By Nancy J. Brandwein
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg listed guns as the first of his top three “areas of concern” at the February Full Community Board (CB)7 Meeting, which he attended on February 1, to participate in a Q&A.
But before taking up the topic, Bragg sought to clarify his controversial “January Day 1 Policy Memo,” which outlined a plan to no longer pursue, or to downgrade, certain low-level offenses. The memo caused a public stir, and opinion pieces in media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, branded Bragg “soft on crime.” Almost immediately after introducing himself to the community board and public in attendance, Bragg said he wanted to take “accountability for not having the proper scaffolding and context” around that memo, and that he hoped to provide it during the meeting.
Returning to guns, Bragg said that the DA’s office was going to take every gun possession case, of which there have already been 40 since January, and build it into a gun trafficking case, using the latest in gun-tracing technology. Bragg also mentioned the recent four-year sentencing of a “ghost” gun manufacturer from the East Village as a signal that the DA’s office will hold such manufacturers accountable, and mete out significant prison time.
After guns, Bragg said, comes “dealing with disorder…at a more micro level, in our small businesses in particular, whether it’s our retail stores, pharmacies or restaurants.”
To counter the upsurge in robberies and “general lawlessness” on city streets, Bragg said a task force had been formed, called the Manhattan Small Business Alliance, which would “partner with a number of small businesses from across the borough to focus on commercial robberies and shoplifting.” He said the Small Business Alliance would divide these crimes into two categories: small time shoplifters who might be acting out of substance abuse or need, who will be connected with services; and repeat-offender “opportunists” who will be pursued with felony charges.
The DA’s third priority is “domestic violence and sexual assault.” To focus on this issue Bragg said, “We brought in the head of our trial division, Joyce Smith, a career domestic violence prosecutor.”
Several participants at the meeting voiced their concerns about people with mental illness on city streets and in the subways. Bragg was supportive of Mayor Adams’ emphasis on “upstreaming” services to stop incidents before they happen. He spoke of “wraparound services” to address mental health needs, and “flooding the zone”: putting services in areas that are very “hot.” But he cautioned that these efforts “cost a lot of money and take time and coordination, so we’re talking to our partners in law enforcement.”
Before he left, Bragg encouraged concerned citizens to reach out to his office to continue conversations, and urged people to go on the DA’s data dashboard for information on arrests, arraignments, dispositions, etc.
After Bragg’s departure, Community Board 7 passed several resolutions, including approving two-year liquor licenses at the following UWS establishments:
- 246 W. 76th (The Wallace Hotel)
- TSR 953 Corp. (Tropical Sensation)
- GWC-Broadway 85th (Sunrise Senior Living)
The board also voted in favor of a resolution to close the Bull Moose Dog Run in Theodore Roosevelt Park at 9:00PM – 7:00AM; and to invoke law enforcement if people don’t adhere to the rules regarding the lawns in TR Park, and to erect “unbreachable fencing” around the lawn if trespassing continues.
He seems to be backpedaling very quickly. But looking at the link to this new task force, it’s interesting that while Harlem and downtown are well-represented, there are no businesses or civic leaders included from the UWS. Nor do there seem to be any drug stores like CVS, Walgreens/Duane Reade, or Rite Aid represented at the corporate level. So the response to drug stores being hit and closing is not to include drug stores?
It’s good that he clarified that memo. These ideas don’t sound too bad.
Glad to see they can get their hands on “unbreachable fencing” for the dog park, but somehow can’t acquire ground cover that’s safe and healthy for dogs to walk on. Get that and people won’t need to put their dogs on the lawn in the first place.
Solve the structural problem, and watch as people magically stop breaking the rules, because they won’t need to.
Same goes for everything the DA addressed.
“Bragg said he wanted to take ‘accountability for not having the proper scaffolding and context’ around that memo, and that he hoped to provide it during the meeting.” He had said he would not prosecute cases of mere gun possession. Seems to me this is not a question of “scaffolding and context,” but simple (and common-sense) backtracking.
Bragg announced the formation of the “Manhattan Small Business Alliance” to fight shoplifting and robberies.
Instead of the DA’s office sending a zero tolerance message against shoplifting Bragg has formed a bureaucratic committee that will likely achieve nothing.
Pathetic.
The solution for shoplifting and similar crimes is simple. Every time someone is stopped for these offenses, put their name in a database. The more offenses they commit, the harsher the penalty. This is all common sense.
Those with mental health issues shouldn’t be left on the streets while we figure something out. One doesn’t need a PhD to realize that some of these people are dangers to themselves and others. We have tried “services” and they have repeatedly failed. We shouldn’t just round up anyone with the slightest issues but extreme cases must be dealt with.
