A fight broke out at a news conference by elderly Korean gardeners upset that New York City took control of their park in Flushing, Queens. Credit: The Wall Street JournalWhen I read that fights broke out among an elderly group over a New York garden, I thought there must be a deeper reason for this dispute. But, no, it really was over a garden.
“Violent fights, death threats and shouting matches, sometimes involving fistfuls of dirt, have become routine at Evergreen Community Garden, leading to volunteer guards at the entrance and police patrols. And almost all of the tangles involve elderly Korean gardeners, officials and witnesses say,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
Here’s some background on the land: These senior citizens had transformed the once trash-filled area into a thriving garden. But when the parks department found out the group had been selling produce improperly, they took back the space and gave it to its GreenThumb network.
I understand being unhappy with a decision, maybe even protesting, but there are definitely better ways to resolve it than what the garden’s former manager did after it was taken away. The 75-year-old man grabbed a lighter and a container of gasoline, threatening to light himself on fire if he didn’t get his job back at the garden. This brought in a negotiation team and caused the local schools to be locked down.
Now, there are guards watching the area. Aren’t gardens supposed to be tranquil and peaceful?
I guess this just goes to show people are passionate about their gardens at any age.
