safety at grand/putnam

I think with walking in any part of the nabe it's more important to be tuned into your surroundings then it is to be tuned into your iPod or your cell phone.

We've had a neighborhood meeting with the precinct about the drug situation on grand and putnam. The police are aware of the dealing there and they have been trying to push the dealers away. Grand street was closed to vehicle traffic for several months last year and the drug activity quieted down. But the situation seems to go up and down. The dealers seem to leave the neighborhood people alone, but as a previous poster mentioned, there has been several shootings on that corner. It's a new york situation, good neighbors and bad neighbors live shoulder to shoulder, you have to keep your eyes open and attend the local block assn. meetings. Good Luck! There are alot of good things about the neighborhood that makes up for the downsides

What was the story regarding that shooting on Gates and Downing? I never found out. Thanks.

Kevin_on_Putnam wrote: [quote=jimmylegs]Kevin, how has it been since they took the barricade down? i moved from the area right around that time and have always wondered if it had a lasting effect. it's a really nice block in any case, and it's good sign that more attention has been focused there crime-wise in the past year.

It's been up and down, when there's a police presence, it's quiet. Then the police will go away it seems like the dealers come back. I guess the real test will be the summer. When the dealers are gone, the residents of the building bring out their lawn chairs and relax around the building, they don't do that if the dealers are there.

The residents on this block don't want anything different. They were complaining to the news about the baracades and police but at the same time they don't want the drug dealers there. Make up your mind people.

my experience as a swf living near the corner of putnam and fulton is that the dealers totally mind their own business and want to be left alone (obviously). i am pretty sure they recognize me as someone who lives in the area and i haven't had any problems. i try to stay relaxed but alert when i walk home from the subway at night. i know some people suggest taxis when it gets late, but i've never felt uncomfortable enough to consider that. on these boards, someone once said "the more people who decide to take public transportation at night, the safer" and i completely agree. i've lived here for a year and i'm very happy here.