Question of the Day: Private Security?
On the same day last week, we heard in the morning from a policeman that the 88th Precinct (Fort Greene and Clinton Hill) had finally gotten a boost in manpower and in the afternoon that our neighbor across the street had been robbed the night before. We’re wondering what people think about the idea of…
On the same day last week, we heard in the morning from a policeman that the 88th Precinct (Fort Greene and Clinton Hill) had finally gotten a boost in manpower and in the afternoon that our neighbor across the street had been robbed the night before. We’re wondering what people think about the idea of supplementing the local police force with some private security. Our GC told us he thinks the local “bad guys” won’t be put off by rent-a-cops. Other people have said that bringing in private security would only antagonize relations between gentrifiers and old-timers. We’re sure other people’s response will be “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” But if you’ve already committed to being in a neighborhood, should political correctness stop you from doing everything you can to ensure the safety of your family? Is passing the hat to your neighbors to raise money for a night-time patrol realistic?
hear, hear. and GOOD night.
To waltz in there without exploring other community-based options or getting to know your neighbors? Sure. But the concept of private security is not inherently arrogant. This is exactly why we were raising the topic for discussion. We aren’t suggesting we have all the answers but if you can’t raise what is a perfectly reasonable idea for discussion without getting labeled an elitist, what’s constructive about that?
don’t you think there is something arrogant about moving into an area and starting your own private security force… I mean, just on the face of it.
Wow. We’ve been on the road all day driving a rented cargo van full of boxes down to the city from our vacation in Connecticut. It’s always amazing to us how personal and emotional people get. We posted this discussion topic in what we thought was a non-confrontational way. Clearly since several other neighborhoods already have some kind of private security force, this is hardly some ground-breaking idea. Look, all we’re doing is trying to create a nice home for our young family in a city where that’s tough to do. To some people, we probably seem rich and overprivileged, hence the knee-jerk accusations of elitism. But everything’s relative. We can assure you we are far from rich and are just pulling all of this off by the skin of our teeth. We consider one of our strengths to be being able to see and appreciate many points of view on a topic, which is why we were aware that this idea might be controversial. But as several posters have noted, what’s that compared to the value of your family’s safety? Anyway, we appreciate all the input, we just wish people weren’t quite to quick to project their own insecurities and issues on to us. But we choose to put ourselves out there and something interesting or useful usually comes out of it, so we can roll with it.
lol. those of you giving b’stoner sh*t for posting his floorplans – as if there’s some secret entrance contained in the layout! ooo! i have a feeling b’stoner was just putting a discussion topic out there, so why get so personal? it’s as if you wish a robbery/mugging on the poor guy…like big bubba would watch the hipster get beaten up. i don’t care how little i like someone, i’m not going to watch them get hurt by other people. you guys are a bunch of venomous wackos. props to the people who actually had a civilized debate about it. damn.
So tell me, David at 4:54 p.m., how many murders occur because of dice games? Last I heard, there were 570 murders in 2004 (down from 594 in 2003) in the city of NY. Do you really think dice were a big contributor?
Katy if you’re anywhere near Quincy & Classon, I think it’s Larry (older black guy with a beard and shopping cart) who’s sweeping your stoop. He’s great.
Since HPD boarded up his house and kicked him out on the street, (although they oddly let the prostitute stay in the house to ply her trade, but I digress) he parks his shopping cart in our front yard.
He does keep an eye on things. That doesn’t mean he’ll protect you, but he is well-meaning and quite harmless.
Summer? That game goes on year round. Truly, the guy you spoke to was clueless.
There have been shots fired around that game, and the crossfire is certainly an issue. But those guys also watch the block, to some degree. They knew me, never messed with me, and would not (I like to think) have let anyone else mess with me. But you never know.
On my new block there is a guy with a shopping cart who comes around and (pretty ineffectually) sweeps everyone’s stoop. It scares the piss out of me to hear someone in my “front yard” when I’m home alone at night, but hopefully he also fills something of a “presence” function. Hopefully.
Oops! My mistake. You did nothing of the sort. Apologies.