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Teens Admit To PS 29 Fire "Accident," Parents "Donate" $50K
By
Ben Yakas
Published May 12, 2011
Modified May 12, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published May 12, 2011
Modified May 12, 2011
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Last week, just after midnight on Saturday, someone set fire to a recently renovated playground at P.S. 29 in Cobble Hill. Initially, it was speculated by residents that the fire was caused by "poorly behaved late-teenage kids," who may have been sparked by class resentment. It turned out that the fire was caused by one particular segment of the teenage population: Brats with parents who have big checkbooks.
According to the Brooklyn Eagle, a group of neighborhood teens admitted to their parents that they set the playground on fire, claiming, "It was an accident!" The guilt-stricken parents then immediately donated $50,000 to the school toward building a new playground. Lawyer Sam Gregory became the intermediary for the exchange, and told us that he was contacted by "a friend of a friend of the parents"; he added that the teens were "young kids," they were residents in the neighborhood, and that so far he was only dealing with the donation aspect of the case. He said the Fire Marshal's investigation is still ongoing, but he wouldn't be surprised if he were to represent the kids if they were charged with anything.
Gregory told the Brooklyn Eagle that the parents feel awful, and added: "The kids will be working a long time to pay their parents back. They’re terribly sorry...They didn’t intend to destroy the playground at the elementary school. They’re neighborhood kids. Teens. It was dumb, but it was not an intentional act.”
P.S. 29 Principal Melanie Raneri Woods also told the Brooklyn Eagle that they were looking forward to the money/restitution, but she didn't feel that alone was enough: “Our kids were devastated when they woke up on Mother’s Day. Our kids are worried it will happen again. They’re afraid and they’re asking, ‘Why did they burn the playground?’ Parents teach kids you have to be honest and admit when you make a mistake. Ultimately, the teens who did this need to take responsibility, come forward and apologize. That would bring closure. We would welcome that and encourage that."
At least we know the price of guilt in Cobble Hill is $50,000.
Tagged
accident
cobble hill
donation
fire
playground
ps 29
teenagers
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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