Advocates for the homeless are planning to rally on Wednesday against a decision by local police officials to raid local homeless shelters looking for people with open arrest warrants. The Freedom House Shelter in West 95th street was raided in the very early morning a few weeks ago when police found that 35 residents had open warrants. Twenty-two people were either arrested or detained and then released back to DHS. The exact nature of the crimes was not disclosed.
Capt. Marlon Larin said after the raid that police had run screens to find anyone with warrants because of rising burglaries and thefts from cars. In a follow-up article, the Daily News reported that none of the people responsible for the burglaries had been arrested in the raid.
The shelter, which was initially installed without community input in 2012, is across the street from a school playground. Local residents have been expressing concerns about safety since it opened, but the Department of Homeless Services had reassured them that they had nothing to worry about.
Larin has said he plans to continue doing these raids. But homeless advocates say they unfairly target the homeless, usually just pick people up who have committed minor crimes, and will only make it harder for them to receive services. Civil liberties advocates have also spoken out.
“There’s no justification for this,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman told The Huffington Post in a statement. “Being homeless is not grounds for suspicion that someone has a bench warrant.”
Some politicians, including Borough President Gale Brewer, have implied that the raids should be used sparingly.
“Enforcement is one option, but caseworkers at city-funded shelters can also help resolve outstanding warrants so the people affected can take steps toward eventually finding jobs and permanent housing,” she told Huffington Post in a statement. “They should not be caught in a cul-de-sac of warrants and arrests.”
Here’s the notice about today’s rally, via Picture the Homeless:
“As you may have heard, the NYPD launched a 4 am raid of Freedom House shelter on the UWS a few weeks ago, arresting 22 people. Unfortunately, these raids happen all the time. But in this case, the precinct commander has publicly stated to the media that he plans to run similar raids on all shelters in his precinct. Our challenge is that many UWS residents are supportive of (and even calling for) this type of discriminatory policing of homeless folks. The PTH civil rights committee is saying that these shelter raids are a clear violation of the constitutional rights of folks in the shelter. And that that the precinct’s actions demonstrate ongoing profiling and targeting of homeless folks in the UWS.
Picture The Homeless is organizing an action next Wednesday (6/18) at 6 pm to confront both NYPD and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). We’ll be having a community speakout in front of the shelter and then marching over to the 24th Precinct’s monthly community meeting.
Freedom House has been at the center of controversy for a number of years with complaints of poor management and excessive profiteering on the part of the owners- as you can see from several articles.
Finding a balance between rights and safety of the neighborhood and the rights and safety of men and women who have no place to stay but the shelters or the streets is not an easy thing. But targeting shelters for early morning police raids is not the answer. This practice will only serve to force homeless people further underground. Of the 22 people sighted in the article about the recent raid on Freedom House the vast majority were wanted for minor infractions or victim-less and/or non-violent crimes. Most of these crimes a result of poverty.
We encourage all concerned about this issue to work together to see to it that as we work to keep our communities safe for everyone, those who seek shelter and emergency assistance from Freedom House and other emergency shelters are treated with the respect due each of us — homeless and housed – and assisted to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.”
I am without words……
Lets see if the pandering politicians show up to “advocate” and grandstand.
remember next time you are voting.
Before you have a knee jerk liberal reaction… consider that many of these residents should be in rehab or mental hospitals. They are being throw away into this awful place that does not have proper plumbing or enough running water.
As someone who has been an activist and an ethical humanist for my whole life I need to tell you that although I agree with this in theory…I am a resident at 95th and West End Ave. The amount of crime, street harassment and drugs is unbelievable. Something has to be done…I just don’t know what. I am afraid to walk my dog at night.
This is a complicated issue…and the fact that this shelter is right next to an elementary school is unfortunate.
I find myself struggling with my progressive worldview versus my desire to feel safe. There was a shooting a block away. The residents roam the streets at night and can be heard screaming at all hours. Fights break out constantly and the stats on street crime have risen astronomically.
I can’t begin to figure out what should be done…but this is not a clearcut issue!
