What To Do About That Pesky Drug Dealer?
Here’s a specific situation facing a tenant in a building but his question could also apply more broadly to illicit activity going on in the vicinity of your home: I’ve got quite the interesting situation going on in my building. I live on the first floor, and I know for a fact that there’s a…
Here’s a specific situation facing a tenant in a building but his question could also apply more broadly to illicit activity going on in the vicinity of your home:
This makes me extremely uncomfortable to know that this type of activity is so close to home. Because this goes on at all hours of the night and keeps me awake, I want to call the police and report this, but I also am wary of the “don’t snitch” edict in this neighborhood. I should also mention that even when not dealing, this guy and some friends are usually smoking blunts in the hallway (right outside my door) from 12am to 2am on weeknights.
I just don’t know what to do: (A) suck it up and wait til August and hope to get some sleep before then OR (B) call the police, hope that the dealer doesn’t figure out it’s me, and maybe have an increased chance of sleep. I’ve posted about this before, and the situation is now even worse. Anyone out there have advice?
Any thoughts?
Drug Dealer in Building [Brooklynian]
I say, if you’re going to do any reporting, the safest thing is to do it after you move. Until then, keep your door well-locked.
Dear All:
FIRST: Start attending your Precinct Council meetings (go to the NYPD page and go to which precinct you live in and it will tell you the nights of your precinct council). At every meeting the head of the narcotics division is present and you can talk to him/her in private regarding your issues (narcotics problems are never discussed publicly). This also helps you build a rapport with your commanding officer and local beat cops and division heads at your local precinct, including community affairs officers. The better your rapport well….
SECOND: reach out to your local city council person to register the complaint – let your local elected officials know what is going on! ESPECIALLY if the local precinct hasnt done what they said they would do. This is what your city council people are there for- to hold government agencies feet to the fire and follow-up on what is going on with your case.
If youre NOT afraid of letting these people know that youre not cool with what theyre doing -start a petition in your building or on your block. If your intent is to get them evicted, notify your landlord in writing of the complaint and record every incident (date and tiem) that has occured and include a petition from your fellow renters. If your landlord does NOT take measures to do anything call HUD (or just call 311 to file a complaint)- then if you want to leave you can go to Housing Court to get unpaid rent of monies reclaimed (if you are owed any) or if the landlord threatens to charge you fees for breaking a lease early.
Remember though: safety first when dealing with anyone selling drugs! Get involved and TELL the police and make note of it and workw ith them to resolve the situation!
Lastly, organizations such as Fifth Avenue Committee or other non profits that deal with landlord -tenant and housing issues can be good places to reach out to for help and referrals.
That said, I do agree with the posters who have said that you deserve some peace in your building.
LEGALIZE IT.
Montrose – you rule. “Oh, you’re a disadvantaged person so you’re allowed to be a nuisance to people.” Who wants to bet there’s just as many people on the block sick of guys like him as there are locals/nonlocals traveling to score?
If you have a loud neighbor, you should tell them to shut up. I don’t care if your neighbor is selling drugs or kittens. If they’re so loud you can’t sleep, you should tell them to shut up.
Ratting out one small-time drug dealer isn’t going to help “your” neighborhood at all.
Just confront the guy about it. Just gentrify and get on with our lives. That’s the thing about cities and class these days: we’re doomed to gentrify.
“I didn’t say “I wouldn’t live somewhere where there is drug dealing.” I said that I wouldn’t live somewhere where the “no snitching” attitude is dominant among residents.”
sorry!! reread – apparently my reading comp does suck. home sick from work and on cough syrup.
“Well if it’s coke or heroin then that changes the whole dynamic of things”
well all drugs are not viewed equally in the eyes of the law. hence the way cops handle them – if you get stopped with a little weed on you, you may or may not get arrested. coke? no way.
also, cocaine heroin, et all are more expensive and more addictive then pot, so the users maybe more likely to rob you to get their fix.
“Oh, but you are wrong about smoking mj in public – you will be arrested for that. Major change since 20 years ago.”
This was recently – but maybe its an officer by officer basis.
I totally agree Putnamdenizen – I don’t think the OP should have to put up with it by anymeans. I smoke, but would not like seeing/hearing the transactions going on right outside my apt door. It’s unfortunate that there really isn’t much that can be done.
Seriously though – what are cops doing besides busting small time dealers in “high crime” neighborhoods? There are so many bars/nighclubs out there that are well known dens for cocaine, mdma and other party drugs. I think there are bigger fish to fry out there then the teenage guy on the street who is being exploited and is a victim.
“NSR – you realize there’s a TON of dealers in your neighborhood too right? they just pull up in cars and your neighbors hop in them for 5 seconds while they make their transaction.
God – Slopers as a whole are probably some of the biggest stoners in the city – so if you think marijuana is a “gentrification” issue – it’s not.”
Your reading comprehension sucks dirty hipster.
I didn’t say “I wouldn’t live somewhere where there is drug dealing.” I said that I wouldn’t live somewhere where the “no snitching” attitude is dominant among residents.
Oh, and this comment made me lmao:
“Well if it’s coke or heroin then that changes the whole dynamic of things”
pot dealer = what’s the big deal, everyone relax
coke dealer = oh no, we have to do something about this
Right?