Parking and census problems aired

Parking problems dominated the most recent meeting of the 106th Precinct Community Council. Questions about summonses, parking permissions and more abounded on Wednesday evening, April 14.
But before those were addressed, Deputy Inspector Joseph G. Courtesis, Commanding Officer, awarded “Cop of the Month” to Police Officer Brian E. Drechsel, who, on Friday, March 12 “prevented a robbery from being committed at Radio Shack,” according to his boss.
Courtesis explained that at about 9 p.m., Drechsel observed a suspicious vehicle at the Radio Shack on Cross Bay Boulevard. The lone male in the car told the officer that he’d been hired by three other men to move boxes. Drechsel ran his ID for warrants, and the three others showed up. None of the stories matched, said Courtesis, and the four men began acting strangely. Drechsel requested backup and ordered the men out of the vehicle, at which point he noticed a .22 caliber gun in the car. The four suspects were arrested, and among them had 20 prior arrests.
Old business – tractor trailers parked at 135th and 111th – was then discussed, as Community Affairs Officer Kenneth Zorn informed those in attendance that they have addressed the situation and will continue to monitor the area.
In the same vein, Courtesis said that there has been an uptick in complaints of – and responses to – blocked driveways precinct-wide. He noted that homeowners are, in fact, allowed to park in front of their own driveways.
Betty Braton, Chair of Community Board 10, then focused on the census.
She said that the bureau had to send out a second form on April 6 to areas with less than a 59 percent response in 2000. “It’s essentially our entire area,” she said, noting that only five census tracks in the area have a response rate of 50 percent or more.
After May 1, she told the crowd, census workers will be knocking on doors to complete the important population count.
Another audience complaint was children and teens crossing the street, especially in front of John Adams High School.
There are school safety agents – 16 – and eight police officers at the location, said Courtesis, who noted, “For us to commit to all these intersections – 7,200 students in two schools – we just don’t have the manpower, but we’re well aware of it.”
The 106th Precinct meets the second Wednesday of the month at the station house.