Murder on Putnam: Will The Cops Show Up Now?
Long one of the biggest drug spots in the borough, the corner of Putnam and Grand has remained a big problem even as the values of the surrounding brownstones have tripled over the past 5 or 6 years. Living in the area for the past year, we’ve been amazed at the almost complete lack of…
Long one of the biggest drug spots in the borough, the corner of Putnam and Grand has remained a big problem even as the values of the surrounding brownstones have tripled over the past 5 or 6 years. Living in the area for the past year, we’ve been amazed at the almost complete lack of police presence on the block. So it was not a huge surprise when we heard 10 or 12 gun shots at around 7 pm on Monday. Turns out that one of the frequent dice games which the drug dealers and their hangers-on play on the corner had gone bad. Three people were shot and two of them killed in the incident. We gather that two of them were from the immediate neighborhood and one from a little further out in Bed Stuy. We can only assume that the lone candle on the sidewalk is for one of them. We’ve been unable to find any mention in any of the local papers about the shootings.
When called about the incident, Letitia James has given her stump-speech line about how there are undercover cops on that corner all the time and that they’re on the case. Right. How about a consistent uniformed police presence? We also realize that it’s hard to make drug charges stick (a valid point someone made the last time we brought this topic up). Not to pick on Ms. James, who has done a good job in some other areas (she’s certainly stuck by her guns on Atlantic Yards and has been very helpful to some neighborhood business owners we know), but she has failed quite miserably in marshalling the necessary resolve and resources to solve this particular problem. We doubt it’s from lack of concern (heck, she lives within four blocks of the shootings) and suspect that she just has no sway or leverage over the police in her district and not enough pull in the Bloomberg administration to go over the precinct’s head.
We are curious to hear from readers how they have addressed these kinds of problems in their own neighborhoods. It occurs to us that a good place to start is to contact Councilwoman James’ office at 67 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217. You can also call her at 718-260-9191 or email her at james@council.nyc.ny.us. If you’re feeling a little bolder, why not give Captain John Cosgrove at the 88th a call? He can be reached at 718-636-6511. And if you know anyone else in the press or in the Bloomberg administration, please forward them the link to this post.
Pivotal Condo Project for Clinton Hill [Brownstoner]
Jimmy Legs asked: “BB, does a methadone clinic really ‘nuture’ crime in the area?”
Do you know many junkies? What they used to do is put the methadone in their mouths, go outside, spit it into a paper cup and sell the dose along with a littlle valium. You can get really wrecked with the little spit-methadone-valium cocktail and Mr.Junkie gets enough $ to go get properly wasted somewhere else. OF COURSE a methadone clinic nurtures crime.
Hey Brenda from Flatbush: The Church Avenue neighborhood west of the B/Q (Argyle, Westminster, and Stratford) is problematic as well, and likely also is an impact zone. I agree, however, that community involvement, including statistics showing the great percentage of homes that have been affected by crime, can lead to a greater police presence.
Maybe the first thing to do is contact as many block associations in this overall area as possible, the local reps and the community boards. Let the pols know you are going to hold their feet to the fire (if you know any reporters, or have press contacts use them as much as possible.) You can do a mailer to the block associations and community groups ( can help you do the layout- I’m a graphic artist) and see what kind of response you get. And don’t forget the community affairs dept. of the local precinct. Pressure them, get to know them. I’ve always found that once the police know you as a community leader or activist, they want to work with you because its in their best interests as well.
It’s true- not only does being a lone ranger get you grief, it’s not very effective in terms of getting things done. But I will also make a suggestion (I know this will make you laugh!) but why not approach FCR and see if they will take a real interest in making the surrounding neighborhoods cleaner and safer. It’s to their advantage too. And they have the money to help. Not to mention (I shudder as I say this), think of the great press they’ll get. Which they can use right about now 🙂
One thought and then I shd shut up since I’m not overly familiar with the neighborhood.
If police presence is a problem, then agitating for more, coupled with the kind of activism BrownBomber indicates, could only help. But would police presence do anything to change *this particular* type of crime– a crime-of-passion shooting over a dice game that (I’m guessing) the police would not break up (or have grounds to)?
Isn’t police presence most effective in situations where people decide not to act, or to move their activity, because the cops might be around? In other words, muggings, burglaries, but not shooting a guy you get pissed off at over a dice game.
By all means bring on the cops, but I think Sassy from San Diego has a point that this is the kind of murder that it takes community change, not just more patrols, to eliminate.
Mr. B, you brought up this topic. Any other thoughts?
Bx2B, I really want to do this. Yes, I am very passionate about public safety and quality of life issues in Clinton Hill. However, addressing these concerns in any meaningful way will require a collaborative effort. You can’t just put your face out there as the lone ranger because they’ll cut your down faster than a weed whacker. You show me a poster child for this type of extreme – albeit necessary – activism and I’ll show you a martyr and candlelight vigil.
I recall the Grand Ave resident who was threaten at gun point because of his constant pleas for change on the corner of Putnam. Another neighbor of mine repeatedly had his car tires slashed to the point that he’s now very complacent to the nabe’s wrongdoing. His warning: “get involved at your own risk.” Nonetheless, I’m willing to take on the risk if others are willing to join. As previously stated we need an official organization who will meet, plan, write letters, protest, advocate, and seek the support of the larger community, its business leaders and the political establishment.
I know that others feel the same way that I do but too many of us are just too afraid to speak out. Others are simply too motivated by the insatiable thirst for higher and higher property values to bring any attention to this matter. They simply hold out for a “gentrification bailout” that might never occur.
I don’t know about BH but there is plenty of crime in PS. In some ways its worse because its usually a criminal preying on a victim rather than bad guy vs bad guy.
“I guess that there really are very good reasons why there is a premium paid for Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope”
There has been a big upswing in the number of muggings in PS, especially near the park (roughtly in the blocks near the third street entrance). So don’t believe the hype about how safe it is here either.
I spoke with councilwoman james and there was a bit of fatalism, like don’t ask me what I can do, YOU do something yourself…I think one thing we could do is show up at every monthly precinct meeting and at every mtg ms. james holds. this should hold true for every neighborhood. go to your mtgs!!! and then write about them. keep everyone accountable in the fifth estate!