72nd Community Council Meeting Tuesday Night

October's Community Council meeting is tomorrow (Tuesday) night. Stop by the Marien Heim Houses at 7:30 PM for an update on the state of the 72nd Precinct. It's a good time to voice complaints and to share compliments with the officers. Deputy Inspector Pintos should be there.

When? Tuesday, October 13th, at 7:30 PM

Where? 45th and 4th Avenue (Marien Heim Houses)

Friends of Sunset Park Responds with Ideas to Better the Park - and You are Needed

There's a new post on the Friends of Sunset Park website. It is a response to the murders of two men a week ago, and it is a call to action from the residents of Sunset Park. It includes asking for active participation in community meetings, and it mentions being active in responding (via 311/911) to dangerous or disturbing situations in the park.

Here's an excerpt:

And, what, you ask, can WE do? YOU & I, the hard-working, peace-loving and responsible majority of Sunset Parkers:

• will attend as many 72nd Precinct Council Monthly meetings as possible- always held on the second (2nd) Tuesday of the month.
• will frequent their park in greater and greater numbers at whatever hour they wish;
• will report (call/email) to 311 (with copy to the Friends of Sunset Park- friendsofsunsetpark@yahoo.com , please) when garbage accumulates, vandalism occurs, graffiti appears, lampposts are broken, bathrooms are broken and/or dirty, tree limbs are cracked and about to fall on some one's head, benches are broken or paint is peeling;
• will call 911 (with copy to the Friends of Sunset Park- friendsofsunsetpark@yahoo.com , please) when you witness patrons gambling, using/selling controlled substances, urinating and defecating in public;
• will take our garbage with us and place it in a garbage can. If you see someone leaving an area and not taking their garbage with them, point politely (and with a smile) to the garbage and to the nearest garbage can. If you think additional garbage cans are needed, call 311 and request them- please call/email FoSP to let us know that you've contacted 311;

Reminder: Community Council Meeting tonight

Hear about the double-murder last Monday evening. Hear about the traffic accident that put a delivery man in the ICU. Listen to the 72nd talk about the summer full of events.

When? Tuesday, September 8th, at 7:30 PM.

Where? 45th and 4th Avenue (Marien Heim Houses)

Who? Anyone who is interested and concerned with what happens in Sunset Park. Basically, you.

It's a time for residents to learn information, give kudos for a job well done, voice complaints about a job less than perfect, and ask questions about the area. The meetings are the second Tuesday in the month. Make it a habit!

72nd Community Council Meeting is BACK

I'm sure this will be an interesting meeting.

When? Tuesday, September 8th, at 7:30 PM.

Where? 45th and 4th Avenue (Marien Heim Houses)

Who? Anyone who is interested and concerned with what happens in Sunset Park. Basically, you.

It's a time for residents to learn information, give kudos for a job well done, voice complaints about a job less than perfect, and ask questions about the area. The meetings are the second Tuesday in the month. Make it a habit!

Help Stop Three Robbers in Our Area

Friends of Sunset Park reps were at the 72nd Precinct meeting last night and sent along a request for help from Captain Pintos (Gothamist has a blurb and links to three news agencies (including video!).):

At tonight's monthly 72nd Precinct Community Council meeting, Captain Pintos asked for community help in identifying three robbers who have hit six bodegas/delis in the past few weeks. Two people (not the robbers) have been injured; one was shot in the shoulder. One of the robberies was on 3rd Avenue and 61st Street. Another was on Greenwood Avenue.

The individuals are described as male, African-American, very thin. The perpetrators wear bandannas over their noses/mouths and enter the store while the third stays in the Ford Expedition ready to help them escape. The getaway vehicle is a Black Ford Expedition with a dull paint job.

The Captain requested that if you see three men in a car matching this description, jot down the license plate and call 1-800-577-tips. Of course, if you think you see a crime in progress, call 911.

Community Council Meeting Tonight

Want to hear more (or ask a question about) the relatively recent shooting on 51st Street? Want to meet our Precinct Captain? Want to complain about an issue on your block? Want to commend the officers of the 72nd for their hard work?

Tonight at 7:30 PM you can have at it. Show up at the Marien Heim Houses on 4th Avenue and 45th Street. Go up the walkway in the middle of the block; the meeting is in the cafeteria to the right.

I can't make it, so I'd appreciate an email to bestviewinbrooklyn@yahoo.com if there's anything to report! Full credit given, of course.

