Neighbors:
I started this blog because of the recent rash of violence in and around Tompkins Square Park. This violence has been doggedly reported by Bob Arihood at his blog, Neither More Nor Less.
It's time we do something about it.
This neighborhood will not succumb to violence and thuggery. Alphabet City -- Avenue A through Avenue D -- is a place where people -- whether they be homeless people who enjoy Tompkins Square Park or Wall Streeters who live in penthouse suites -- should feel comfortable. Mostly, it's a neighborhood full of decent people trying to live decent lives. We won't let thugs change that.
THE PLAN:
Be on alert! Print out our sign by clicking on the image above, or by opening the PDF version using the links below. Paste it to lightpoles, bulletin boards -- your own window! Then keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready. If you see something going on, take pictures and call 911. Give the pictures to the police. And send them to us at this blog. We'll post them here, and we'll make flyers featuring the suspected thugs. We'll post the flyers around the neighborhood.
If you're having trouble printing the file from above, please access the PDF version of the file by clicking to our Google site. Or you can navigate to the site yourself by going to http://sites.google.com/site/abcneighbors/
Click here to e-mail us.
Important note: This is not a vigilante group. A fellow neighborhood blogger erroneously suggested our aim was to exclude some residents of our neighborhood. Our goal is exactly the opposite. It's only by the entire neighborhood -- all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, sexual orientations and people of different income levels -- working together that we'll be able to take a stand against violence.
This is a pretty good idea. I hope it works. I live a little bit south of the park but if I ever see anything I know what to do.
ReplyDeletenice work.
Nice work.
ReplyDeleteAwesome...but watch your back. Anyone contacting you through this site can be a thug. Think it's great what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this will really help to solve the root of the problem? Do you think the "thugs" that see this will want to stop what they have been doing, or do you think this may instigate them even more. They probably want the attention, and this is giving them exactly that.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteThank you! The neighborhood needs to stand together. We're bigger and better than these thugs.
ReplyDelete@ 7:39 am
ReplyDeleteDefeatist. This is a positive reaction to some very reckless criminals in our streets. Good thing someone is doing something productive about it.
Absolutely think this is a fantastic idea.I live on Avenue A between St. Marks and 7th. Heard a group of them congregated on Avenue A last night saying "call the cops, we aint leaving".
ReplyDeleteWell I called the cops and sure enough they left.
I'll help by keeping my eyes and ears open and my cameras ready. Thanks for setting this up.
ReplyDeleteTHUGG LIFE!
ReplyDeleteThank you for making people aware of what's hapepning. Just today I was telling 2 neighborhood friends about the recent violence and they were surprised as they hadn't heard about it. What does the 9th Precinct have to say, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteSeems like an enterprising DA could use the otherwise nefarious homeland security act and classify these crimes as domestic terrorism. It is most definitely neighborhood terrorism. Put these thugs into long-term lock-up instead of the revolving Rikers dorms.
ReplyDeleteGood Idea. I live on Avenue D, and they're are plenty of teenage thugs that are out of control! There has been muggings especially of cell phones, I was myself why the cops haven't posted flyers up as they are aware of the problem.
ReplyDeleteI think we need more thugs to keep out yuppy assholes who want to take back a neighborhood that they moved to in 2007. Do you have any idea what Tompkins was like in 1990? While going back that far might not be a good idea, I'd unleash plenty of thugs on a friday or saturday night to bash douchebags, if it was legal and I knew any thugs. Fuck You ABC neighbor.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@ Avenue D :
ReplyDeleteTypical. I'm born and raised on Avenue C. I hate some of the new development as much as you do.
So shut your racist mouth.
Born and raised in the area as well and I admit that things have gotten a hell of a lot better, I don't understand how some people think that because things were once worst we don't need to improve anymore.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a race thing, at least not to the attackers. I know plenty of people from all walks of earth who have been assaulted around town: white, black, hispanic, asian etc etc.
It's bullshit to claim it's anything but what it is: violence. Violence is unacceptable and there is nothing wrong with a group trying to stop it non-violently.
Well, the sign is a start, I guess. How about adding as many scraps of articles/photos/blog comments/etc. about the attacks as possible? It's not just Arihood covering this recent violence, there have been Voice and Villager articles as a well as an assortment of blog posts. (You may as well include a link to the blogger who criticized your first post.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, how about police contact numbers/people and Rosie Mendez's info?
Yup, there's something new afoot in the 'hood. It's hard to tell how retro it is. Is it gang violence? Local gangs? Old gangs? New gangs? Drug turf wars? Initiations? Are the Money Boys back? It's hard to tell.
Regardless of the root of the problem(s), WTF is up with the 9th Precinct? At this point, they look like part of the problem. Which is a serious problem and probably needs to be very public knowledge.
I'm a little late to this conversation- but I'd like to suggest that some of this "gang" problem stems from the fact that Boys Club of New York closed their Pitt Street Club around five years ago and sold the land - saying there was no need for boy's programming in that part of the community anymore. Rumor has it that they are now planning to close their 10th Street and Avenue A Club also...
ReplyDeleteThis is what the Community Board, Civic Groups and Precinct should be investigating: the abandonment of a whole segment of our youth population!
came across this via google...i live in a nice town in the san francisco bay area.
ReplyDeleteour community has been going through a change in the last couple years ~ more pronounced in the last 6 months ~ older teens wandering the streets jumping younger kids to steal their phones/ipods/etc. The majority are kids from rougher cities that were transplanted here during the housing craze when their parents took the opportunity to buy an affordable home.
Two weeks ago a 20 yr. old man and five teen thugs jumped my 13 yr.old son ~ he shattered my son's jaw. Thankfully all six were caught and charged with strong arm robbery and several enhancements but I've found that this behavior is not isolated.
Several groups of young men continue to behave this way. The police are doing their best. The neighbors are all keeping their eyes open. But we're looking for something to jump start awareness. Has this been effective? Any other suggestions?
Hello, I do not agree with the previous commentator - not so simple
ReplyDeleteHey sexy city people take your hands out of your pockets for citizen safety.
ReplyDelete