Satmar Threats And Backroom Politics Cause City To Keep Bikes Out Of Hasidic Areas Of Williamsburg
“The neighborhood would have been in all sorts of drama [if the kiosks had been placed too close to or in heavily Satmar neighborhoods. Avoiding that] is a way to avoid conflict,” local biking advocate Baruch Herzfeld claimed.
Satmar Threats And Backroom Politics Cause City To Keep Bikes Out Of Hasidic Areas Of Williamsburg
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The New York Daily News reports that New York City’s new bike-sharing program, which will have bike rental kiosks placed at strategic points around the city, won’t have an outpost in heavily hasidic sections of Williamsburg.
Why?
Because Satmar hasidim threatened to disrupt the program if the bikes – which they view both as dangers to their children and magnets for “immodestly” clothed hipsters – are placed in their neighborhoods.
Several years ago, Satmar succeeded it coercing the city to remove marked bike lanes in their primary area of Williamsburg by using the same basic tactics.
The first phase of the new CitiBike program is set to launch Monday with dozens of rental kiosks across Brooklyn.
“They put the racks where they are going to be used. Look at the hasidic community. No one rides a bike here,” Satmar activist Shimon Weiser, who sits on Community Board 1 and who worked out kiosk locations with the city’s Department of Transportation said.
Weiser is infamous, primarily for his organization of a ban several years ago against the website VosIzNeais because it posted details of crimes committed by haredim – “shmutz,” in Weiser’s words, but also for decades of thuggish actions against things he deemed immodest – or that exposed the dirty underbelly of the Satmar community and its leadership – and for his association with Wiliamsburg's Satmar modesty squad that spawned, among other notables, convicted child rapist Nechemya Weberman.
Another Satmar activist and sometime politician Isaac Abraham warned that Satmar would resort to “civil disobedience” if the bike rental kiosks are placed near Satmar neighborhoods.
“We will put baby carriages there. We will make a baby carriage lane,” Abraham reportedly said with some real degree of seriousness.
“The bike racks are dangerous for pedestrians and children,” Yoeli Klein, who owns the Williamsburg kosher ice cream shop Chocolate Wise, told the Daily News.
“The (chosen) locations were the product of an extensive public outreach process… [and] reflect the input of neighborhoods in the service area,” a city official said.
The next phase of the program also places dozens more rental kiosks in Brooklyn – but none of them are in heavily hasidic areas of Williamsburg.
“The neighborhood would have been in all sorts of drama [if the kiosks had been placed too close to or in heavily Satmar neighborhoods. Avoiding that] is a way to avoid conflict,” local biking advocate Baruch Herzfeld claimed.
Although Satmar's conduct is reprehensible, it makes sense to refrain from placing bikes in locations where they will not be used.
Posted by: Mark H. Jay | May 22, 2013 at 03:52 PM
The headline is misleading.
You can still ride a bike anywhere, including the Jewland section of Williamsburg, notwithstanding the threat of harassment by the frumma cavemen.
The bike rental kiosks will not be located in that neighborhood. The frumma won't use them, and will probably vandalize them.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed | May 22, 2013 at 04:18 PM
But why do these Neanderthals hate bikes that much?
Posted by: Account Deleted | May 22, 2013 at 06:02 PM
I suppose it's not practical to suggest walling them in and then ignoring them so may as well locate public facilities such as the bike rental kiosks elsewhere than in their neighborhoods.
Posted by: S M L | May 22, 2013 at 06:27 PM
++David | May 22, 2013 at 06:10 PM++
How about more of those stupid frumma minivans, so many illegally parked, and with Hatzolah placards in the window?
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed | May 22, 2013 at 07:17 PM
http://i.imgur.com/yHmODR2.jpg
http://www.reddit.com/r/Brooklyn/comments/1ec031/something_i_noticed_about_the_citi_bike_map/
Posted by: Ed Goldsmith | May 22, 2013 at 09:07 PM
I would think they dream od being bike seats - think angelina jolie or the ahnold - sorry for the men
tal image lol
Posted by: old time brooklyn | May 22, 2013 at 09:39 PM
I don't get it. The frumma religion (not Judaism) is not strong enough to cope with the "challenge" of bicycles?
(The Real David.)
Posted by: David | May 23, 2013 at 05:56 AM
David, the frumma religion cannot even stand up to a copy of People magazine. The frumma collapse into a quivering blob of jelly upon viewing the cover.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed | May 23, 2013 at 06:49 AM
“We will put baby carriages there. We will make a baby carriage lane”
Well, they certainly have enough of them.
Posted by: Jeff | May 23, 2013 at 07:28 AM
David, the frumma religion cannot even stand up to a copy of People magazine. The frumma collapse into a quivering blob of jelly upon viewing the cover.
Posted by: WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed | May 23, 2013 at 06:49 AM
____________________________________
Well said. They claim to hold eternal truths, that apparently cannot withstand the assault of a woman in pants.
Posted by: Jeff | May 23, 2013 at 07:31 AM
"You can still ride a bike anywhere, including the Jewland section of Williamsburg, notwithstanding the threat of harassment by the frumma cavemen."
"But why do these Neanderthals hate bikes that much?"
Guys, I forget - can you hunt a mastodon on Shabbat? Does that qualify as "food preparation"?
(Meanwhile, I keep missing the comments posted by the other David. I'd like to see what you all are responding to. They must be gems.)
Posted by: Jeff | May 23, 2013 at 07:34 AM
("Daisy Bell" a/k/a "A Bicycle Built for Two", Harry Dacre)
Satmar Hasid,
You do not have a clue
You’re half crazy
Bicycles don’t hurt you
It’s just a little kiosk
It’s not like it’s a big mosque
So don’t riot
Just keep quiet
They don’t need to hate the Jews.
Posted by: Sarek | May 23, 2013 at 11:49 AM