Erin Miller

About two weeks ago I walked out of our apartment building to take our two large dogs out for a quick walk when I realized that both Broadway and the street that leads to the park were completely full of police and police cars, both undercover, and in uniform. Apparently the police busted at $4 million dollar a year cocaine ring based out of the bodega across the street from my building.
“Buyers would frequent the Fiesta Meat Market at 3661 Broadway, where they could order cocaine with their cold cuts,” explained the police commissioner.
Spectators (and probably would-be customers) filled the streets making it difficult to negotiate my 180 lbs of dog across Broadway. An tall man wearing an impressively heavy gold chain around his neck offered to escort me across the street, which I thought was odd until I saw his badge tucked into his waist. Apparently the gentleman was one of the undercover cops that made some of the 24 undercover purchases from the bodega.
I use to go to the bodega on occasion because they sold all sorts of fruits and vegetables late into the night. Occasionally when I got home from work I would want a banana, and I could tie Spot up outside and run in to get one. Of course, there was the risk of accidentally getting a platano (plantain), though I don’t know who would ever do that. I mean I spent several months living in Central America and I can tell you they look completely different. Anyway, I am sure if anyone ever did do that it would be really embarrassing. The bodega also sold my favorite hazelnut coffee creamer and I haven’t been able to find it on my block since they closed so I have been forced to drink my coffee with original-flavored creamer, and it really isn’t as good.
Anyway, if you want to read more about the rather comic story:
http://www.nysun.com/article/63127
Grandma, don’t worry about me, everything is fine and I am safe and living in a building with lots of friendly people and there are generally lots of police keeping on eye on things on the block.