Tensions had built for months. No one remembers exactly when it appeared but from the day it did the black Toyota Camry with expired out-of-state plates did not move. Some suggested it could not drive anymore, and this might explain how an elderly and disturbed woman ended up living on that spot, in that car, for at least 6 months. The car did actually. When she would get agitated, which was frequent, the vehicle would shake and rock to the aggressive movements she made within. Hours upon hours she spent sitting, moving about, talking into a phone (to anybody?) until complaints came in. Abandoned vehicle. Homeless assistance. Illegal parking. Whatever anyone could think of, the complaints poured in. Her agita crept out of the vehicle and into the lives of people who lived on the block. Just a couple of days ago I saw her somewhat far afield, on 37th Avenue, screaming and hollering obscenities at any and all who happened to cross her tortured path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Wednesday when I happened to step outside and spotted an ambulance and EMS vehicles near the intersection where she had been parked for so many months. This had to be in response to her, I thought. Sure enough, I don’t know who I was talking to but I think he was EMS. He was standing near the ambulance into which, I later inferred, the woman was going to be involuntarily taken away. He knew the whole story, saying it was “heartbreaking” that this woman doesn’t want the help she needs. Her car was surrounded by over 100 NYPD cops and people from Homeless Services, HRA, and other agencies. She was absolutely ambushed. One moment she must have thought everything was fine, she was at home, safe in her car. In the moment I happened to appear the cops were literally prying her out of the vehicle. I can never forget the sound of her screaming voice, that sound of bloody murder if you will take me away against my will.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For all the screaming she had no voice whatsoever in this process. Plans had been laid out and executed and she had nowhere to escape. I am too sensitive for this shit. I had to cut the conversation with the EMS guy. I didn’t want to start crying in front of a stranger. My heart tightened. Vomiting felt appealing. But it was never lost on me that something had to be done. She had become a menace, I mean seriously. Screaming obscenities at strangers, throwing punches into the air, behaving in ways that could only escalate and threaten the safety of those around her and of herself. \u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the reality of the capture, the ambush, whatever you want to call it, was almost savage. This was the Mayor’s involuntary removal of homeless program, when it was determined that an individual could not properly take care of themselves. This was that program in action. As I left the scene I assumed the woman had to be sedated, like a wild mule. In those moments her life was over. Her freedom was gone. She must have thought she was doing just fine until the car door was forced open and she was pulled out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As ugly a scene as it was it had to happen. I believe that. If not this exact circumstance then something had to happen. THe black Camry is gone. The parking space is free for others now. The street sweepers can do their work unobstructed. No trace of the woman’s experience spent living in that car remains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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