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]
well wasn’t it mentioned while ago that the fulton street organization had just got a grant and soon we will see street cleaning and extra police security? why don’t we know more about this things thru the clinton hill society meeting, instead of talking about the house tours, also if we will be able to relocate the methadone clinic on waverly and fulton, that will help cleaning the streets from such of people, I can’t belive that’s a few blocks from our kids school, what can we do to change this? racisim is the worst answer to this, unfortunately this issue comes out too often, we are a comunity no a race or another I’m sure we all want safety, good places to eat shop and hang out, some more expensive some more affordable, I’m sure everyone wants something better, why don’t we start with petitions for all this issues?
the precinct is corrupt. absolutely, positively. take your blinders off, folks!
i think in this situation it’s about bad guys not black guys- each side had guns and each side decided to use them stupidly at each other- to each his own. i think had an innocent person been caught in the cross fire and been killed-as was the fear upon hearing the shots- then more attention would have been placed- that said i can’t believe there wasn’t more coverage just for the idea that bullets were flying down a busy city street.
I think the police might step up their presence in the area if one of the new, white residents gets murdered. Seriously, do you expect the NYPD to stop being racist because you moved in? I don’t think that’s even possible to accomplish.
I think there’s some confusion because there was also a shooting incident a few blocks away near Franklin and Jefferson (PS3) in Bed-Stuy. Innocent bystanders–children–were shot in that one.
I don’t think Clinton Hill is a dangerous place, not by a long shot. It wasn’t terrible when I moved here (Grand, a block from the shootout) in 1989, and it’s gotten better. But I do wonder how it is that the intersection of Fulton, Putnam and Grand continues to be a hotspot. It does make one wonder what the hell the 88th Precinct is doing when it’s obvious that there’s a big problem on that corner. Crime elsewhere in the precinct is way down; you’d think they would concentrate on the hot spots that remain.
edit: the info i need’s in the bottom of b’stoner’s post. and the formatting _does_ stick.
I live a block away–I wasn’t in the area when it happened, but my roommate was, and heard the shots.
Does anyone remember, a few months back, when the “Putnam Candy Store,” just down from the intersection in question, was raided by a SWAT team? Raided may not be the correct word–the cops were hanging out on the steps, wearing their jackets, in front of their big white van, for over an hour, and looked pretty relaxed, at that.
This corner is a problem area, but I feel like it’s only a matter of time before it gets the attention it needs. Grand from Lafayette is quickly developing, and while Fulton isn’t moving up as fast as Myrtle, I’ve definately noticed an increased police presence for at least six months now, if not on our favorite intersection, then in every place around it, including Putnam & Downing.
A murder, unfortunately, but I hope it’s true in this case, may be when the crime of the area has escalated to the point of which it can no longer be ignored.
I realize I’m taking the passive stance on this issue, and I am very new to this neighborhood . I just wanted to note that as a casual–but still concerned–observer, while action hasn’t been taken in the speed and thoroughness it should, it certainly does seem that this area will quickly improve (about as quickly as it’s gentrifying. And what struggles we have with that issue!)
I don’t think we have the sort of community determination Brenda speaks of in P. Park South, but from this post there are obviously residents who stay active in the fight. What sort of organizations or councils do we have in this area, and where can I look for information? I’m not involved, but this posting is inspiring me to be. That’s the only real way to achieve change, right?
Btw, thanks for posting on this–I’ve been aching to know more about the incident. (sorry about the long paragraph–can’t figure out how to format)
-T
Anon 11:52
I would not characterize CH as a violent place by any means, but there are a few trouble spots that the police don’t seem to be doing enough about.
I lived in the West Village for years and it too had its less desirable corners, and Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope are hardly crime-free; you can get mugged just about anywhere in NYC.
Same goes for a shooting a few months ago in front of te CH Co-Ops on Clinton Ave. I emailed the Ms. James and got a brief description of what happened and she mentioned the police had no leads and the victims weren’t talking. But still the NYPD has not increased (to my knowledge) their presence in the area. We love the neighborhood and know it is coming up, but as someone stated before, one problem begets another, begets another.