I was at the meeting and what I found disturbing was not so much the individuals who were weaving jewish conspiracy theories, but the fact that the Monsignor who was moderating the meeting sat by passively and allowed it to happen without a word.

One good reason I am a lapsed Catholic is the priesthood's lack of moral leadership.

PS. why are parking meter rules suspended on sundays, but not saturdays?

Posted by: Leo at July 27, 2008 12:09 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Flea + Urban Arts Festival

If you didn't hear what was said at the meeting, sixyears, you don't understand. What we heard was classic anti-semitic conspiracy theory, and the priest, sitting right there moderating the event, didn't say a damn thing about it. He tacitly supported it. That's the problem.

Posted by: Leo at July 27, 2008 4:02 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Flea + Urban Arts Festival

Yes Heather, the reason it's a bigger deal is because jews are usually subjected to conspiracy theories and scapegoated for the most absurd reasons. Episcopalians generally are not. So it is news.

If it was only a gratuitous comment, I'd have less of a problem with it. But since it was tacitly endorsed by the church's monsignor, it was made worse. And in fact, once the priest chose not to step up, the jewish issue became more aggressive in the meeting.

The fact is, the church had a couple of legitimate concerns that really could fairly easily be addressed. But once the flea owners showed their class and willingness to work with them, they had no choice but to escalate because they just don't want the flea. Period. So they made it into a religious favoritism issue. That's the only chance they now have to kill the flea, to racialize it.

Posted by: Leo at July 28, 2008 6:55 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn Flea + Urban Arts Festival

Putting aside propjoe's stupidity for a moment, doesn't anyone think that the south side of atlantic between nevins and say hoyt or even smith is a really nice stretch, considering the vehicle traffic?

Oh, and by the way, BRING BACK THE JAIL!

Posted by: Leo at July 29, 2008 10:09 PM in response to Streetlevel: A Connecticut Muffin for Schermerhorn