Forum
« Tenants Breaking Lease FS- 10" Compound Power Miter Saw »
November 3, 2009
Illegal Dumping, Drugs, Rats
We are having a continuous problem with a small secluded block at the end of our street: Gregory Place between Butler and Baltic, this is right behind the Key Food on 5th Avenue. This is probably one of very few blocks in Park Slope that is quiet, secluded and non-residential, but it is adjacent right next to our block, so whatever happens there affects all of us and we have to walk past it to get to our houses.
The block is suffering from constant illegal dumping, people doing drugs, soliciting sex, dumping human and dog excrement, and all kinds of other illegal activity. I've tried calling 311 several times in regards to this and nothing came out of it. I am not sure how this situation can be resolved: it is just very unsafe on many levels. Having video cameras to catch illegal dumpers would help, but we do not know where to start to get help.
Any advice/ideas from brownstoner readers will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Comments
your local precinct?
Posted by: bowl of dicks at November 3, 2009 2:17 PM
Reach out to the community officer of your police precinct and find outwhen the next meeting will occur. You will need to round up as many of your neighbors as possible, take pictures, document your 311 calls and in general become a bit of a squeaky wheel. If there is a neighborhood association, join forces. I find that the police is much more responsive when there is a cohesive group of vocal neighbors. Good luck!
Posted by: Maly at November 3, 2009 2:19 PM
What Maly said. Definitely visit your precinct in person, make an appointment to meet with your precinct's CPOP officer, and call your local Community Board, too.
Posted by: vinca at November 3, 2009 2:22 PM
move to the suburbs?
Posted by: randolph at November 3, 2009 2:24 PM
attend your local precinct community meeting they have them once a month. talk with the captain. If you can bring along some other people from your block...
you are in the 78th precinct.
Brooklyn 78th Precinct Police
* (718) 636-6411
65 6th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 1121
call cause I think the meeting is tonight!
Posted by: smeyer418 at November 3, 2009 2:34 PM
ps the 'burbs have these problems too...
Posted by: smeyer418 at November 3, 2009 2:37 PM
ugh! thanks for outing my fav. block in park slope! randi, meet me behind the dumpster!!
but seriously, if it's like hardcore dumping of commercial stuff you can easily get 311 on that. the drug problem and the dumping of feces however will just get shuffled to another block, not much you can do about that.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at November 3, 2009 2:40 PM
soliciting sx... hm economy recovering. :)
Posted by: bobjohn at November 3, 2009 2:53 PM
It's usually the last Tuesday of the month for the 78th precinct community council. Bring a few bucks for the 50-50 raffle and be prepared for 45 min of photo ops for the cops who busted someone in the previous month. Then they open the floor and you can say something. Keep a really positive, not angry, demanor as you tell your story. They will tell you they will look into it. Stay until after the meeting. The community affairs officer and a rep from every elected official will come up to you and ask how they can help. Be prepared with specifics about what you are looking for, collect names and numbers, and ask for ideas and for someone to come to a block meeting. Also, ask to speak to a narcotics officer and tell him privately what you know about who's selling what when.
You'll get lots of attention because no one goes to these things. My block association is going to kill me for give away these trade secrets.
Posted by: slopefarm at November 3, 2009 3:04 PM
Slopefarm - great answer and understanding of how things work!
Also remember that there is strength in numbers.
Not just at the first meeting, but a large group of neighbors month after month really says that there is a serious problem.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at November 3, 2009 3:25 PM
Slopefarm (and everyone else), the advice is really appreciated! I will share our experience after this process comes to some kind of conclusion.
Thanks again!
Posted by: shalman at November 3, 2009 3:29 PM
Also get in touch with your community board - probably CB-6.
Posted by: Arkady at November 3, 2009 4:14 PM
There are some serious rewards if you provide information leading to an arrest for illegal dumping. Sanitation confiscates the vehicle as well. Check sanitation's web site.
Posted by: IMBY at November 3, 2009 6:43 PM
Also call your local reps, the state senator and city councilperson. It's always in their political interest to not have blatant drug dealing and prostitution on their watch. Shame them into action. You could also contact Key Food and make sure they know what goes on right behind their building.
It's funny, I have never witnessed anything specific walking by this area behind Key Food, but the couple times I've passed by I really got the creeps. A vibe it wasn't a place to be. Perhaps simply because it's so isolated and desolate without passing traffic and pedestrians. Good luck.
Posted by: traditionalmod at November 4, 2009 9:42 AM
Take photos and send letter to Todd Kuznitz, Director of Enforcement, Dept of Sanitation, 1824 Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, NY, 11214.
Posted by: wyckoff at November 4, 2009 1:19 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.