New York Shitty Day Ender: Live From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting

(Or: All Thumbs* version).

So last month I relapsed. Or as I explained to the ladies of the 94th Precinct Community Council (the only authority to whom yours truly answers) tonight: Ma Heather was in town last month. They understood. Mom prevails.

In any case I captured tonight’s proceedings in their entirety (including a reading of the minutes from last month’s meeting which I missed). Those of you who want to learn how to register your bikes with the 94th; how to report noisy/disorderly bars and learn about the current crime trends hereabouts (NOTE: bicycle theft and burglaries are the big ones) read/ listen on!

94th Community Council Meeting Part I: Introduction, A Recitation of Last Month’s Minutes

Most interesting point to yours truly: a resident of 66 Clay Street, a “three quarter house”, was caught dealing drugs (cut to 1:37 for this gem). Otherwise…

• National Night Out will come to pass August 7th, 2012. You can get the deets via the above-posted flier or the Greenpoint Gazette.
• The next meeting of the 94th Precinct Community Council will come to pass September 5th.
• The joint 90th/94th Precinct Harmony Picnic will come to pass July 19th, 2012 at Cooper Park.

Part II: Officers of the Month

• Officers Osbourne and Small broke a tire rim theft ring via a 911 call from 1 Richardson Street.
• We have five new police officers with 7 more to come.
• Burglaries are still a problem.
• Catalytic converters from Honda CR-Vs are being stolen because they contain platinum and sold for scrap metal.
• Bike thefts have doubled, but two arrests were made this month. (And yours truly gets props!)
• Traffic issues:

1. Nassau Avenue (due to the recent reconstruction) then D. I. Hurson hands it over to his crime prevention officer…
2. Regarding Kent Avenue: there are no crosswalks for pedestrians thus the 94th met with Transportation Alternatives and lights have been installed at North 5th, North 6th and North 7th Street. No crosswalks have been installed; but complaints are being received about bicyclists not minding stop lights which have installed. NOTE: while vehicular traffic to Kent Avenue is confined to being one way; bicyclists are entitled to travel north and south on this thoroughfare. Lights have been put in place for bicyclists and the 94th plans on enforcing them.
3. This upcoming Friday, June 8th the 94th will be co-hosting an event with Transportation Alternatives which will bring to light what I call “clipping”: bicyclists being hit/seriously injred by an opening car door.
4. A question about bicycle accidents is raised: to date we’re at 30 (versus 18)
5. A complaint about parking on Leonard Street (as a result of the Nassau Avenue Reconstruction).
6. D. I. Hurson mentions the bicycle registration service will be available at the next 94th Community Council Meeting:

• September 5th, 2012 at the Church of the Ascension (122 Java Street) at 7:00 p.m.
• Bicycle registration will also be available at the joint 94th Precinct.Transportation Alternatives event on June 8th starting 6:30 p.m.

Part III: There’s a Huge Speedbump On Manhattan Avenue at Engert Street; etc.

• There’s a huge speedbump at Manhattan Avenue and Engert Street.
• You asked, so I asked: how do I register bikes with the 94th Precinct? Not only will you be able to do so starting at the next Community Council meeting (September 5th) but you can make an appoint by contacting:
  PO Jerry Seletski
  94th Precinct Crime Prevention Officer
  100 Meserole Ave
  Brooklyn, NY 11222
  (718)383-9746 (Tel)
  Once again: this service is totally free!
• To recap:

1. August 7th is National Night Out.
2. July 19th is the Harmony Picnic
3. The first “concert of the year” is June 15th/16th which will come to pass at the softball courts at McCarren Park and
4. the OSA concert series follows shortly thereafter
5. the feast of Mount Carmel kicks off July 5, 2012
6. Williamsburg Walks.**

Part IV: Tom Burrows, instigator of the so-called  “War On Brunch” speaks, Q & A Session Continues

• A local mosque is posing a parking issue for residents on Fridays.
• The 94th is not sending officers to Coney Island so as to control the peeps at the pool.
• The Parks Department has no “PEP” officers in Community Board 1. Thus any/all police matters are at the discretion of our police department and Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn.

Part V: Lincoln Restler Speaks!

And that’s all she wrote!

*What I failed to capture with my Flipcam is as follows:

• “No Name Bar” at 597 Manhattan Avenue is not making any friends with the neighbors. People “screaming” in the backyard at all hours was noted. I found this rather interesting given it is my understanding that this is where the Greenpoint Gazette’s office is (ostensibly) located.

• Nights & Weekends, which is owned by the same fellows as 5 Leaves, was cited by the 94th for a noise violation two weeks ago.

**Which seems to have reneged on their promise to inform residents on Bedford Avenue a week ahead of time that they need to make arrangements for the disruption in vehicular traffic due to their event(s).