Police blocking Bergen st btw classon ave and washington

There was a shooting last night on Bergen by Grand. Per gothamist it was at 3:30, but I spoke with someone who heard it and he said 4:30. I also heard it was a homicide but I could be wrong.

By my count this is the 5th shooting/shots fired within the last two months within a 50 yard radius of grand ave and St. Marks.

The Knox hat factory seems pretty well established middle-class from what I've seen. There's a strip between Grand and Classon (opposite the Knox complex) that has a lot of late night activity that seems to go beyond just hanging out.

I'm finding myself waiting for the weather to cool off so the shooting season ends.

Yes, those are the 408 - 416 St. Marks buildings.

Some quick research seems to show they are run by a non-profit, which then contracts out the property management.

Name of non profit: Aspire Housing

http://apartable.com/buildings/408-st-marks-avenue-

Parent of Aspire Housing: Brooklyn Neighborhood Improvement Association

http://www.thebnia.org/programs

http://www.thebnia.org/subsidiaries

Aspire Houses HDFC, Inc. - BNIA founded Aspire Houses, HDFC in 2003 to acquire, develop and manage properties in Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant under HPD’s Third Party Transfer Program (TPTP). Aspire Houses was awarded 5 occupied (TPTP) and 2 vacant buildings under the Participating Loan Program (PLP). The 2 vacant buildings were rehabilitated and completed in August 2008. BNIA is currently working to relocate the tenants from occupied building in order commence the rehabilitation of the properties.

Based on the ramps, and appearance of this set of buildings, it seems as if they have already been rehabilitated.

Basically, non-profits are awarded buildings that have been legally taken over by HPD (for neglect, non-payment of taxes, etc), and then are given them to rehab under the condition that they use them to house people who are very poor.

Often, they are the same poor people who endured the building when it was in a state of disrepair under landlord which had them prior to HPD, -in this case- during the "Vietnam Period".

As a result of not being in an area with an established "voice", you are in a difficult situation.

The opening of 1000 Dean may bring some more people with power into the area. Such folks are able to pressure the police and get the attention of the nonprofit.

I'd start by secretly polling the people who live in the buildings to see whether they are annoyed at the nonprofit and the property manager for not taking action against the subset of the buildings that is disruptive neighbors and their guests.

Specifically, I'd start with any women you see coming home after working all day. They are easier to reach than the old people who tend to stay in their apartments.