102nd Pct. Also Eyes Street Safety
Street safety matters and noisy nightclubs highlighted the 102nd Precinct Community Council meeting last Tuesday night, Sept. 16, at the Richmond Hill library.
Sgt. Andrew Goldenberg— speaking on behalf of Deputy Inspector Henry Sautner, the precinct’s commander—spoke about the implementation of the Vision Zero program.
According to Goldenberg, the goal of the program is to “eliminate pedestrian and motorist fatalities from accidents.” The biggest causes of accident fatalities are speeding, absence of seatbelts and texting while driving.
“Most accidents occur from distraction,” Goldenberg observed. To combat this, officers are taking a number of precautionary measures in what Goldenberg referred to as “collision prone areas” throughout the precinct, including the bustling retail zone on Jamaica Avenue.
The 102nd Precinct is working closely with the Department of Transportation (DOT) on local safety efforts, including changing traffic light sequences and repainting street markings. The precinct, in conjunction with the MTA, also aims to install educational billboards near the Jamaica Avenue overpass.
“We are working with the MTA to help promote safety consciousness,” Goldenberg added. Attention will also be given to helping prevent pedestrian bicyclist accidents and fatalities.
Turning to crime, Goldenberg observed that while the community of the 102nd precinct saw an impressive decrease in the number of robberies, assaults and grand larcenies, a spike in auto theft posed a significant problem.
A major issue for residents included recurring overnight noise violations from local bars, pool halls and lounges like C Bar on Lefferts Boulevard and Crazy Willy’s on Jamaica Avenue.
Resident Diana Seto made a plea on behalf of her elderly neighbors for help in curbing the loud music.
“The maximum allowable noise level by law is about 42 decibels,” she commented. “We are clocking in as high as 61 decibels at 2 a.m.” She also presented logs of 311 calls, as well as photos of the offending establishments.
“We are hard working people,” she added. “Nobody wants to be woken up like this at 2 a.m.”
In response, Goldenberg announced that the precinct’s Midnight Conditions Team will investigate the complaints and also urged residents to call 911 if they see a crime such as drug use, suspicious loitering or trespassing in progress.
Awards & honors
Goldenberg presented Police Officers Derrick Singh and Patrick McBride with the Cops of the Month award for apprehending a perpetrator during a brazen robbery spree in Queens during the overnight hours of Aug. 28.
The officers were interviewing the first robbery victim when they received a call that a second robbery by the same perpetrator was in progress. A pursuit ensued, with the perpetrator flinging a firearm out of the window of the moving car.
Singh and McBride captured the suspect and recovered the firearm after the dangerous pursuit.
For their efforts, the officers received plaques donated by the Times Newsweekly.
Redmond Haskins, communications director and veterans liaison for City Council Member Eric Ulrich, also took the opportunity to honor P.O. Jose Severino of the 102nd Precinct’s Community Affairs Unit with a City Council citation.
“Jose Severino is a great police officer and great liaison with civic groups and elected officials,” observed Haskins. “Crime is down in nearly every area, and this award is the culmination of all of his good work.”
9/11 observed
Latchman Budhai, the precinct council’s president, led guests and attendees in a moment of silence in honor of the solemn anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Harpreet Singh Torr, special assistant of community relations for Assemblyman David Weprin, also spoke about the tragedy as well as the effect it had on the local Sikh community.
Celia Dosamantes announced that they are working to craft initiatives that would help provide much needed benefits to 9/11 first responders.
“Many first responders are not receiving proper benefits,” Dosamantes explained. The speaker’s office is working in conjunction with Congress to reintroduce legislation to renew the Zadroga Act which, according to Dosamantes, “ensures that those affected by 9/11 will receive treatment services.”
“The bill is set to expire in 2015,” Dosamantes added, “and the Council introduced a resolution to call for the reauthorization of the Zadroga Act.”
New to the council
Budhai began the meeting by introducing the new community council executive board. The new roster includes Vice President Ranjit Singh, Sergeant at Arms Harbani Dhillon, Treasurer Sandra Datnarain and Secretary J. Richard Smith.
Tara Chester of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown’s office was on hand to introduce two new assistant district attorneys assigned to the 102nd Precinct council.
Assistant District Attorneys Anish Patel and Gregory Lasak will serve as direct liaisons between the community and Brown.
Chester encouraged the community to come to them with any questions and concerns.
Clarification: A previous version of this article listed Celia Dosamantes as a legislative aide with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s office, the description reflecting how she was introduced at the public meeting. However, Dosamantes later told the Times Newsweekly she does not work for the Speaker’s office in an official capacity.
