Senator Checks In On Clinton Hill Drug Trade
We just received a copy of Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s letter to 88th Precint head John Cosgrove about the migration of the drug activity from Grand Avenue to Cambridge following the barricading of Grand this summer: September 28, 2006 Deputy Inspector John Cosgrove 88th Precinct 298 Classon Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205 Re: Illegal Drug Activity, Fulton…
We just received a copy of Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s letter to 88th Precint head John Cosgrove about the migration of the drug activity from Grand Avenue to Cambridge following the barricading of Grand this summer:
September 28, 2006
Deputy Inspector John Cosgrove
88th Precinct
298 Classon Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Re: Illegal Drug Activity, Fulton Street, Washington/Classon Avenues
Dear Deputy Inspector John Cosgrove:
I am writing to you on behalf of my constituents who reside in and around the above area in my district. The complaints are about the selling of drugs and loitering.
I am requesting that something be done about the illegal drug selling in the above area, and the loitering in front of 134 and 132 Cambridge Place by people who are not residents of that block.
I would like to know what is being done about this problem and after the closing of Grand Avenue the investigation has not ventured in surrounding areas (sic). The illegal drug activity has moved to other places such as Downing Street and Cambridge Place. I am awaiting a response to this situation.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Senator Velmanette Montgomery
18th Senate District
Granted this was written a couple of months ago, but as far as we can tell, the drug dealing has resumed on Grand Avenue again as well. Is it still happening on Cambridge and Downing too? Update: For Cosgrove’s response, continue reading below.
Turning Up The Pressure on Grand and Putnam [Brownstoner]
Here’s what Cosgrove had to say in response:
October 25th, 2006
In regards to: Drug Activity v/o Downing St & Cambridge Pl.
Dear Hon. Senator Velmanette Montgomery,
Thank you for taking the time to bring this consituent matter to my attention. I am very concerned about the collateral effects of our initiative in the vicinity of Downing Street and Cambridge Place.
I have researched the specific locations you complained of; buildings 132 & 134 Cambridge Place. For the period of July 1st through October 14th, 2006 there were a total of three (3) 911 calls for service at 132 Cambridge Place. Of these two were for domestic matters. At 134 Cambridge Place there were zero calls for service.
It troubles me that our constituents feel their quality of life has been adversely impacted by our summer initiative at the intersection of Putnam and Grand Avenues. I would encourage them to utilize the “911” and “311” systems top report the violations they are observing. This way the New York City Police Department can do something aboutthe violations in “real time”.
I will continue to monitor this matter for future discussion.
Sincerely,
Deputy Inspector John Cosgrove
Commanding Officer, 88th Precinct
Mom – we dont know what happened – what we do know is that these officers NEVER fired their weapons before (doesnt sound like these guys were cowboys); and there were alot of Officers at the scene and who fired (which makes an intentional murder virtually impossible – unless your a conspiracy theorist) –
which seems to indicate that for whatever reason they made a MISTAKE.
Now I dont know about your job, but where I work if I make a mistake I dont get prosecuted and sent to jail
yeah, right on, Anon 11:48 how dare Sharpton, Bloomberg or anyone else criticize New York’s finest for dumping 50 shots into three unarmed men. after all, we all know they we’re using that car as a weapon, right?
You people sound like a real bunch of hypocrites. I believe that C.H.’s point is that we should address the root causes of the drug trade instead of simply shifting it around from one location to another. And for God’s sake don’t pretend that poor areas don’t ALWAYS get the shaft when wealthier areas begin to relocate their drug traffic.
If you want to fight drug trafficing, then attack its causes. Don’t simply shove it down someone else’s throat.
Well now I know where I can score some drugs.
give it up C.H., 12:13pm did say that “neighbors have to fight it everywhere.”
Stop being an advocate for complacency.
Either form your own block association to make sure the dealers don’t come your nabe or convince your dealer friends (if you have any) to take their business off the streets and run it from within the confines of their homes.
I personally am tired of hearing about the wild wild west shoot outs on our streets. Either end the prohibition or get the dealers off the streets.
What a ridiculous argument to say that Clinton Hill residents shouldn’t try to clean up their own streets because the dealers will just move to poorer areas! Does that mean Bed Stuy residents should also sit back because then the dealers would move to East New York? Geez.
Here here. And if poor people always come out on the losing end of this fight, well, that’s just….coincidence.
I do not hesitate to call 911 if there is a real reason to do so. The community policing officer told us that manpower is alotted based on several metrics, including the number of 911 calls.
No one wants to live on a block with drug dealers and I don’t feel any compunction to play hostess so that they don’t move somewhere else. Poor people’s kids matter and my kids matter. Drug dealing and the violence that goes with it are unsavory in any neighborhood and neighbors have to fight it everywhere.
Yes, that’s right. Now that we see that there’s drug activity in our nabe of Clinton Hill, it’s time for us to band together and force this activity into some poorer neighborhood. After all, poor people’s kids don’t matter.