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December 28, 2007
City Assigning Newbie Cops to Crime-Ridden Areas
Starting tomorrow, the NYPD is stationing 645 rookie cops in Brooklyn neighborhoods—including Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, Flatbush and East New York—where shootings and robberies have increased over the past year. The new officers will be assigned to the neighborhoods for six-month terms, according to an article in today’s Daily News. East New York had the highest number of murders of any neighborhood in the city last year (31); there was a 15 percent rise in burglaries in Crown Heights; deadly assaults in Brownsville increased by 27 percent; and the number of shooting victims in Bed-Stuy rose from 71 to 91. Some residents and politicians are questioning whether the stepped-up police force will only be “a temporary Band-Aid” or worse—completely ineffective. “We don't need more cops, we need more jobs, recreational centers and parks," said City Councilman Charles Barron. "You'll have a bunch of rookies out in East New York, most of them white, scared to death and standing on our street corners with no knowledge of our communities."
645 Rookie Cops to Hit High-Crime Streets [NY Daily News]
Photo by lesterhead.
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Comments
Do they live and know the area?
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 9:07 AM
more police presence is a positive - if they live or not in the area!
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 9:40 AM
It's been my impression the NYPD enrollment has mirrored the racial mix of the city in recent years. It seems to me that most cops I see on the street are not white.
I'd say the article is a bit inflammatory in that regards.
Posted by: Polemicist at December 28, 2007 9:48 AM
and you want to buy a home there ha
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:07 AM
Why become a cop if you're "scared to death"? Isn't there a better career for you if that's the case?
Posted by: rh at December 28, 2007 10:07 AM
I live in Crown Heights. Charles Barron should stop with the political pandering. What we need is more cops on the street. Bringing jobs will only benefit law-abiding citizens. Crime is perpetrated mainly by those that are unemployable because of lack of education or criminal records or both. We need to feel safe and secure in our neighborhood before we can decide to address the other social problems. Rehabilitating criminals is not the bases for revitilizing a neighborhood. Stability in housing, commercial strips, and other services are.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:08 AM
More cops more biz for the pizzerias.
Throw the neophytes in the fire the first 6 mos.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:09 AM
It seems that this is a no-win situation:
If police back off, people complain about crime.
If police fight crime, they are accused of brutality and profiling.
I, for one, agree that more policing is needed. Crown Heights needs to lower its crime rate in order for gentrification to continue.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:10 AM
There is indeed, 10:07, it's a job as The What's psychiatrist.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:11 AM
10:08 rehabilitate the criminals, they need second chance. you gotta have a heart!
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:12 AM
Who listens to Barron anyway, the man is a moron. Scared to death, thats bull--it. Brron is scared to death that if racisim doesn't exist he wont exist. He's a demagogue and the black community needs to wake up and put someone in office that cares about them instaed of himself.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:16 AM
What knowledge of the community is necessary to deal with murder, shootings, robberies and burglaries?
Besides Charles Barron is a racist of the highest order.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:36 AM
"White cops" (and all other cops as well) have saved more Black mens lives in the last year then Charles Baron has in his entire lifetime. Over 50% of the homicides that DIDN'T take place yr 2 yr are of Black men (by Black men)
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:38 AM
We could have used a couple of these cops at 121 Lefferts Place around 9:30 pm on Christmas Eve.
I'm out of town--has anybody published/heard any more details about those two kids that got killed?
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:49 AM
The idiotic "white men can't understand us; can't help us" falsification is getting old. It's ethnocentric and racist at heart.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:51 AM
Uh . . . they always put newbies in the worst areas. Where's the news? Don't get it. . . .
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 10:54 AM
I pretty much agree with 10:08.
Most of the cops I see in my neighborhood now are a polyglot mixture of every ethnic group in the city, whereas even 5 years ago, they were mostly white. Maybe someone high up finally realized that even the perception of a black and minority community policed only by a white force instantly fosters resentment and misunderstanding. If for no other reason, kids need to see that the thug life is not the only alternative.
I'm not a Barron fan, and it galls me that the media always goes to him, Sharpton, or some other extremist, first, for an opinion on the state of the black community. Someone like Tish James is a much better spokesperson for the majority, in this case, and I agree with her. We want and need more police - not just so we can continue to gentrify, but so all of us are safe.
