Meet Michael Avila, owner of The Coffee Shop in Bushwick, New York, and perpetrator of a number of moron moves.
Moron move #1: Use your business’s Instagram account to spread your vile antisemitism.
Some people use Instagram to post interesting pictures or promote their business. Other people use Instagram to promote the fact that they don’t care for “the Jews.” Whoever is running the Instagram account for The Bushwick Coffee Shop (203 Wilson Avenue), most likely owner Michael Avila, who posted the same rant to Facebook, took time out of posting selfies, inspirational image macros and coffee pictures to post a picture of the words “greedy infiltrators” and then commented with a long screed about Jews buying Bushwick and how glad he was his neighbor didn’t sell to Jews, who “function via greed and dominance.”
Moron move #2: After having the obvious pointed out to you, leave post up for all to see, even over two days later (update: just taken down within the last few hours but screenshot goodness follows)
Ok, what I REALLY want to talk about is how to consider the Jews (oh yes, let’s talk about it) who want a piece or all of Bushwick. My stubborn Bushwick-oroginal neighbor is a hoarder and a mess- true.. and he’s refused selling his building for lots and lots of money. His building and treatment of it makes the hood look much less attractive and I would like him to either clean up or move along. BUT NOT be bought out by Jews however, who in this case (and many cases separate- SORRY!) function via greed and dominance. A laymen’s terms version of a story would simply be- buying buildings, cutting apartments in half, calling them luxurious, and ricing them at double. Bushwick IS rising and progressing, and bettering, but us contributing or just appreciating this rise and over all positive change do not want to be lumped with greedy infiltrators. Two jewish young men with generally rude behavior (one more than the other) ordered coffee, and explained how they were looking for this neighbor of mine. I knew what was up and asked where are they visiting from. When asked where I’m from I firmly and confidently said “HERE. This is my neighborhood, it’s where I come from.” They began to lighten up and almost kiss as a bit. I openly said “looking to buy the building?” They said yes and I explained how this man has been asked to sell for large amounts of money many times- which is true. So I said “Good luck with that. But if you’re going to come here ya gotta be nice”. If you know me you’ll know what my eyes looked like. You know!- when they have the look of death within them. They one guy smiled. And they both knew where I stood. The one who had a slightly more aggressive behavior let that go fast after our initial meeting n which they experienced my confidence… and then at the end gave me his card and asked if I’d contact him when I see my neighbor. He said.. and I quote “I’ll treat you right” Whatever exactly that meant. But I did say if you come here you have to be good. We’ll see what happens from here.
Moron move #3: Try to to explain yourself.
After a flood of negative responses to the post, Avila told DNAinfo New York Thursday that he was “misunderstood.”
“I’m anti-Zionism. It’s about politics, it’s about greed,” he said. “I’m certainly not anti-Semitic. That would stand against everything I believe I stand for.”
(Anti-Zionist-not-antisemitic. Got it?)
The post was intended to create awareness about greedy landlords, he said.
People “are taking it quite personally” even though his post did not apply to all Jewish people, he said. Many Jewish people may have similar feelings about wanting the same “beautiful community in Bushwick” that he does, Avila added.
“I think some of them took it very personally because they identify so much with their race. It’s fine to have pride in their race. But you’re more than that. Before that, you’re human,” he explained.
“I think they took it personally even if it doesn’t to apply to them. Sometimes I feel misunderstood. I’m fine with being misunderstood. I’m quite used to it. I don’t really mind.”
—-
But with the neighborhood’s growth, “I also think there’s people taking advantage,” he said.
“I think there’s a difference between progression and greed,” he said. “It really isn’t a race thing or a culture thing. But it tends to be the Jews [who are buying up properties in Bushwick].”
Moron move #4: Post more antisemitic things to your business’s Facebook page.
(At least we now know which kinds of Jews he loves. The Israel-hating Neturei Karta and antisemite Brother Nathaniel Kapner).
I give Michael Avila’s business another month or two. He may then need to go back to jewelry.
I would just advise he stay away from diamonds.
