New York, NY - Police Say Crime is Down Around City, But Some Brooklyn Neighborhoods Don't See It |
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News Source: NY Daily News
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New York, NY - Crime is down so far this year across the city, but some Brooklyn neighborhoods have seen a surge of shootings.
There were 240 gunshot victims in South Brooklyn through early October, up from 179 during the same period in 2008 because of a spike in violence in Crown Heights, East Flatbush and Coney Island.
“You hear gun shots all night long around here,” said Dwayne Knowles, 55, of Coney Island. “Hell yes, it’s getting worse.”
According to crime statistics for Coney Island’s 60th Precinct through early October, there were 19 shootings , up from 8 during the same period in 2008. Those incidents wounded 22 people, a jump from 10.
Murders are up there too, doubling to 10. Yet overall crime fell by 16.3% in the 60th precinct because of drops in robberies and burglaries. The problem is similar in East Flatbush’s 67th Precinct, where 77 people have been shot so far in 2009, up from 59 a year ago.
“There’s been a lot of shootings going on,” said Erasmus Neighborhood Houses executive director Yves Vilus. “There are too many guns on the streets.”
The rise in gunfire - which many people said came from gangs and drug dealers - has conjured fears that the city could slip back to the crime-plagued 1980s.
“Perception is what’s real,” said State Sen. Eric Adams (D-Crown Heights), who held two town hall meetings last week about the increase in shootings from 24 victims in 2008 to 35 this year.
“The police can easily point to a decrease in some predatory crimes, but what troubles people are the overt indicators of violence returning, such as drug dealing and graffiti,” said Adams.
A spokesman for the NYPD stressed that even though shootings are up, crime is down even in the most dangerous neighborhoods.
Citywide, crime is down by 11.4%. Murders dropped to 354 through early October from 410 last year.
But parts of Brooklyn are defying other crime-fighting gains made this year.
The police also reported a 17.4% reduction in robberies and a 9.9% drop in burglaries for the entire city.
But in Williamsburg’s 90th Precinct and Bushwick’s 83rd Precinct, burglaries are on the upswing. The two neighborhoods lead the city in break-ins this year. Williamsburg reported 355 this year, up from 292 in 2008 and Bushwick has had 356, up from 333.
Residents think thieves have set their sights on newcomers in the rapidly gentrifying areas.
“There are a lot of easy picks around here,” said Phil DePaolo, 46, a Williamsburg activist. “People move here under the impression that it’s the safest big city in the country. They leave their doors and windows open, but this is still Brooklyn.”
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Read Comments (11) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:08 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
As long as you don't live in in Crown Heights, you're feeling secure. We, on the other hand, are under constant bombardment from car break-ins (a la repeat offender Derrick Nelson), muggings, robberies, assaults, & some murders. And the 71st precinct is useless, unless a Black person is a victim.
2
Oct 25, 2009 at 09:59 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The problem is not all crime is reported. Even when the police come they look for every excuse not to report it. Many times the people don't won't to press charges and the police encourage them not to press charges, esprcially for low level crime. It's known that the least that's reported makes the precinct look better. It's become a numbers game.
3
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:38 AM Sheeple Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ As long as you don't live in in Crown Heights, you're feeling secure. We, on the other hand, are under constant bombardment from car break-ins (a la repeat offender Derrick Nelson), muggings, robberies, assaults, & some murders. And the 71st precinct is useless, unless a Black person is a victim. ”
It is only going to get worse the more you people act with the sheep to the slaughter routine. Every thug of late when interviewed says basically the same thing: "Jews are easy targets, they don't fight back" Get your pistol permits (I know there is a lot of red tape, and beurocratic delaying tactics) buy and carry guns at all times, get proper training, and you will change the criminals mind set.
4
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:45 AM motty Says:Report as Inappropriate
I believe that the crime satistics are totally flawed. I think only a small fraction of the smaller type of crimes get reported. If you ever tried to make a police report, you would most probably not go through with the complaint, and surely would never try to file a report again. Starting with the 2 hour or more wait for the police to arrive at your home, or waiting for hours in the 66 precent. Then the officer gives you attitude and makes you feel like the crook. They are extreme lazy and uninterested in filling out the forms, so they take their time letting you wait, hoping you will change your mind a not file, they actually try to disuade you from goingg through with the complaint. These 66 cops are spoiled and arrogant, they do not respect or appreciate our community. I personally know more then 15 people that their car was burglarized, in the last few months. Thay did not even bother to report it due to the hassle. One friend did file a report,the process took him over 3 hours . According to the estimates more then 400 cars have been burglarizes in the last 6 months in boro park. with thousands of dollars of goods stolen. Where are the cops and where are the shomrim? So let's be open, and honest, these crimes satistics are not real, crime in not down they are just unreported.
5
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:44 AM One who is on the scene Says:Report as Inappropriate
Let it be known, while Crown Heights residents are concerned with muggings and assaults, African American and Caribbean neighbors have been inundated with shootings and murders in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Bed-Stuy, Brownsville. Elected officials have been hosting forums on Gun Violence because it is rampant. In addition these same elected officials and community based non-profits are working to use their resources to do preventive work by reaching out to youth, and give them some positive alternatives.
This is something that should be on everyone's mind, especially those running for mayor.
6
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:34 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The problem is not all crime is reported. Even when the police come they look for every excuse not to report it. Many times the people don't won't to press charges and the police encourage them not to press charges, esprcially for low level crime. It's known that the least that's reported makes the precinct look better. It's become a numbers game. ”
This is very true. The police kept on refusing to file my complaints in a police report. Has anyone been to Sheepshed Bay lately? The drug dealing, attacks, fights, stabbings, killings are so frequent in that area that it feels like living in Brownsville.
7
Oct 25, 2009 at 11:13 AM jay Says:Report as Inappropriate
crime is not down everbodey knows it, this numbers are a joke so bloomberg can say he is doing a good job
8
Oct 25, 2009 at 11:18 AM Liepa Says:Report as Inappropriate
These phony numbers are just there to allow Bloomberg to glide into his third term smoothly. Other than that these numbers are nothing but a total farce. He'll soon have us believe that NYC has the lowest taxes too. 'Eir vill meer einradden a kinned in bouch'
9
Oct 25, 2009 at 12:46 PM murray Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Let it be known, while Crown Heights residents are concerned with muggings and assaults, African American and Caribbean neighbors have been inundated with shootings and murders in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Bed-Stuy, Brownsville. Elected officials have been hosting forums on Gun Violence because it is rampant. In addition these same elected officials and community based non-profits are working to use their resources to do preventive work by reaching out to youth, and give them some positive alternatives.
This is something that should be on everyone's mind, especially those running for mayor. ”
You must be mistaken........"shootings/gun violence...etc" IMPOSSIBLE-there is strict gun control in NYC.....no guns are allowed.Period.- Not even by law abiding citizens.....only the police have guns, so explain to me how there can be "shootings" ?
10
Oct 25, 2009 at 02:27 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Murder was down at one point because there was nobody to murder anymore. Now that the weather is beutiful and the murderers are getting out of jail because they did their 9 months in jail they are out again to kill the people that were never shot before.
Why can't people just take their guns and go to a different city to shoot people. Other cities don't have enough people for target practice?
We are sick and tired of living in fear and being shot at.
Like the old man that was interviewed said to the news reporter, " it could have been my kid that was shot." the follow up question was , do you have any children? And the man said they all died 20 years ago!
11
Oct 25, 2009 at 02:57 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
It's known that crime is up in downtown Manhattan, but the reporting system is flawed. We cant do anything, because Bloomberg is extremely powerful.