The simplistic equation of more police = faster gentrification disturbs me. Our communities need jobs, more jobs, better educational opportunities, and better services for all of us, especially the current population. The idea that the police will clean house so that eager, but formerly frightened hordes of (presumably) white newcomers will rush in, is not in the best interests of a revitalized Crown Heights, Bed Stuy or anywhere else.
Better policing is a start, and we all welcome and hope for fair, unbiased and level headed policing. We need law abiding folks aiding them, and teaching rookies and veteran officers alike, about the positive sides of our communities and their people.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 28, 2007 10:54 AM
what crime ridden community was the picture taken in?
GS3
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 11:05 AM
Man-on-the-street interviews turned up many local residents in these precincts (including mine) who want MORE police protection--a no-brainer if you ever want to leave your house. Barron, alas, has become the go-to racist clown and inflammatory quote machine now that Reverend Al has "matured" beyond the rote spewing of such tripe. The wonder is that the media still march, zombie-like, to the same beat.
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at December 28, 2007 11:13 AM
"we need more jobs, recreational centers and parks"
The notion that the lack of a job (and there are plenty of jobs out there if you want one), recreational centers and parks turns young men into cold-blooded killers is ludicrous at best.
How does this loud-mouth Baron keep getting reelected?
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 11:27 AM
I may be putting words into Barron's mouth, but what I understood of his statement is that instead of focusing on policing (and, proliferation of prisons, higher minimum sentences, etc.), perhaps we should be focusing more on educational programs, job training, etc. - things that are proven to reduce crime in a longer, more impactful way. It's a question of spending more money on the front end (prevention through education and opportunity) or the back end.
I agree that NYPD seems to becoming more diverse - the most recent class of recruits were 27% Hispanic, 13% black, 7% Asian and 53% white. Those numbers aren't that far off from NYC population statistics, I think.. That's definitely a step in the right direction.
Posted by: BrooklynZoo at December 28, 2007 12:43 PM
The problem is that black has to stop killing blacks, and the black family has to learn how to take responsibility for thier own children. The biggest danger to the black man today, is the black man, not the white man.
If they don't stop electing idiots like Barron they will go nowhere. The democrats keep up with handouts throwing money at the problems and they go nowhere. Wouldn't u vote for a democrat if he gave u free money?
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 1:10 PM
BrooklynZoo..you can't focus on long term goals without dealing with immediate needs first. Safety and security are just 2 of the factors that will bring qualified teachers and industry leaders in. Without it you are left with poorly run church-based organizations that manage social programs with 80% of their project budgets allocated to salaries. Its a joke. Charles Barron, Al Sharpton, etc. have been good leaders in the past, but they are way over the hill. They come from these so-called grassroots organizations and want to continue funding them with taxpayer dollars. I agree, educational programs and job-training has been proven to reduce crime, but it should be earmarked to grade school children to give them a brighter future. But we still have the responsibility to make sure that the streets are safe for them to travel.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 1:38 PM
Charles Barron and Al Sharpton were never good leaders.
More cops cracking down on crime with improve the lives of the current residents.
If people want better job opportunities, they are not going to get it from a gov't agency. Education and proper business skill sets are, ultimately, the responsibility of the individual. If you think a HS education is going to get you a job in this day and age, you are sadly, sadly mistaken.
I look forward to lower crime rates and a better quality of life.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 1:49 PM
Disagree with montrose morris. Less crime = more gentrification, which is a good thing. Regardless of how one feels, that is what is and will continue happening.
I also disagree that Letitia James is a good spokeperson. She is an idiot who has wasted a lot of time fighting the losing atlantic yards battle when she could have spent that time on more pressing needs. yes, i live in her district, read her newsletter, and keep tabs on her in the press. she's a dud who only got into office because james davis was murdered. like barron, her tactis are outdated and she seems to think that it's 1968. thank god for term limits.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 1:53 PM
"I, for one, agree that more policing is needed. Crown Heights needs to lower its crime rate in order for gentrification to continue."
No there will be more "gentrification" because the asshats will wake up and say "Oh Shit there is a Black Man in My wife Ass"!
I like Barron he don't give a fuck! We need cowboys like him!
You asshole moved into 'da hood' and think shit was gonna change??!!! Hahhahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!! You got Got stupid mother fuckers Syke!!! LMMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The What
Someday this war is gonna end...
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 2:10 PM
More police in Crown Heights, now I'm definately moving there.
