Senator Eric Adams responds to recent shootings: Come to community meetings this week

Thanks to Senator Eric Adams for sending this note in response to a previous comment on the blog. He's holding two community meetings to discuss the recent shootings. The first meeting is in Crown Heights tonight and the second will be at his office here in PLG on Tuesday. Details below.

Several days ago our community suffered another homicide. It occurred on Prospect Place near Classon Avenue. One community resident voiced frustration by asking what Eric Adams intended to do about the increase in crime. Consider that question for a moment, and while you are reflecting, let me share a significant detail with you. The shooting took place only doors from my own home. I live on Prospect Place. In fact, I have resided there for about twenty years. When I first moved onto the block, few dared walk down it, and living there was a perilous option. However, a few of us resolved that we would not turn over our street to thugs. We organized, and we fought to take our community back. One clear lesson was learned: if we wanted to live on a safe block, we had to build a safe city.

Our communities do not have either real or imaginary demarcation lines, and criminals do not confine themselves to one geographic area. Thugs don’t care whom they harm or where they commit their crimes. I know this well because 22 years of my life were spent wearing a bulletproof vest, standing on street corners to protect our city from those who wanted to harm the decent people who make up its neighborhoods. I did this both as a cop and as a private citizen. Many are aware of the numerous volunteer hours that I have given and will continue to give to anti-violence measures.

If we want safe communities, we will have to build them, not blog them. No neighborhood can be safe if the only proffered solution is to look for a politician or the police to do it for us. Just as there are prerequisites for being a responsible elected official, there are also requirements for being a conscientious citizen. It takes teamwork to make a community safe. I know first hand, because I was a member of such a team in this neighborhood.

 If you are interested in uniting with me in an effort to make our streets and homes safe, I ask you to attend an emergency meeting (see below for venue and time). There is no courage in staying at home and blogging about our complaints. Bravery involves facing down the thuggery that can destroy our community. I anticipate your partnership in making our district safe for raising children and families.

Best, Eric NYS Senator

Monday, October 19
7pm - 8:30pm
Hope City Empowerment Center
650 Washington Avenue (between Bergen & Dean Street)

Tuesday, October 20
7pm - 8:30pm District Office
(572 Flatbush Avenue near Midwood Street)

Comments

[babs]

Well done -- I'll be there tomorrow.

[Jack]

That is all fine and good Senator Adams, but yes, you were a police officer, and are now a Senator, how can you expect common citizens to have any protection against such thugs? How can you expect poor people to buy a bullet proof vest and stand out on street corners. This is why we pay taxes, so that elected officials will allocate resources to the areas you spoke of. Of course this is difficult when known drug dealers and pimps go unchallenged by an unresponsive police force. Beekman Place is one of these streets. The cops are either afraid, or being paid off not to care for this street and area that is riddled with obvious crime. I was unable to attend your meetings, but after a call to 911 a few nights ago about a woman being beaten in plain view on the street not a half a block from your office, I would have to assume that nothing has changed and never will. A police car never responded though I didn't wait around past the hour and a half I watched the street.
2111 Beekman.