The Blue Haze
The West Indian Day Parade gets a lot of attention every year. Whether that's because it's actually the largest parade event in NYC or whether it's the expectation of violence I can't say. Carey Gabay, 43, the first deputy general counsel for the Empire State Development Corp., was shot in the head on Bedford Ave. near Sullivan Place in Crown Heights at 3:41 a.m. while he and his brother tried to take cover from the gang gunfire. He grew up in that neighborhood so being out at J'ouvert is what is done. This was during J'ouvert last year. Unfortunately because of incidents like this many cops lined the parade route. I was happy to see NYC's finest not because I fear violence or crime during Carnival but because I want them to see my people in one of the greatest creative endeavors of the year in NYC.