By Daniel Katzive
Threats from violent and mentally ill people topped the list of concerns aired by participants at a crowded monthly meeting of the 24th Precinct Community Council on Wednesday evening. The 24th covers West 86th Street through West 110th.
Susan Kambrich, Executive Director of Twin Parks Montessori Schools Park West Montessori (103rd and Central Park West) reported that parents and caregivers had been harassed, punched, spit at and shoved by an individual or individuals at school pickup times recently. Another parent reported being threatened routinely by a teenager at the Happy Warrior Playground (Amsterdam and 97th) who yelled anti-Semitic comments and gestured as if to unleash a pit bull on them.
Deputy Inspector Naoki Yaguchi, Commanding Officer of the precinct, acknowledged that there had been a number of random assaults in the precinct and that the best police response to this pattern is to step up presence in the areas where individuals are causing issues. He noted that officers had already visited the Montessori location at dismissal hours, and indicated he would have Youth Coordination Officers increase their visits to the Happy Warrior Playground.
More surveillance cameras are also coming to the Upper West Side, as provided for in last year’s budget allocation. City Councilmember Gale Brewer announced at the meeting that she had received a letter from police headquarters that same day confirming that local precinct commanders would have discretion to determine where the new cameras would be located, which she welcomed.
In terms of overall numbers, Inspector Yaguchi noted that reported crime had moderated a bit after a hot summer, with all categories of major crime down over the past 28 days compared with the same period last year. He credited recent arrests made of individuals involved in thefts from cars and of packages in helping to reduce the numbers.
Major crime numbers do remain elevated in most categories on a year-to-date basis, particularly burglaries, which are up 45% over 2021 levels. Inspector Yaguchi noted that much of the increase in burglaries relates to package theft, where deliveries are stolen from building vestibules, rather than break-ins to apartments.
The Inspector also provided some detail on how police were able to quickly arrest a suspect in the September shooting of a Danish tourist on 100th Street. According to Yaguchi, a Field Intelligence Officer assigned to the precinct recognized the suspect from a surveillance camera photo and detectives were able to locate him and make an arrest.
The next meeting of the precinct’s Community Council will be on November 16, at the Bloomingdale Library on West 100th Street, across from the precinct.
If the assaults are being caused by mental illness, the appropriate response is to lock these people away in facilities where there is on-site treatment. They should not be left to roam the streets unsupervised. It serves no one.
However, we can’t just issue a blanket excuse for every random assault by trying to connect it to insanity. If there are sane individuals who just like hurting people for sport, we need our lawmakers to enact laws that discourage this behavior. Unfortunately, we have voted in dozens of delusional public servants — Bragg, Lander, Hoylman, I could go on– who either refuse to acknowledge any increase in violent crime or think the best way to address it is by merely pointing out that it is happening in other cities. One result of this failure of leadership is that a Trump worshiping conspiracy theorist in Lee Zeldin is on the verge of assuming power in NYS by constantly pointing out Democratic failures to address crime.
At this point I don’t care if Zeldin worships Trump or anyone else for this matter. Crime is horrific and it is my priority. I’m one of those parents the article references. My 12-year old had to run away several times from aggressive people, mentally I’ll or not, on his way to/fro school. Once he had to hide behind a school bus.
Just yesterday a person was stabbed at the train station near me (72). Just minutes ago a man brandished a knife at CVS near me.
I want to Iive a normal life and not to have my head on a swivel going for a basic errand. I refuse to accept it as a new normal or a repeat of 70s.
Current politicians should be voted out in order for our city to get back to normal.
So you won’t have a problem when the Republican efforts underway now to bring guns to our streets including the subways and places like Time Square are enacted by Mr. Zeldin.? Thus far Hochul has fought relentlessly to stop this from proceeding. Then maybe along with the rest of the red states we’ll have 18 year olds carrying AR-15’s and shooting up our schools or our synagogues. How much additional danger should we put our police force in?? Or maybe you don’t mind if Mr. Zeldin who is pro life and believes that abortion should be illegal for any reason makes abortion illegal in NYS?? Maybe you don’t care about a woman’s right to agency over her own body. Or maybe we should have a Governor who believes in Trump’s big lie and has been responsible for spreading propaganda while knowing that this is a Big Fat Lie. Not a problem for you.