And maybe they can escort me home everyday from the train.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 2:10 PM
I don't doubt that less crime equals more gentrification, which, up to a point, is just fine. However, the line of thought that says, "Damn, this would be a great neighborhood once we get rid of all those poor black people," is what seems to be at work here, and that is troubling. There is room in our communities for everyone. I look at my neighbors and see the gamut of doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, artists, day laborers, store clerks, the unemployed and those on fixed incomes and welfare, on my block alone. Better policing, better services, a better community doesn't have to mean only for the "better" members of that community.
Also, while deciding to continue with education is certainly one's own responsibility, being able to afford it is a whole 'nother story. If gov't money goes to paying tuition, or for books, or help for anyone, anywhere, to better themselves, and move up in the economic realm, then that's my money well spent. It's totally unreasonable to sit back and expect people who can barely afford ever rising rent to then conjure up money to go to school. If education is the way out of poverty, and I believe it is, then let's make it possible for anyone to become educated. This is the front end of the preventative spending that Brooklyn Zoo is talking about.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 28, 2007 2:18 PM
Montrose Morris: When you say unemployed, I assume you mean something more than just a temporary situation. If so, then why do you think the permaently un/under-employed should benefit?
I am all for a diverse group of working people benefitting from improved policing, but the unemployed can get a job first before they worry about benefitting from a safer nabe. God knows there are plenty of businesses in this city that go searching for reliable employees. No, I am not talking about MBA, I am talking about entry level service industry jobs.
And please don't give me some song and dance about how they can't live on entry level wages w/o benefits. If they are unemployed, and not already living off public assistance, then any wage is more than they are making today. And if they are on public assistance and want to get off - get a job or two or three.
As for higher education - try working during the day and going to school at night. Lots of people do it. (I did) It takes longer than the traditional 4 years, but a higher level of education is a must in today's work place. If someone can't be bothered to get their ass(hat) in gear, then they have no right to complain when the world passes them by.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 2:40 PM
I always wondered which idiot keeps voting Barron into office. Assuming he even leaves the hospital room he is assigned to so he can vote, I now know The What is that idiot.
"My wife Ass."?????
Gentrification will slowly but surely remove the trashy people out of "da hood" Some day, that war will end and The What will be homeless.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 2:44 PM
Gentrification Huh??! You fucktards are going become Animal practice for the youngins! More Cops will not save you sometimes they make things worse. Profiling young black men and shooting unarmed people.
The What. LMMFAO
Someday this war is gonna end...
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 3:07 PM
'"Damn, this would be a great neighborhood once we get rid of all those poor black people," is what seems to be at work here, and that is troubling.'
Why exactly is it troubling? Because it's true?
Cognitive dissonance FTW!
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 3:11 PM
only politicians who do nothing look to the government to create jobs. if barron wanted to help, he'd start a company and employ people.
business owners create real jobs, not the government.
the government, does however, provide police.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 3:19 PM
How can ANY Black "leader" say anything but positive things about the NYPD????
Despite the fact that crime continues unabated in most cities across this country the NYPD has reduced crime and specifically homicides by 75% since 1990. (and this doesn't even adjust for the increase in NYC population over that period)
If you VERY CONSERVATIVELY say that the reduction=600 black men a year NOT DYING since 1990 you are talking about:
over TEN THOUSAND BLACK MEN alive WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD.
Sure Diallo cases happen, and increased policing has unfortunately at times led to racial tensions but the REALITY is that the NYPD has saved more black mens lives then any so called "black leader" by 10000X
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 3:41 PM
It would be a great neighborhood if we got rid of the crime.
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 3:50 PM
Barron and Sharpton are just 2 really obnoxious speakers and just simply should not speak at all. It is diffucult to keep the diversity of a neighborhood when it becomes gentrified. I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
And to 2:10, I am sure you would like a nice escort after you got off the subway from a hard days work. :)
Posted by: guest at December 28, 2007 5:00 PM
"Charles Barron and Al Sharpton were never good leaders"
Whose better for AFRICAN AMERICANS in New York City?
Posted by: guest at December 29, 2007 11:51 AM
Al Sharpton is a racist--shocking, right?
Posted by: guest at December 29, 2007 11:54 AM
Gentrification has reversed course and will not bottom and rebound for many years. The new trend in violent crime is anecdotal evidence. There is little you can do about it. We are in a recession. If you're single, hold on tight. If you have a family, it's time to seriously consider which nabe you want to raise it in.
