Thursday, August 14, 2008

Citizens on Patrol

Welcome to Dumbo / Vinegar Hill Patrol. We're glad you made it here. I'm a resident of Dumbo. I love the area and lately I and many I've spoken too have felt incredibly frustrated that suddenly, we feel unsafe in this otherwise incredible neighborhood. I'm sure that if you're here you feel similar and I hope that together, we can do something. So far, I've had a lot of help and seen a lot of willingness to do something about this situation. The major source of the problem (the Projects) aren't going anywhere, so WE have to be the ones to alter the course.

THIS SITE
We've set up this blogsite to use as an ongoing base for discussions and action-seeding regarding the crime state in our area, especially the recent spree of car break-ins. I encourage anyone to submit any information they may have about the break-ins (including photos, details, etc.) as well as share ideas about how to improve the situation. Ideas are in the works (community meetings, data collection for the police, getting funding for a camera network, etc.) and we'll need every bit of support we can get.

WORKING WITH THE POLICE
We've been talking with the Police (through the Precinct) and have found them very aware of the situation and very willing to help. One of our hopes is that through our collective ideas and alerted watch, we can impact these criminal events and that through our numbers and collective information, we can help support the efforts of the 84th Precinct and enable them with extra eyes and good, consolidated information.

NEWS
We're getting a good amount of news coverage so far. See the side bar for news posts and please let me know of any others. Supposedly, this news coverage has already gotten the attention of the 84th Precinct.

COLLECING BREAK-INFO
We've been sharing/collecting information on as many break-ins as I can, and started a compiling the information into an area "SmashMap" in order to give all an idea of the more dangerous zones in the area and again, make the breadth of the situation as clear as possible for the Police. Please check out the SmashMap on the sidebar and let me know if you or someone you know has had a break-in, so I can add it.

POSTING/GETTING A HOLD OF ME
I can be personally reached at waterstreetwindowsmash@hotmail.com for more information or if you'd like to post on a particular topic.

NEW BREAK-INS
Let us know. Let the owners know (not on the windshiled, word-of-mouth) about his effort. Give them this address or my email.

OTHER CRIMES
Of course, we have more serious crimes (muggings, attacks, etc.) that have occurred recently and all are encouraged to share info on those crimes too.

Thanks to all for the already overwhelming interest and response. Let's show these neighborhood scum that we're not going to sit idly by and be their playground. Let's show the Police that we demand action and can help enable them to get these guys off the street. I dub thee all, Citizens on Patrol.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kudos to you for starting this. I do not own a car but I still get very frustrated everytime I see a broken window or glass shards on the street. I am happy to be a dumbo citizen on patrol and hope that all residents will join in the effort to make our neighborhood safer than ever.

Anonymous said...

Yes, this is great! Count me in! Shall we schedule some sort of town hall?? Does anyone have photos they can share or better yet some video footage of this f*cker in action?

Anonymous said...

VERY NICE WORK!!! THANK YOU FOR STARTING THIS. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUMS AS WELL? HOW COPS SAY THE WORST THEY DO IS "BREAK INTO CARS?"

Anonymous said...

Good stuff.

http://curbed.com/archives/2008/08/15/death_of_a_dumbo_dream.php

Anonymous said...

a 'town hall' meeting would be really great... I also wonder if we could get someone from the precinct to come and tell us all what they are doing to keep the break-ins, etc. from happening. the media attention may or may not have increased the number of cops hanging around, but if they know that we are an organized group of concerned citizens, they might take that as a serious call for action.

Anonymous said...

good luck fighting crime when you live next to the slums. neighborhood scum = neighbors