Sunset Park Community Meetings this Week

These snuck up on me, and I haven't had the chance to call and double-check on the accuracy of these dates, but The Brooklyn Paper says it's so.

The 72nd Precinct Community Council meetings are usually the second Tuesday of each month, but this time it's the first Tuesday. As always, it is in the cafeteria of the Marien Heim Center on 45th Street and 4th Avenue. I suggest calling 718-965-6311 to check on the date. If I'm mobile, I'll be calling before heading out there.

Also, the Community Board 7 meeting* is listed as being this Wednesday. It's usually the third Wednesday of the month, but there you go. The 2010 budget and liquor license applications are on the agenda. The meeting is at 6:30 PM, and it's held at 4201 4th Avenue (entrance on 43rd Street). Again, I suggest calling 718-854-0003 prior to getting over there.

* I checked, and it's not the CB7 monthly meeting; it's a public hearing for two liquor licenses and the budget.

Run-Down of Last Week's Community Council Meeting

Many grateful thanks to John for visiting the 72nd Precinct's Community Council meeting last Tuesday and then sending along the main issues and discussion items.

He reports that there was standing room only, which means that well over 100 people attended. There were also representatives from the 72nd Precinct and Community Affairs, Sanitation, the Parks Department, and the DA's Office. State Senator Eric Adams spoke briefly before making a getaway (probably to another community meeting).

The meeting was chaired by the new Precinct Captain, Captain Pintos. According to John, Captain Pintos listened to all the questions and complaints, addressed them professionally, and he even took notes!

From John's email:

Most complaints were quality of life issues and how the police intended to address them, such as:
- prostitution on 3rd avenue
- loud noise from clubs on 4th/5th ave
- traffic issues - parking/tickets on 5th between 18th & 36th St
- crime/vandalism (car break-ins)

Issues focused on Sunset Park itself:
- gambling by the checker/chess board tables
- public urination
- drugs
- someone proposed a curfew for the kiddie park, from 10pm - 8am, as they have found used condoms and little plastic bags in the morning.

(As an aside, City playgrounds are supposed to be closed from dusk onward. The question that hasn't been resolved in Sunset Park is who is responsible for locking the gates?)

Capt Pinto cited a statistic that over 390 arrests have been made to date in the 72nd Precinct. Apparently, this is the highest number in the entire City. (No statistics or charts were cited, however.) He promised to continue having police presence in the park.

Another concern brought up during the meeting was insufficient response when residents called the precinct about quality of life issues like passed out drunks, prostitutes, or urination in or around buildings. Residents complained that common responses were that the Precinct had no available cars or that the situation was not an emergency. In most cases, residents said, no officers would show up. If they did, they sometimes gave the original caller "attitude" and ask why the police were called for a non-emergency issue. Naturally, this response goes directly against what the Mayor and the Captain himself have told residents to do about Quality of Life issues.

Captain Pintos promised to address the issue of perceived police unprofessionalism in particular. He asked that when anyone calls the precinct, request the name of the person with whom they are speaking. Therefore, if an incident happens, there is a reference
point. He pointed out that he would not tolerate unprofessional behavior from his officers.

It sounds like the meeting at least allowed residents to vent a bit, and it introduced the new Precinct Captain to the community. Hopefully, Captain Pintos' assertions of wanting to work with the community are more than just words for a first impression. I'm looking forward to seeing if the new Captain will bring new energy to the Precinct.

Tomorrow Night is the 72nd Community Council Meeting

On Tuesday, September 9th at 7:30 PM you'll get your chance to meet the new 72nd Precinct Captain and air any concerns you have in the neighborhood. The meeting is at 4520 4th Avenue at the Marien Heim Senior Home.

72nd Precinct Community Council Meeting

Summer's over, at least according to the meeting schedules for community groups. The first local group to get back to meetings is the 72nd Precinct Community Council; the first meeting will be September 9th (next Tuesday) at 7:30 PM. Meetings are held at the Marien Heim Senior Citizens Home, located at 4520 4th Avenue. Meetings are held in the cafeteria on the first floor.

One of the major changes at this meeting will be the presence of the new 72nd Precinct leader, Captain Jesus Raul Pintos. He comes to Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace from the Central Park district, and he began in the 72nd Precinct on June 30th of this year. He's been with the NYPD for almost two decades. Another change at the Community Council meeting will be the addition of Officer Janet Zhang; with her fluency in both Mandarin and Cantonese, she will hopefully help the Chinese community to feel more connected to the precinct. Of course, Officer Frank Siclari will continue to attend as Community Affairs liaison.

