Angry Council Meeting Crowd Blasts Local Pols & Cops

Capacity crowd at 69th Precinct Community Council meeting Tuedsay voiced complaints against local police coverage. D. Rybstein

By D. Rybstein

Several issues were spotlighted at Tuesday’s capacity meeting of the 69th Precinct Community Council. John Salogub, Council president, addressed an at-times angry group in the social hall of Seaview Jewish Center.

Initially, residents’ griping was relentless with a non-stop volley of concerns, ranging from youth gang loitering, to anger at what some attendees perceived as being shortchanged by local elected representatives, which they said was obvious with none present for the meeting.

Salogub defended State Senator John Sampson’s and Assemblyman Frank Seddio’s absence, explaining they were in Albany "working on the state budget."

In addition, the crowd was frustrated with the absence of Congresman Ed Towns and City Councilman Lew Fidler.

"This is an anomaly. No elected officials were able to be present tonight," stated Police Officer Dan MacBride, Community Affairs officer for the precinct. "Councilman Fidler had to attend an important meeting at Community Board 15 tonight, otherwise Lew would have been here," said MacBride.

Josephine Bolus, a long time Canarsie resident, added support for the Councilman saying, "Lew has always been there for this community."

Avenue L Merchants Association President and business owner Mercedes Narcisse also responded in Fidler’s defense, "I am always in contact with Councilman Fidler’s office. He is always responsive. I suggest you get to know all your representatives by calling their offices frequently."

Many also expressed dissatisfaction with Community Board 18. Elias Weir charged, "The community board has been a disaster for Canarsie. They protect the interests of Mill Basin and Bergen Beach across the water," he said, referring to Paerdegat Basin, which geographically divides the communities.

"There is little representation from Canarsie among the executives on Community Board 18," continued Weir. "You must get out and vote so the politicians hear you."

Hints of underlying racial tension were evident by some remarks made during the evening.

Long-time residents were noticeably shocked after insinuations were made pitting Canarsie against Mill Basin, a mostly middle-class white enclave. "If [Mill Basin residents] come out voting in force and only 300 people in Canarsie come to the polls, who do you think the politicians will listen to?" asked an angry resident in the audience.

Georgia Hamilton, vice-president of the Council, who is African-American, added, "Let’s keep it real. White people are simply more educated when it comes to knowing who their politicians are and what the politicians can do for them. Although there may be large numbers of blacks registered to vote, the turnout in Canarsie is small on Election Day."

Salogub said, "Some of the issues brought up tonight would be best addressed to the community board."

Standing side-by-side with Salogub, MacBride suggested, "More people from here need to go to the [CB 18] meeting each month."

Also feeling the evening’s heat was Deputy Inspector Robert Johnsen, commander of the 69th Precinct, who defended local police coverage. He pointed to lower crime statistics that "can be checked on the web if you want."

In response to a woman who complained about the lack of police presence, Johnsen said, "The days of a cop on every block are over. That was yesterday. The police department has new methods of doing things today."

MacBride later warned the crowd of a persistent problem known as "deception burglary." Impostors
posing as utility employees prey on unsuspecting residents, mostly
elderly, rifling their homes looking for valuables. "Don’t open the door unless you have called for service," he said.

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