Please see below. These are facts. Your rants are not. Crime is down and I feel safer than ever.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Year to date (from 2014 to 2013) for violent crime:
Murder – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Rape – There was 5 this year and 4 last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Robbery – DOWN 33.8%
Felony Assault – DOWN 30%
Misd. Assault – DOWN 19.6%
Misd. Sex Crimes – DOWN 33.3%
Shooting Vic and Inc. – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year, and most probably all one incident in conjunction with the murder.
As for non-violent crime, burglaries surely went up and some minor upticks in other larceny. But when you look at the 2 and 5 year difference, it is not much at all.
It was said long ago that a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged.
Welcome to the real world.
“Before you have a knee jerk liberal reaction…”
So you think liberals don’t care about this situation? Let me posit this: If you are so opposed to “liberal” thinking, what are you doing living on the UWS, the most liberal neighborhood in this country? This is neither a conservative nor a liberal issue, so stop trying to impose your political leanings into the conversation.
You make an excellent point. How do we juggle the ramifications of the deinstitutionalization movement along with ethical-humanist concerns?
I wish someone could post video or photos of 95th Street (without compromising your safety, of course). It would give everyone more insight into your plight.
Avi posted one of my garbage photos, Duck, and there was a photo of the TV smashed on the sidewalk. But unless we all carry around cameras 100% and have the courage to take pictures or videos of people who are in the act of harassing or intimidating us — which is really not such a great idea! — it’s difficult to capture menacing incudents. I tried to use my phone to record the sound of a screaming fight in the courtyard once, but the sound quality was poor, and the participants were inside an apartment so there wasn’t much to see outside of the usual garbage. Short of buying higher quality recording equipment, I can’t capture it for you in a way that will enable you to experience what I experience pretty much daily.
I’m a petite female, and I’ve definitely felt menaced on several occasions by some of the shelter residents. But I move away asap — I don’t hang around to document it.
I challenge your assertion that “crime, street harassment, and drugs” is skyrocketing.
i live on the block. I have been working late and coming home between 10 and 11 almost every night, particularly in the last two weeks. As per the comments on this site, I have made it a point to walk down the South Side of the street (directly past the two shelters).
there is nothing like what the people have been describing. the people hanging out on the steps of the homeless shelters are almost all elderly and/or disabled. and a large number of security guards.
Respectfully, Bruce, safety and security differ for everyone. It is not fair to hear someone say they feel unsafe and to discredit them because you feel safe. Your experience cannot be the end all for everyone else.
Just because you FEEL unsafe, does not mean it is indeed UNsafe. theres a difference
Challenge accepted. For starters you are not female. I have been approached repeatedly by barely coherent men on the street from the shelter. I have witnessed countless screaming fights on almost a daily basis. I was approached by one woman who kept screaming at me that she was Jesus and died for my sins.
There was a shooting death a block away. There are reports of gang fights on Columbus Avenue.
The crime statistics alone which are published show a sharp rise in car break-ins and random assaults.
You remind me of women who claim they have never been harrassed.
Please see below. These are facts. Your rants are not. Crime is down and I feel safer than ever.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Year to date (from 2014 to 2013) for violent crime:
Murder – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Rape – There was 5 this year and 4 last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Robbery – DOWN 33.8%
Felony Assault – DOWN 30%
Misd. Assault – DOWN 19.6%
Misd. Sex Crimes – DOWN 33.3%
Shooting Vic and Inc. – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year, and most probably all one incident in conjunction with the murder.
As for non-violent crime, burglaries surely went up and some minor upticks in other larceny. But when you look at the 2 and 5 year difference, it is not much at all.
Great idea. Let’s keep people with drug problems and criminal warrents in our neighborhood. What could possibly go wrong! Can you people please put a lid on your neive, dangerous, progressivism for just a moment and use some common sense? People with criminal warrents should be in jail, especially if they have drug issues. If they have menrtal issues, they need to be in the care of mental health authorities. Does anyone here remember the 1980’s?
The shelter on 95th St has been an endless source of hazards and disruptions for the neighborhood, everything from an air conditioner thrown out a window that nearly killed someone to violent crime to a courtyard used as a garbage dump.
If people are living there with outstanding warrants, then why not arrest them? If they made 22 arrests, then they are making focused raids, not discriminating against the homeless.
