Author Archives: Lynette Grodskiy

About Lynette Grodskiy

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Brighton Beach: Behind the Beaches and Babushka Dolls

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February 9th 2014, 6:30 P.M. Lilia Naydensky, had just received a distressing phone call-one of her dear friends had passed away. She left work, emotionally wrecked and began walking to her car parked on Brighton Beach. Her head-dazed, heart-broken, vision-blurred from the tears running down her face, legs-struggling to move, with keys in hand and a purse around her wrist, Naydensky trudged through the dark streets. Suddenly she felt a sharp blow to her skull, followed by a tall man attempting to grab her purse. The bag was a precious gift from her daughter so she held on. The stranger repeatedly continued hitting her until she was forced to let go, leaving the man victorious and her defeated on the cold cement.

Five months after filing her report, Naydensky, a middle aged hair dresser, called the 60th Precinct in hopes of receiving a positive update on her case. Instead she was told some startling information.

“The officer informed me, that between February and July alone, 60 more women had filed robbery reports similar to mine. He said that most of the incidents happened around Brighton Beach.”

Brighton Beach, a predominantly Russian community located in the southern region of Brooklyn New York, is commonly associated with ethnic stores selling Russian trinkets such as Cheburashka cartoons and beautiful gzhel-style ceramics, a genuine boardwalk and crowded beaches. There is indeed one more unmentioned aspect,that is quite often ignored or even unknown. Brighton’s streets are crawling with unforeseen dangers, lurking criminals and a high crime rate, all of which make it difficult for woman of all ages to feel safe.

According to the 60th Precinct- the police station which oversees Brighton’s affairs, between May 1st 2014 through November 23, 2014 there have been a total of 2 rapes, 1 murder, 40 robberies, 32 felony assaults, 30 burglaries, 82 grand larcenies, and 5 grand larceny (auto). Of the crimes listed, 70 involved female victims.

Noticeably, the most common trend is grand larceny or theft, which when compared to similar offenses such as burglary, and robbery, is considered the least lethal because the perpetrator uses no force.

One example of an attempted theft happened in July 2013 at 3:00 am to then 19 year old Alena Meyerovich who was returning from a party in the city with a female friend. Meyerovich and company stepped off the train at Brighton Beach and began walking down the stairs leading to the station.

“ We knew someone had followed us off the train.”Meyerovich began. “We made sure to let him leave before us, while we waited inside the station.  But apparently as we were waiting upstairs he was waiting downstairs. After a few minutes we decided it was safe and began walking down the short block that leads to my house. Halfway there, I felt a hand on my bag. At some point my instincts just kicked in, I turned around looked him dead in the eyes and yelled NO! He got intimidated and began moving back, hands, together, saying I’m sorry, I’m sorry. My friend kept an eye on him as he walked away, while I opened the front door. Looking back, as scary as the incident was, I can only imagine how horribly different the whole scenario may have panned out. I consider us lucky.”

According to point2home.com, a website which outlines each neighborhood’s demographics including lifestyle, income and crime, reported that out of the national average risk of 100, Brighton Beach has a 185 risk  of personal crime, 258 risk of robbery, 207 risk of assault, and 111 risk of car theft. All of which are exceedingly higher than the national average.

“This year we definitely had a spike in crime”, declared Officer Darwiche, of the 60th Precinct. “Last year’s crime rate was unusually below average, so I guess you can say this year made up for it. But whenever we see a specific trend, we immediately send out more policemen to cover the area with the most incidents. This year we’ve had about 80 cops patrolling the beaches. We believe that if someone sees a cop, the idea of doing something bad, won’t even cross their mind.”

Officer Darwiche recommends that if a woman believes something may happen, she should avoid hesitation and call the police.

“Often when we receive calls from people who have a feeling something may go wrong, they usually start by saying: sorry to bother you. But they forget we get paid to do this, it’s not like we’re sleeping and they tell us to jump out of bed.” Officer Darwiche said chuckling.

But not every women feels at ease about contacting the police. At times the police encounter may actually lead to an even more uncomfortable situation.

