These are the People in My Neighborhood

Welcome to Fort Green, Brooklyn. This is a beautiful neighborhood of four-story brownstone buildings, independent markets, restaurants, cafes, and one of New York City's oldest parks. 

The skeletons in the closet of this rapidly gentrifying community's not so distant past include drugs, gangs, and violence. It seems that some of those skeletons are out of the closet again, both figuratively and literally.

Not too long ago, a deconstructed human body was found on the street across from the park. The body, wrapped in plastic and stuffed into a cardboard box, appeared to have been put out for the Department of Sanitation to pick up with the trash. 

I understand that it was the liquid seeping from the box that drew passersby to report the box to the authorities. I was shaken up, not only by the crime, but by it's proximity to my own apartment; less than one block.

Only a few days later, a man walked into a barber shop in Fort Green and open fired. I've willed myself to forget what the casualties were. This incident was a few blocks further than the first from my apartment.

Last night, another human body was found wrapped in plastic and stuffed into a cardboard box on the same street as before, across from the park, less than one block from where I live.

Thinking about these crimes, I hear the old song from Sesame Street, "These are the people in  your neighborhood" play in my mind, with a Tom Waits-style creaking, screaching, eerly, spooky accompaniment. 

It's hard to imagine who the person is in my neighborhood that would do this.

People in Your Neighborhood

Written by Jeffrey Moss

(Lyrics taken from: http://members.tripod.com/Tiny_dancer/ssalbums.html)

Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? 
In your neighborhood? 
In your neighborhood? 
Say, who are the people in your neighborhood? 
The people that you meet each day 

Oh, the postman always brings the mail 
Through rain or snow or sleet or hail 
I'll work and work the whole day through 
To get your letters safe to you 

'Cause a postman is a person in your neighborhood 
In your neighborhood 
He's in your neighborhood 
A postman is a person in your neighborhood 
A person that you meet each day 

Oh, a fireman is brave it's said 
His engine is a shiny red 
If there's a fire anywhere about 
Well, I'll be sure to put it out 

'Cause a fireman is a person in your neighborhood 
In your neighborhood 
He's in your neighborhood 

And a postman is a person in your neighborhood 

Well, they're the people that you meet 
When you're walking down the street 
They're the people that you meet each day 

The baker is the one who makes 
Your bread and rolls and pies and cakes 
If you want something sweet to eat, go see 
The baker in the bakery 

A teacher works the whole day through 
To teach important things to you 
He'll teach you things you won't forget 
Like numbers and the alphabet 

A barber has a great big chair 
You sit in it, he cuts your hair 
He'll snip and clip and never rest 
Until your haircut looks its best 

The bus driver drives fast or slow 
To take you where you want to go 
When you get in and pay your fare 
She will drive you anywhere 

A dentist cares for all your teeth 
The top ones and the ones beneath 
So if you have an aching tooth 
He'll fix it quick, and that's the truth 

The doctor makes you well real quick 
If by chance you're feeling sick 
She works and works the whole day long 
To help you feel well and strong 

The grocer sells the things you eat 
Like bread and eggs, cheese and meat 
No matter what you're looking for 
You'll find it at the grocery store 

The shoemaker is always there 
To take care of the shoes you wear 
With his hammer, nails, and glue 
He'll fix your shoes as good as new 

The cleaner is the one who knows 
How to clean and press your clothes 
He'll take a jacket, suit, or vest 
And clean it so you'll look your best 

The trash collector works each day 
He'll always take your trash away 
He drives the biggest truck you've seen 
To keep the city streets all clean