Cobble Hill Parents Demand Justice From Playground-Burning Teens

Some people are more equal than others. Via Scent of a Woman

After a band of anonymous teenagers "accidentally" torched PS 29's playground in Cobble Hill two weeks ago, their well-heeled parents agreed to donate $50,000 to smooth things over. But for some, "you break it, you buy it" does not equate justice. "I don't think it's right to buy your kids out," the Brooklyn Paper quotes one Cobble Hill resident, who is totally lame and COME ON that slide totally burned your butt when it was sunny anyway.

School principal Melanie Woods appreciates the donation, but also feels that the teens should "take responsibility" for their actions and publicly apologize. Taking responsibility for their actions? They won't be doing that until after they move out of their parents house when they finally find a job at 36. Take it away, benevolent attorney for the parents: "[The fund] is a breath of fresh air—people who want to act honorably and responsibly." And you can't spell "honor" without "a-n-o-n-y-m-o-u-s!"

As amusing as the pictures of the neighborhood children gawking at their burned playground are, there should be a new one up by the end of the school year. The fire itself is still being investigated, and once finished "it will be up to the district attorney to pursue legal action." Yeah but what if the parents were to "donate" some "funds" to the DA's "Mercedes-Benz" charity for all the trouble they caused? Justice may be blind, but it doesn't have to be boring!

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By Christopher Robbins in News on May 16, 2011 5:04 PM

Comments [rss]

randomtransplant

Arson?

really? nobody wants to charge these little criminals with arson?

And what if somebody got burned? would their parents just up the compensation accordingly?

I don't give a damn what their names are. They should go through the justice system. Can you imagine getting stuck with one of these kids as your roommate in a few years when they go off to college?

Ugh. People's lives are ruined over so much less. Throw their parents in the clink for bribing officals and harboring fugitives, too.

randomtransplant

"Taking responsibility for their actions? They won't be doing that until
after they move out of their parents house when they finally find a job
at 36. "

Hahaha

Rocknrope

Screw these rich brats. Are they releasing the names for a public shaming at least?

GalBklyn

The parents are doing their kids no favors by buying them off.

At 15 they torched a playground. If they get away with it, what will their next gig be? The news is filled with the prep kids and how the "childish mistakes" turns tragic, impacting lives along the way.

And yep - if these kids were from the projects - they would be in a holding cell about now.

Charles Hynes needs to stand up and do the right thing. For everyone.

TeddyNYC

That depends on how well connected those parents are. I agree that just paying for replacing the equipment isn't enough. Community service and maybe some substantial fines to teach them a real lesson.

GalBklyn

Yep. and another Yep.

But it shouldn't be about connections. That's the sad thing. If it were some "kids from the projects..." I'm not sure community service would be an option given to them.