Sunday, October 6, 2013

Junk cars still on the street a week later


From Cleanup Jamaica Queens:

It has been a week since I reported the two demolished cars, one sitting on 90th Ave between 168th Pl & 168th St and one on 168th between Jamaica Ave & 90th Ave. As of today they both still sit there even though it has been reported to 311, Department of Sanitation, local elected leaders, community board #12 and the 103rd precinct, which both cars are right near. From "long-term investigation" and "police find no evidence of a violation" to Officer Costa from 103rd Community Affairs telling me that he was not aware of it, then letting me know that the one on 90th should not have been placed in the impound lot, then the tow truck had an issue and then telling me that he will report it to the supervisor and it will be taken care of (By the way Officer Costa has been extremely nice and helpful, but the cars still sit). The one, completely demolished, doors unlocked, windows open, bumper with license plate sitting on demolished hood also has oil and other fluids leaking onto the road.
Why no help from local elected leaders on this? Why no help from Community Board #12?

And so the Jamaica bullshit and non-sense continues and no one does anything.

Do you think this would really fly in an all white community?


11 comments:

Jon Torodash said...

Joe, have you presented these issues in front of other residents who attend 103rd Precinct Community Council meetings? If you bring it up in front of the group often enough, you might begin to find more people chiming in to second your complaints, and spot others. I've found the Community Affairs officers prioritize dealing with issues that get a wide consensus from these meetings.

Keep making noise.

Joe Moretti said...

It seems the one car on 168th was removed the other day, but that totally demolished one on 90th still sits as of today.

This amazes me since everyone is aware of this: community board 12, the police, the local elected leaders, the other community leader.

My favorite line the other day from Jerry Lamura of Helen Marshall's office,

"Hello,
Part V. Beyond Magic. Unfortunately there is a process for everything beyond the waving of the magic wand."

Can you imagine working on a project at work that has been dragging on and when you're boss ask why it has not been completed you tell him/her that line?

Anonymous said...

Jon, haven't you been following this story. The cops already know about the cars. One of their crack detectives was notified several days ago!

Jon Torodash said...

Yes, I've been following, usually before the general audience as I get the news breaking from Joe Moretti's e-mail list. The cops may know about the cars through Joe, but the NYPD is undermanned citywide. My point was that they will take much stronger action when a group of residents complain, not just one or two. The best place to effect that is at the community council meetings.

Anonymous said...

Undermanned? We're talking about two cars Jon! More cop sympathy bullshit. Pull 'em off ticket writing duty. They have time to ride with motorcycle gangs on the Wet Side highway, they have time to haul the tow aways off the fuckin street.

Jon Torodash said...

I don't think this is the best place to have a full discussion about the NYPD but basically, I will maintain the the NYPD is undermanned by consideration of the basic numbers. Since 2000, NYC's population has grown by over 300,000. During that time, the force shrunk from over 40,000 to about 34,500. If you think a nearly 17% decrease of per capita police coverage is not a problem, then we disagree. The steady stream of incidents in my area: attacks in Forest Park, Rego Park, and burglaries in Forest Hills are reminders of days I thought were long behind us.

I make no excuses for the undercover officers who did not intervene to help Alexian Lien. Apparently, the Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating it, and I think it's best to wait for the facts to come out. If you think the NYPD should hire fewer meter maids and more beat officers, well, maybe you're right on that count. I don't know offhand exactly how those personnel decisions are controlled.

I inevitably find that people who don't respect cops or criticize "sympathizers" had some bad interaction in their past (or that of a close family member) with an officer that turned them bitter against all police. Whether that interaction was handled rightly or not, it's a shabby generalization and bespeaks a bad attitude. Law enforcement is an important and tough job. Some appreciation wouldn't kill you.

Anonymous said...

In Torodash's district, you have DA, DOB, and other public employee cars with placards parking on sidewalks around Borough Hall. We shouldn't expect much action from elected officials because they all adore DA Brown.

Anonymous said...

Jon, it seems you don't get it! The priority of the NYPD is writing tickets in residential neighborhoods and pulling people over for seat belt infractions. They are lackadaisical at investigating burglaries or stopping speeders in our communities or keeping 18 wheelers off community streets breaking up vice in our communities and on and on, not to mention properly disposing of wrecked and towed vehicles. Come out of your tower and stop being an apologist for something most other New Yorkers are aware of. Apply the manpower correctly against real crime and you wont be crying about shortages.

Anonymous said...

And here I thought this was part of Helen Marshalls "Art in the Streets" project.

Jon Torodash said...

Ah, I see. You're the other type of complainer who thinks the cops should bash in a few more heads.

Why don't you bring crawl out of that anonymous screen name to the next precinct community council meeting in your district, and tell them in person like I do about the problems that go unaddressed? I can assure you, they're more likely to take you seriously if you bring a good attitude, supporters, and possibly photo evidence.

Anonymous said...

Jon, stick with dealing with the doe, its what you do, Precinct counsels have been around for decades and look where we're at. How many cops were in the motorcycle gang? 1, 2, 5 Should be interesting. Dan Halloran's chief of staff was pres. of 109th council, where did it get him! And anonymous; if its good enough for Thomas Paine and the authors of the Federalist papers its good enough for me. Serves its purpose! Your still a kid, give it some time.