Looking back on 2010, It is very disturbing to see that crime has risen citywide and in Queens. Vehicle theft was up 11.9 percent borough-wide compared to 2009. Homicide rates rose in 2010 and a scary fact is that two precincts in Queens account for 20 percent of that increase. Overall murders were up 13 percent.
In October 2000 there were 40,864 police officers city-wide. According to the New York Police Department web site the city has a force of 34,500 officers. This is 6,364 fewer cops.
I urge my fellow Queens residents to call on Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to increase the number of police officers on the streets before more people are victims of crime.
Matthew Silverstein
Democratic State Committeeman, 26th AD