Posted by: guest at December 29, 2007 12:03 PM
11:51, I venture to say that in 2007, black people don't need "leaders" in the way we may have back in the 50's and 60's. We are not a monolithic group of people. We have as many different lifestyles, backgrounds, incomes and interests as anyone else in this city. No one white looks at any politician, or religious or social activist as their "leader" unless they agree with them. Rev. Al and Barron have their constituents, and although I may share their racial background, I don't often share their views.
In the same way, gentrification may be on its way here in Bed Stuy/Crown Heights/etc, but that gentrification is also represented by people of color who have money, very, very good jobs, and the same desire as anyone else, for a fine home, and a place to raise a family. This isn't just about poor black people standing around waiting for rich white people to either come in and save the community, or to come in and take it over. Neither scenario is acceptable. Both old timers and new comers will need to live and work together. More police will definitely help.
Oh, 2:40, would that everything would be so simplistic, and all could be solved by "just getting a job or two or three."
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 29, 2007 1:40 PM
Oh please, 12:03, families have lived all over Brooklyn even the less wealthy areas for the entire 20th century and they did not all get shot or turn into criminals. Some of the most intelligent and interesting (not to mention tolerant and cool) people I've ever met are people whose artist parents bought brownstones in the 60's and 70's well before the gentrification of the 90's. If you want to move to Connecticut with your children, do so. Nobody is stopping you. But don't get so smug and judgemental about it. There's no possible reason for that, except deep down you feel insecure about the decision and need affirmation you're making the right choice by leaving the city. So you're trying to convince everyone to go with you. No thanks! We're staying. Buh bye.
Posted by: guest at December 29, 2007 1:54 PM
Anyone know if the Rushkoffs actually ended up leaving Park Slope after last year's mugging?
Posted by: guest at December 29, 2007 2:40 PM
The Rushkoffs were losers. My husband was mugged in Park Slope and didn't conclude he should move. It's a reality of any urban city in any area. Park Slope still has its gritty blocks and elements, as the Rushkoffs would have seen with the bare eye when they moved there. Guess they felt special and immune because he's a famous writer or something.
Posted by: guest at December 29, 2007 2:52 PM
Montrose: It is as easy as getting a job or two or three. Stop making excuses for the lazy and uneducated. People like you make excuses for those who chose a life of crime instead of getting a job. You want to be angry with someone other than the criminals themselves, trying blaming their parents for not raising them to be productive members of society.
Posted by: guest at December 30, 2007 3:59 PM
And who are you, 3:59? I love it when people tell other people how they should live their lives. Blithly telling someone to get 3 jobs, or else they are lazy, certainly presumes a knowledge of someone's situation, which you do not know. I would never presume to assume that everyone who is down and out is either a criminal to be, or a lazy bum. Nor would I assume that any difficulty they may have in getting a higher education is solely predicated on lazyness.
Working three jobs pretty much assures that someone will not be home much to raise those kids correctly. I suppose you would damn those parents for that too, and say that they shouldn't be working so hard that they can't take care of the kids. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
The real world is much more complicated than your magnanamous pronouncements. I'm not excusing anyone, I'm just realistic. If it were that simple, we'd have solved it already.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 30, 2007 9:53 PM
Someday this war is gonna end...
The person who ends his comments with above quote, I bet he's a clueless loser. The person speaks without any kind of knowledege about anything. Hence..people like him are a big part of the problem.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 8:32 AM
Hey Montrose everyone else has 2 jobs why can't they. I had 3 myself when I wsa young. Its called stay in school, get educated and go work in McDonalds until you find something else.
Welfare... majority of these people are lazy leeches.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 8:35 AM
Montrose: You have every old lame excuse at the ready, don't you.
If they need several jobs to get by shouldn't be having kids.
You want to make excuses for the lazy and the unintelligent, then don't complain when those same pieces of trash make your nabe less than safe and livable.
Life is hard. THat is reality. Making some lame excuse for people who can't keep up doesn't change the situation.
If you are sooooooo concerned about people losing thier ability to live in your nabe due to rising costs and gentrification, open up your house to everyone who needs a place to stay. (Here is where all of your excuses are going to come!)
Montrose, you are living in a la la land if you think anyone cares about the PERMANENTLY "unemployed." They are uneducated and most likely have a criminal record - committing crimes against their own community.
WHen they leave, the whole city benefits. One of the reasons this city is experiencing a decrease in crime despite fewer cops and more people is that the trash that commit the crimes are either priced out or still in prison. And when that trash gets out, there old support system will have moved on to cheaper places so the crime follows them to teh new location.
