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
may sound like a wierd question, but is this a crack corner or a weed “dime” bag corner. I noticed when I lived in bushwick if the corner dealer was just a weed pusher cops would do nothing. I also lived on bleeker st in the city about 5 years ago and the drug dealers would take over after the bars shut down, We all called the cop numerous times, and nothing was done. It was so strange to me because it was just soo obvious and no one did anything about it. By far the most ghetto area I lived in.
what did the senator do wrong? nothing.
anon. 10:52 must have a vested interest in one of these properties
Maybe they should turn the block back into a gated community.
Brownstoner is dead on. Something has to be done about the rampant drug dealing and crime in the southeastern section of Clinton Hill, in particular the Grand-Classon corridor of Fulton Street. And to add more fuel to the fire, the Lefferts Place hotel, after being shut down by court order since July, just opened up again last week! Everyone knows that the hotel is under strict surveillance so thus far the dealers, prostitutes and johns have not returned. I’m sure that won’t last as the hotel isn’t making any money at all as a legit establishment. It’s only a matter of time before Moses Fried and the Prince Hotel Group return to their criminal ways and start running the place as a whorehouse again. And when they do I hope the Brooklyn DA throws the book at them, confiscates their building and shuts them down permanently. Already the hotel is running afoul of the stipulation agreement with the city by discontinuing the court mandated 24 hour uniform security detail at the hotel! The 88th should definitely ramp up their foot and squad car patrol near the hotel and make sure that the hotel is honoring the stipulation agreement.
Anonymous 10:52, you are welcome to include your own name and contact details if you are so morally outraged at the anonymity of others. Not sure what you think the Senator did wrong here? She pointed out loitering in front of those two properties. Is that slanderous?
two of the fundamental principles of public discourse, points on which the New York State Public Officers Law is premised, is that discussion is open to the public (which a weblog is) and that all active participants and observers can know who is speaking, which these anonymous comments do not allow. while perhaps legally defensible, I find this thread morally reprehensible.
the senator should be ashamed of herself. you would think after decades in office, she would have a better sense of how to conduct herself as a public official.
We received the letters in a mailing from Senator Montgomery. We can only assume other constituents also were on the mailing list. As for slander, you must not be up on the most recent California Supreme Court ruling on the matter that absolves web publishers of comments made by others on their sites.
See the ruling here:
http://tinyurl.com/y63ofn
As a 20 year resident of this neighborhood I have repeatedly witnessed the drug trade in full bloom on Grand & Putnam. I challenge anyone who shrugs off the negative effects to live in the middle of it and then continue to condone it. Kudos to Brownstoner & Velmanette for taking this on. Area residents are strongly suspicious of police complicity in the blatant drug trade since it has gone unchecked for so long, despite repeated complaints. The only thing that has cleared up the drug traffic on other blocks over the years is the turnover in home ownership.
oh yes, let’s continue the slander-fest! if I was an owner or resident of either of these properties, I would print the website and sue Brownstoner for slander or libel.
hey Mr. B’, who is your source for these letters? let’s sue their ass too!