Park Slope Parents Of Partying Private School Kids Demand 'Times' Retraction

abalk — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:00:52 EDT

Last week's very special issue in the New York Times about seventeen-year-olds in the city caused something of a scandal with a certain set of Park Slope parents—a group usually known for their calm, undemanding approach to life. David Helene, a resident of Cobble Hill and a senior at Packer Collegiate Institute, discussed the differences between his school and rival Brooklyn institution Berkeley Carroll: "I don't go to Park Slope much. I have friends who live there, but I think the kids who go to Berkeley Carroll are kind of cocky. The partying is also way more intense there than over here. They drink a lot more than we do, and I've heard that the drug use may be a little more." And now there's big trouble.

That sounds like fairly innocuous stuff to us. And we're sure he has knowledge of what he speaks! But the horrified Park Slope parents went crazy and demanded both that Helene be disciplined by Packer Collegiate and that the Times issue a retraction. Here's the happy result!

From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:09 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Recent Article in the New York Times

Thursday - September 20, 2007

In an interview in the City section of the New York Times (9.16.07), a senior attending the Packer Collegiate Institute made serious comments about Berkeley Carroll students. The Packer student has since apologized for his remarks as has Bruce Dennis, Head of Packer. In a phone conversation this week with the New York Times where we expressed our concerns, Berkeley Carroll was assured that an editor's note will appear in the City section this Sunday, because the comments were based on unsubstantiated evidence. This entire experience has been unfortunate; nevertheless, we are confident that some valuable lessons have been learned. We appreciate the follow-up actions taken by the Packer Collegiate Institute and by the New York Times.

Poor kid! We hope they didn't punish him too severely. Anyway, everyone knows that all the real drug use happens at St. Ann's, right?

Remembering Braunstein: The Thrill of the Misguided Chase

Jessica — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:21:00 EST

Now that sexual assault suspect Peter Braunstein is in custody, the real fun begins: reflecting on the past two months' search and angrily pointing fingers at every misstep along the way. Hurrah!

As we shuffled through the sick nostalgia, we immediately thought of the Cobble Hill incident on November 17, when the owner of the Bococa Caf claimed that Braunstein came into his shop and quickly bought a cup of coffee. The sighting triggered at least a week of focus around the area, and the cutesy neighborhood was subsequently ruined with Braunstein's unattractive "wanted" posters.

According to a helpful Daily News timeline, however, Braunstein hadn't been anywhere near New York since November 2. Which means that wonderfully boho owner of the Bococa Caf was also wonderfully mistaken, despite his confident, front-page assertions otherwise.

Fucking hipsters, always talking out of their asses.

'I'm Man World Is Looking For [NYDN]
Earlier: Peter Braunstein in Cobble Hill?
This Is Why They Haven't Caught Peter Braunstein

Gawker: cobble hill

Park Slope Parents Of Partying Private School Kids Demand 'Times' Retraction

Remembering Braunstein: The Thrill of the Misguided Chase