So, if you have concerns, complaints, compliments, or questions that you want addressed in person, come to the 72nd Precinct Community Affairs meeting on September 9th. Captain Pintos strongly encourages you too, and he expects lots of loud radio complaints - I'm sure we can bring him some more interesting issues.

72nd Precinct Community Council meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM.

For more information, pick up a copy of the Sunset Park edition of the Spectator - that's the one you find at the front of many businesses on 5th Avenue for free. It has a more detailed article about Captain Jesus Raul Pintos.

Here's What Happened: Community Council Meeting for the 72nd Precinct

At the last Community Council meeting before the summer break, the turnout was great. Despite oppressive heat (and the lack of air conditioning in the Marien Heim cafeteria), many residents showed up to voice their concerns, questions, and thanks.

Announcements:

The next Community Council meeting will be September 9th at 7:30 PM.

National Night Out! will be August 5th, from 5PM to 7PM at Greenwood Playground. Volunteers are needed, so please call 718 965 6311 if you are interested.

Police Appreciation Day is on June 21st from 11AM - 2PM at the 72nd Precinct. Come show the 72nd that we like what they do. Volunteers are also needed! Call 718 965 6326 if you are interested.

The Boricua Festival is moving from Prospect Park to the 58th Street Pier this year. It will be on June 28th from Noon to 7 PM.

The 5th Avenue Festival will be the 2nd week in September. So be ready for elote, lemonade, music, plastic stuff to buy, and trash.

72nd Precinct News:

Captain Simonetti announced that arrests for robberies were up 500% in the last recorded 28 day period. This may have contributed to the lack of any reported robberies last week. He also presented the certificate for Cop of the Month to Muhammad Ahmed (who couldn't be there to accept because he was working!); Officer Ahmed was responsible for at least four of those arrests - all in one night.

Captain Simonetti also shared that out of six stolen cars, five had been left with the keys in the ignition - and running - while the owners quickly ran in to a store or to do a fast errand. Oh dear. Summonses will be issued if officers see unattended, running cars - saving us from ourselves!

Graffiti removal has started up again. Call 311 to report graffiti for removal. If you see graffiti in action, call 911 to report it.

A group of concerned parents and grandparents asked about follow-up to the 17th and 18th Street incident during which two young ladies were slashed. Captain Simonetti reported that there were six arrests made, and six additional young people were brought to the precinct as truants. In response to the incident, there will be a meeting for teenagers to combat gang initiation and related events. It will be at Trinity Lutheran Church at 46th and 4th. Details to follow.

edited to add:
Two residents commented on the May 17th murder of Kyung-Sook Woo in Windsor Terrace. They appreciated the community meetings following the murder. One resident commented that the advice to report suspicious persons/activities was especially relevant because several members of the community had seen the man who was later arrested hanging around the dry cleaners. Captain Simonetti reiterated that 911 can be called in suspicious persons situations, and he thanked the detectives involved for their hard work. An arrest was made less than 72 hours following the murder.

Several residents offered up information/questions about various issues including vagrants on the train tracks, tractor-trailers parking on streets for days at a time, large group of young people using a mother and her children as a buffer while walking down the street, and members of gangs hanging around PS 1 and play areas smoking illegal substances and having fights.

Captain Simonetti answered a question about the gray area between 311 and 911 by explaining that suspicious persons on your block, looking into cars, or behaving in strange ways can warrant a 911 call. A passed out person on the street or in the park warrants a 911 call. The incident where a woman was being used by teens as a shield could be a 911 call.

311 should be used for nuisances and quality of life issues. We can also call the Community Affairs office at 718-965-6326 to report QoL issues. The phone is attended until 10 PM.

The meeting ended with a reminder that fireworks are illegal. Not only are they a personal safety issue, but they are also a fire hazard. Don't burn up my apartment for your fun, right? The officers were immediately surrounded by residents who wanted to offer congratulations or ask more personal questions to the officers.

72nd Community Council Meeting

Just as it occurs every 2nd Tuesday of the month, the 72nd Precinct Community Council Meeting will be at 7:30 P.M. at the Mariem Heim Center at 4520 4th Avenue.