Cops: So Far, So Good At Knockdown Ctr.
Despite quality-of-life problems in the surrounding area, concerts at Maspeth’s Knockdown Center have been relatively trouble-free, the 104th Precinct commanding officer told residents during the 104th Precinct Community Council meeting last Tuesday night, May 20, at Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village.
Capt. Christopher Manson told the council he and his officers met “extensively” with Knockdown Center’s owner, management and security team in the weeks leading up to various events at the arts and entertainment venue, including the M.I.A. rap concert on May 9 and an alternative rock festival on May 16.
“No matter what we asked them to do, they do it,” Manson said, noting the Knockdown Center’s security team diligently checks visitors to ensure they are not illegally drinking or breaking other laws on the premises.
As previously reported in this paper, local elected officials and civic activists oppose the center’s applications for assembly permits and liquor licenses to serve and accommodate up to 5,000 patrons at a given time. Opponents believe the influx of that many visitors into the area would cause a litany of qualityby of-life problems, from traffic congestion to disorderly behavior.
Manson noted the precinct could not take a side for or against the Knockdown Center, but would work to ensure that the facility’s events are safe and pose few negative impacts on the community.
“The Knockdown Center is not going away,” he told residents. “We told [the owners] that their major responsibility is to be a good neighbor.”
Outside of the Knockdown Center, the 104th Precinct-along with reinforcing officers provided by other NYPD commands-patrolled surrounding streets and escorted visitors to and from the nearest subway station-the Jefferson Street L train stop in Bushwick, about a mile away. Following the M.I.A. concert, Manson reported, police issued 29 summonses for drinking or urinating in public and arrested five individuals who had outstanding warrants.
The commander stated Maspeth residents and the Knockdown Center can expect similar police coverage at the facility’s large events planned in the weeks to come.
“Every time there is a big event, we are going to be there,” Manson assured.
Following the May 16 rock festival, he noted, police observed- and received complaints from nearby residents about-loud noise emanating from the Knockdown Center. Manson declared it an acoustic problem, as the loud music blared every time the doorways into the venue opened.
Police advised the Knockdown Center operators to install a second set of interior doors to help abate noise levels. According to Manson, the facility plans on rearranging its concert stage to keep as much sound inside the facility as possible.
Other news
Overall crime remains up for the year, but recent crime stats over the last four weeks indicate a downturn, according to Manson. He reported decreases in burglaries, robberies and felony assaults, and the precinct is making “substantial” arrests.
Auto thefts and grand larcenies remain problematic for the precinct, the commander noted. He reminded residents to safeguard their property in order to prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime.
The 104th Precinct continues to crack down on businesses selling alcohol to minors, Manson said. Two businesses with repeat violations have been shut down, and the precinct has requests to close four more shops through the NYPD’s Nuisance Abatement program.
During the crackdown, police send individuals pretending to be minors into bars, restaurants and grocery stores attempting to purchase alcohol. Violations are issued if the store clerks fail to request identification from the buyer.
Manson urged residents to contact the 104th Precinct if they suspect a business is illegally selling alcohol to minors.
On the roads, accidents causing injuries have dropped while the 104th Precinct surged in issuing various moving violations to drivers, he added. Year-to-date, there have been 219 injuries in car accidents around the command’s confines, a 42 percent drop from the number reported at the same time in 2013.
Additionally, 104th Precinct officers have issued hundreds of more tickets to drivers for violations such as failure to yield to pedestrians, failure to obey a stop sign, speeding, making improper turns and texting while driving.
“It seems to be working,” Manson said of the ticket blitz.
Residents living near Ridgewood’s Mafera Park urged the 104th Precinct to again close the park down at night to prevent illegal loiterers and other quality-of-life problems. They also asked that police inspect an ice cream truck with an excessively loud generator parked nearby as many as 11 hours per day.
The captain stated officers would work to clear the park at dusk and check the ice cream truck’s sound levels.
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The next 104th Precinct Community Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. For more information, call the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718-386-2431.