The idea that crimes are the result of poverty may be real, but the police are not establishing laws, just enforcing them. 22 arrests shows that they are doing that appropriately. If they repeatedly raided the shelter but made no arrests, that could be harassment or maybe even discriminatory, but 22 arrests negates those concerns.
People who get arrested and not charged with a crime is called false arrest, the police officer who made that arrest becomes liable in a federal lawsuit..the victim of the arrest may not have a warrant, may not have a criminal record, the arrest alone tarnishes there record. Once a person has a record, how are they supposed to provide for their families if nobody hires them because they have a record? That is where criminal activity begins..and who now-a-days gives two shots about helping the next man/woman/child who is hungry; has bills to pay etc..fuck all your arguments. Before a police officer arrests/detains a person of interest make sure that person has in fact committed a crime..Police love using the term “Probable Cause” There is no such law or crime as “Probable Cause “. It is known to be thrown out of Court in the second circuit. Example: A police officer stops me and says he’s stopping me under probable cause, I will ask him directly “What is the Crime officer”? The police officer will not have a answer to your question, that in itself becomes an illegal arrest. One a police officer breaks the law that he/she has sworn to protect, they themselves become the criminal/terrorist.
Please see below. These are facts. Your rants are not. Crime is down and I feel safer than ever.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Year to date (from 2014 to 2013) for violent crime:
Murder – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Rape – There was 5 this year and 4 last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Robbery – DOWN 33.8%
Felony Assault – DOWN 30%
Misd. Assault – DOWN 19.6%
Misd. Sex Crimes – DOWN 33.3%
Shooting Vic and Inc. – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year, and most probably all one incident in conjunction with the murder.
As for non-violent crime, burglaries surely went up and some minor upticks in other larceny. But when you look at the 2 and 5 year difference, it is not much at all.
This is beyond comprehension. Shouldn’t we be rallying against the declining quality of life that this and other shelters have brought to our neighborhood? Shouldn’t we be decrying the mountains of broken car window glass along Riverside Drive? Or the gang warfare currently being waged on Columbus Avenue? Picture The Homeless should be ashamed of themselves for using the term “victimless crime.” No crime is victimless, and none should be excused.
Please see below. These are facts. Your rants are not. Crime is down and I feel safer than ever.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Year to date (from 2014 to 2013) for violent crime:
Murder – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Rape – There was 5 this year and 4 last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Robbery – DOWN 33.8%
Felony Assault – DOWN 30%
Misd. Assault – DOWN 19.6%
Misd. Sex Crimes – DOWN 33.3%
Shooting Vic and Inc. – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year, and most probably all one incident in conjunction with the murder.
As for non-violent crime, burglaries surely went up and some minor upticks in other larceny. But when you look at the 2 and 5 year difference, it is not much at all.
I wonder how many of these demonstrators will actually live in the area?
And typical “old-leftie/old-UWS” nonsense…whatever ordinary (read: not super-liberal) people want is to be protested.
Yeah…real populists!
🙁
My relative was robbed at gunpoint recently in this area. Thank you to those who are speaking up for our safety. Thank you police for helping us to live in peace.
if the shelter is not up to snuff (although according to the residents i have spoken to, they feel much safer there than in other shelters) or the landlord is corrupt — that is not reason to take it out on the residents.
A homeless person can be your bank teller, or someone working at the local MCDonalds. some high percentage — 25% — have jobs. the people in the shelter are not the crazy people you see on Bway.
Call Gail brewer and complain
212-669-8300
I called constituent services for Gail Brewer’s office at 212-531-1609 and voiced my concern about Freedom House and my support of the police action there. I also expressed my concern about the gang violence on Columbus and 92nd this past weekend. I asked what Gail Brewer’s position was on these issues and was told that someone would call me back.
This is an awful situation for everyone and while we all want to live in a safe neighborhood (I’m at 96th and WEA), think of the families and the children living in this situation. Nothing like police raiding your “home” as awful as it might be at 4 a.m. looking for possibly your father or mother to take him or her away. The city MUST do better for these families. The mentally ill need to be treated with respect and care, the true criminals do need to be routed out, and the remaining people need better housing. Bloomberg fail all of here. With all his money and rich real estate developer connections, he should have rallied these people to build low and affordable income housing. That would have been a real legacy for which to be proud.
