Senator Adam's response to recent shooting

senator adams

Subject: Senator Adam's response to recent shooting

Several days ago our community suffered another homicide. It occurred on Prospect Place near Classon Avenue. One community resident voiced frustration by asking what Eric Adams intended to do about the increase in crime.

Consider that question for a moment, and while you are reflecting, let me share a significant detail with you. The shooting took place only doors from my own home. I live on Prospect Place. In fact, I have resided there for about twenty years.

When I first moved onto the block, few dared walk down it, and living there was a perilous option. However, a few of us resolved that we would not turn over our street to thugs. We organized, and we fought to take our community back.

One clear lesson was learned: if we wanted to live on a safe block, we had to build a safe city. Our communities do not have either real or imaginary demarcation lines, and criminals do not confine themselves to one geographic area. Thugs don’t care whom they harm or where they commit their crimes.

I know this well because 22 years of my life were spent wearing a bulletproof vest, standing on street corners to protect our city from those who wanted to harm the decent people who make up its neighborhoods. I did this both as a cop and as a private citizen.

Many are aware of the numerous volunteer hours that I have given and will continue to give to anti-violence measures.

If we want safe communities, we will have to build them, not blog them. No neighborhood can be safe if the only proffered solution is to look for a politician or the police to do it for us. Just as there are prerequisites for being a responsible elected official, there are also requirements for being a conscientious citizen.

It takes teamwork to make a community safe. I know first hand, because I was a member of such a team in this neighborhood. If you are interested in uniting with me in an effort to make our streets and homes safe, I ask you to attend an emergency meeting (see below for venue and time).

There is no courage in staying at home and blogging about our complaints. Bravery involves facing down the thuggery that can destroy our community. I anticipate your partnership in making our district safe for raising children and families.

Best

Eric
NYS Senator

Meeting 1
Monday, October 19, 2009
7pm - 8:30pm
Hope City Empowerment Center
650 Washington Avenue (between Bergen & Dean Street)

OR

Meeting 2
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
7pm - 8:30pm
District Office (572 Flatbush Avenue near Midwood Street)

asil

Subject: Re: Senator Adam's response to recent shooting

Senator Adams wrote: If we want safe communities, we will have to build them, not blog them. No neighborhood can be safe if the only proffered solution is to look for a politician or the police to do it for us. Just as there are prerequisites for being a responsible elected official, there are also requirements for being a conscientious citizen.

Thank you. This is right on.

I will be at one of the meetings. Anyone else?

tsarina

Yes!!! I will be there too. I was a little taken aback by the bloggers comment of asking what Senator Adams would do. Senator Adams reply is right on the money.

domino

Glad to see a politician taking it direct to the people and drawing a common sense line - safe communities need to be built, not just discussed. Not a constituent but Sen. Adams sounds like you rock.

catwalkertexasranger

Sen. Adams speaks for lots of people from the area. I too am disgusted with the terror created buy thugs and the drug buying byproducts that are on the streets. Phone calls to the police are an action lots of residents consider all they can do, if we know that there are 100's of thousands of dollars laundered in bodegas using state benefit cards down to petty things like selling "loosies" why does law enforcement give these people a place of business in plain sight? Gun abatement should be left up to law enforcement and friends and family members of those who possess firearms. These meetings should include tactics a mother can use if her son or daughter keeps an illegal gun in their home. These out reach meetings are an good response from the community residents..

d-miriam

Is there a way to also post this on the Prospect Heights message board? I think a lot of people who reside there would also be interested in attending one of these meetings.

Thanks.

MOD

Multiple posts are not allowed but seeing these meetings are coming up very soon I will sticky this post to keep it on top.

won't ub my nabor

Well said!

carnivore

Any follow-up?

How did this go?

asil

I got stuck at work and was unable to attend.

Would also be interested in hearing how it went.