Not just Labor Day

So yesterday was Labor Day, a holiday many celebrate by going to the beach or having a cookout.

It was also reason# 264 why I'm happy I'm not with the NYPD anymore. See, yesterday is the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn. And while the news covers it with the normal fluff and pomp, "It's a pageant on wheels at this colorful, unique cultural celebration." It's more like a riot on wheels.

The Festival starts the night before with a band concert called the Juvee. The band I escorted one time was a shopping cart with pans that some guy banged and a bunch of scantily clad women. A bunch of violence happens on the overnight, and it's totally out of control. Suffice it to say, if this was held on 5th Ave, it would be held for one more year.

My old friend I work midnights with, Nate, sent me this clip up on Youtube. He said, "You get what you pay for." This in reference to the low cops salaries.



Yes, that's snowfence. It's how they corral the people in the parade. They really use snowfence. Note the guy in the light blue polo behind the cop. He works for Community Affairs. Those guys have their hands full that day.

Ahh Brooklyn. I've got a bunch of funny stories about those nights. My favorite involving a man with sunglasses on in the dead of night, covered in motor oil and baby powder, humping the street. Oh yeah, totally naked. It's not just a job, it's a stand-up routine.