With a rising crime wave sweeping Ditmas Park, many residents have become guarded, and police are out in force. Some residents have speculated that striking economic inequality plus a wave of new, wealthier arrivals to the area have triggered crime. But lifelong resident Jonathan J. Judge, […]
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standard Reverend Al Sharpton: A Force for Progress, or Sensationalism?
Pop quiz: is the Reverend Al Sharpton: an essential community activist, greatly improving NYPD relations with the African-American and Latino communities; a self-promoting sensationalist, needlessly employing divisive rhetoric; or all of the above? A recent event with the Mayor–and the media firestorm it caused–won’t help […]
standard Both Suspects Caught in Savage Robbery and Beating in Midwood (Updated)
Update: Two suspects have now been apprehended: “I commend Deputy Inspector Richard DiBlasio and the NYPD’s 70th precinct for their dedication and commitment in the apprehension of the second suspect in the July 27th assault in Midwood. The timely arrest of the two […]
standard Exclusive: Rape Behind the Tinted Glass
In response to our story on a tinted window crackdown in Crown Heights, we were contacted by Flatbush residents who advised us of a disturbing (if overlooked) practice that capitalizes on heavily tinted windows–drivers of “dollar vans” raping their passengers late at night. Though drivers are occasionally […]
standard Twitter Roundup: Best ‘White Flag on the Brooklyn Bridge’ Reactions
There were white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge, and people on Twitter had something to say about it. Pessimism to start: What dumb viral marketing effort put the white flag atop the Brooklyn Bridge? Has anyone figured out what we are supposed to […]
standard Tinted Window Checkpoints in Crown Heights: Profiling or Smart Policing?
A crackdown on tinted windows in Crown Heights was received with a mix of skepticism, helplessness, and begrudging understanding. Police narrowed the roadway on Franklin Avenue just a few blocks south of Eastern Parkway at around 7 p.m. Monday evening, asking each vehicle to […]
standard More Security, or More Harassment? Some NYCHA Residents Pessimistic About Influx of Officers
At the Gowanus Houses, opinions about police are abundant–but getting someone’s name is hard to come by. “The cops come in here, they have attitude. They question everything you’re doing,” said a middle-aged man on Butler and Bond Street who refused to […]
standard State Legislature Passes ‘Expedited Missing Persons Act’ in Wake of Williamsburg Landlord’s Kidnapping and Death
The NY State Senate passed a bill today that will help ensure the speedy identification of a recovered body in case of a tragic event. The ‘Expedited Missing Persons Act’ was introduced after the brutal kidnapping and murder of prominent Williamsburg landlord […]
standard In Conversation: Pastor Constance Hulla Aims to Stem Coney’s Violence
Constance Hulla, Pastor of Coney Island Gospel Assembly, recently hosted the NYPD’s “Gun Buy Back” Program at her Church in Coney Island. We chatted with Ms. Hulla during the event, asking her about the neighborhood, her family’s deep roots in the community, […]
standard (UPDATED) Tripped Up in Prospect Park! Family-Man Cyclist Injured by Rope Trap; Motives Unknown
UPDATE: We received the following information from Yisroel Pupko: “It’s been confirmed as a crime. The deputy inspector and sergeant were very helpful in getting it switched over.” A mischievous rope trap in Prospect Park was a local cyclist’s undoing. “My friend and I drove to the […]