Live From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting

January 11, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn

As some of you are undoubtedly aware last night both the month meeting of our Community Board and that of the 94th Precinct Community Council came to pass. I opted to attend the Community Council meeting. I’m glad I did: not only did Deputy Inspector Hurson give a presentation of 2011’s crime statistics (which featured a sobering number of vehicular/pedestrian accidents, as you will see) but after a slow start the question & Answer session got downright contentious. The fly in the audience’s proverbial ointment was (among other things) loud/unruly bars. Without further ado here is footage (which as of 4:14 p.m. is WORKING!!!) of the proceedings. Enjoy!

Part I: General Announcements, D.I. Hurson Announces the “Cop of the Month”

1. Minutes are waived.
2. Deputy Inspector Hurson notes that while Bedford Avenue was rather festive on New Year’s Eve (and some of the merrymakers were perhaps a little too merry) matters did not get out of hand.
3. D.I. Hurson announces the “Cop of the Month”: Officer Wikira. Officer Wikira detained a man stuffing a woman’s purse into a mailbox. Shortly thereafter a robbery was reported involving the man in question. He, having just served twelve years for similar such offenses, was arrested and sentenced to five years.

Part II: D.I. Hurson Gives a Presentation Regarding the 94th Precinct’s Crime Statistics For 2011

1. The 94th is the 9th best precinct in the city.
2. While most crimes were down (for example, burglaries were down 35%), felony assaults were up 26%.
3. Overall crime was down 10%
4. D.I. Hurson makes note of an auto theft ring the 94th recently busted. Apparently this outfit was shipping automobiles to the Middle East. Wow.
5. Arguably the most disturbing statistic offered were vehicular/pedestrian accidents. 77 of these came to pass last year. This is a 63% increase over 2010 (which had 47). Bicyclist/motorist accidents, conversely, were down. Albeit slightly: 67 in 2011 versus 79 in 2010. This is a 15% decrease.

Part III: Deputy Inspector Hurson Gives a Rundown of Recent Criminal Activity

1. D.I. Hurson gives an overview of recent crimes among them:

Another MARCH operating came to pass January 6th. The establishments “visited” were The Cove, Veronica Peoples Club and The Place. While the Department of Health did serve some violations, nothing major was found.
There were two shootings. One came to pass at 255 Nassau Avenue December 4th; the other was a self-inflicted gun shot wound in front of the White Castle on Metropolitan Avenue. The lattermost individual, having arrived at Woodhull Hospital for treatment, was arrested.

Part IV: The Q & A Session Commences

1. The matter of the The Production Lounge (which is located at 113 Franklin Street)— or more specifically the noise emanating from it on “Polish Hip Hop Night” (which came to pass January 7th)— is brought to the table. A local landlord kicks off this discussion. This gets rather contentious quickly.

Part V: Q & A Session Continues, The Production Lounge and Noise Issues in General are Discussed

1. A neighbor of Veronica Peoples Club speaks about noise issues.

2. Attendees are advised to tender any and all noise complaints to our local Community Board.

Part VI: Q & A Session Continues

1. Complaints about zoning (and lack of planning as being a facilitator for the proliferation of bars) are raised. Greenpoint is likened to a “frat party” and the East Village by one citizen.

2. Questions are raised about how noise complaints are handled. D.I. Hurson cites Coco66 as example as how noise complaints were used as the pretext for a MARCH operation which resulted in this establishment’s closure.

Part VII: Q & A Session Continues

1. The owner/operator of a local music studio complains about the noise emanating from 113 Franklin Street.

2. A resident of the Cooper Park Houses tenders the most fascinating (and disturbing) item of the meeting: apparently an Access-a-ride driver is purchasing drugs at said complex several times a day. Usually frequently while driving said vehicle.

3. More noise concerns are posited, specifically about the air conditioning unit gracing Mrs. Kim’s.

4. The issue of “vacation rentals” is raised.

Part VIII: Q & A Session Continues

1. Discussion continues regarding “vacation rentals”

2. Questions about how to report stolen vehicles are raised.

Part IX: Q & A Session Concludes

1. A Leonard Street residents raises concerns about traffic enforcement. Specifically in regards to speeding motorists.

Until next month…

UPDATE, 5:22 p.m.: On a related note, there was a pedestrian fatality on Borinquen Place this morning. You get the full story by clicking here.

Posted by missheather Leave a Comment

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

November 8, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn

This evening’s meeting— the last one for 2011— was short and sweet. However, there were items of (sadly, distressing) interest. Without further ado, here we go!

Part I: Marie introduces herself, calls the meeting to order, minutes from the previous meeting are read, etc.

Part II: Deputy Inspector Hurson gives a rundown of the month’s “activity”. Regrettably, the Cooper Park Houses receive a great deal of attention.

D.I. Hurson notes that this year has been, overall, a very good one. Still there are problems. Primarily around/in the Cooper Park Houses.
Two shootings have come to pass. One was perpetrated by a 15 year old youth; the other arose from a domestic situation and came to pass at 20 Debevoise Street. After 1 1/2 hours of negotiation, he gave himself up to the police.
The party responsible for robbery at knife point at the Graham Avenue stop of the L train has been apprehended and is likely to have been responsible for a number of similar crimes in the area. The “perp” is a 60 year old male who hails from the Cooper Park Houses.
The DWI fatality on Meserole Avenue is recounted. D.I. Hurson informs us that the pedestrian hit at Calyer Street and McGuinness Boulevard later died as a result of his injuries. The person responsible for the latter was caught thanks to surveillance cameras and a Mercedes Benz hood ornament found at the scene.
Deputy Inspector Hurson notes traffic issues, namely those involving Kent Avenue and bicycle lanes have come to his attention. He notes that at North 6th Street alone there have been four accidents. This amongst the worst to be found in our fair city. As a result, the Department of Transportation is conducting a study with the 94th’s full cooperation.
Club enforcement: a “social club” selling alcoholic beverages which was operating out of a private residence on Lombardy Street has been shut down.
Both Halloween and the New York City Marathon came to pass peaceably.