You’re upset because crime has risen along with every big city in this country after the pandemic (you do remember that) and because Mr. Zeldin has a magic wand to stop it from happening? Knee jerk reaction anyone? Our city until very recently was among the safest in America under liberal Democrats.
It is not enough to get the guns off the streets. We need to get the people who illegally own them and those who use them criminally off the streets as well. That is where Hochul and the Democratic state legislature fails. This long term Democrat will probably hold his nose and vote for Hochul, But if there was a Republican just a bit less awful, he or she would get my vote
As I already mentioned I have lived in the city for over 20 years. I don’t think that qualifies as a knee-jerk reaction.
As well I’m very tired to hear about how bad Trump is as an excuse for everything.
As far as abortion is concerned, Zeldin is not planning to restrict it.
In any case, you can’t find an ideal candidate. You just have to choose the priorities. I chose mine. I’m not to tell you what your priorities should be.
You mean Zeldin SAYS he won’t restrict abortion now, after saying for months and months that he would.
MJB.. thank you.. I’ve lived here 30+ years.. and have the same sentiments .. folks are so fixated on dems versus republicans.. they stopped voting on what they want to see changed and the candidates that best represent their viewpoints.
How bad Trump is? The candidate you are supporting is an out and out liar who is an election denier?? That doesn’t bother you?? Really? I notice you just jumped right over the fact that the Republicans want people to open carry weapons in New York CIty-that would include Mr. Zeldin! You know who doesn’t want that?? The NYPD! As for me sitting with the knowledge that the Republican Party has been overtaken by the most extreme elements in this country who are trying for a repressive, autocratic form of government-I’ll not be voting for a card carrying member of that party for Governor.
I get the concern and I agree it’s an urgent problem. The thing is that this guy tried to overturn the Democratic process or at very least was fine with the idea and threw his full weight behind someone who would not commit to a peaceful transfer of power. That has to be an uncrossable line if you value the American Experiment.
You know, I’m getting tired of hearing about Trump overturning the election. First of all, there is not anyone on this earth that dislikes Trump more than me. But if Trump did ANYTHING illegal with regard to overturning the election or even attempted anything illegal, believe me, we would have known about it by now because he would have been prosecuted for it and he hasn’t and isn’t. It is everyones right in this country to believe that an election was stolen and it is everyone’s right to pursue LEGAL means to get redress for it. I assume, since Trump has not been prosecuted, that that is all that he did, like him or not.
Seriously? Have you paid any attention to the house committee hearings?
If it’s not illegal it’s ok? So deliberately spreading lies to destroy faith in the electoral process is fine?
Did the police commissioner discuss the insubordination among his ranks as evidenced by the desk clerk implying that, contrary to his boss’s data, crime is indeed on the rise, and the police can’t do anything about it because it’s all our fault for voting for the “wrong people”?
Did he discuss why we never see cops in the 24th out on the beat the way I see near my office downtown and around Columbus Circle?
Did he discuss any ways in which the 24th precinct is working with homeless outreach agencies as well as MTA response teams to nip dangerous activities in the bud like I see the precinct do around Washington Square Park?
There are many people on here writing screeds about how it’s Bragg’s fault for what we are seeing, but from my viewpoint, I see invisible cops, happy to tell us it’s our own fault over the phone, but not to actually be a presence.
In addition, and this is not the police department’s fault, or the fault of bail reform, I see extremely backlogged courts that have given up on the notion of a fair and speedy trial. What we need are more judges and cases being heard to get judgements rendered and the dockets cleared. We need to reinstate community service for minor offenses, especially for juveniles, because Rikers is broken and having to scrub graffiti and pick up garbage does make people who are just starting out, realize that actions have consequences.
