Crime Round-Up

It pains me to report this.  A mugger unsuccessfully tried to snatch a gold chain from the neck of a man buying ice cream for his kids at 190th Street and Fort Washington Avenue.  For more information, visit http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120629/hudson-heights/dad-mugged-while-buying-ice-cream-for-kids-washington-heights.

It is time to write for Hudson Heights residents to write en-masse to the commanding officer of the 34th Precinct.  Please copy our city councilman, the police commissioner and Mayor on the letter.   Below is a copy of the letter that I have already sent today.  You can use it as a model.

If for any reason you CANNOT write to our local officials, please comment below.  I will be sending any comments to our local officials in a follow-up letter next week.
-Chris Rizzo, Hudson Heights Gazette

Via Regular Mail

Deputy Inspector Barry M. Buzzetti

New York City Police Department

34th Precinct, 4295 Broadway

New York, NY, 10033

            Re:       Muggings in Northern Manhattan

Dear Deputy Inspector Buzzetti:

I am writing as a resident of the 34th Precinct and one of the founders of a neighborhood blog, the Hudson Heights Gazette.  As you may know, there have been a disturbing number of muggings in the past year in and around Hudson Heights in Northern Manhattan.  The general sense is that criminals are operating with impunity in our community, including a recent mugging attempt of a dad buying ice cream for his children in Fort Tryon Park (visit www.dnainfo.com for details).  There are clearly not enough officers patrolling our streets in the 34th Precinct.  Temporary infusions of “impact” officers are not enough.  We need substantially more officers assigned to the 34th Precinct on a permanent basis.

I want to thank the precinct for its excellent work to date.  My interactions with officers have been extremely positive.  Several months ago, I reported a rise in the number of people loitering in the un-staffed 181st Street “A” train station and the precinct immediately assigned officers to patrol that station.  But it is clearly impossible for the precinct to maintain this level of effort without more permanent staff.

Statistically, crime is down this year in the 34th Precinct.  That is something to celebrate.  But our community will never attract and retain middle class residents when muggings and assaults are taking place at normal hours in public places—no matter what the statistics show.  These events send a clear message to residents--criminals are not afraid and know they will not be caught.  Please prove them wrong.

Very Truly Yours,

Christopher Rizzo                  

www.hudsonheightsgazette.blogspot.com

cc:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg

New York City Hall

New York, New York

10007

George Espinal

President, 34th Precinct Community Council

4295 Broadway

New York, NY 10033

Councilman Robert Jackson

751 West 183rd Street
New York, NY 10033

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly

New York City Police Department

One Police Plaza

New York, New York

10038

Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez

618 W. 177th Street, Ground Floor
New York, NY 10033