Part III: The Q & A Session begins.

A resident of the apparently troubled intersection of North 3rd Street and Berry Street speaks about confronting a rather belligerent fellow urinating on his stoop. As some of may recall, this same behavior and location were brought up at last month’s meeting. The difference this time: apparently The Levee (whose previous incarnation was Kokies— a club which will live in Williamsburg infamy) is the culprit, not Radegast.
The matter of food trucks, namely “Endless Summer”, is brought forth. The customers of said truck are dumping their refuse/half-eaten foodstuffs on the street and this has resulted resulted in an increased presence of rats. You get the idea. A member of our local Community Board’s Public Safety Committee, Tom Burrows, inquires about the one hour parking rule. He is told by D.I. Hurson that they have to feed the meter like everyone else.

Part IV: The Q & A Session concludes.

The new tenant leader of the Cooper Park Houses introduces herself, commends D.I. Hurson for the work the 94th has been doing and states her utmost wish to meet the office assigned to police her community (because she has yet to see him/meet him). Tomorrow.

An equally brief New York Shitty analysis/Op. Ed.: As some of you might recall, earlier today yours truly met a very lovely young woman on the premises of the Cooper Houses. A very young kitten had walked up to her and instead of simply walking away she took her into her arms— and heart. Not being in the position to keep her, she allowed me— a total stranger promising this kitten would find a loving home— to take her. For this she, her sister and grandmother thanked me.

The real thanks should go out to Kaileigh— and her family. Thanks to them this kitten will have undoubtedly have a safe place to call home and grow into “cat-hood”. Why shouldn’t Kaileigh— a human, and a very sweet one at that— get the same? Just a thought.

Until next year, folks…

Posted by missheather Leave a Comment

Urban Fur: Special Cooper Park Houses Edition

November 8, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11211, 11222, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Fur

John Lennon was really onto something when he said:

Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

Today I had a plan: searching for stolen manholes— and find them I did (For example, the above specimen which can be found at Kingsland and Norman Avenue. Please take a moment, gentle readers, to truly appreciate this person’s bravery— or stupidity. Take your pick.). It is also why I currently have a kitten in my bathtub. You read me correctly: a kitten. In my bathtub.

This kitten. But let’s get back to manholes for a moment.

I found the odd one here (224 Monitor Street) and there…

(Russell Street across from McGolrick Park) but I was nonplussed. Thus, I decided to expand my search southward.

And in so doing I discovered this fire hydrant in front of 450 Morgan Avenue which has been divested of its caps and a missing cover to boot! That’s three thefts for the price of one!

It was upon noticing this filming notice (for “Marcher”, whatever that is) gracing the eastern perimeter of the Cooper Park Houses I decided to take a detour… and discovered this little lass.

More accurately: I made the acquaintance of the young lady who discovered her. I asked what gives and she, with grandmother and younger sister by her side, explained to me that this kitten simply walked up to her. I told her that this was one very smart kitten and inquired as to whether or not she was going to keep her. She enthusiastically said “Yes”. Her grandmother (who was receiving a translation of this discussion from a friend) begged to differ. I then suggested:

I can probably get her placed at a rescue organization where she will be adopted to a good home.

To wit this kitten’s new friend asked:

She won’t be adopted to someone who will expect her to hunt and kill rats, will she?

Absolutely not.

I assured her and parsed through my “smartphone” for someone to call. After coming to the conclusion I had, in fact, been outsmarted by said device, I checked my email. There I found an email from Jay Lombard (of Dog Habitat) featuring (what else?) a plundered manhole. I emailed him back as follows:

Can you call me? STAT.

And call he did. I explained to him that I had a very special “thank you gift” for his manhole: a kitten. I inquired if, perchance, Dog Habitat could take her in. He agreed to take her. I relayed this news to her good Samaritan. This made her very happy. She asked me to take a few photos of her soon-to-be former feline friend. I gladly obliged and proceeded to walk down Maspeth Avenue with a kitten firmly attached to my chest.

ASIDE: One of the perks of walking around north Brooklyn as much as I do is I have a pretty extensive knowledge of the street scape and the businesses contained therein. In this case, I knew there was a pet grooming establishment nearby: Lucy’s Lucky Dog. I headed to 1 Maspeth Avenue without delay.

Suffice it to say I did not need to explain why I was there. A carrier was purchased and my new friend was quickly placed therein. She demonstrated her gratitude for these new accommodations by christening it with a fresh (and rather stinky) salvo of vomit.

Perhaps imitation Burberry is not this little one’s style? Only she knows for certain.

In any case, I quickly ascertained she rather liked accompanying me on my walk so I decided to continue my trek.

Eventually, having had enough “sight seeing”, she fell into a deep sleep.

One which— more or less— lasted the entire subway ride back to her temporary home.

Which is, of course, Chez Shitty’s bathtub.

I imagine there may be someone among you, dear readers, who is interested in giving this lass a home. Well, later this evening she will call ~~Dog Habitat~~ Jay’s home her new digs. I will be contacting our local veterinarian and arrange for a check-up and we’ll go from there. In closing, however, I will note that she has a(n albeit) temporary name: Kayleigh. This is the name of her founder who, it should be noted, took great pains to clarify her name spelled specially: K-A-Y-L-E-I-G-H.