Thurs, 5/20: Crown Heights Emergency Town Hall Meeting

brooklynleather

EMERGENCY TOWN HALL MEETING



Meeting Date: Thursday May 20, 2010



Topic: Addressing the evening mugging by three individuals and brutal beating of a resident on Lincoln Place, who was sent to the hospital and treated for a concussion and cuts to his body. Also, increased shootings in Crown Heights

Location: 284 New York Avenue (entrance on Lincoln Place)

Time: 6:30pm

Guest Speakers: Captain Elvio Capocci

New Commanding officer of the 77th Precinct

NYS Senator Eric Adams

NYS Assemblyman Karim Camara

District Leader Jesse Hamilton



Agenda: Discussion on how to address the rising crime issues in our neighborhood to protect our families. Also, the creation of a volunteer community car patrol, with funding from Assemblyman Karim Camara.

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From the president of the Kingston-Bergen Block Association:

Subject: New Leader at 77th Precinct

Captain Elvio Capocci is the new captain for the 77th Precinct.
He has been there now for two weeks.
Outgoing Deputy Inspector John Cosgrove thoroughly instructed him as to the active investigations and trouble spots within our precinct.
I have attended at least two (2) meetings where Captain Capocci met with the community. He has stated that he will run the precinct such that his door is always open to meet with the community. He stresses that the community must alert him to any new (or ongoing) matters within the precinct, otherwise his response will be that he wasn't notified. So therefore, it is important for EVERYONE who wants to know what is going on in the community and have a say in how the policing that our tax dollars pay for is run within our community, to come to the "emergency town hall meeting", community precinct meetings, or community board meetings.

The precinct community council meeting is held every second Monday of the month at 7:30; location to be determined by the precinct community board.
The next, and last meeting before summer break, will be held at:
77th Precinct
127 Utica Avenue
(corner of Bergen Street)
Monday, June 7, 2010 7:30 PM


Community Board 8 meetings are held monthly on the 2nd Thursday of the month. The next, and last meeting before summer break, will be held at:
Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation
727 Classon Avenue
(bet. Park & Prospect Place)
Thursday, June 10, 2010 7:00 PM

jeffrey

For anyone that attended, how did the meeting go?

Any key points made by the new Captain and/or any of the pols?

Any ideas come up or items for follow-up, perhaps of the volunteer patrol?

Or more info or feedback about recent events as mentioned in the agenda above?

Thanks in advance.

mha

Listen, at the risk of bringing secular hellfire down on myself, I really believe that the power to alter this situation resides with the cops. The Mayor's Office can easily go into that corner bodega and write those dudes up for any series of firecode or health violations; also, they could patrol the heck out of the neighborhood. I really believe that to a certain degree the level of drug activity on Franklin has to happen because it is the least of all the potential evils that would exist, but for a lil' weed slingin'. Weed is a pacifier. It's the selling of it that causes conflicts between rival uncouth businessmen. The guys doing the selling are otherwise under-employable: Selling weed IS their marketable skill. If you had a choice of being hit with a stick, a whip or an iron rod which would you choose? You would choose NOT the iron rod. Well, weed is NOT the iron rod.

There is only one solution, and I am confident that public policy and market forces are working in tandem towards that end. My advice: lay low and enjoy your life. Stay out of harm's way by avoiding conflict at all costs, including your ego.


"The deeper our compassion,
the greater our wisdom,
and the lesser our vexations."

jeffrey

Unfortunate:

"'Anonymous' from the I Love Franklin Avenue blog wrote:
The 77th was a no-show at the town hall meeting. The story at the beginning (when the television were cameras there) was that the precinct knew about the meeting, but said they would not attend if the media were present. After the cameras left the story was that the precinct's higher-ups would not allow them to attend given that it was a billed as a "town hall" as opposed to a "block association" meeting. Next time the organizers will be sure to bill it as a "block association" meeting. One participant who called the 77th before the meeting to inquire about when and where was told that there was no emergency meeting. She immediately called precinct community council president Caldwell who informed her otherwise.

MAY 21, 2010 1:21 AM

Any more details? Did a discussion happen along any lines?

tsarina

The police didnt show. The meeting was advertised as a town hall meeting and the media (Channel 12) was there, and the new captain is not allowed to show because there are certain protocols...... With that said - There were a number of speakers and the gist was to get people to get involved. Get out on the street and know who is hanging out on your block, know your neighbors and call the police en mass to get situations taken care of.
There were lots of interesting people, and the brother and grandmother of the man murdered on Franklin Ave, also had a good chat with the mother of Benny Laight (sp?) who was an incredibly, smart and accomplished student who tutored children thruout the neighborhood and influenced and was admired by many and was murdered three years ago. His murderer has finally been arrested because somebody finally gave information to the police.
Kareem Kamara is working on getting vehicles to help the community patrols which hopefully will be organized.
And that is it in something bigger than a nutshell

mr. met

wow, the new captain of the 77th sure made an impression!

jeffrey

^ that is no joke.

mr. met

Get out on the street and know who is hanging out on your block, know your neighbors and call the police en mass to get situations taken care of.

while this may help, it's starting to sound pretty tired.

the brother and grandmother of the man murdered on Franklin Ave

did they give any details on the shooting?

whynot_31

it's important to realize that we are dealing with issues that have been around a really long time.

I feel folks have a burst of energy as a result of recent crimes, but need some perspective.

....the cynic in me says there will be a burst of activity and then burnout.

The optimist in me says this neighborhood now has more political capital and wealth than it has in recent history. ...maybe we will get something done. Maybe we now merit attention.....

jeffrey

mr. met: See here for more (unverified) discussion relating to the Franklin/Lincoln shooting:
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=687082#687082

tsarina

no details on the murder. and they didnt get to speak.

jeffrey

Spotted just now on ilovefranklinave's blog, here's an article about the Town Hall Meeting in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=31&id=35585

whynot_31

--I thought I'd pass on this info from a listserv I am on (the seminar hasn't happened yet, but I predict it will conclude will "long term problems can only be address through long term solutions"). Here's the speel:

Trauma has a pervasive impact on all of us and can alter the world view about relationships with ourselves, others and communities. The CMHS National Center for Trauma-Informed Care in collaboration with the National Leadership Council on African American Behavioral Health is pleased to announce a free webinar on strategies to incorporate a community based approach to rebuild safe, healthy communities and address challenges necessary to promote community connections. The webinar is a unique learning opportunity to engage communities in dialogue about strategies of empowerment that can promote healing and restore hope in the midst of violence.

“In the Trenches: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Violence Prevention”


June 2, 2010

2:00pm to 3:30pm ET


Guest Speakers

Dr. John Rich, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Theodore Corbin, M.D. M.P.P.


Center for Non-Violence and Social Justice

Drexel University



At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

v Understand key principles to creating trauma-informed communities;

v Articulate community based approach to violence prevention; and

v Identify strategies to facilitate community connections.



To Register:

Participation in this webinar is free of charge but please RSVP no later May 31 to Cathy Cave at ccave@ahpnet. com with a valid email address for notification of webinar access.



Audience:
Participation is open to stakeholders interested in addressing trauma, violence and justice related issues that impact mental health and well-being of their communities.


We hope you will be able to join us for this very important learning experience.



Wanda Finch, LICSW, CAS

CDR, US Public Health Service

SAMHSA/CMHS/ DSSI

Community Support Programs Branch

1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 6-1012

Rockville, MD 20857

Telephone: (240)276-1916

Fax: (240)276-1970

Email: wanda.finch@ samhsa.hhs. gov