Glad to see our community is finally pushing back and willing to take back our streets. (of course with the exeption of one die hard radical).
I suggest a counter rally and protest. Our neighborhood will no longer be a dumping ground for society. Law and order must be restored, We can fight back.
The poverty industry is entrenched and powerful , but this is our community. Fight the power.
To be clear, the protesters are rallying against a policy that seeks to identify and imprison criminals. Isn’t that what law enforcement does? That “most of the crimes a result of poverty” (sic) is besides the point. Crimes are being committed against innocent residents of our area, period. And they should be stopped, period. That this haven of crime exists across the street from a school playground is just plain inexcusable.
Please see below. These are facts. Your rants are not. Crime is down and I feel safer than ever.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Year to date (from 2014 to 2013) for violent crime:
Murder – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Rape – There was 5 this year and 4 last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Robbery – DOWN 33.8%
Felony Assault – DOWN 30%
Misd. Assault – DOWN 19.6%
Misd. Sex Crimes – DOWN 33.3%
Shooting Vic and Inc. – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year, and most probably all one incident in conjunction with the murder.
As for non-violent crime, burglaries surely went up and some minor upticks in other larceny. But when you look at the 2 and 5 year difference, it is not much at all.
I am outraged that PTH is going to add to the disruption on my block. I wonder how many of you live on my street. These shelters have been a nightmare since they were opened. My children are afraid to walk down the street because of the constant trash, cursing and ranting residents, loitering on the sidewalks, not to mention the assault, murder and mugging at knifepoint that occurred in my building. Now I have to call my son and tell him not to come home after school. And my taxes pay for to ruin my quality of life. Can I petition the city for money for the broker who is finding me a new apartment? Thanks DHS and PTH for looking out for us, tax-paying, law- abiding citizens.
what building was there a murder in, and when? there was a murder on W 94th about a year ago but it was domestic violence and had nothing to do with homelessness.
There was a murder in from of the building to the east of the Freedom houses, and my delivery boy from the laundry was attacked by my building on 95th. A teenager in my building was mugged at knifepoint and his iPhone stolen. There was also a murder at a shelter on 93rd about six months ago. I love living across from the park, but we are leaving the 90s…
I agree with you, Wendi. And why your assertions of fact have to be challenged by people like B. Bernstein who is in chronic denial about the state of things in the 90’a is beyond reason. Is it because he’s trying to sell his coop and can’t due to the rampant crime in his area? I know for a fact that it’s a hard sell to try and unload an apt. in the vicinity of Freedom House, and if you can, it’s below market. And, it may be fine for an adult male to walk home at 10 pm and not be harassed, but our children and women are routinely harassed and feel threatened at any hour of the day. We completely avoid the area for play dates and enroute to Hippo Park down the block. It’s utterly disgusting. And why do you think people don’t want to send their kids to PS 75, right across the street? Bash on, Bernstein, but it’s true.
Please see below. These are facts. Your rants are not. Crime is down and I feel safer than ever.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
Year to date (from 2014 to 2013) for violent crime:
Murder – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Rape – There was 5 this year and 4 last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year
Robbery – DOWN 33.8%
Felony Assault – DOWN 30%
Misd. Assault – DOWN 19.6%
Misd. Sex Crimes – DOWN 33.3%
Shooting Vic and Inc. – there was 1 this year and none last year. Doesn’t see like any drastic uptick. It is just 1 more than last year, and most probably all one incident in conjunction with the murder.
As for non-violent crime, burglaries surely went up and some minor upticks in other larceny. But when you look at the 2 and 5 year difference, it is not much at all.
In July of 2012, within a few days of each other there were violent crimes incidents at two of the other facilities in close proximity to Freedom House. One was at the Naragansett Hotel and the other was at Camden House. I believe both were stabbings and in one of the incidents the person stabbed died.
As someone who has worked with homeless shelters and treated people who were assaulted in them I applaud police efforts to make them safer. Many many homeless people avoid shelters because they fear for their safety. A single criminal can terrorize the entire population so they dare not fall asleep.
