Memories of Da' Bronx (eBook)

Chapter 3

MY STREET, SCHOOL,
AND NEIGHBORHOOD

Growing up . . .

I was born at the old Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx in 1948, then located at the corner of 141st Street and Southern Boulevard. The original Lincoln Hospital was a designated public hospital located in the South Bronx, whose actual origin dates from its founding much earlier, before the civil war in 1839, as a medical facility for the poor and working-class residents of New York City. It was named to commemorate the late President Abraham Lincoln. Over time, the original Lincoln Hospital building became outdated and overcrowded, and by the 1970s, plans were developed to replace it with a new, modern facility. This was finalized in 1976, with the new Lincoln Hospital opening nearby on 149th Street, after the original building was demolished.

I was raised in the South Bronx, living there until 1960. My family left that year for Queens, New York, seeking a better quality of life. Looking back, by the late 1960s to early-mid 1980s, livability, safety, economic conditions, housing, and day-to-day life, in general, would continue to deteriorate with escalating crime, poverty, blight, and urban decay. The epicenter of the South Bronx, “Fort Apache,” as the area was subsequently designated (after an emblematic film in 1981 with this same moniker)—was to be infamously memorialized in cinema and prose. For all intents and purposes, the forty square block area surrounding the 41st Police Precinct was synonymous with the South Bronx and defined the same. Nearby, the peninsula of land known as the Hunts Point neighborhood (its boundaries, the Bruckner Expressway to the west and north, the Bronx River to the east, and the East River to the south), also served by the 41st Police Precinct, later was to be named “Hell’s Kitchen.” This area is where I grew up and spent my young upbringing. Notwithstanding my age of twelve years, I was as street savvy as anyone of at least fifteen to sixteen years of age elsewhere, residing in “The City” or the more insulated Long Island. I grew up quickly on Simpson Street, near East 163rd Street (sandwiched between Southern Boulevard to the east and Fox Street to the west), I often walked to my school, Public School 75 (P.S. 75), crossing Southern Boulevard, to reach the school, located at the southern end of Faile Street adjacent to Bruckner Boulevard. I must interject that the phonetics of the name “Faile” Street implies failure, which was not an option for my, or those parents raising their children in the P.S. 75 school district. I do wish New York City urban planners would change the name of that street to something that resonates more positively with the P.S. 75 school student attendees, alumni and parents.

Transportation in the area was principally using the two major Boulevards, Southern Boulevard, and Bruckner Boulevard. Southern Boulevard is a north–south thoroughfare that runs for approximately 4.1 miles between East 149th Street in the Bronx and East Tremont Avenue in the Morrisania neighborhood. The road is home to several historic buildings, including the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden. The area is also served by several other major public transportation options, including the number two and five subway train lines. Bruckner Boulevard, on the other hand, is an east–west roadway that runs for approximately 2.5 miles between Hunts Point Avenue to the east and the Major Deegan Expressway to the west. Bruckner Boulevard is named after former New York City mayor, William Bruckner. The regional area is home to several industrial parks, warehouses, and factories, which have historically made it an important hub of economic activity for the Borough. The other named roadway, the Major Deegan Expressway, was to eventually connect the Grand Concourse to 138th Street, proceeding northward along the Harlem River, through Van Cortland Park, then, onward to the New York Thruway, with which it would finally terminate and empty its northbound headed traffic. Together, the two cited Boulevards and the Major Deegan Expressway played a significant role in connecting the South Bronx to other parts of greater New York City. They provide access to major highways, public transportation, and cultural attractions, making them an important part of the fabric of the Bronx community.

Simpson Street and the 41st Police Precinct at 1086 Simpson Street became known as “Fort Apache,” in the late 1970s and early 1980s—the infamous police precinct station located in the South Bronx neighborhood of New York City. During the 1960s and later, the 41st Precinct faced challenges related to crime, poverty, and social unrest. During this time, the South Bronx was experiencing significant demographic changes, as the area saw an influx of African Americans and many Latino Americans, especially Puerto Rican residents. This demographic shift was accompanied by economic hardship, housing shortages, and rising crime rates, all of which put pressure on the police force to maintain social order in the community. The 41st Police Precinct was by reputation known for its tough approach to policing, and its officers in those former days were often accused of using excessive force and engaging in racial profiling. The Precinct was also the notorious location of several high-profile incidents of police brutality, including the 1957 beating of fifteen-year-old Michael Farmer, which sparked civil protests and outrage in the community. Despite the foregoing, the 41st Police Precinct has continued to play a significant role in the South Bronx, providing a vital service to the community by responding to emergencies, investigating, and solving crimes, and maintaining social order. The 41st Police Precinct has indeed been staffed by dedicated officers and administrators who have worked tirelessly to keep the community safe. Today, the 41st Police Precinct has been renamed the “Simpson Street” Police Precinct and remains an important part of the South Bronx community. While the area still faces poverty and crime, there have been efforts in recent years to improve safety, and promote economic development, with a particular focus on building stronger relationships between the police and the community. Today, one of the ways the 41st Police Precinct has fostered trust has been through partnerships, particularly by way of community policing initiatives, such as the Neighborhood Coordination Officer (NCO) program. Under this program, for instance, officers are assigned to specific neighborhoods within the Precinct and are tasked with building relationships with community members, and identifying pressing local concerns, thus, working collaboratively to develop urban community solutions. The NCO regularly attends local community meetings and events to build such trust and maintain open two-way lines of communication. Another unique aspect of the Bronx 41st Police Precinct has been its focus on youth engagement and mentorship. Police officers regularly participate in mentoring programs and youth sports leagues, and the police precinct hosts events as well as workshops aimed at providing young people with positive role models and opportunities for personal growth and development. None or little of these mentioned initiatives existed when I lived in the South Bronx. I applaud the community programs, youth initiatives, and other programs that have emerged over time.

In the Barrio, we often communicated in Spanglish, of necessity, as well as slang. Slang in the Bronx during the 1950s to early 1960s was heavily influenced by the African American and Latino-American communities, as well as the general youth culture of the time. Some common slang words and phrases used contemporaneously during this time period included: “cool” or “neat”-used to describe something as stylish or impressive; “hip”-used to describe someone aware of the latest trends and fashion; “cat”-used to refer to a person, often a man; “jive”-used to describe insincere or deceitful talk; “dig”-used to indicate understanding or affirmative approval; in contrast to “digs”-used to refer to one’s living quarters or residence; “chill”-used to describe relaxing or taking it easy; “boogie”-used to refer to dancing, often in a lively or energetic style; “jacket”-used to describe someone who is being insincere or dishonest; “city”-used to refer to Manhattan or Downtown proper, and, “threads”-used to refer to clothing, particularly fashionable or stylish items. There are many other slang terms and expressions.

Yet another vivid memory, particularly during those torrid hot summers was to cool off using the water run-off from fire hydrants. Older kids and teenagers had access to the largest wrenches I had ever seen, in addition to possessing the strength to open the fire hydrant’s key. This was done surreptitiously and often spontaneously, on a whim, to the dismay of any driver navigating those streets, wanting to keep their car clean (dry), and of course, the fire department. The latter not only had to deal with the numerous and ever-increasing number of fire alarms (arson) set but also false alarms, much to their dismay. Low water pressure across the Borough during those hot torrid summer months was common and problematic. New York City began distributing sprinkler caps in the 1950s to reduce the amount of wasted water and stabilize water pressure.

The elevated train (“The El”) station nearby, at the intersection of Simpson Street and Westchester Avenue, had train cars constantly careening, and screeching their wheels, certainly adding to the cacophony of sounds in the air. Also heard were the unrelenting sounds of music,...