Addressing problems in the neighborhood proactively

anonymous

So what r we waiting 4.
Make the residents aware (Flyers, website, word of mouth).
Then, lets alert some of the local stations, James' office, DA Hines, etc.
We should not treat this (Daves mugging, quality of life issues, etc) like some small wound and put a band-aid over it, thinking it will go away. Because it won't.
Were you guys aware that La Taqueria was delivering once again to our neighborhood (But only before 5pm and never beyond Washington - That's Crown Hts anyway), but as of last week they have ceased.
We attempted to place a call for delivery last friday and they simply said not anymore.
What's next? If we sit around this summer and do nothing, we'll be preparing all winter to deal with crimes the following summer.
As other neighborhoods gentrify, the low-income class are being pushed to CH with resentment. A a result, you have high dese issues, including young teens that hang out in large groups causing mischief. I know this because I've been there, done that.
I get a vibe from this site that the residents care. Enough said

anonymous

the crime is disturbing and needs to be addressed by prct 77. the noise as much as it bothers me is second on the list.

lunchmeat

I agree that we need to be proactive in our neighborhood, but i am uncomfortable with inviting a higher police presence because of the NYPD's history of racial/political and other profiling. When i think proactive i think we need to come together as people, as building tenants, neighbors, friends and business owners. Inviting others to "fix" the problem still escapes the idea of responsibility we're talking about. It is not the police, or our elected officials, its us. I don't suddenly want our actions to result in the "cleanup" of the neighborhood, only increasing tensions, we all have the power to organize and make prospect heights a comfortable place for us ALL to call home

stacey

I agree with you lunchmeat but I would like to see more "beat" cops in our neighborhood. These cops tend to get to know the people and their situations.

whyfi

I think that being proactive is a great idea. I’ve been on the board for a whopping 24 hours, but I've been in the neighborhood for 2 years (I wasn't aware of community’s online community until a couple of days ago). To be honest, my wife and I haven’t been too active in the community because we were uncertain about how long we’d be staying in the neighborhood… until very recently. The way things are shaping up, we’re going to be here a while, and we’re thrilled. At the same time, we now realize that we have more at stake and thus, more responsibility- no more shrugging off the stupid stuff, the stuff that chomps or nibbles at the edges of our comfort level, our community, our home...

If you need an extra body for a walk down to the precinct, I’m there and I’m sure my wife will be, too… If you need fliers, I have some desktop publishing skilz that need a little polishing and the software to get the job done… if you want “Neighborhood Watch,” signs, I lifted a few off of some less-than-vigilant blocks… and I also make a mean batch of chili (non-vegan/vegetarian- sorry folks)… don’t know if that will help, but I thought I’d throw it out there.

daveb

lunchmeat wrote: I agree that we need to be proactive in our neighborhood, but i am uncomfortable with inviting a higher police presence because of the NYPD's history of racial/political and other profiling. When i think proactive i think we need to come together as people, as building tenants, neighbors, friends and business owners. Inviting others to "fix" the problem still escapes the idea of responsibility we're talking about. It is not the police, or our elected officials, its us. I don't suddenly want our actions to result in the "cleanup" of the neighborhood, only increasing tensions, we all have the power to organize and make prospect heights a comfortable place for us ALL to call home

Totally, I just think we need to build a voice and develop as a networked community.

I think I'd still like to see some beat cops, but perhaps both the profiling and lack of policing are both things that can be addressed.

emily

Perhaps we could concentrate some of our efforts on the traffic issues. Everyone seems to agree that it's a problem, and it's more political than strictly police-oriented.

alex

lunchmeat wrote: I agree that we need to be proactive in our neighborhood, but i am uncomfortable with inviting a higher police presence because of the NYPD's history of racial/political and other profiling. When i think proactive i think we need to come together as people, as building tenants, neighbors, friends and business owners. Inviting others to "fix" the problem still escapes the idea of responsibility we're talking about. It is not the police, or our elected officials, its us. I don't suddenly want our actions to result in the "cleanup" of the neighborhood, only increasing tensions, we all have the power to organize and make prospect heights a comfortable place for us ALL to call home

What do you propose we do to deal with crime, other then getting the police to take action?

carnivore

Maybe we can all start by promising not to commit any.

lunchmeat

What do you propose we do to deal with crime, other then getting the police to take action?

What i'm trying to say is that its not just a matter of asking the police to increase patrols. As i said previously we all have to stand and work together. This is our neighborhood, not the 77th's and therefore we should be putting work and effort into it. Sometimes, yes, police are appropriate and neccesary, but i think its equally if not more important to work on building community. Would you neighbor commit a crime against you if he knew your name and you we're friendly with each other? probably not, and we have a lot of work to do to cut across assumptions based on race, class, sexuality, gender, etc. I don't have all the answers, and i can't speak for everyone, but i want to broaden the conversation so that the police are but one of many strategies and responses.

jamesondean

Does anyone know who to contact in the 77th regarding community relations? It might help if we *asked* the police what we can do to help, rather than just coming off as complainers. We could volunteer to spread the word to neighbors on any suggestions they have, and add to the number of eyes on the watch. Having everyone on the same page as far as how to report various problems would probably be welcome at the station as well. For all I know, there may be a community group or groups which already liase with the cops in this fashion, and we could get in touch with them. Anyone?

flbostic

So last night, I'm walking down Washington, crossing Lincoln. The light changed and my mother called my cell phone as I got halfway across, and I'm hurrying across the street, within a couple of feet of the curb... a silver/gray sedan honks at me, and then clips me as he's making a right onto Washington. I catch myself, stand up, check my elbow (which hit his rear tire) to see if it's more than a kind of rugburn (tireburn?) and it's not. A guy in a mercedez stops and says, "Did he hit you?" I nod. He takes off. He follows the sedan, gets its plate number, pulls over, tells some police officers, waits for me to get down the block, gives me his number, makes sure I'm all right. The cops look for the guy, circle back to take my statement. The fire company pulls up to check me, cleaned off the grease on my elbow. Some EMTs from Presbyterian pull up to take my blood pressure and give me some ice for the elbow. My friends arrived at the same time all the lights and sirens are going to make sure I'm all right. Since I was, if I were more cynical, I'd say it was a waste of tax dollars. Except it seems to me that I was close to the fire house and the police station, and my neighbors acted fast to call for help - doing so BEFORE they found out if I was okay. Which I'll prefer any day over ignoring it and doing nothing.

What's my point?
1. Some jackass decided to just not even try not to hit me.
2. Then he took off.
3. But a helpful person went to get the license plate - just to get the license plate, not to make any trouble.
4. The owner of the bodega at the corner, and the guys standing there all asked if I was okay.
5. NY's finest, bravest, and the EMTs (nicest?) were nice, helpful, concerned, and thorough.

... So now I'm pretty convinced I picked the right neighborhood. And, if the officers I met are any indication at all, I think the precinct would feel supported by those of us who live here who are experiencing these things, and who want to help.

And we can add this to one more reason why my parents wish I didn't live in New York, and one more reason I'm glad I do.