Jun 30, 2015 2 min read

Treyger And Savino Call For City Action In Response To Coney Island Shootings

Courtesy of Councilman Mark Treyger's Office — Courtesy of Councilman Mark Treyger’s Office

Councilman Mark Treyger, Senator Diane Savino, and community leaders gathered outside the Coney Island Houses at West 30th Street and Surf Avenue yesterday to call on City Hall and the NYPD to take specific steps in response to gun violence that continues to plague the area — especially in the residential west end.

At the press conference — which followed a series of shootings throughout Coney Island, including at least four in the past week — Treyger laid out a plan of action for the de Blasio administration, the NYPD, and the Parks Department.

“The city’s response to gun violence impacting Coney Island and other parts of the city will ultimately be judged a success only through a significant drop in shooting incidents, the reopening of community centers damaged by Sandy and the commitment of greater resources to the West End of Coney Island,” said Treyger. “Residents are tired of hearing about historical trends and need tangible action and results. I will continue to push to bring the programs and resources needed to greatly reduce the senseless shootings and violence that is impacting residents.”

The councilman’s plan includes expanding the NYPD’s “Summer All Out” initiatives to the 60th Precinct; allocating additional Parks Enforcement officers to the amusement area, which would free up precinct officers to patrol residential areas; allocating additional Public Service Area 1 Housing Officers; implementing ShotSpotter technology to gain accurate statistics regarding the frequency and location of all shootings that occur in the 60th Precinct; and reopening NYCHA community centers that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

Savino offered a strong endorsement to the councilman’s suggestions and commended him for taking a proactive approach.

“I commend Councilman Treyger for being proactive when it comes to our Coney Island community and calling attention to the issue of gun violence and the different ways we as not only elected officials but active community members and the NYPD can begin to combat this issue,” said the senator, whose district covers Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn. “We all must play our part!”

This year, so far, there have been at least 12 shootings in the 60th Precinct, including, most recently, a 19-year-old shot in the leg Friday night on West 24th Street, a 23-year-old shot in the eye on Mermaid Avenue on June 24, and a 51-year-old fatally shot near Kaiser Park on June 22.

Several Coney Island residents and activists attended yesterday’s press conference, including Queenie Huling of the National Action Network, Dr. Mathylde Frontus of the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative [CIAVC], as well as longtime neighborhood activists Steve St. Bernard, Ken Jones, and Sharon Lundy.

“I share the community’s concern about the recent spike in gun violence in Coney Island. No neighborhood in America should live under such duress and worry about the personal safety of local residents,” said Dr. Frontus, CIAVC’s acting chair. “The root of this community violence is multi-faceted and requires a multi-pronged solution, including the Cure Violence program which the Administration has promised to Coney Island. I look forward to seeing this program implemented on the ground as I know it to be a helpful tool in dealing with the type of deep-seated gun violence that Coney Island has been faced with for multiple generations.”