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I attended the 61 precinct community council meeting last night and I am glad to say that it wasn’t boring. At the same time, the meeting wasn’t an uproarious mess, it was actually quite smooth.

This meeting was the first 61st precinct meeting to take place since “Civil Rights are Dead on Manhattan Beach” so I was expecting an uproar from Manhattan Beach and Sheepshead Bay. However, it did not seem like Manhattan Beach was there to condemn or to applaud the police officers actions on “Senior Cut Day”.

Gene Berardelli was there, but did not make a statement at the meeting. Sheepshead Bay/ Plumb Beach Civic President, Barbara Berardelli said a few words. (I’m going to summarize because it was hard to hear.)

She said that what happened was wrong, she didn’t see truancy, she saw exclusion, and she wants to make sure that this never happens again. Adding that the kids are part of our community, no matter where they live; because we are responsible for them from 8 am to 3 pm.

Sheepshead Bay will not be painted with the same brush as Manhattan Beach because they left on trains from a station with “OUR” name on it.

She was really beating up on Manhattan Beach, saying that Manhattan Beach will no longer dictate the agenda without input from our side of the Bay also adding that they are willing to work(stressing work)with the 61st.

Right after her statement, Barbara Berardelli reached out to the 61 and told them that her organization wants to help and be part of the solution and not the problem.

The captain then made an explanation of the day’s events in an effort to head off a debate with Barbara Berardelli and 61st member, Cy Schoenfeld.

The captain’s statement consisted of three main points. He discussed what happened last year on Manhattan Beach, how the 61st was not prepared and how they were basically caught by surprise. He also went on to say that this year’s response was a truancy operation. All kids were told they would be picked up for truancy if they did not go home or back to school, though, he did not say there were any kids that were actually picked up for truancy that day.

The captain then addressed Barbara Berardelli’s statement by accepting their offer of help and said he would talk with them for next year.

The meeting ended with (and I’m being serious) everyone holding hands and loudly singing, God Bless America. It was kind of a cool thing to do but very weird at the same time.

Community activist Ed Eisenberg, who was obviously upset at the attention Manhattan Beach is getting, was heard screaming at one point “This will be another Crown Heights”. Consider this a warning, if this “community activist” says something out-loud or directed to me, I’m going to post about it in the future.

It seems as though that there are some people who are bothered by this site. Why? I have no idea. All I do is go to local meetings, see things in my neighborhood and other neighborhoods, call it like it is and post about it here. I have no agenda, I’m not on a “power trip”, and I’m not affiliated with any elected official. So whoever has a problem with me; get over it.

3093 Ocean Avenue

7 or 7:30 pm I forgot :)