Notes From November’s 70th Precinct Community Council Meeting
Last night was the monthly 70th Precinct Community Council meeting, normally held the last Wednesday of each month at the UCP building (175 Lawrence Avenue between Ocean Pkwy and E 2nd Street), but rescheduled for this month due to Thanksgiving. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 18 at UCP. Until then, here’s what you should know:
- Captain Anthony Sanseverino, who joined the precinct at end of July, spoke last night in place of Inspector Eric Rodriguez. Inspector Rodriguez is recovering from a recent surgery, but hopes to be back at work in a few weeks. Captain Sanseverino began by asking neighbors to please introduce themselves if they happen to be at the precinct, as he’d like to create a strong relationship with the community.
- Captain Sanseverino says crime in the 70th Precinct, overall, continues to drop–which he owes to our local authorities knowing and enjoying what they do. “I’d like to take credit for it,” he said last night, “but I’m new, so I can’t yet.”
- Holiday-specific safety tips: don’t store shopping bags in your trunk! With most modern cars, all a thief needs is to break a window and pop the trunk using a button on the dashboard. Similarly, make sure to park in well-lit areas.
- Also, if you’re going out of town for the holidays, keep your lights on a timer, make arrangements so your mail doesn’t visibly pile up, and don’t tell the world you’re away via social media.
- If you’re treating yourself or a loved one with, say, an enormous TV, new computer, or something equally valuable this holiday, don’t simply leave the boxes fully intact outside your home for pickup. Find a way to shred or obscure them so boxes don’t end up being a tell-all “what to rob” guide for your house.
- Updates on issues from last month’s meeting: the 70th Precinct’s traffic teams have been observing illegal traffic patterns on Church Avenue, mostly in the teen-numbered streets, and are joining forces with the Taxi and Limousine Commission to handle dangerous driving and gypsy cabs.
- In addition, impact cops are working with the alleged substance abusers said to be loitering on Church to make sure nothing illegal continues to go on, and residents and local businesses are safe.
- Captain Sanseverino says overall, coverage has been increased in major shopping areas, including Church Avenue and the Flatbush-Nostrand Junction, for the season. The Captain encourages neighbors to reach out to cops they see on the streets during this time, as the most valuable information to our local police often comes from the most casual conversations.
- You’ve probably heard or read something about knockout, a so-called game in which assailants hit random victims on the street in an attempt to knock them unconscious. Though incidents have occurred in the 66th and 71st Precincts, nothing has happened in the 70th yet–and the Captain says resources have been deployed around the area to make sure it stays that way.
- Last week’s blood drive in honor of Detective Dillon Stewart was a success, and Thanksgiving will be the eighth anniversary of his death. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts next Thursday.
- Next month’s meeting (again, December 18 at UCP) will culminate with a community holiday party. Santa will be on hand (even, Ed Powell says, if he has to throw the suit on himself), and refreshments will be served. If you plan to attend, please bring a toy to donate to a child in the community.
- You can get regular updates about local events, crime trends, and safety tips by signing up for the 70th Precinct email list at 70PCTCommunityAffairs@nypd.org. Also let Community Affairs know if your interested in the upcoming session of the Citizens Police Academy.