"I Guess it Would be Sad if Your Son Were Going to be Crucified"

This year's procession of Santa Maria Addolorata on Good Friday was a rousing success (as these things go). Below is a video I made with pictures and audio samples (turn your volume up!) of the procession, which was better attended than I could have ever imagined. Neighborhood old-timers and youngsters alike came out to march, to see and be seen and just to see what was going on.


Additional video here.

Was it 360 Smith or Not?

Yesterday there was a Union rally on 2nd Place and Smith by the Carpenters' Union, whose members also  drywall and sheetrock. At first, we thought it was regarding 360 Smith Street, but then received an e-mail from the 76th Precienct stating that the rally was unrelated to 360 Smith Street and was, in fact, against a brownstone on 2nd Place.

Well, yesterday Pardon Me for Asking (and, subsequently, the Brooklyn Paper), reported that in fact, it WAS against the labor practices at 360 Smith Street. I'm inclined to believe the police, but the rally was right in front of 360 Smith.

Also, as noted yesterday, although we are staunchly pro-union, the Union seems to have very weak grounds here. $42 an hour for sheetrocking? I might pay that if it included all materials! That price is outrageously high, for a job that does not require much skill or training. Maybe if it were making crown molding or hanging a curtain wall...