From drug money to basketball courts — this year, the NYPD is doing something different with the assets seized from drug dealers.
CBS2’s Ali Bauman got an exclusive look at how police are re-investing some of their funds.
Queensbridge Houses have a brand new basketball court.
“What do you think of the new court?” Bauman asked 10-year-old Troy Evans.
“It’s fire!” Troy said.
But back in June, the court was unrecognizable.
“The ground’s cracked, weeds coming up, the rim is off the side, and one of the residents said, ‘What do you think the message is to the people who live here?'” said Chauncey Parker, NYPD deputy commissioner for community partnerships.
The housing authority doesn’t exactly have the budget to spruce them up.
“We really rely on our city partners for this type of investment,” said Sideya Sherman, NYCHA‘s executive vice president of community engagement and partnerships.
So this summer, the NYPD is renovating basketball courts at 15 city housing developments.
“This is their playground. These basketball courts is their playground,” said Deputy Inspector Luis Colon, with housing bureau special projects.
Colon is overseeing the project.
“From a kid that grew up in the Bronx, in the south Bronx, and actually grew up in one of the housing developments in the Bronx, I think it’s important that we do improve community relations,” he said.
