2/17 Community Council meeting
I had a class this evening so I didn’t arrive until close to 8pm, but any worries that I might have missed the festivities were assuaged immediately. It was standing room only, OG residents and hipster newcomers, everyone concerned about one thing: the 2/14 shooting incident at the Production Lounge, and the bar in general, as it’s been widely regarded in the neighborhood as troublesome from day 1.
I felt sorry for the Detective Inspector, as he patiently attempted to give calm answers to what was, essentially, the same question asked in 60 different ways. I don’t blame anyone - I know what it was like when we were fighting Studio B and no one cared except the handful of us right in the area - but at some point you have to realize that the police are not going to tell you exactly what they are going to do to deal with the bar because then the troublemakers are just going to do the opposite.
I do urge everyone to do the following:
- If there are problems, call 311 and report them.
- If there are fights, broken bottles, or other serious disturbances, call 911.
- Take the complaint number from 311 and email it to CB1. They *DO* keep track of these things.
- Call the 94th Precinct directly: (718) 383-3879
- Keep track of everything and come back to the next Community Council meeting, which happens at 7:30 PM on the third Monday of the month, at the Capital One Bank on Manhattan and Calyer. (You have to go down Calyer Street and the entrance is next to the cash machine entrance.)
I know. It’s 2 in the morning and you have to get up at 7, or your kid is crying, or you’re exhausted. But you need to write down complaint numbers and names of people that you talked to and you have to be relentless.
This applies to neighbors of Club Exit as well.
My question at the meeting was this: there are 7 bars within spitting distance of what’s becoming the entertainment zone epicenter of Franklin and Greenpoint. There are others allegedly opening up soon. How many more bars does the area actually need? How did the residents of the East Village fight back so that they have veto power and can prevent new bars from getting liquor licenses and opening up? The Inspector said he would look into that and report back at the next meeting.
Miss Heather was there filming and should have a report up soon.
Final word: folks, commenting on blogs is not enough. You have to pick up the phone and file complaints, you have to document things, and you have to let people who can actually do something to ameliorate the problem know about the problem. You have to be a pain in the ass.
newyorkshitty.com » Blog Archive » Notes From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting said,
February 18, 2009 @ 2:39 am
[...] good friend over at Neighborhood Threat has already pointed out all noise complaints should be called in to 311. Take down the complaint numbers and hand them over to our local Community [...]
Rutila said,
February 18, 2009 @ 8:06 am
It was so nice to meet you last night, and it was also a big relief to digest the meeting with a group of clear-thinking adults who understand how the police’s hand is kind of tied in this situation and can take the necessary steps to fight back. Thank you for providing an excellent summary of the meeting and for listing what the community should do when witnessing potential trouble.
k said,
February 18, 2009 @ 9:11 am
one further way to take action would be to attend the community board meetings, generally the second tuesday of the month. go to cb1brooklyn.org for location and dates. also, there is a public safety committee meeting tomorrow (thursday, 2/19) at 6:30pm at 435 Graham avenue (the cb1 office). this committee of the community board is the one responsible for recommending or opposing liquor licenses. just a note, however, the community board has no legislative powers, they are merely there as a voice of the community to make recommendations. but they do listen to the community. you can also always call the cb1 office at 718.389.0009 or email them at bk01@cb.nyc.gov.