We are facing a serious and sudden increase in crime, which coincides with the reduction of Precinct 114 from 300 police officers to 194…as our population density increases daily.
LICA demands more foot officers on the streets during nighttime hours, particularly on weekends. Broadway is one site of roaming groups of men looking for - and causing - trouble, including fights, attacks on cars, graffiti and verbal harassment of passers-by. It was also the site of a recent "hate crime" which involved harassment of 3 individuals by a group of 12 young men, one with a baseball bat. One vicim was hit with the baseball bat.
Grassroots activists are taking action from blogging,(for more information try astorians.com)
to community meetings at café’s and joining LICA. We are attending police meetings and encouraging you to call 311 to report ALL sightings of harassment, unwanted and unruly large groups, late-night noise and of course any crimes. Many of our residents who call the police to report unwanted activities, do not have a response - because the police do not always come.
Our police force monitors 311 and keeps an ongoing count of the number of complaints made from Long Island City neighborhoods. In addition to petitioning the police force, writing Peter Vallone Jr. and flyering the neighborhood, we encourage everyone you speak with to call 311 with complaints.
Crime, dirt and excess garbage are results of overdevelopment. Our neighborhoods cannot continue supporting the rapid influx of high-rise and high-density apartment buildings being added to our community. LICA encourages all concerned citizens to contact our elected politicians, newspapers and blogs to communicate and share your concern. A unified voice is a powerful voice.
