2 JULY 14 - JULY 20, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
RATE OF MAJOR CRIME
DROPS IN BROOKLYN
Brooklyn is continuing to experience a major
decline in crime, including double-digit drops in
shooting incidents, shooting victims and homicides,
according to statistics collected by the New York Police
Department.
On Thursday, July 6, Acting District Attorney
Eric Gonzalez announced that 50 murders had been
recorded in Brooklyn so far in 2017. At this time last
year, 61 murders had been recorded, putting 2017 on
track to be the year with the fewest murders since
statistics were tracked.
Also in noticeable decline are shooting incidents
and shooting victims, which are down by approximately
20 percent each compared to this time last year.
Overall, the Total Crime Index, which represents
the seven major felony crimes, is down by 4.5 percent
for the year so far in Brooklyn. Rape remains the only
felony category not in decline, with a 0.9 percent uptick
compared to this time last year.
2017 ON TRACK TO HAVE
FEWEST TRAFFIC FATALITIES
IN CITY HISTORY
The first half of 2017 contained the fewest traffic
fatalities on record in New York City, according to
Mayor Bill de Blasio.
De Blasio announced that, under Vision Zero, the
city saw 93 fatalities in the first six months of 2017, the
first time ever that fewer than 100 fatalities had been
recorded in such a period.
Fiscal Year 2017, which ended on June 30, was the
city’s safest fiscal year on record, demonstrating a 24
percent decline in traffic deaths compared to Fiscal
Year 2014.
Meanwhile, according to the National Safety
Council, traffic fatalities increased by 14 percent
nationwide from 2014-2016.
NYCEDC AND FORMULA E
BRING RACING SERIES
TO RED HOOK
The New York City Economic Development Corporation
(NYCEDC) is teaming up with Formula E to host
the inaugural Formula E Qualcomm New York City
ePrix on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16.
The event, which is to take place at the Brooklyn
Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, will be the first Federation
Internationale de l’Automobile-sanctioned
open-wheel race to take place within New York City.
The race comes as part of the FIA Formula E Championship,
the world’s first fully-electric single-seater
racing series.
The 1.21 mile off-street track features 10 turns
and curves around Pier 11 and the Brooklyn Cruise
Terminal.
—Jonathan Sperling
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Jonathan Sperling
Captain David Wall, commanding officer of the 66th Precinct, addressing the
rally.
Local pols hold rally in
support of New York's Finest
outside 66th Precinct
BY JONATHAN SPERLING
EDITORIAL@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Brooklyn is looking out for its police
officers.
That was the message put forth by 44th
District Councilmember David Greenfield and
other elected officials on Thursday, July 6, as
they led a rally in support of the NYPD in front
of Boro Park’s 66th Precinct (5822 16th Avenue).
The day’s dreary conditions did not deter
attendees from reinforcing their support of
New York’s Finest in the wake of 46th Precinct
Officer Miosotis Familia’s assassination in the
Bronx on July 5.
Familia, who was a mother of three children,
was allegedly shot and killed while sitting in a
police truck by Alexander Bonds, a former convict
who in the past had expressed anti-police
sentiments on social media.
“It’s really too easy to metaphorically beat up
on the police and forget that when these folks
put on the badge and uniform every day, they
recognize that they’re putting their lives at risk
for the greater good of this city,” said Greenfield.
“It’s because of the men and women, like Officer
Familia, who put their lives on the line every
single day and protect you that you can enjoy
your rights.”
Despite the fact that Familia was killed in the
West Bronx, news of the assassination quickly
sent shock waves throughout the city’s 77 police
precincts, including the 66th, which serves Boro
Park, and portions of Bensonhurst, Midwood
and Kensington.
“It’s not like losing a family member, it is losing
a family member. Speaking for everyone in the
department, we consider Officer Familia a sister
and it hurts us,” said 66th Precinct Captain David
Wall. “Every police officer, including myself,
has been in the position that she has been in and
so it hurts us a lot to know that it could’ve been
anyone.”
Also present at the rally were State Senator
Simcha Felder, Assemblymembers Dov Hikind
and Felix Ortiz, Brooklyn Asian Civilian Observation
Patrol leader Louie Liu, Brooklyn South
Shomrim President Jacob Daskal, Rabbi Bernard
Freilich and Barry Spitzer, district manager of
Community Board 12, who co-sponsored the rally.
Spitzer recalled that just two and a half years
ago, officials stood at the same spot to show their
support for the NYPD following the assassination
of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian
Liu in Bed-Stuy. Ramos and Liu were killed in a
similar fashion to Familia, by being shot in the
head while sitting in their police vehicle.
Spitzer urged the community to denounce the
anti-police rhetoric that has become increasingly
common in recent years.
“This should never happen. No matter how
much time passes, something like this really is
horrific to everyone in the city, and to the entire
nation,” said Spitzer. “The police and the citizens
of this city are one family. When something
happens to a member of the family, the entire
family hurts.”