After several years of record lows in crime, it now seems New York City as a whole is seeing some not-so-positive shifts as the trend for the first quarter of 2010. This past week, two homicides on West 118th Street happened within a few days of one another. The first incident occurred outside of Minton's Playhouse, and the second one involved a Brooklyn man who was fatally wounded while standing in front of a relative's building, just a block away from Morningside Park (both happened late at night). In the latter case, DNAinfo has the current news on the two men caught in connection with the crime, and the description of the third party involved: LINK. New York Daily News was first to cover the Minton's story: LINK.Today's Columbia Spectator article on the incidents reflects the feeling of dismay that most folks living in this part of South Harlem feel since the neighborhood has been quiet in the past couple of years. The park is full of young children and families during any given day and most folks feel absolutely safe while walking down the tree-lined blocks. The article also suggests that budget cuts in the police department may also be a direct link to this slight increase in crime. Read more in the Columbia Spectator: LINK.
On a final note, this post was really set out to make sure people are aware of what is happening in their surroundings. Citizens have to report questionable activities on their block if any sort of neighborhood improvement is to happen. Based on these current events, the local police should be more responsive to the general public's concerns and things will only get better if more of the community gets involved in reporting on suspicious activity as they see it happen.
Attend your local precinct's monthly meeting!
ReplyDeleteCrime happens everywhere, but this is still very distressing. This is a very peaceful neighborhood. I walk by Minton's at least once or twice a day/night. Never have I felt unsafe on the streets around here at any hour. Very upset to hear this & also thankful to know about it from HB 'cause I hadn't heard it anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think any of us who post here should make efforts to go to the precinct meetings. I have gone to the precinct on my own to talk about the drug dealing on our block. As Ulysses mentioned, the website dnainfo.com is a good resource for tracking the crime up here. There were shootings I had not heard about (including a drive-by on 129th and Lenox.) I would think that the developers in Harlem would be doing all they can to talk to the police and the mayor's office to control the crime/murders up here because it will seriously hurt sales/rentals. One of the reasons I moved up here from downtown is that I thought the "bad old days" were over. Apparently not. I have had to call 911 and 311 several times because of fights and drug dealing that I have witnessed just this year. Harlem is too good a neighborhood to give back to the drug dealers. We all have to make an effort.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I don't understand. This is not a one way street where the police or government are responsible. People in this community need to take responsibility for these thugs. Really. Where are the parents? Its starts early - ingrained in the culture with rap songs, absent parents and gangs that recruit early.
ReplyDeleteParents need to pay more attention to their kids. Bottom line. If you are going to have a kid - then your life becomes that kid. No more going out for margaritas, etc. Your life is now your kid.
And call the police on anything you see suspicious! ANYTHING.
If Harlem doesn't stand up for themselves, the cycle will continue.
As soon as you see gang members congregating on street corners or in front of your home, call 311. That needs to stop. Do any of them work? It's unfortunate Harlem has to be held hostage by its own community.
ReplyDeleteanon at 3:48 - no one would disagree with you but harlem is full of housing projects and section 8 housing - the inherent poverty and lack of education associated with that puts a big burden on the larger community. those of us not part of those micro-communities can't do much more than go to the police. There is section 8 housing on my corner with loitering and drug dealing going on for all to see.
ReplyDeleteMany of these cases involve people who don't even live in the immediate area. They come in from the Bronx, Brooklyn and further East. Follow up on any of the articles when they catch the perps. Most of the people in the immediate neighborhood are decent, hardworking and want the best for their children.
ReplyDeleteThree numbers: 911
ReplyDeleteOnce real estate begins to pick up again, investors will return to Harlem in droves. Subsequently, the crime rate will decrease. However, that may take a couple years. During this period, Harlem's residents who have a heavy stake in the community need to stand up and challange these lost souls.
I think what the article is saying is that crime is at an all time low and these recent events might otherwise reverse the trend. It's up to the community to make sure it doesn't get back to where it was ten years ago.
ReplyDeletewhoah Minton's? thats like 2 blocks from my place, not good.
ReplyDeleteAlthough others may feel differently, I'm bummed to see L-Hostel at 7th & 118th shut down permanently by the city. Understand the reasoning, but I live on that block of 118 & thought it was nice to have a steady stream of people around...thought it was good for safety...good for the neighborhood to have visitors & am sad to see it no longer. Hopefully that building will turn residential very soon & not just sit vacant like so many of those Go No Fee buildings whose honchos would rather have their units empty than rent to a reasonable income level.
ReplyDeleteWhy did L-hostel get closed down?
ReplyDeleteI live on 118th and didn't find out about the incident in front of Minton's until I passed by and saw an NYPD poster looking for the suspects. This is a very discouraging development but not surprising. I totally agree - folks in the nabe need to attend monthly precinct meetings and speak w/ the NYPD community affairs liasons about our concerns.
While it makes sense to be concerned about rising crime let's have a bit of perspective. In the 28th Precinct, through April 18th, crime (murder, rape, robbery, felonious assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand larceny of an auto) is up 7% over last year (most of the increase was increased burglaries) but down 2% over 2008, down 7% vs. 2001 and down 72% from 1993. These numbers, so far, hardly herald a return to the bad old days. Yes, be vigilant and report problems. Yes, go to precinct meetings. Yes be concerned, but don't panic and live in fear.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the above stats: the two murders and the drive by shooting all happened after april 18th so those additions probably change the stats.
ReplyDeleteThe next precinct meeting is May 12.
Note the drive by is not a homicide since no one died. It was not in the 28th precinct since it happened in Central Harlem further north.
