70^th Precinct Community Council 

OCTOBER 2016 Meeting Minutes

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Wednesday, October, 26^th 2016

7:30 PM

P.S. 249  The Caton School 

175 Lawrence street, Brooklyn, New York  Officers 

Ed Powell, President

Mary McRae, Vice President

Maria Hazelwood, Treasurer

Nathan Thompson, Secretary

Giselle Nakhid, Sergeant-at-Arms

NYPD, Elected Officials & Other Guests

DI James Palumbo, Commanding Officer 

Captain Romero, Executive Officer 

Officer Mike Smith, Community Affairs

Det. Kim Walker, Community Affairs

Marty for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Mike Gregorio for Senator Felder 

Shawn Campbell and Barden Prisant for Community Board 14

Claudius Phillips for Medger Evers College CRC

Taryen O’Brien for Kings County DA’s Office

Himself Council Member Jumaane Williams

Walter McQueen for East 21^st Street Tenant

Soumia Chraibi for Council Member Mathieu Eugene

Ramona Cabreja for Council Member Mathieu Eugene

Herself Assemblywoman Rodensye Bichotte

Enri Robert Negae Midwood Property Owners

Penny Ringel for the Mayors Office

Reverend Blue, Mohommad Nazir Clergy Liaisons

Roz Sokol for Steve Cymborwitz

Eric Kumar and Taryn OBrien for District Attorneys Office

         

The regular monthly meeting of the 70th Precinct Community Council was called to order.  PCC President Ed Powell greeted all and invited everyone to join him in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.  

He then acknowledged the various representatives of public officials and other distinguished guests present at the meeting (see above). 

1.Eric Kumar from the District Attorneys Office.

     Mr Kumar first asked everyone to take a moment of silence for DA  Ken Thompson

who had passed from cancer earlier this month.  He thanked the NYPD, the members of the PCC on behalf of acting DA Eric Gonzales for all the support that had poured in.

Kumar gave a brief history of who Eric Gonzales is.  He is not a politician.  He was promoted for his quiet 18 hour days and had stepped in to cover DA Thompson as he became ill.  Kumars' promise is that nothing will change.   

2.   State Assemblyman James Brennan speaks

   Jim came to say goodbye.  After years of service, he is retiring and wanted to visit as Assemblyman one more time.  He said some kind words about Ken Thompson and he wished Eric Gonzales the best of luck.  He explained that he has chosen not to run for re election, but promised to come by as a citizen.   He wanted to thank Commander Palumbo, Ed Powell and the PCC for their service.  His office has donated $1,000 to the PCC as a going away present.   

   He noted that he looked at the crime stats from 1985 and today and that there was an 85% decrease in crime during his tenure in the 70th.  He spoke to the importance of the PCC and its role in our area.  Brennan remembers stories 15 years old about how Ed and Nathan got involved so long ago.  Brennans district covers the 72nd, the 66th, the 70th and the 78th precinct. 

3.  Lauren Collins ED of the Church Avenue B.I.D. and Flatbush Ave B.I.D.

        Lauren briefly acknowledged the 70th efforts along Church Ave and mentioned that 

the food (80 burgers) was provided by Checkers.

 4. Rona Taylor on behalf of Rodenyse Bichotte  

 Announced her open house and her mental health day for which fliers were available at the back of the room.

5.  Jake Gold on behalf of CouncilMember Jumanne Williams

 Jake spoke of Council Members Williams Youth Program which happens every Saturday

until Nov 19th.  Jake also described the Participatory Budgeting program in which citizens vote on how to spend a million dollars.

6.  Shawn Cambpell from CB14

Shawn announced that at the next CB14 meeting they would be hearing a report on the proposed traffic changes to be made along Church Avenue and invited locals to join the meeting.  

9.) Police Cadets killed in Pakistan.

    Ed announced that 61 Police Cadets had been killed in a terrorist attack in Pakistan and that there would be a candle light vigil at 1089 Coney Island Avenue Friday the 28th at 2pm.  

         

      

       

10.) District Leader Jake Gold speaks on P.S. 217 CB decisions 

   The Community Board is trying to fight a decision that makes 217 selectively accessible to residents.  Many people Jake explained, have moved here to send their kids to 217 and will not take to being pushed out of the district.  He is committed to fighting the new re allocation.

11.) Commander James Polumbo presents.

      The CO introduced the Cop Of The Month award.  He chose to give it to Officers who have the less glorius job of catching DWIs.  They received a loud round of applause. It may not be a glory job, but it was appreciated in this room.   CO Palumbo expressed condolences to the DAs office and spoke of how well Ken Thompson had worked with the 70th.  

       He thanked those who turned out for a 20th anniversary of Det Dillon Stewarts death.

       The CO announced catching the package thief of late.  And he attributed it to the efforts of the Flatbush Shomrim who aquired a video tape of one of suspect.  This led the NYPD to a description allowing them to catch him.

        CO Palumbo announced the coat drive as Winter begins.  He also spoke of the Marines collecting Toys for young kids who cannot afford them.  

        October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.  He introduced his DV officers.  He explained that the 70th has one on the highest domestic violence levels in the city.  He explained that there is help out there.  He highlighted the Family Justice Center and the Domestic Violence team at the 70th.  They can help with relocation and other services.  

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month.  The Officers raised a $1,000 for the cause.  

12.)  Crime Stats

          Compstat numbers tell us  the index crimes are down 26% this year over last.  Having said that, the CO highlighted areas that are of concern.  Specifically he cited in increase in garage break ins for bikes and other items.   Burglary is up because of the garage issue.    The use of guns and other weapons is way down in the 70th.  

           He closed by begging us to please wait until we get home before taking that phone call on our cell.   He then took questions/comments.

            A woman told everyone that her bank suggested she use a special card holder to protect her bank card from cloning theft.  Another woman cited the new police presence along Church Ave and how the street has gotten better because of it.    Nathan Thompson added his agreement that the Church Ave presence has been great.  But he brought up speeding on Albemarle Road.  He also publicly thanked his local NCOs Officers Sean Callendar and Junior Sesay for doing a great job.  

          A man asked about the ticketing at the Parade Grounds of bikers after hours and if the policy would continue.  He asked if the CO would be amenable to a change in the rules about ticketing bikers/walkers after dark.   The CO acknowledged the complexity of the issue and clarified he still needed to cover the park and protect it.  The man clarified that we could not come to the this very meeting by walking through the park.  The CO confirmed that the Officers are supposed to utilize discretion about whether they actually write a ticket or not to evening intruders.  

        

 13.)  City Councilmember Williams speaks    

                   First Councilmember Williams asked the Officers Of The Month to come back up so he could give them citations of his own.  He then added that Jake Gold had been promoted to his community liaison officially.  Williams also explained that the they are focused on where vacant properties are so they can build out to cover the housing crises.  

 14.) Ed closed the meeting

          and announced that the next meeting would be at the United Cerebral Palsey Center on Wendesday Nov 30th.    

Respectfully submitted,

Nathan Thompson

Minutes of October 2016

70 Pct. Community Council, NYPD