All of these things are steps we should be starting today to make a real f difference
Another armchair warrior heard from! For starters, a Desk Sergeant voicing his or her opinion is not “insubordination.” It’s a learned opinion from someone (not a “clerk”) who has been dealing with the issue for years in an active, on-the-street police career. Manning a precinct desk is but one of the many assignments someone passes through. Secondly, the police cannot be everywhere at once and are retiring in record numbers because armchair warriors everywhere do absolutely nothing but insult them, while they put their lives on the line every day. Thirdly, the reason you see cops at Columbus Circle is because Transit District One’s office is INSIDE the train station. Fourth, there are multiple ways any armchair warrior could get involved and garner an opinion based on real experience. The NYPD has a volunteer Auxiliary Patrol; they also have active Community Council in each precinct; and for youth, they have an Explorers program. Additionally, many streets on the upper west side have formal Block Associations which can provide lighting, security cameras, and neighborhood watch groups. Fifth, absolutely anyone can run for public office – be it for NY City Council, NY State Senate, NYS Assembly, or US Congress. Ideas themselves are a dime a dozen. Anyone can sit in a chair and pontificate. Getting it done is the issue. And yes, DA Bragg downgrading crimes and bail reform releasing criminals again and again to the streets IS the problem right now.
Did you mention at some point that you are a writer? I wish you could write an article for WSR depicting what the police has to deal with now in order to do their job.
I would be glad to do that, anytime.
It’s very difficult to believe that the crime numbers are down in this area. There are always 2-4 squad cars parked at the 72nd/Broadway train station and yet there are ‘incidents’ happening there 3-4 times a week. Someone was stabbed there again last night. Are crimes that take place within the station or on the train not included in neighborhood crime statistics?
Crime isn’t down, just very few people leaving their apartments at night and restaurants and businesses are closed. Its a red herring.
The crime is normally down slightly when the weather cools down as the perpetrators seem not to roam as freely as in more pleasant weather.
It has nothing to do with improvement in enforcement. The overall picture is the same if not worse.
But if you actually read the article, it does not say crime in October is down from September, it says that crime in the past 28 days (4 weeks) is down from THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
I am so appreciative that local residents and businesses pushed hard against the opposition among some Community Board members about installing more surveillance cameras to help the police apprehend suspects. It goes to show that if the community rallies, it can affect change. Pls keep being vocal and speaking up. Our electeds are supposed to represent the community and not their special interest benefactors.
Surveillance cameras do *nothing* to prevent or solve crime. Decades of professional & academic studies have shown this. Add to it the NYPD’s refusal to crack down on unregistered mopeds/motorcyles and ghost cars (because they would lose the ability to evade tolls into the city with their own vehicles, which often have doctored/obscured/fake plates) and you have a money sink
The September 18th shooting of the tourist from Denmark on 103d/WEA was solved in a few hours because of all the surveillance cameras on the residential buildings. The perpetrator was known to the police who went and picked him up. I believe that counts as “something.”
The NYPD doesn’t “refuse” to crack down on anything. The NYC Council mandated that the NYPD stop enforcing quality of life crimes starting around 2012. It’s been a steady downward spiral since then. And saying that cameras do nothing to prevent or solve crime is like saying food doesn’t attract rats! Perpetrators have been identified though photographs since the earliest days of photography. Hence, the mug shot since the 19th century. Hence, the Bertillion charts of the 19th century. Hence, perps being identified by video footage shared with TV. As for name of “Factcheck” — honey, that ship sailed a LONG time ago.
Katz’s comments here and above are right on point. I want to add another aspect to the so-called crime rate, not only in the Manhattan 24th Police Precinct, but also in the other precincts in the rest of the City. The police are interested in the major and violent crimes, the assaults, shootings, and other felonies., while sweeping the petit crimes and larcenies (class A misdemeanors) under the rug. On those, the police are lazy and don’t care. They won’t get an award for solving those crimes and misdemeanors standing next to the Mayor and Police Commissioner at City Hall, so they won’t even try. As for the current Manhattan D.A., on the assumption that the less said the better, saying nothing is best of all.
