Community Magazine July 2009

Life in the Big City Jewish Watchdogs in Crown Heights Twenty years after race riots erupted in Crown Heights, black Caribbeans and religious Jews are working together to make their neighborhood safer. Approximately 50 Crown Heights residents have joined the NYPD-sponsored Civilian Observation Patrol, completing 60 hours of training before they received jackets, ID cards and hybrid cars with NYPD emblems. There are already two Jewish patrols in the area, Shomrim and Shmira, however the relationship between the two groups as at times been acrimonious and the groups have also at times clashed with the black community. Several Shmira volunteers have joined the new patrol, but as of this writing, Shomrim members have signed up as yet. Members have expressed their gratitude for the NYPD resources and training, especially in light of city budget cuts that have led to fewer police officers on the street. Felder Warns Against Posting Posters After receiving numerous calls from unwitting organizations which were fined thousands of dollars by the Department of Sanitation for illegal posting of fliers or posters on telephone and utility poles and other public property, Councilman Simcha Felder launched a campaign to spread awareness of the laws. On June 8th, in conjunction with this campaign, Felder’s office mailed letters to hundreds of community-based organizations and yeshivas, detailing the city’s rules and penalties for illegal posting. Violations carry a hefty penalty of $75-$150 per violation for a first offense, and up to $250 for repeat offenses. Felder noted that the Environmental Control Board is the only body with the power to reduce these fines. Felder encouraged anyone seeking more information about the flier-posting laws to call 311. Putting the Brakes on Train Graffiti A new law was signed as part of the city’s effort to combat train graffiti. The law will strictly monitor sales of etching acid, a chemical used by vandals to scratch train and bus windows, by requiring stores to record the names and addresses of customers who purchase the acid. Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr. sponsored the bill, which received the support of Councilman Simcha Felder and was passed earlier this month by the City Council. Mayor Bloomberg recently signed the new law. “The last thing people coming home on the train want to see is callous defacement of public property,” said Felder. “I want to commend Councilman Vallone for providing much-needed leadership in fighting this destructive and costly graffiti.” “Etching acid destroys whatever it touches, whether it is glass or a human finger,” said Vallone. “This reasonable request for information will make vandals think twice before using it and gives police another tool with which to combat graffiti.” Unlike spray paint and other vandal tools, the damage caused by etching acid is irreparable and requires replacement of the defaced glass. Under the new law, retailers will be required to keep buyers’ information on file for a year and will be subject to fines of up to $250 for violations. Subway Seat Squatters Left Standing The MTA is cracking down on subway seat hogs, enforcing the law that requires riders to give up their seat for disabled people. Each subway car has a few “prior- ity” seats reserved for the disabled and seat hogs can be fined for not complying with the law. Posters now hang in every subway and bus car saying “Please offer a seat. It’s not only polite, it’s the law.” Additionally, the signs note that “not all disabilities are visible”, for example people with congestive heart failure, chemotherapy patients etc... If caught, seat hogs can be fined up to $50 for not adhering to a request to vacate a priority seat. Controversy Over Holocaust Memorial A Holocaust memorial at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn has become the subject of controversy among New York’s politicians. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has stated that the memorial should honor all the Nazis’ victims, and not just Jewish victims, noting that one group shouldn’t be valued above others. Assemblyman Dov Hikind, however, wants the memorial to be dedicated to Jews because they were massacred with systematic discrimination and hatred that was not found amongst other groups, and he accused the mayor of trying to use the issue to win votes in an election year. The memorial is located in the district of Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz, who supports the mayor’s position. The Parks Department owns the memorial site, and plans to commemorate the disabled, Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, deviants, political prisoners, and Jews who died.  ”  110 Community magazine Photo credit: William Alatriste

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