BAINBRIDGE/MALCOLM X BLOCK ASSOCIATION RECLAIMING TERRITORY
Neighbors & Friends Join Forces for Monthly Block Clean Up
By Keith L. Forest

Armed with shovels, rakes, and brooms, members, family and friends of the Bainbridge/Malcolm X Block Association took to the street in a collective force to beautify their block. In their effort to combat the neglect and foster community pride, neighbors’ young and old spent a sunny Saturday morning pulling up weeds, picking up trash and cleaning each other stoops. “I was so excited to see so many people come out to support the cleanup day,” said resident Alexia Biliart. “It especially warmed my heart to see the younger kids.”
Bainbridge Street between Malcolm X Blvd and Patchen Avenue which is nick- named “Bum” bridge has suffered from years of neglect and mistreatment. During the summer months it has an uncanny reputation as being a haven for loitering, loud parties and frequent front-stoop cook outs causing constant clashing with long-time residents. The block, which has 14, four-story apartment buildings and five vacant lots, also has its share of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) dwellings and currently is the home to 3 residential social service agencies. Pet owners also frequent the block leaving trail and often mounds of their pets remains behind.

Unlike most residential blocks throughout the city, the block, which has easy access to the Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue strips, lacks a much needed speed hump. This makes it a major magnet for joy riders who speed down the corridor, music blaring, all hours of the night. This reckless behavior is a growing concern for many parents most of which have young children. During the warmer months, drivers compete with motorcyclist who chose the route to test their dexterity and agility by displaying various speed defying stunts.

Members of the Bainbridge/Malcolm X Block Association plan on holding block clean up every first Saturday. A special family fun day is being planned for October where local politician and community organizations will be invited. Petitions have already been sent to State and city officials requesting tree guards to protect the numerous new saplings along the corridor and signatures were gathered in an effort to having a much needed speed hump installed.

“I have a great deal of respect for my neighbors who have invested their lives to changing the minds of those who can't see the beauty of Bainbridge Street,” stated Rev. DeVanie Jackson, who runs a food pantry and the Malcolm X Farmers Market. “I hope Saturday was the first step in shedding the street’s negative image,” added resident Sandra Stevenson.

Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.

"Steppers Marching Band strapped for cash,"
BY Elizabeth Lazarowitz - NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The band is broke.

The famed Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band is in danger of falling silent for good, left scrambling for cash months after its founder stepped down amid a student sex scandal.

"Don't call him 'Little Chris'," - New York Observer

BY ED CONDRAN, Correspondent

Bed Stuy's own Tony Rock, brother of Chris Rock is paving his own laugh track. Although the comedic actor followed in his older brother's foot step, Tony shares with the New & Observer his own special blend of comedy.

'Little Chris" was how New York comics referred to Tony Rock when he watched his older, famous brother Chris Rock kill at Manhattan comedy clubs more than 15 years ago.

Yet that didn't bother him. Tony Rock says it was much harder living in Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of the toughest neighborhoods in Brooklyn. "I was a world away when I watched my brother and the other comics," he says. "I learned the art of comedy."