Bushwick Projects and Environs Safe?

The Albany Houses are in Crown Heights not Bushwick and the Bushwick projects are one of the least dangerous in Brooklyn. Violence in all of the projects which are divided into PSA's by the NYPD has gone down drastically. Even with the economic downturn, crime has not increased in them due to recent policies that evict any family that houses a convicted felon and Police patrols that sometimes border on harassment.

Some of the most dangerous or high crime projects were and are in areas where Brownstones sell for a million dollars. Everyone, Black, White, ugly or pretty must keep their wits about them and beware of their surroundings where ever they travel in the city.

"there are actually really good families(mine)for instance who live there and really don't want any trouble - but for every family like that - you also have folks who live there and who just hang out there that really are looking for trouble" So not true in my experience. Most people living in the projects are working poor and would live elsewhere if they could. The number of good people far outnumber the trouble makers. The projects in Fort Greene were by far the worst in Brooklyn, I know, I grew up there. For my family moving to the projects in Bushwick was like moving to the suburbs.

You can't walk around looking scared or overly friendly. A simple quick nod of the head when walking by a group hanging on the corner or in the lobby, a friendly smile to the elderly, small talk but not being nosy with your immediate neighbors will go along way. Her mother as all mothers should always be concerned but if her daughter is at least a little street smart, she will be okay.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 12:05 PM

gemini, you put words in my mouth that I never said and
I realize that the girl will more than likely not be moving into the projects but if she is going to live near them, I think that the tips are still useful.

I remember when Fort Greene was "discovered." Brownstone buyers would literally cross the street to avoid "project people." I must admit that while there were several of my neighbors that I'd rather avoid, I'd never cross the street to get out of their path because I knew all too well that they'd rather harass me than some white girl knowing full well that the police and criminal justice system would take the latter more seriously.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 12:38 PM

Where do you get those stats rob? and bkn4life unfortunately when you live in the PJ's, you will sometimes hang out on a corner - my parents didn't allow me too but I soemtimes did it anyway. We didn't have basements or backyards to entertain our friends and we couldn't hang in the living room of our apartments because far too often it doubled as someones bedroom. Some projects had rec centers which were literally safe havens but they were often not open due to budgetary restraints. In the winter, it was the stairwell or lobby which if you were caught by the housing cops, you got a trip to central booking for loitering. So it was and is the corner for many especially on a summer night.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 12:54 PM

Most professional burglars avoid stealing in their own neighborhoods. In home buglaries have been steadily on the decline in all areas of NYC. There are spikes in Long Island. They prefer not to enter an unknown -in the PJ's there just might be someone home all day or they might be recognized and in the Tony areas they have to bypass security systems. If someone does break into your home, it is more than likely someone that you know.

These days the professionals have moved on to identity theft, credit card fraud and the like. Now push-in robbery, a violent crime, is something completely different and happens all over.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 1:08 PM

Someone is already digging into crime stats because he seems to be pulling them out of his ass. My point was that not everyone on a corner is looking for trouble. I wasn't nor were the majority of my friends.

And WTF of course a bad environment is bad for your health. Oh and please stop bragging about jumping boxcars in a railyard. That would have been like summer camp to me.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 1:16 PM

These stats are also out of context. Every Inspector in the city knows to include population density when reporting to the Commissioner. The Mayors Office, UCR (Uniform Crime Reports) put together by the FBI to track nationwide stats, etc... also look at population density. Projects or areas with projects and lots of apartment buildings like the 8-3 are very densely populated.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 1:26 PM

You probably advised her well on not working for JP Morgan, or going to Columbia.

However, had she joined the NYPD just five years ago, she would have been at top pay - 95K base, uniform check, holiday pay, free metrocard, free parking - how is that going bkn4 life?, 28 paid vaction days - when you include your RDO's (days off) that comes to a little more than two months off a year, subsidized housing - in the PJ's, Officer next door, defined benefit pension and you can still fund your own deferred compensation 401K like plan, law school scholarship, grad school scholarships, excellent legal representation for you and your family - closings, divorce, etc... OVERTIME and job security. What's best is that you can retire with a full pension after 20 years of service. For most this means retired at 42/43. Full pension is about half your salary. Average pension last year was about 70K and you get a 12,500 check every December called a Variable Supplement. All of this and you are still young enough to work another career.

BTW, living in BH, Williamsburgh or Chelsea is not that bad.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 1:41 PM

Yes, I made those dumb things at the rec center cobblehiller! I also went to the school in the summer for both breakfast and lunch. And no that is not how it works in NYC rob.

