In a Brooklyn neighborhood, there is controversy over a makeshift fishing pond that was supposed to bring the community together but instead led to protests from residents.
Residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant decided to convert a leaking fire hydrant at the corner of Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street into a sort of aquarium.
Video footage shows dozens of goldfish swimming in the shallow water, along with trash in the tree pit on the sidewalk.
Jequan Irving, 47, and his neighbors bought 100 common goldfish from a nearby pet store for $16 and threw them into the pool of fire hydrant water. They named the pond the Bed-Stuy Goldfish Pond.
“We all got together to do something different for the community. We decided to spice it up a little bit,” Irving said. The New York Times.
Residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant decided to convert a leaking fire hydrant at the corner of Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street into a goldfish pond
Video shows dozens of goldfish swimming in the shallow water, along with trash in the tree pit on the sidewalk
“It’s the fish that requires the least maintenance. We’re going to put some algae in here, and underground lights here.”
However, the fish’s presence has sparked debate over animal abuse and gentrification in the historically black neighborhood.
Two local residents, Emily Campbell and Max David, carried out a ‘raid’ on Wednesday to save some of the fish.
Using nets and plastic bags, they retrieved about 30 fish from the five-centimetre-deep water.
“I’m very aware that it can paint a picture of a white yuppie coming here and telling a guy who’s lived in the neighborhood his whole life that he doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Campbell told The Associated Press.
Jequan Irving (pictured), 47, and his neighbors bought 100 common goldfish from a nearby pet store for $16 and threw them into the water
Two local residents, Emily Campbell and Max David (pictured), rescue some of the fish using nets and plastic bags
‘I can understand that. I just don’t want to see 40 fish suffocate in a pool of water because of their own excrement.’
“We tried to explain that we are on the same side and that we think it is a great idea to have the fish for the neighbourhood, but unfortunately it is harmful to the fish themselves,” David said.
Irving and his neighbors emphasize that they do not mistreat the fish and they take turns making sure they are well cared for.
“We bought these fish and fixed this place up with our hard-earned money,” Irving said. “And then they came and stole them.”
Residents said they feed the fish three times a day and take turns monitoring the fish.
“I feel like we’re helping the goldfish,” said resident Hajj-Malik Lovick, 47. “These people came here and just want to change things.”
Veterinarian Julius Tepper, who runs the Long Island Fish Hospital, said NBC New York There are dangers associated with keeping fish in the makeshift pond.
Neighbors insist they don’t mistreat the fish and take turns caring for them
Veterinarian Julius Tepper, who runs the Long Island Fish Hospital, said there are dangers associated with keeping the fish in the makeshift pond
“You have pollution issues that can be a problem. You have raptor issues,” Tepper said.
“There is a chance they will survive, but it is certainly not an ideal living environment.”
Crews from the Department of Environmental Protection arrived Thursday to turn off the dripping fire hydrant, but Irving quickly returned to reopen the valve.
“As soon as the temperature and conditions change, we take them out and give them to the children in the community,” he said.