Stuff like this has always been going on in the outer boroughs. When NYC is at it's best, we are a city of immigrants living on top of each other, sometimes with discomfort. It's unfortunate that the neighborhoods have become so uniformly gentrified that there are now people taking iPhone photos and blogging about it in outrage.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Who comes up with this stuff...?

Birds are not typically decapitated? Since when?!?!? Obviously the "professor" hasn't seen many sacrifices, then... But, yeah, the offering is a bit confusing...

An offering to Yemaya or Olokun, who both are typically associated with the color blue, would've been left in the ocean. Which makes sense... but why did the same "scholar" mention this as likely an offering to Oshun, the orisha (deity) associated with rivers?

I'm just trying to understand things better... It's a little perplexing. If it was $5, maybe... since Oshun is associated with the number 5. Fine, I could see how someone might think that. But it was $6. And since when are "turkeys" considered something an offering to Oshun?

To me, the $6 plus the turkeys points to an offering to Shango... but what do I know? No matter how you look at it, this just sounds questionable to me.

And, yeah, I totally agree with the general sentiment as others, disposing of the animals, offerings, etc. should be done in a way that is both respectful to the religion as well as to those outside of the religious community... which means it shouldn't be left where it someone can see or smell it... and, ideally, it shouldn't be "trashy" (i.e. no plastic bags or any of that nonsense).

The goal with something like this is to show your respect/gratitude/etc. to the orisha you just received, who just helped you out with something major in your life, etc. Assuming this was indeed for Yemaya or Olokun, trashing up the beach and getting bad press for the religion isn't exactly all that respectful.

For future note, don't tie the cloth so tight next time. That way, if you drop it off a bridge, it all comes apart, the food and animal remains get dispersed, are eaten by the wish and wildlife, and the most someone finds washed up on the shore is a blue cloth and, if they are really lucky, those couple of bucks you tossed in as well... ;)

Maybe Oshun earned a tip.

There's bags of animals, feces, food, socks and other garbage laying all over the city...who cares who or what left them there? Pro-tip: If you don't want to be disgusted, don't open them.

gothamist hq is off casting proofreader spells again

Sounds like he discovered someone's dinner, that had yet to be made

Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park is run by some of the worst people I have ever met. My friends got married in the park last year and the employees shook us down for cash or the ceremony would not happen. I only hope that Santeria is real and the people who cast the spells are successful. F Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park they deserve it.

heehee.

love the photoshopped pic :)

Steve Harris needs to get a life.

I heard it's a Banksy.