services.
Chief Steven Silks, borough
cop, mourned after suicide
From page 3
LET US HEAR FROM YOU
Longwood drug rehab plan stirs community opposition
From page 3
Spencer Estate Civic Association highlights
From page 73 result in a decrease in opioid related
In 2018 a grant from the National Institute
of Drug Abuse funded the creation
of a mathematical model by Stanford
University. This model is aimed to
determine the effi cacy of current policies
used to fi ght the opioid epidemic
in the United States. According to data
assembled by Stanford University current
policies will not have a viable affect
of decreasing the number of opioid
related deaths in our nation.
A major factor is that policy aimed
at reducing the number of prescription
related opioid deaths resulted in an increase
of illegal heroin related deaths.
The research concluded that no current
policy utilized in the United States
would substantially reduce the number
of opioid related deaths in the upcoming
5- to 10-year period.
However, a 25% reduction in prescriptions
in conjunction with extrapolation
and expansion of policies could
deaths beginning in 2026. The researchers
concluded, “ It took more than a decade
to prescribe our way into this crisis….
It will take more than a decade
to treat our way out.” The Stanford research
team is hopeful that their work
will raise awareness and be a springboard
for policymakers to take vigorous
actions in our fi ght to combat this
serious epidemic that has confounded
and paralyzed our society. It is time for
us to wakeup, unify, and get out of this
state of stuck.
The continuance of current modalities
and expecting better results is at
best naïve and at worst unethical. Instead
of asking what do we have to lose,
we should look at what we can gain? The
answer is twofold: Sweeping reforms
can potentially save both the lives of
more substance abusers and protect
our residential communities from unjust
and unwarranted devaluations. In
addition, an amplifi ed awareness and
age appropriate anti-drug campaigns
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 84 UNE 14-20, 2019 BTR
could safe guard our children.
The altruistic individuals motivated
to rescue people from the darkness
of substance abuse and those motivated
to preserve the sunshine in their
community’s quality of life should be
tightly unifi ed. In a choir of unison
both groups should loudly shout “Say
‘no,’ it is time for change”. This is an
epidemic like situation in which all of
society would benefi t from necessary
changes. The preciousness and sanctity
of human life and the importance
of a community’s quality of life transcends
words; any actions that inhibit
either are intolerable.
Political leaders to gauge a community’s
interest and fortitude use the attendances
at local civic association
meetings. Large turnouts by our community
show our elected offi cials that
we have the resolve needed to confront
adversity.
The next meeting of the Spencer Estate
Civic Association is Wednesday,
June 19, 7:30 p.m at Knights of Columbus.
Police offi cers Juan Singh and Felix
Trinidad, our NYPD 45th Precinct
sector B- NCOs along with Matt Cruz,
district manager of CB 10 and long time
board member the knowledgeable and
dependable Pat Caruso are scheduled to
address our community. CB 10 serves as
advisors and conduits between elected
offi cials, city agencies and our community.
Their hard work and dedication to
our community is accomplished without
fanfare. A large attendance at our
June 19th meeting will be a testament
to the appreciations we have for these
altruistic stewards of our community.
Any area homeowner or renter interested
in membership to the all inclusive
Spencer Estate Civic Association
in box George Havranek on Facebook
or send-email with subject matter
Spencer Estate to gghh55@aol.com. If
we want to ‘Keep and reap the blessings’
of our fi ne quality of life ‘we must
undergo the fatigue of supporting it’.
Remember: ‘Inclusion brings solutions.’
Hope said that they were siting the
program where it was most needed.
“We can’t continue to deny the
facts of the drug epidemic in our back
yard,” said Martinez.
In a written statement, the organization
took issue with the committee’s
treatment of their proposal,
indicating that it was not given the
consideration it should have gotten.
The organization’ statement
urged CB 2 to reconsider, stating that
its primary intent is to return those
affl icted by addiction back to full and
productive lives.
mas because they knew he would be
alone.
Palumbo described Silks as smart
and highly evolved.
“He was highly intelligent and
probably would have been successful
in any career he had chosen,” said
Palumbo. “He was just a good soul.”
Palumbo said there were none of
the warning signs that can sometimes
lead to cops taking their lives:
no problems with marriages or fi -
nances, no kids with drug habits, and
no scandals.
“He said he was having separation
anxiety and I said why don’t you talk
to someone,” said Palumbo, adding
he believes that the chief, who lived
alone and didn’t have a wife, children
or family who lived nearby, may have
lost perspective with his life.
Chief Steven Silks was assigned to Bronx
precincts and facilities and lived in the 49th
Precinct. Photo courtesy of NYPD
Letters to the editor are welcome from all readers. They should be addressed care
of this newspaper to Laura Guerriero, Publisher, the Bronx Times Reporter, 3604
E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, NY 10465, or e-mail to bronxtimes@cnglocal.com. All
letters, including those submitted via e-mail, MUST be signed and with a verifi -
able address and telephone number included. Note that the address and telephone
number will NOT be published and the name will be published or withheld upon
request. No unsigned letters can be accepted for publication. The editor reserves
the right to edit all submissions.
MOTT HAVEN SHOOTING LEAVES CHILD HOSPITALIZED
Police need your help solving a shooting that left a 7-year-old hospitalized. According
to police, 40th Precinct police responded to multiple 911 calls of shots fi red on
Wednesday, June 5 at 12:37 p.m. in front of the Mill Brook Houses. Upon arrival, police
encountered the victim, a 7-year-old male, with a graze wound to his right leg at the
intersection of St. Ann’s Avenue and East 137th Street. EMS also responded to the
scene and transported the victim to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition. The preliminary
investigation determined that the victim was walking with his grandmother
towards 600 E. 137th Street when a Hispanic male wearing dark colored clothing
discharged several shots from a fi rearm towards the front of600 E. 137th Street.
The victim suffered a graze wound as a result of the shots. The perpetrator fl ed the
scene on foot eastbound on East 137 Street, northbound on Cypress Avenue and
into the 6 train station at East 138 Street and Cypress Avenue. No arrests have been
made and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call
Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All information is kept strictly confi dential.
Photo by Aracelis Batista
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