Thank you for providing this. It is quite frustrating to see certain posters on this site, rather than engage in constructive discourse, try to gaslight with presumptive statements presented as fact but that really should be prefaced with “In my opinion.”
“Decades of professional & academic studies have shown this.”
Hear that criminals, don’t worry about your face being captured on video, PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC STUDIES have shown that cameras do nothing to solve crime!!!
Hmm. Im not sure I agree with your absolute stance but you are entitled to your opinions. It sounds like from reading all the crime articles of late that cameras have actually helped secure a number of recent arrests. Now without adequate deterrent they may have limited affect but that has more to do with, in my opinion, criminal justice, than law enforcement. Hopefully that changes soon but in the meantime I find it comforting that there is some accountability on criminals especially those who live in our community. So crazy for neighbors to rob neighbors. Community should be a two way street. Have a great day.
Our building is considering updating our security cameras. Is there a way to integrate our cameras with the
“surveillance cameras … coming to the Upper West Side, as provided for in last year’s budget allocation. City Councilmember Gale Brewer announced at the meeting that she had received a letter from police headquarters that same day confirming that local precinct commanders would have discretion to determine where the new cameras would be located…”
We are willing to pay (within reason – NYC contracting rules seems to increase costs 2x-10x.)
It would seem a win/win-who do we contact at the 24th Precinct to move this forward?
We consulted with our local precinct when we upgraded our surveillance cameras. Check with them. I recall they offer a free service to do a walk through of your building and make recommendations on steps you can take to improve security. We found it helpful.
This paragraph alone is gut-wrenching: “Susan Kambrich, Executive Director of Twin Parks Montessori Schools Park West Montessori (103rd and Central Park West) reported that parents and caregivers had been harassed, punched, spit at and shoved by an individual or individuals at school pickup times recently. Another parent reported being threatened routinely by a teenager at the Happy Warrior Playground (Amsterdam and 97th) who yelled anti-Semitic comments and gestured as if to unleash a pit bull on them.”
I am so terrified day to day and this is no way to live for anyone. My husband won’t let me walk the dogs alone after sundown…we actually moved from an apt on Broadway which was plagued with vagrants, drunks, addicts, homeless mentally ill (we were constantly harassed and 2x had antisemitic slurs hurled at us), now we are on WEA and it is a night and day difference, peaceful, no harassment, but I will not walk on Broadway alone.
Lifelong democrat who will now vote straight GOP until we can get this city back in shape. Giuliani was eventually revealed to be an unstable crook, but he cleaned up this city and Bloomberg only added to the legacy! I long for the days of Bloomberg.
Bloomberg was a Democrat who ran on the Republican ticket. He was a centrist Democrat on some issues, and leftist on others.
I completely agree with you. I am a lifelong democrat but find myself in the very uncomfortable position of now being a one issue voter. That issue is crime and therefore quality of life. I have a right to try to fight for the city I love and have desperately loved since I moved here at the age of 3. This lawlessness cannot be allowed to persist. People – all people – need to be held accountable for their actions and choices.
Same here. I was so apprehensive of Bloomberg at the beginning but he did great things for the city.
He left the GOP because of how extreme they were.
Most of the comments are about locations outside of this precinct.
There is mental health housing on 103rd st, around the corner from the montessouri school. They are a harmless bunch, and should not be blamed for assaults.
“Tough on crime” policitians never actually reduce crime. They increase arrest counts and summonses, but not the number of actual convictions. It’s more a “tough on poor and minorities” stance than actually stopping crime.
Reducing the wealth gap between the wealthy new residents and the existing residents stuck in poverty would fix this, but I can tell the commenters want blood.
“ There is mental health housing on 103rd st, around the corner from the montessouri school. They are a harmless bunch, and should not be blamed for assaults.” – I’m sorry, are you claiming that mentally ill are not dangerous? I’m not trying to say that all mentally ill are, or they shouldn’t get help. However housing them next to schools AND letting them go about unsupervised is extremely dangerous as we are already experiencing.
