Bigwigs at South Pacific-themed grocer Trader Joe’s must open a third Kings County location in Coney Island, according to thousands of locals who signed a petition claiming a local outpost would help make the neighborhood “Brooklyn’s next hipster enclave.” (“Jonesing for a Joe’s! Thousands sign petition demanding Trader Joe’s open in Coney Island,” by Julianne McShane, online Jan. 18).
The store known for its Hawaiian-shirt–clad employees would bring fresh and inexpensive fare to Coney residents who must now otherwise shop at three larger, chain supermarkets, according to the petition’s co-organizer, who claimed to own three apartments in the neighborhood, and admitted to jockeying for a Joe’s because he said it would increase the value of his real estate.
As of Jan. 23 more than 3,000 people signed the plea, which seeks 5,000 names, and calls for bringing “more skinny-pants residents” to Coney in addition to the grocer.
Readers had a lot to say online:
Trader Joe’s is a commercial enterprise. After the “skinny pants residents” come, it may be lucrative for Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, et al., to open stores in Coney Island, pricing most people out. Be careful what you wish for.Janet from Park Slope
“Hey, company we don’t own stock in or have anything to do with… spend your money to open up a store where we want you to because WE SAY SO! WAAAHHHH!”Jim from Cobble Hill
Just a reason for Trader Joe’s not to open in Coney Island. BECAUSE YOU ARE TELLING THEM TO.
IAMRIGHTAGAIN
from CONEYISLAND
They have a gold mine, people act like they are giving the food away.Just in from FL
You can move back to your cul de sacs if you miss the comforts of your homes.Tony from Sheepshead Bay
Traders would be such a welcome sight in the South Brooklyn!!!Anna M from Brighton
Lol at the out-of-touch leisure class that thinks a Traders or Whole Paycheck would be of any use to the working class.Henry Ford from Bay Ridge
Leisure class? I bust my a– five days a week 9–8. I am the working class and I want Trader Joe’s. The area is dominated by Eastern European markets, where you can forget about friendly customer service, and low-end grocers that will sell you food that expires within two days of purchase. Whole Foods would be a stretch, but TJ is more than welcome.Anna from Brighton
Stop n Shop is a low-end grocer selling about-to-be expired food? Be careful what you wish, a 100 percent increase in your rent will arrive right after Trader Joe’s.Henry Ford from Bay Ridge
Who wants yet another “hipster enclave” nowadays in Brooklyn — unless they are local real-estate speculators?SCR from Realityville
To everyone who’s a millennial and is tired of the lackluster food options, limited coffee shops and cafes — Coney is going to be amazing in five years 🙂 Let’s bring TJ where it belongs.David from Coney
Church will be missed
To the Editor,
It’s been almost two months since a fire destroyed the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on E. 23rd Street in Sheepshead Bay (“Historic Sheepshead Bay church ravaged by midnight blaze” by Kevin Duggan, online Nov. 30). Workers have removed most of the debris. But until recently, the A-frame of the chapel remained, a reminder of the uplifting spiritual mission of the church.
Sixty years ago, when my family moved to E. 23rd Street, we were delighted to hear the church bells on Sunday morning and see the respectable, finely attired and smiling church-goers, mostly West Indians, walking to church. On Palm Sunday, the parishioners would form a procession and walk through the neighborhood singing pastoral hymns to celebrate Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem.
The rector of the church, Rev. Alexander Gunthorpes, welcomed us new neighbors and always extended an open invitation to attend services, which I did on several occasions. The church also served as a meeting place for a variety of groups, including The Paper Moon Players theater group, AARP, and Narcotics Anonymous. Fortunately, for some of us neighbors who needed a meeting place to rally local support to stop a developer from overbuilding on the block, Rev. Gunthorpes opened the door to us. Throughout all of our (successful!) efforts to block the building of a 10-story, 50-unit condo, the church was strongly supportive.
Another group that met at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church was the Messiah’s Congregation, a Christian Reformed Church. They too were a welcome addition to the neighborhood. That church’s pastor, Rev. Steve Schlissel, likewise welcomed all to its services. At Christmastime, we would run to the front door to hear carols sung by the parishioners, who always stopped at our house on their way to spreading cheer in the neighborhood.
Several years ago, I made a painting of the church. I’m so glad I did. Now both the church and the great old house next door are gone, and this painting will be there to call up the peaceful tranquillity that Emmanuel Episcopal Church brought to our block.Margherita D’Anna
Sheepshead Bay
Save climate now
To the Editor,
I’m glad that Gov. Cuomo pledged to fight climate change in his State of the State address.
But to turn those goals into reality, he must pass the Climate and Community Protection Act.
The Act will move us to a 100-percent renewable economy, while investing in jobs and protecting communities. It already has strong support in the Assembly, the state Senate, and community organizations across the state.
Current scientific consensus is that climate change may produce life-threatening, perhaps civilization-destroying change — perhaps within the next 50 years.
Only a madman would bet our children’s lives on the scientists being wrong.
There is no greater priority, and no time to lose. We simply must pass the Climate and Community Protection Act now. Marc Ribot
Cobble Hill
Post problems
To the Editor,
What’s with the post office in Sheepshead Bay? When you go in, there is a small box to place your mail in. Invariably, the box is always filled, and I have to walk away and come back later when I hope the box will be less filled. The box should be emptied every half hour. That’s not much to ask for.
When you say something to the workers, they all become quite nasty. We’re not paying their salaries to be treated in this manner. I am not asking the impossible to empty a box. If this can’t be done, I suggest a larger box be brought in. This is certainly not the way to accommodate people, especially at a time when we are warned about not mailing items in the boxes along the streets.
Ed Greenspan
Sheepshead Bay
Reconsider ferry
To the Editor,
Mayor DeBlasio’s State of the City speech announced upcoming new ferry services for other neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island, but forgot Canarsie (“Sunken dreams! Ferry service not coming to Canarsie any time soon, city says” by Kevin Duggan, online Jan. 14).
There is money available to support a new ferry service from Canarsie. This would also offer thousands of subway riders another alternative during reconstruction of the Canarsie L line tunnels over the next several years. Adding Canarsie to stops at Coney Island and Bay Ridge on to Wall Street Pier 11 would generate many more riders, resulting in a more financially viable operation.
Why not apply for capital grants from the New York State Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration to assist in funding?
The city’s Department of Transportation does this and receives tens of millions on an annual basis on behalf of the Staten Island Ferry. Albany also provides State Transportation Operating Assistance for transportation systems such as the Staten Island Ferry along with local share against federal grants.
Ridership on any transit service generates yearly federal transportation formula capital assistance.
Riders could purchase weekly or monthly passes for discounted fares.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