As much as people living in the PJ's want to leave, there are as many families who would love a chance to get in. Most of the families receive some form of housing aid like Section 8 or Jiggets. Unfortunately it is extremely hard for people with these vouchers to find housing in the private sector because many landlords illegally discriminate against people with Section 8. Many of the people with Section 8 are what is called working Section 8. They are working poor and could not afford market rate housing in this city if it weren't for the subsidy. Priority for public housing is given to families coming from the shelter system with other families being taken from a list that they have no doubt been on for years.

As far as the Hasidic community, there is a long history of the public housing battle between them and the Latino and African American communities in Williamsburgh. There have been several suits with the latest ruling by the Federal Court on January 15th of this year. Here is just one link.

http://www.uslaw.com/library/Legal_Commentary/Federal_Court_Rules_Hasidic_Jews_Challenged_Public_Housing_Rule.php?item=359365

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 1:55 PM

No I have never been booked, did some booking though ;) The officers working Central Booking are part of what we call the "rubber gun squad." They are officers who are one step away from being fired or are at least facing serious Departmental Charges. They are there because they have f**ked up attitudes. NYC has some of the best and brightest officers in the country. Many have advanced degrees in numerous areas, many linguists who often assist smaller Departments all over the state. All have at least 60 credits or the equivalent of an Associates degree. We have had visitors from almost every country in the world at 1 PP to seek the expertise of the NYPD. Don't sell these officers short.

The test like the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is not a test of intelligence but a test to gauge how well you would do in the environment.

Although the officers "hanging out around THE PROJECTS" as you put it, are the smallest of the force which used to be divided into three separate agencies - Transit, NYPD, and Housing Police, they do an excellent job keeping the residents safe. Yes there are bad cops and good cops who make bad decisions but you clearly could never make the cut.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 2:21 PM

Oh and rob. OMG! If you ever even think about taking the test for the NYPD, I am moving to New Jersey!

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 2:23 PM

bkn4life, I will once again say that we have one of the best if not the best Police force in the country. Besides occassional extremely tragic incidents and some plain old stupid incidents by cops every year, for the most part the NYPD has one of the lowest "shoot" rates in the country. Also despite the sometimes harassment of young men of color, Departments in similar cities receive far more complaints than the NYPD. Can things be improved? Surely.

Yes there is alot of paperwork when making a collar. It all has to be done correctly or it will all be kicked back. It can be confusing especially if you are new or don't make arrests often. I know it makes you feel better to call the cops dumb but your statement "the problem is, i have dealt with police officers on many occasions. only once or twice did i get in the car." explains your obvious disrepect for the men and women who take one of the hardest jobs in this city. Although well compensated, the job can be aggravating as hell especially when dealing with assholes. I'd be grateful if I were you that despite dealing with the police on many occasions that you were only put in the car twice.

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 6:08 PM

Gemini10

I have found the recent recruitment drives to be successful in attracting people that reflect the diversity of the city. Most of the newer kids from the suburbs and city alike are just inexperienced and they are truly kids - average age about 22. If they could attract slightly older officers like maybe 25-30, it would make a difference but the starting pay is so low. The new cops get a starting pay of about 35K up from 25K last year. Who can live on that except a snotty nosed kid who lives with his or her parents? But they can catch a bullet just like a tenured officer. The rookies just like in any job, do make mistakes. We just hope that their mistakes are not deadly.

Many officers both tenured and rookie complain that their biggest headache is dealing with the brass (bosses.) The NYPD is a paramilitary bureaucracy and everyone is expected to fall into line but at the same time you must also work independently and make life or death decisions in a split second. The two are kind of counter-intuitive.

The community policing of the past is gone. The culture both within the NYPD and the city just doesn't support it. I remember as a kid the cops riding me and my friends around all day after we spray painted a wall. He later dropped us home with a kick in the butt. If they did that today, whether in Park Slope or Albany projects, the parents would be on the news and looking to sue the Department.

Policing is fast becoming a different ball game with all that technology and science is offering as tools. It requires a more formally educated officer. Sometimes with the formally educated there is a lack of street smarts and common sense. Some people can pick it up as they go along but others are just hopeless. The hopeless usually quick before too long or they get jammed-up ( in some sort of trouble that will eventually get them fired.)

I will be the first to say that there is room for improvement and that one bad shooting is one bad shooting too many. What are the alternatives? Don't police at all? How about taking jobs within Police Department, moving up through the ranks and affecting change?

Posted by: Chosen at March 26, 2009 6:35 PM