Get your head out of the clouds, open your house to the ones you feel need it and let the rest of us enjoy the decreased crime rate and gentrification.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 11:53 AM
Once again, you have no idea about what I do for the community, who I open my doors to, who, or what, my neighbors are, or what their situations in life are. You must have delusions of Diety, as you are very good at passing judgement. Last I believed, God was in the business of caring about people, not damning them for not meeting your standards.
The number of jobs one has is not an indicator of their laziness, or industry. No one has to prove anything to you or any one else. Who are you to decide who is "deserving", or lazy, or "can't keep up"?
And I love how you pull out the old, "if you care so much, why don't you....." open your house up, or give away all your money, or adopt all the homeless children, or some over the top unrealistic suggestion. Why don't I? Because I can help more people as a homeowner and a viable community member, than I can as one of the homeless. What are you doing?
And I do care about the permanently unemployed for a number of reasons. First of all, because they are still human beings. Second of all because there but for the grace of God goes any of us, even you. Thirdly, because their problems are all of our problems as a society. Helping them helps us. What are you going to do? Put them on an ice floe? Ship them to camps? Send out death squads? Thank God we haven't gotten to the point where we "get rid of them". Perhaps we should think more about educating them instead of writing them off, giving them hope instead of the boot, and treating people with respect, instead of like they were roaches. Will all be helped? No. But some will, and that makes it worth it.
Those people make better neighbors than you, no matter how many degrees you have, or how much money you make, because when you've lost your empathy and capacity to care about people around you, you certainly don't care about your neighborhood, you only care about yourself.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 31, 2007 12:36 PM
Montrose:
You habve no idea what you are talking about.
THey make horrible neighbors. THey don't even care enough about themselves to get a job and stop sucking off the public tit.
You think they "make" a neighborhood?
THey need to get off their lazy asses, get jobs grow up and make a contribution.
You need to stop making excuses for the trash that still live in some areas of this city.
And when are you openning your doors to save them?????? God forbid you should put your house where you fat mouth is.
WHen you come down off YOUR pulpit, get a grip and get real. THey will be gone soon enough - either becasue the nabe gets too expensive, they go to jail, or they get killed engaging in criminal behavior.
I can't wait for gentrification to clean this city of the lazy scum that still hide here.
Posted by: guest at December 31, 2007 4:16 PM
Whatever, Rambo, now you are really starting to foam at the mouth. If you are waiting for the "scum" to be removed from anywhere in the city, you'll be waiting a looonnngggg time. Last time I looked, the underclass still have rights. You may not like it, but we haven't gotten to the point where we just round 'em up and move 'em out, quite yet.
You insist on equating poverty with laziness, lack of education with criminality, with no room for any other variables. While the above may be true for some, it is not true for all. This school of thought has been around as long as people have gathered in cities, and since we haven't managed to figure out how to fix it since the dawn of civilization, what makes you think it's going to be fixed now? Debtor's prison and transporting people to Australia didn't work, when people had less rights than they do now. What have you got?
As the Bible says, "the poor will always be with us." I would prefer to at least try to do something positive, so there are less of them, rather than just push them around, and out of the way, until they decide to push back. If that's my sermon from the pulpit, I can at least live with myself.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at December 31, 2007 7:10 PM
People like 4:16 (and my sheltered, 75 year old Republican Midwestern parents) go around convinced most of the population of the United States fit the profile of lazy, nonworking people like 4:16 describes. Because they are totally in denial of the truth, that most Americans DO work their asses off and still don't make enough money. It's not the 1950s. Simply working hard is not enough to own your home and send your kids to college anymore. Even solidly middle class profesional people can't afford to pay for college. When not that long ago, even working class people could accomplish those goals. Polls show the great majority of Americans do not believe their children will have a better life than they did. That right there is the death of the American dream. But the Republicans still go on telling people to just work hard, and it will be enough.
Posted by: guest at January 1, 2008 2:14 PM
Anyone who thinks a GED or a high school education can help you get by in this country is still living in the 1950's!
Most Americans can't get by because the majority of Americans are poorly educated, i.e. High Scool education or less.
Montrose: You are full of crap if you think it will take a loooooong time to the trash - i.e. criminals - to move out. (I never said working class people should be pushed out. You just made that assumption because it is the only one that fits into your extremely limited world view.)
This city has changed permanently and no one is willing to tolerate trash and trashy behavior any more.
The trash will be gone very quickly and the rest of us will benefit. And it is about time.
Posted by: guest at January 6, 2008 4:42 PM
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