ReplyDeleteThe drive by shooting is by far the most serious of these crimes because bystanders were shot - no, they did not die, but that was luck. The two murders were essentially premeditated executions probably related to drugs, so most citizens would have nothing to fear; not so if you were walking on Lenox in broad daylight (as many of us do) during the drive by.
ReplyDeleteNorth of 125th Lenox is different than South of 125th. Yes a drive by is very serious but there is more crime reported in the 32nd precinct than the 28th which is South Harlem. Also, there has not been any reports on who was the target of the drive by and the authorities have not confirmed if the two parties were acquainted or not.
ReplyDelete311? No. 911. All the time. Anytime you see thugs congregate call 911. Period. That way they know the neighborhood is serious about their illegal behavior.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the difference between Lenox Ave & 128th from Lenox Ave & 123rd?
ReplyDeleteI love when people try to distinguish the 'good' parts of Harlem from the bad parts i.e. Lenox south of 125th is better than north of 125th. Crap!
I live in a so called 'safe' neighborhood in Brooklyn and at times feel less safe than I do when I frequent Harlem. That is Lenox Ave north of 125th though.
It's certainly frightening, people getting murdered. But I'm pretty sure that those two deaths were drug related or personal for some reason.
ReplyDeleteThat driveby during the day on 135th is pretty frightening though. My wife walks home that way every day from work. Is there any new news on that?
Anon 12:10. Call 911 when “thugs” congregate and say what? Where’s the emergency?“There’s a scary bunch of black men on my block”?
ReplyDeleteHell, half the thugs who hang out on my block live on my block and truly have as much right to hang out on a public street as I do.
Funny how a so called "drive-by" resulting in no deaths is more serious than two unrelated MURDERS within days and blocks of each other.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way the 28th Precinct covers 110th st to 127th st(which is above 125th st) from Morningside to 5th Ave. There are beautiful sections of Harlem scattered about....below and above 125th st. So, let's cut the above and below 125th st. crap!
Those coming to Harlem are attracted to the area because of economics, the culture, and its asthetic beauty. My guess is that as Harlem continues to progress most people will prefer the quaint little blocks filled with original brownstones and architecture. This is a major part of Harlem's charm and culture. I do however think that for now, as Harlem is again reborn, these structures along FDB are needed to help build the area as a whole. Nevertheless, long term growth and interest will undoubtedly be focused on some of Harlem's major roadways (ie. Lenox Ave., ACP Blvd, etc.) both above and below 125th st which are able to support continued growth. Another major issue with FDB, besides it's physical limitation as it realtes to future growth, is that there are no cultural insitutions. Most contirbutions to culture are realized eslwhere in Harlem.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, a true new york neighborhood is collage of local contributions....isn't that what we all want in our neighborhood that is Harlem?
"harlem" is not a single nabe & should not be spoken of as such. if you're a person with a certain amount of disposable income, perhaps have a vested interest in the form of housing you're a pioneer, an early adopter, and the term in technology is being on the "bleeding edge". however i suppose in this case, the blood is meant literally. the only surprising thing in these cases is how people are shocked or surprised to hear or learn of crime in their immediate nabe. where the hell did you think you moved to? *NewsFlash* in Harlem, people get shot. It's that simple, has been that way for a long time and methinks it's not changing anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteYou can use graceful language, describe the lovely communities here and there in Harlem, but at the end of the day, 119th between lenox and mmpark is strip loaded with drug dealing. The same applies to 129th between 5th and Lenox. There are lots of strips in Harlem where people pack guns, I've simply presented 2 examples, long time Harlemites know this, as well as the NYPD.
Long time Harlemites would not give 2 cents attention or concern about 2 murders. In 1990 there were 243 murders in Harlem for example. That's almost 5 murders a week, every single week, week after week. Heck, in 1940 there were approx 100 murders in Harlem. This is Harlem, and there is a rich history of murder here, apparently only news to the "new arrivals". If you're uncomfortable with the reality that murders happen within blocks of where you dwell, perhaps Harlem is not a good fit for you. I heard a guy get shot (heard the guns) and the moaning afterward for about 5 minutes before he expired. What did I learn? After a few days, you get over it and move on with the pace of the City.
The truth of the matter, it's pretty hard to find a single block, a single intersection in Harlem where someone has not been murdered (at some point in the past).
1990 was the worst year for murders in history of New York. Over 2,245 in all of the five boroughs. New York City was the murder capital of the nation. That's why everyone left in 70's, 80's, 90's.
ReplyDeleteLast year there was 412 homicides in the ENTIRE CITY. The majority those numbers happened in the Bronx and East Brooklyn. This is not the 1990's anymore and its sad to see people so jaded who think nothing has changed. The fact is that people are moving backed to the city after DECADES of undesirable conditions have been reversed.
Yes, there will always be crime in the big city but it is nothing like it was twenty years ago.
anon 10:29 - "new arrivals" "not a good fit" - i disagree. no one owns a neighborhood and it certainly does not have to be held hostage to violence. harlem has violence because harlem has poverty and drugs.
ReplyDeletebut your knowledge of harlem history is incomplete; it has not always been a blighted area and does not have to remain one forever - you seem invested in the idea that harlem is a living ghetto museum. frankly i find that attitude condescending. harlem is now as much home to the "new arrivals" as to anyone - you talk about the pace of the city, well, the pace of nyc is constant change (read some history books) and our neighborhood is not, or nor should it be, an exception,
anon 10:29 is just trying to scare people away so that rents and real estate prices remain depressed. So don't feed into it, don't bother ackowledging the ignorant statement. It's clear that Harlem has improved leaps and bounds....this is clear, and it is only getting better!
ReplyDelete