I dont believe the police or anyone else is guarding the homeless from assault… Rather they are being arrested. The way the City operates, there is no accountability. They all get paid with our tax dollars and then they sit around doing as little as possible and wait for their pensions.
For anyone that continues to deny or excuse the problems that this shelter is causing, you are as responsible as DHS and the perpetrators themselves for ruining our neighborhood. For the rest of us, CONTACT GAIL BREWER, HELEN ROSENTHAL, LINDA ROSENTHAL, SCOTT STRINGER, and the MAYOR. Keep the pressure on them with regard to the detrimental effect that this shelter is having on us, as well as the other issues that our neighborhood is experiencing. And let the 24th Precinct know that you support their efforts to make our neighborhood safe.
Quote:
“There’s no justification for this,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman told The Huffington Post in a statement. “Being homeless is not grounds for suspicion that someone has a bench warrant.”
Well how about the smell of marijuana, fist fights and gun shots from WEA to Amsterdam in the upper 90’s?
Exactly..that is what the police should be doing. Not raiding people who can’t afford a place to live.
What is it with this lamenting over the state of safety in our neighborhood? If you don’t feel safe living on the UWS in the year 2014, there are very few places in the world where you would be comfortable. Try to gain some perspective.
https://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs024pct.pdf
You obviously do not have small children, and I grew up in L.A. during the gang years, but now I pay a lot to live in a nice neighborhood and my taxes go to pay for them to ruin my street. I feel for the families and disabled, but why can’t a 25-year-old, perfectly fit male go to work? The entitlement is appalling.
In my opinion, this is thinly vailed intimidation by advocates against the community for speaking out.
If homeless people are proved to be violent they may very well be mentally unstable. Why aren’t they being housed in a separate facility.
Bratton just put out statement. No more raids on homless shelter on UWS. Trying to find link to story.
Well that’s about as depressing as it gets. de Blasio has successfully created an atmosphere where it’s more important to listen to the loony-toons at the ACLU than it is to protect our community.
The ACLU, let’s never forget, were the ones who sued the state mental institutions out of existence in the 60s releasing thousands of crazies on our streets and ensuring that future violent schizophrenics will not be confined. They’ve never acknowledged this act of domestic terrorism but there it is.
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140618/upper-west-side/bratton-ends-raids-on-uws-homeless-shelter
We’ll have more on this this evening.
I can guarantee you that all of these “advocates” live nowhere near the situation. And if it were their neighborhood they would suddenly find a different tune. I fail to see how enforcing outstanding warrants amounts to harrassment. What about the right of the neighborhood residents to be able to walk down the street without fear or leave their car parked without worrying they’ll find broken windows when they go to drive it next?
This is nothing but good policing. Just wait till summer when crime spikes and the crazies and criminals are out in the streets and using the shelter as a drug crime haven. The kneee-jerkers will then be singing another tune.
Unfortunately the knee-jerkers will still be denying, rationalizing, and providing excuses!
Oh, heck, the “knee jerkers”, as you call them, will all be in the Hamptons (or maybe up north, hugging trees) for the summer, phoning in their outrage.
Once again we start the talk about arbitrary enforcement of the law. Why is is NY’ers think they can pick and choose which ones they want to obey. Are we that corrupt and spoiled or just stupid? Or perhaps we have grown fond of inept efforts when it comes to enforcement? A little speeding a little jaywalking Spit on the street, theft gun play ? Where do you draw your line. Obviously not the same rules for everyone.
Crime is down so low..they dont’ know who to go after now…old people jaywalking, homeless…they can’t validate their jobs anymore like they used to. Thanks to Roe V Wade…we are now feeling the effects which is a huge drop in crime 18-25 years after it was implemented. That’s one generation folks of better family planning and thus better parenting and waiting till your resources and outlook looks good enough to have kids!!!!!!!
OK so we ignore 32 warrants. What kind of an enforcement message is that?
Why didnt they disclose what the warrants were in regards to? Most likely quota nonsense like turnstile violations and open beer containers. The 24th precinct should go fight crime.