Carlos doesn’t seem to realize that defendants have a right to a trial, at least in the US, before being punished. If you are CONVICTED of shop lifting, your name IS in a database. Stopped? No, not so much.
A lot of WSR commenters seem not to be aware of basic US Democratic protections, or if they are aware, they want to do away with them.
Bruce,
As usual, creating drama where there was none. Of course I was referring to those who were found guilty. What kind of an animal do you think I am. And those who are repeatedly found guilty should be punished more severely than first time offenders.
I apologize that I was not more careful with my words. Lisa seemed to understand what I meant.
Perhaps rather than nitpicking you can reply to my actual suggestion or come up with a better one. And ignoring the problem, saying it was worse in the 80s, saying more social services is the only solution (though it would help) is not living in the real world.
Carlos, I can only go by your words. I can’t read your mind if they mean something different than what you wrote.
But given you mean convictions, you still seem to not know how the criminal justice system works. Names of convicted DO go into a “database”. It’s called the criminal record, and it is public domain. And judges routinely take past convictions into account in sentencing.
Agree with Carlos. Repeat behavior must be recognized as more serious than a one-time mistake, and we need to have serious penalties for repeat behavior, not just catch-and-release.
Speaking strictly for myself:
I’ve lost confidence in DA Bragg and am looking forward to his being recalled and replaced.
I realize this is an extreme view, but there it is. I’m not interested in someone setting policy who could have come up with his original ‘outline’.
I’ll vote for any gubernatorial candidate who’ll recall him.
Hahaha…are you serious? He has been in office for like a month.
Sorry but that is just not how it works. He was rightfully elected whether you like him or not. It’s just democracy in action.
It feels like there is a very vocal minority in this city (and country for that matter) that just doesn’t want to live with the results of free and fair elections.
You mean Democrats after the 2016 elections?
Well, let’s see…
1) Hillary conceded almost immediately
2) Nobody stormed the Capital and tried to overthrow the election
3) There were no “audits” or recounts in multiple states
4) Mike Lindell was still just a simple pillow salesman and not a Presidential advisor suggesting implementing martial law
So, NO, not at all like 2016…
Speaking of, the recent gerrymandering of the NY districts by Albany Democrats is literally rigging the next election.
I think it’s rather obvious Hochul read him the riot act when they met last week. She already made a not so veiled threat to remove him from office (which she can do, as he is an employee of the executive branch.) I hope shoplifting moves up on his priority list, it’s driving stores out of business. Both with the shrinkage and the inaccessibility of the stock, where you have to find a store employee to unlock even the most basic of toiletries such as deodorant and soap (thus making Amazon even more attractive).
Thank you Glen. It’s a bad sign that shoplifting and public disorder, which are my top 2 concerns, aren’t his.
Ah yes, “guns”. The old Progressive fallback. I didn’t realize a gun pushed Michelle Go in front of the subway.
I thought the prosecution of Trump was a major priority. I had hoped with the retirement of Vance, someone would start taking this never ending investigation seriously. So either indict the guy or tell us you don’t have enough evidence and close the case.
Michael Cohen had said he was confident prosecutors could “indict Donald Trump tomorrow if they really wanted and be successful”.
Thanks for this summary. I was listening to some TV coverage of his statements on guns and heard on advocate dismissing what sh e called “simple gun possession” as nothing and raged against jail terms for those arrested and convicted of the offense. I hope Bragg stands by his new policy. Simple gun possession is often a down grade of the real offense. It is serious. Carrying a gun without a permits should be treated seriously. It doesn’t take long for that gun to kill or insure someone. Guns must be taken off the streets. .
Here is a good explanation. Change the laws back:
https://www.city-journal.org/nyc-losing-control-of-crime
Great article. Thanks for sharing. But I’m sure so many of our neighbors are more concerned with the civil liberties of those who have been found guilty of violating our civil liberties. I think our right to exist peacefully should be the most important right.
All this is well and good, but until we find a way to keep peanut-headed thugs on bicycles, mopeds, scooters, and skateboards from running traffic lights, keep them OFF of sidewalks and OUT of pedestrian-dedicated areas the quality-of-life in Manhattan and on the UWS will continue to plummet.
Bragg spoke for about 45 minutes and in my mind said very little.
I recognize it’s only been a month and they inherited a mass mess but something has to give. When lifelong NY’er can’t take the subway or stroll down a main avenue after dark (or even daylight) this is an issue.
We HAVE to get these mentally challenged people off the street, off the subway and to a place they can get the help THEY need vs harming others.
“ Community Board 7 passed several resolutions, including approving two-year LIQUOR licenses at the following UWS establishments:
…GWC-Broadway 85th (Sunrise SENIOR Living)”
CB7 with impeccable concern for its core constituency!!!
/s