My New Neighborhood

I'm tired of my new neighborhood. I used to have good neighbors but they saw the writing on the wall long before I did and they left. I should have left a year ago at the latest. So it's partially my fault I suppose. I can't even enjoy a few days away from my home for fear that it will be broken into, I worry about leaving my wife alone overnight because someone might break in, I worry about kids leaving their trash in my yard, and neighbors who don't respect personal property. In short, I am sick of this place and am packing. I am moving out soon.

Canarsie is located in the southeast of Brooklyn. It’s a neighborhood full of history and charm. Canarsie took that name from the Algonquian Linguistic Indian who was originally living in that area. According to Brooklyn public library it states that, “The area that is known as Canarsie was originally part of the Dutch town of Flatlands. When the Dutch arrived, they name the area after the Native American Indian living, the Canarsees; but the exact meaning of the name Canarsie still somewhat a mystery” (Jackson Kenneth, and john B. M. The Neighborhood’s of Brooklyn. New heaven: Yale University Press, 1998). Around the 1920’s, Canarsie was mostly populated with Jewish, Italian, and American Families. Canarsie is over 369 years old, and in the 1980’s and 1990’s, it was heaven for the Italians and Americans. As of today, Canarsie is mostly populated with Caribbean Americans and some Italian Americans. Anywhere that I have lived ,for any period of time, I get really interested in the history of that place or area, because I am also interested in knowing how safe the environment is. As for me, I know Canarsie as the small town in the big City.

Today was one of those ordinary day. It was seven forty five in the morning as I look at my clock. I’m starting to panic, and jump out of my bed; ran into the bathroom freshened up. This is one of those time that I got dress up in a matter of two to three minutes. “ oh my God, it’s seven fifty two “. I’m saying to myself. Not to forget that my area manager was coming today for a little visit to my branch. I did not even wanted to call, because I live about an hour and five minutes away from my job. I pull out of my parking spot toward Webster, making my way toward Bronx Expwy until I heard a siren and flashing lights a couple cars behind me; I thought he wanted to pass or something. Since I was in a hurry, I decide to speed up because I did not want to get to the back of the traffic. The car that I drove was Lancer Evo which is a pretty fast car, and I had left traffic behind about two to three miles behind me, while the cop was still stuck in it. I gotten on the Whitestone bridge going toward the Van Wyck Expy until I see the same car that was behind me like 15 minutes before was an undercover cop. He put his siren on and tell me to pull over then decide to give tickets worth about $300 or more, for reckless driving, expired insurance car, and speeding. I was so upset and could not believe that my morning at started off on a really bad note, plus I haven’t even started working yet so, this was very distance yet upsetting mornings that I have ever had.

Welcome to my neighborhood

I remember, at the time, when i first moved to Canarsie Brooklyn in the year of 1992, the area had nothing but commercial buildings, warehouses, and auto and repair shops. I also remember when I was able to park my car in front of my house without anyone breaking into it; I did not need a brake-lock system or a steering wheel lock, and walking to my car in the morning(s) without a damage, a broken mirror , or even my car missing was not an issue. I could never forget the day that I had parked my car down the block, from my house, and found it sitting on four bricks. This incident had happened about two years ago, and the quiet neighborhood that I thought was the same almost two years ago, had changed! Not only has it changed security wise, but it had also changed into a shopping area as well. The neighborhood that all my friends had moved away from, is the same neighborhood that brings back a lot of memories, to me and to my childhood.