Community Corner
70th Precinct Community Council October Meeting
70th Precinct Community Council October Meeting
Against the somewhat macabre background of tombstones, skeletons, and cackling ghouls decorating the room for Halloween, officials attempted to address some of the community’s concerns about crime in our area at the recent 70th Precinct Community Council meeting.
Deputy Inspector Eric Rodriguez, Commanding Officer of the 70th, highlighted the fact that while crime in general is down 4% for the year, some crimes are still up. For instance, grand larcenies are up 28% from last year (although they were up 66% from last year in August, a drop he attributes to the work of the head of the Grand Larcenies Unit, Captain Taylor).
He announced that they have names and leads on all the shootings that have occurred in the area recently, and that an arrest has been made in the shooting by the McDonald's near Brooklyn College. He also mentioned that the boy who went missing a couple weeks ago was actually found in Hunts Point in the Bronx after riding the train up there.
Many local officials--or representatives of local officials--were in attendance, including:
-Ed Powell, President of 70th Precinct Community Council (who ran the meeting)
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-Ramona Cabrera, representing City Councilmember Mathieu Eugene (who later made an appearance)
-Ellie Slavin, Community Liason for Representative Yvette Clarke
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-Lauren Elvers Collins, Church Ave BID
There were several orders of business before Inspector Rodriguez began his remarks:
1) Asghar Choudry, Chairman of Brooklyn’s Pakistani American Merchants Association, presented plaques to several police officers in appreciation for their work during their festival this year on September 25. He highlighted how peaceful the festival was and the role the police played in helping to create that.
2) Matama Zucker, a social worker with DA Charles J. Hynes's office, spoke about October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She highlighted the services the DA's office provides to victims of domestic abuse as well as the fact that, if victims do not feel comfortable calling 911 or the DA's office, they can go to the Family Justice Center for help. She emphasized that domestic violence is not only physical, but can be emotional or financial as well. Also that cases do not have to go through the Criminal Court system, but can go through Family Court.
3) Jackie Lucas of United Cerebral Palsy spoke about UCP's Universal Pre-K program. The deadline for registration has passed, but if you're interested in knowing about future registration deadlines, make sure to get on their email list.
4) Powell introduced the Community Council's new Vice President, Tamika Williamson.
As we head into the holiday season, Rodriguez wanted to communicate the following tips to neighborhood residents:
- Be aware. As the weather gets colder and clothes get bulkier, people are able to hide weapons or stolen items beneath coats.
- There are two scams that have been occurring in other states that he feels have a danger to move into our area. The first involves someone putting a flyer on the back windshield of your car. You notice it while backing out, get out to throw it away while the car's still running, and someone jumps in and drives away. The second is a Con Ed scheme, involving two people. They gain entry to your home and one tries to sell you on a product while the other robs you. One more reason to be wary of door-to-door salesmen.
- Women pushing children in strollers should not leave pocketbooks in the stroller.
- The NYPD does not solicit money over the phone. If you receive a call asking for donations from anyone claiming to be with the NYPD, it is a scam.
- Electronics are driving crime city and nationwide. Pay attention to your surroundings and try not to use must-haves like iPods, iPhones, iPads, etc., while walking in the streets. Incidents of people having their electronics snatched out of their hands through subway doors and in other situations are on the rise.
- Make sure you have fire and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, and be careful if you use a space heater. The combination of space heaters and blankets can be dangerous.
Before taking questions, Inspector Rodriguez took a few moments to present Cop of the Month awards to two auxiliary police officers. On October 8, a man was assaulted and had his cell phone taken on East 18th Street. The officers heard him calling for help and were able to apprehend the perpetrator, who they found running with only one shoe.
Some information that came from the Q&A:
- If you're concerned about anything in your area (one woman was concerned about her daughter's safety from child traffickers, another about stopping drug exchanges), take down license plates, record as much info as you can, and contact the 70th Precinct. Also, make sure you're on their email list. They regularly send out alerts and helpful information.
- If you're having a meeting about crime or safety in your building, on your block, in your neighborhood, etc.--no matter how small--let the 70th know. Inspector Rodriguez is very community-oriented and has been running around to lots of these meetings lately. He specifically mentioned one that was just three people in an apartment building lobby.
- After arriving as commanding officer, Rodriguez broke the precinct down into 8 zones, each of which has a beat cop. You can call the 70th's Community Affairs at 718-851-5557 to get information on your zone.
- An interesting window into the 70th's working methods: Rodriguez looks at all his paperwork on Mondays and then meets with his staff on Tuesdays to determine the precinct's course of action for the week, which zones and areas to concentrate on.
Council Member Eugene then spoke for a little while, saying that as tight as the budget is this year, it "is going to be worse next year." He mentioned a forum to be held today, Friday, November 4, at Kings County Hospital on Domestic Violence as well as his accomplishments getting funding for Erasmus and PS 217 as well as for the police and firefighters in his district.
Finally, he announced that his office has been working with NYCDOT on traffic improvements to the intersection of Ocean Ave and Parkside Ave. One of the proposals includes closing the park to traffic. His office will be holding an as-yet-unannounced public forum on the plans soon. Later, one of his staff members also announced that Council Member Eugene is working on using Participatory Budgeting.
Father Michael Perry, the 70th's chaplain and Pastor of Our Lady of Refuge Church, wrapped things up by encouraging everyone to attend the interfaith service being held the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 20, at 4pm, at Our Lady of Refuge. This follows the successful interfaith service commemorating the 10th anniversary of September 11. All are invited--even Orthodox rabbis, who, the pastor said, were unable to enter the church at the previous service but prayed with him on the sidewalk.
Some other dates to be aware of:
Saturday, November 12 - Cash for Guns: Turn in a weapon and receive a $200 bank card (for operable handguns) or a $20 bank card (for operable rifles and shotguns). Drop-off site open 11am-5pm, Restoration Temple Assembly of God, 4610 Church Avenue.
Tuesday, November 15 - New York Cares Coat Drive begins.
Tuesday, November 29 - the 70th Precinct is holding a blood drive in front of the precinct house, 154 Lawrence Avenue.
Wednesday, November 30 - the next Community Council meeting, same time, same place.
I picked up tons of leaflets, flyers, brochures, etc. that have lots of useful information, including:
- The NYPD offers $100 for each handgun, assault weapon, or sawed-off shotgun turned into any police precinct, PSA or transit district. No questions asked.
- $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone possessing an illegal handgun. Call 1-866-GUN-STOP. You don't have to leave your name.
- You can have your electronic equipment "etched" for identification in case of theft. Call P.O. Demarco, the 70th's Crime Prevention Officer, at 718-851-5504. FREE.
There was too much information handed out to include here, so please attend the next meeting in the Community Room of United Cerebral Palsy, 175 Lawrence Avenue (between Ocean Parkway and Seton Place).