Those are a lot of assumptions to unpack:
Most people that would be defined as “mentally ill” are not a danger to themselves or other. Why do you assume that the attackers are mentally ill? The attacks are occurring in locations that mix wealth with poverty, and legacy majority-minority neighborhoods with majority-white newcomers. From a social psychology perspective, friction is guaranteed is such an arrangement.
This housing is specifically for those that do not pose a risk to others, but do need some living assistance. Why do you want everyone suffering from mental illness to be hidden from the rest of the city?
The montessori PRESCHOOL is a recent addition to the neighborhood. The mental health house predates it by decades. That same block has a dispensary, a hostel, and abuts Frederick Douglass Housing. Probably not where a person like you would want to put a preschool, or send their child to. You should place your blame on the parents willing to “risk” their lives taking their children to a “dangerous” place.
“ You should place your blame on the parents willing to “risk” their lives taking their children to a “dangerous” place.”. Amazing. The parents and little children are harassed and spat on, but they should be blamed? Police is even upping their presence because the situation is out of control yet you put quotes around “risk” and “dangerous “. Mind-boggling.
I am a parent of a public school student and lived on UWS for over 20 years.
Hope that helps with your assumption unpacking.
How much do we need to reduce the wealth gap (and between who exactly) to stop random, game-based punching? Subway attacks by mentally ill people who have no business being anywhere near critical infrastructure? Harassment on elderly and children by the drunks up and down on Broadway? Knifepoint robberies on teenagers by other, scooter-riding teenagers clad in expensive sneakers (but otherwise, oh so poor)? Illegal guns (apparently, free to obtain by the oh-so-poor as well)?
It’s not about a wealth gap. There are plenty of jobs and opportunities in this city.
That pay a living wage and don’t require extensive experience and/or training?
Yes. As a matter of fact, those are the jobs recent immigrants take (decade after decade, century after century). Funny, how spoiled Americans rather be coddled than work, sometimes. The reason Clarence Darrow stepped up to defend Leopold and Loeb in 1924 was that the case shattered his lifelong preaching that poverty caused crime. It doesn’t. Money has nothing to do with crime at all. Alert the media. And call your broker to make sure he/she hasn’t stolen yours.
Apparently so, unless the countless people trying to emigrate into our country are mistaken.
Data from NYPD CompStat for 20th precinct. You can look up 24th on your own:
1998 2021
Murder 3 0
Rape 17 7
Robbery 283 115
Burglary 324 81
Grand Larceny 813 744
Excellent try. Interested in year 1698 as well, if you have it. Now let’s get real:
2016 2021
Murder 0 0
Rape 4 7 (+75%)
Robbery 57 115 (+102%)
Felony Assault 67 86 (+28%)
Burglary 59 81 (+37%)
Gr Larceny 641 744 (+16%)
Gr Larceny Mot Vehicle 28 87 (+211%)
This notion that crime, lawlessness, homelessness and quality of life breakdowns are not real problems on the upper west side is an absolute mystery to me … even the most progressives of us (I was … now a moderate) must admit we have a crisis in the community.
I think this attitude is an effort to be compassionate towards those at the lower end of the socio-economic scale. However, most lower-income people are quite honest. It’s condescending to assume that crime is caused by poverty. It’s obviously not. It’s caused by those who break the law when they think they can get away with it. So let’s address that.
WSR folks,
The police precinct and the library are at 100th street, not 102
Thanks! Fixed.
You can’t babysit criminals. when you give then a hand, eventually they will take your whole arm. Enforce the laws, have speedy trial, and give out the punishment, otherwise it will lead to more crimes. No consequences for committing crimes only increases recidivism. Nowadays you cant even find an empty bench along the median on Broadway for an elderly to sit, it has been taken over by homeless, drug addicts and drunk people. I probably offended some people by putting it that way, but how else can it be said?