In the winter of 2012, a young lady, who has asked to remain anonymous, followed her gut instinct and decided to file a complaint with the police regarding a middle aged man who on sight would follow her. At first she figured the man was just deranged but harmless since he never attempted to touch her/talk to her. That was until one night when from the corner of her eye she saw him watching her. She crossed the road, and he followed, but this time he trailed behind all the way to her house. She made it inside without any altercations but was left traumatized and decided to file a report. Due to Sandy temporarily closing down the 60th Precinct, she had to go to the 61stst Precinct. The officers wickedly smiled as she told her story, and mocked her with sarcastic comments such as “Wow that sounds like a nightmare!” and “ Brighton? Isn’t that the place where we found a head, a couple months back? Hmm hope you don’t end up like that!”

“Such a situation, should have received more sympathy.” Officer Darwiche commented. “But here’s the thing, many cops have seen such horrible crimes, that smaller incidents, such as a possible stalker, disappear into the background. It’s like this-if you live by a train your whole life, after a while do you still hear it?  No. But is the train still there? Yes, it just turns into white noise.”

To avoid any potential risk altogether the 60th Precinct advises women of all ages to always be on their best guard. They insist on avoiding traveling alone, especially at night and avoid walking with headphones in ears and phone directly in hand. Also it is important to remember to always lock ones doors.

The 60th precinct has also recently launched their own Twitter page, in hope of raising awareness, by providing safety tips for the general public. With an optimistic tone Officer Darwiche added, “It won’t eliminate crime altogether, but it is a step in the right direction.”

Battle in Black and White Response

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What techniques does Amy Fox use in narrating this conflict story?

Amy Fox relies a lot on emotion and personal history to narrate her story. She uses a technique which is true to the narrative aspect of storytelling, but rarely allowed in journalism. That technique involves using oneself or “I” continuously throughout the story. In Fox’s case, she is implanting the best method in reflecting on her family’s potent struggle, because it is not just apart of New York’s history, but her family history as well.

Who are her sources?

Amy Fox’s living sources include: her mother(whose memory is limited on the subject), and Dr. Lee Lorch. Other people referenced include: Fox’s grandparents, the Hendrixes and Fredrick Ecker.

What kind of research did she do?

She interview her mother, and Dr. Lee Lorch, as well as do a fair share of research in the New York Public Library.

What is the arc of this conflict story and where is the nut graf?

The arc of the story is the racial discrimination that black tenant applicants felt when applying to live in Stuyvesant town post WWII and for several decades later. Many people that are currently living in Stuyvesant town are unaware of its troubled past and all the brave tenants such as the Foxs who stood up for the rights of others.

The nut graf is located in the second paragraph:

“It was hard to imagine my respectable grandma, Diana Miller, her waist-length hair piled on top of her head, or my grandpa, Leo, with his dignified vests, barricading themselves in those same buildings to avoid being put out on the street. But that is what happened in the winter of 1952, when my grandparents were among those white tenants who stood at the forefront of the battle to integrate the housing complex where they lived.”

Swimming Towards Success

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The beautiful shores of Brighton Beach have attracted tourists from all over the world, but something even stronger then the tides has kept people coming back for more.

Serving the Brighton Beach-Manhattan Beach community for over 60 years, Shorefront YM-YWHA, has become synonymous, for some with words such as caring, entertaining, responsible and beneficial. “ It’s a great place to get some exercise into your day and meet new people,” said Robert Pukhkiy a longtime member.

But not every program has been successful from the start. The original swimming course was considered a disaster by many, and only after adopting the techniques created by champion swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg has the school become a success.

Unlike the old swimming “school”, the  Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy stresses safety in the water and teaches students based on their specific needs by separating them into one of six levels: Splasher, Floater, Kicker, Streamliner, Freestyler, and Flyer. As the student develops their abilities, they can move between levels but only after they are properly trained and tested by an instructor.

Aquatics manager Eugene Karabanov, described the new academy as being “a more Americanized way of teaching”, when compared to the previous harsher “Soviet Russian method.” In other words techniques are now taught in a step-by-step format, rather than forced on all at once. “We push forward, not away,” Karabanov humbly said.

Most importantly the academy’s instructors give in-the-water private lessons to students, which the previous program desperately lacked.

“Their methods of teaching involved sitting on a beach chair by the pool telling us to move our arms and kick our feet, but never actually showing us how to do that in the pool. They were too preoccupied gossiping about their lives to actually teach,” Alena Meyerovich, a student of the old program said. Meyerovich later added that she never ended up learning how to swim.

Nowadays, there are even swimming classes available for children with special needs, ages 5-13.Even though the students are not in the academy itself, many of them, upon learning the basics are eligible to try out for admission.  Special needs class instructor Radzhesh Laptev, commented on the joys of seeing his students enter the academy, “You not only feel happy and excited for them, but you also feel a sense of pride in yourself” he said.

