James, Hynes To Host Grand/Putnam Town Hall
We were pleased to see a police car standing guard at Putnam and Grand on our way home from the office on Friday; and we gather that they’ve assumed a similar position at various times since the shooting two weeks ago. Of course, we haven’t seen them there at night. Nor have they been there…
We were pleased to see a police car standing guard at Putnam and Grand on our way home from the office on Friday; and we gather that they’ve assumed a similar position at various times since the shooting two weeks ago. Of course, we haven’t seen them there at night. Nor have they been there in the mornings when we walk past on our way to work. In fact, on Friday morning we asked a cop who was standing guard on the busy subway platform full of dangerous businessmen and women on their way to work why he wasn’t over on Putnam and Grand instead. He muttered something unintelligible and then said something about how there might be a greater presence there when the new class of recruits comes aboard in July. Hmmmm.
In the meantime, there is some reason for hope. On June 21 at 7 p.m.. Letitia James, DA Charles Hynes and the 88th Precinct Captain will host a town hall meeting at 966 Fulton Street to specifically address the “quality of life issues” at Grand and Putnam. It’s unusual to get this line-up of higher-ups for such a local forum so we hope there will be broad attendance from the community–not just the block. Does this represent a change in attitude from the political and law enforcement leaders who have ignored the magnitude of the problem in the past? We can only hope. We also hope that they come to the meeting with more than pat answers about how they are working on long-term solutions with undercover cops and how there aren’t enough resources. If so, the members of the audience (aka the voters) won’t be buying it. As we’ve said before, this is going to become a single-issue point of accountability for all the leaders in the neighborhood. Let’s hope they rise to the occasion.
Will The Cops Show Up Now? [Brownstoner]
Its funny that I didn’t hear any of you say that you go to the 88th precinct council meetings that are held every month to voice your concerns that are going on in the neighborhood. Capt. Cosgrove is there 90% of the time, DA Hynes goes every once in a while and so do some of the other politians. If they don’t go to the meetings themselves they send representatives who report the issues back to them. As a matter of fact the next meeting is on June 20, 2006 at 257 Greene Avenue. I don’t understand why this town hall meeting is being called. That is the problem with us as a community we divid ourselves and for what. If you are serious you will be at both meetings.
sounds like its a wrap has trouble seeing one issue clearly because of his anguish over another. your complaint is completely justified, but you’re comparing apple and oranges here. If you want to get the WWB issue on the table, why not show up to the meeting as well and bring that up, organize, send letters, e-mails, make phone calls? why can’t people care about both issues? why do you assume that only white people care about crime prevention and safety? everyone on my block, which is mostly black, talks about how we wish we could get rid of the crack dealers and the prostitutes. since when do you have to be white and a gentrifier to give a shit?
I understand from my local block association that the town hall will be located at 966 Fulton Street . I’m pretty sure that’s the Ft. Greene Senior Citizens Center next to the post office parking lot.
Great. I’ll be there. I’ve seen a lot of police presence down at the corner–including witnessing SWAT-type teams breaking down doors at least twice this year–but it does seem that as soon as they look away, the drugs are back. I’m all for encouraging a new approach.
This may not be the place to ask, but does anyone know how the house next to A. Grenier’s got boarded up? (Think we’ll finally get a street lamp that stays lit there now?)
Brownstoner:
If you have not done so already, reach out to the Borough President’s Office. They don’t carry a big stick, but they are good at getting the right people at the table and behind the scenes massaging.
ItsaWrap,
We’re also very sorry to hear about those experiences and certainly understand how they inform your take on this issue. And, obviously, we can’t begin to know how it feels to be stopped by the police for the color of your skin. It’s not a reason for us to stop trying to bring an end to the lawlessness taking place in broad daylight, however.
I thought the same thing tiarina. Show’s how ineffectual the police have been. I would probably be able to walk down the street and point out most of the people I’ve seen selling drugs. Funny the cops can’t do a lot about it.
Let’s hope this meeting will help raise expectations and sensitize the local government and police to the concerns of the community. In any event, it will be a good start and hopefully we, as a community, can build some momentum for some concrete actions that can be taken to help alleviate crime and quality of life issues.
Police cameras, or police presence, makes a huge difference. It’s funny, if there is a cop posted in any of these areas of concern, all of the usual guys who “hang out” are nowhere to be seen. I think that is pretty telling of what sort of things they are up to.
ItsAWrap, I’m sorry to here about what happened to you, there is no excuse for it.
As for you saying “certain residents” are complaining about things not changing fast enough or significantly enough – if you lived in the area and spoke to people, old and new residents, all are sick of the same old problems.
ItsAWrap–sorry to hear about you being stopped for WWB. That’s really bad policing and not what I want to see happening to clean up that corner.
I’ve lived nearby for nine years and this has ALWAYS been a problem area. Your point underscores just how ineffective (and biased) the police work has been to date.
And as others have said, we need to try to make a stronger and SUSTAINED case now. Yet I totally sympathize with past agitators who have lost interest because they felt change was not possible.