he thought you were hinting that you know what's going on when u mention about the garbage can.

 

[Crono]

Interesting - there's no advertised community watch group, but maybe there's an informal one at work.

I used to think that it was all coincidence until my garbage can magically re-appeared.

Knowing Brooklyn, it's probably just that you occasionally get idiots and criminals who enter an otherwise well maintained and law-abiding community, and just as soon leave. And you probably have some decent neighbors.

<-lived for half of my life in Cobble Hill in south Brooklyn

 

[slackerinabox]

easy, all mischiefs were done by your neighbor's kid and he knows it. he thought you were hinting that you know what's going on when u mention about the garbage can.

HAHAH.. His kid is like 4 years old and she's already a band nerd, playing the tuba out the window (reminds me of a little latin Lisa Simpson). Though it's possible that he knew the culprit, but it wasn't his adorable daughter.

 

[BoomerD]

If you're dumb enough to believe that some "wierd hidden enforcement force" exists in your neighborhood...then you have no right to ridicule your father-in-law for his beliefs.

 

[slackerinabox]

Knowing Brooklyn, it's probably just that you occasionally get idiots and criminals who enter an otherwise well maintained and law-abiding community, and just as soon leave. And you probably have some decent neighbors.

<-lived for half of my life in Cobble Hill in south Brooklyn

It's interesting - I grew up in Queens and it was different - criminals move in and the white flight occurs. Maybe Brooklyn's stronger than that. And Cobble Hill's a fantastic neighborhood now, it's like Brooklyn Heights Jr.

 

[slackerinabox]

If you're dumb enough to believe that some "wierd hidden enforcement force" exists in your neighborhood...then you have no right to ridicule your father-in-law for his beliefs.

By hidden I mean "un-publicized neighborhood watch," not big foot.

 

[Azraele]

Can you have them come to my neighborhood? I'd like the loud parties next door to stop. 😀

 

[BoomerD]

By hidden I mean "un-publicized neighborhood watch," not big foot.

Oh...then obviously, one of the Mexican drug lords has set up shop in your neighborhood and is ruling things with an iron fist...and insists that there be no crime or trouble in the hood...Anyone who violates such orders just...disappears.

The ONLY logical explanation. 😛

 

[Crono]

It's interesting - I grew up in Queens and it was different - criminals move in and the white flight occurs. Maybe Brooklyn's stronger than that. And Cobble Hill's a fantastic neighborhood now, it's like Brooklyn Heights Jr.

Yes, Brooklyn is a little different. Queens is a little more suburban than Brooklyn, probably because it's close to the edge of the city/bordering Long Island. But a lot depends on the neighborhood, and Bushwick always seemed diverse, albeit with more of a latino community than whites, blacks or asians.

Yeah, Cobble Hill is great. It did have some problems in the past because of Red Hook being dangerous (don't know how dangerous it is now) and occasionally some crazy people would come from Red Hook and do stuff like what you mentioned - graffiti, mess with people, etc. It happened less in the late 90s and 2000-2002, when I moved from there with my family.

 

[slackerinabox]

Oh...then obviously, one of the Mexican drug lords has set up shop in your neighborhood and is ruling things with an iron fist...and insists that there be no crime or trouble in the hood...Anyone who violates such orders just...disappears.

The ONLY logical explanation. 😛

That's possible, actually. I don't do drugs anymore, mostly because I knew my neighborhoods were watching and knew that the hippy visiting my house wasn't an old chum but a dealer. I'm not going to mess with an order that's already in place!