Laptev, who also teaches various levels in the academy, has noticed a substantial increase in customers, “I see more and more new faces every class, from each age group.”

With all the positive changes the Lenny Krayzelburg academy has brought to Shorefront, some may argue that there is one less than perfect feature: the price. Private classes meet four times a month, each lasting either 15 or 30 minutes. Those that choose the one-on one 15 minute classes are charged $108, and those participating in the 30 minute sessions pay $208. For parents looking for an option that won’t necessarily break the bank, their best bet is the group sessions which cost $77 a month.

On the bright side after completing the academy, students can leave their swimming caps and goggles at home and finally enjoy the hardest level of all, conquering the ocean waters, which are conveniently located right around the corner.

 

One Man’s Stains, Another Man’s Gains

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On the last stop of the popular B train lies Brighton Beach, an ever- changing community known for its Russian roots, delicious delicacies, and louder than life personalities.  But hidden in the outskirts of all the chaos lies Family Cleaners, a dry cleaners that has remained untouched and proudly serving the community for 20 years.

Over its life span, Family Cleaners has undergone several owners; current owner Phillip Penn, has just entered his third year this October. After working in the dry cleaning business for 50 years, Penn has mastered both the art of stain removal and successful ownership.

“The basics are the same, no matter where I’ve been. Human nature is all the same, it’s pretty much a people business.”

But for the Italian Bronx native, owning a business in a predominantly Russian community has really put his people skills to the test. Many of his customers enter and without a simple greeting begin placing their laundry on the counter. They exchange a phone number for a receipt and leave.

One male client walks in, the pair quickly exchange salutations as the man unloads a pile of shirts on the counter. Penn asks  “What’s new?” The man sternly replies “Nothing.” Still attempting to stir up a conversation, Penn replies with a chuckle, “Well nothing is also pretty good.” The man manages to convey a small smile as he shakes his head in agreement. The interaction ends there.

To help facilitate communication, Penn has hired Russian-speaking employees: tailor Gia Barnabishvili and counter assistant Nino Guliashvili. But even they sometimes find it difficult to converse with the customers. “There are many older people,” Guliashvili said, “They don’t always understand what you’re saying.”

Barnabishvili, who has been a tailor for 40 years also reflects on some of his interactions on Brighton Beach “ Not all clients are happy. No matter how good you are, any little mistake can kill. If 1 out of 20 people is not happy, that is still good.”

Even with the tough language barrier, business is on the rise, which appears to be a surprise for Penn. After the financial crisis, many dry cleaners took a hit as their customers found it more economical to wash their clothes at home.  “We are moving slowly, but more positive, than negative which still boggles my mind.”

Family cleaners, continues to make a profit with about 400 transactions a week. Their most popular services include in order: dry cleaning, shirt service and tailoring. Aside from the top three, the up and running shop is known for providing all services, from the subtle shoe shines and hat washes, to the stranger, bed sheet and table launders.

Penn is proud to help his customers any way he can; he will even try to locate missing buttons from their original manufacturer and personally deliver all clothes, free of charge.

But not every service is without a fee. Dry cleaning fees range from a simple base price of $3.50 for shirts and $40.00, for comforters and gowns to maximum prices of $15 for shirts, and $25 for slacks, and sweaters, to $250 for dresses, coats and comforters and even $1,000 for gowns.

Tailoring services include: fixing hems, repairing zippers and taking in slacks and skirts which can each range from $10 up to $80. Fixing coat hems $28-$150, seams $15-$200, and $90-$200 for fur hems (specially added for the popular Russian fur coat craze commonly referred to as the “shuba”).

Aside from the change in ownership, Family Cleaners has not undergone many other changes in the past 20 years, including altering its vintage-esque interior. A large window up front allows pedestrians to peek in, where they can find Barnabishvili sitting, working on an all metal cast Singer sewing machine. To the right of him, is a counter occupied by a computer that still contains all 20 years worth of records for the shop. The back room is an even more alluring artifact. Machines older then the shop itself surround the newly pressed/washed clothes. A large fan sits high above, overlooking the daily activities as it rustles and rattles in an attempt to ventilate.

It is all quite different from the modern-day dry cleaner, but that’s what makes Family Cleaner’s unique. And this all works just fine for Penn, who said dryly: “ Once you have cleaning fluid in your blood, you can’t get it out.”