The word is out. There was a story in this morning’s New York Daily News. And I’m quoted.
How did a blog entry about feeling uncertain and confused when I
read a note posted in the entryway of my building gradually turn into
the fiasco that this has become?
This morning I got calls from Channel 11, and one call from Fox 5: I wouldn’t talk to them. A reporter from CBS rang the intercom and another reporter from Channel 11 called to say that she was on the block. I groaned.
I told the CBS reporter that I didn’t want to be interviewed on camera. He said that was fine but to come down to talk -for background.
I made him wait and when I got downstairs, two cameras were rolling and the CBS reporter AND the Channel 11 reporter were thrusting their microphones in my face.
I thought you weren’t going to interview me.
They were really interested in ONLY ONE THING — where does HE live, where does SHE live. And I didn’t feel right telling them. I didn’t want to set the wolves on them.
The CBS reporter reminded me of Ted Baxter and boy did he want to get some info out of me. First he tried nice and suave, "So where does he live?" he said with a Baxteresque smile.
I told him that I knew but I didn’t want to say. Then Ted Baxter got a little testy: "Come on give me a clue," he said. Again I said no. Then he tried another tact. All sweet and nice again: "Where does SHE live?"
But I wouldn’t give him what he wanted. "You read the note didn’t you," he said sounding angry again. "Did you forget the name?"
I think I purposely didn’t memorize the name. And for good reason. I certainly don’t think it’s my job to tell these reporters what they want to know. If they want to disrupt a few lives today for this story, they can do the footwork to find out the names and addresses.
Tomorrow they’ll be on to the next story. But they leave such chaos in their wake. And that’s the story that I will tell. Because when the dust settles again, Third Street will have to heal. There may be contention on the block. There have been issues before – within buildings, between neighbors. But we’ve survived them all with good will and openheartedness.
Yet we all have to live side by side in that New York City way. We’ll continue to shop at each other’s yard sales, attend bar-b-cues and building potlucks, watch the 4th of July fireworks from someone’s roof, chit chat on the sidewalk, hang out at the Mojo or the Coco Bar.
It’ll be interesting to see how Third Street gets through this. My sense is that community spirt, mutual repect and open heartedness will prevail.
If this becomes an object lesson rather than a witch hunt, everything will be okay.
But you never know.
Listen, if people are going to rally behind “innocent until proven guilty” that’s fine. We dont know what really happened.
But for those of you who are criticizing her for posting the flyers you may want to watch out for your hypocrisy.
Don’t point the finger at her because she feels the man (remember, as she says it, a un-invited shirtless man was in her young daughters room. That is never ok).
You yourself are claiming the man is innocent when you dont very well know that that is true either.
Dialogue is always good, but we shouldn’t preach one idea while ignoring the other.
And Jane, you may know him to be a good man, I cannot deny he is. I don’t know him.
But unless you were with him that entire day I think it very unfair (and takes away from any point you were trying to make quite frankly) to lash out and question anyone elses humanity.
You dont know anything for certain at the moment. You should maybe check YOUR facts before you start asking questions about what kind of people any of us are.
And remember, the mother in question had used the accused as a handyman for as long, if not longer than you have. Has no ones behavior ever surprised you?
Again, like The Cactus, keep up the dialogue, but lets be fair to BOTH sides.
Are you kidding me with these comments.
Good on ya. Life will be judged and you can not stop this.
No matter what you think you know about someone, You really have no Idea.
You really can never tell. So how can the comment makers above really kNOw.
They can’t. So keep up the dialog.
Thanks
The Cactus.
How can you do this to a good man you know nothing about? What kind of a person are you?
We have known him for 2 plus years and he is nothing like you portray. Check your facts first and quit ruining the man’s life.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping to ruin this man’s life. No local television reporter is going to talk to you on background. This is not the West Wing, and you do not work in the White House. If you continue to agree to talk to reporters, they will continue to perpetuate this story that many of us know to be false.
This man came to me today in tears. He’s hounded by reporters and unjustly defamed on light poles. His lawyer has already collected over 20 letters attesting to his character. He now has to raise $10,000 for the initial lawyers fee to defend himself. Can we count you in for a donation?