Judge Torres blamed an undermanned
judiciary for case overloads
and plea-bargains that foster lenient
outcomes. Judge Torres believes political
pressure from organized citizen
groups could help offset outcomes unfavorable
to the community. Assemblywoman
Fernandez agreed that legislative
reforms are required to enable all
of the aforementioned to perform services
tailored toward quality of life improvements
in the Bronx. Fernandez assured
those in attendance that potential
legislative reforms needed to restore an
acceptable quality of life to the Bronx
would be adequately addressed.
The explanations and excuses from
the well-intentioned panel did not satisfy
the solution seeking audience. A
blanket of frustration replaced any
hopes for problem solving measures
from this knowledgeable panel of public
servants. Although cued by numerous
commentaries from those in attendance,
the panel’s reluctance to point
their fi ngers directly at City Hall and
Albany are indictments of those powerful
political machines that have placed
stresses and strains on many honorable,
law-abiding citizens.
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Where We Were - 2018
The October 18, 2018 public safety
meeting, on the campus of Einstein
Hospital, exposed stark perceptual
differences between members of the
Bronx community and those in authority.
An esteemed panel consisting of
Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez,
District Attorney Darcel Clarke, Supreme
Court Judge Robert E. Torres,
45th Precinct commanding offi cer Captain
Carlos Ghonz and 49th Precinct
commanding offi cer Deputy Inspector
Thomas Alps listened to observations,
complaints and fi elded an array of questions
from business and civic representatives.
Community concerns and questions
focused upon the negative affects
decriminalization has on quality of life
throughout many communities. A majority
of area residents addressing the
panel cited recidivism as an overt relationship
to neighborhood degradations.
Police Department responses
strongly suggested that legislative
change has hindered law enforcement.
Deputy Inspector Alps, example of the
Jamie Martinez case, displayed the
need for law enforcement to utilize complex
strategies to resolve previously
simple issues. (Martinez had been arrested
and released over 60 times).
DA Clarke exhibited a strong desire
to properly prosecute every case. However,
she indicated that legislative obstacles
are causal to an overwhelming
number of plea deals and ultimately a
revolving door criminal justice system.
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Where We Are - 2019
• Precinct command changes: Captain
Thomas Fraser (45th) and Captain
Andrew Natiw (49th) are the current
leaders of their respective precincts.
These high quality public servants are
facing daunting challenges.
• NYPD cutbacks: The numbers are
not fi nalized; however, both the 45th
and 49th precincts will subjected to unwarranted
attrition based personnel
losses.
• Marked increases to revenue generating
speed/red light traffi c cameras
throughout the CB 10 footprint.
• Continued attempts to place largely
ineffective substance abuse treatment
businesses in residential communities.
• No criminal legislations tailored to
help the law-abiding citizen. However,
further decriminalization enhances
the NYC ‘Coddle the Criminal’ temperament.
• Bail reforms that exacerbate a turnstile
system of justice and foster recidivist
behaviors.
• Closure of Rikers’ Island by 2027
with smaller jails being placed in every
borough except Staten Island.
• Judge shortages remain, with no
adequate publicly announced plans for
change.
• Discovery reforms that place additional
burdens on overwhelmed district
attorney prosecutors.
• 311 systems has become a detriment
instead of an asset.
• Continuance of rampant overdevelopments
that further stress essential
services, schools and infrastructure. •
Community disenfranchisement: The
Morris Park Road Diet and Blondell
Commons housing development were
forced through despite vehement oppositions
by two community boards and
community residents.
• The political hierarchy in City Hall
ignores a bevy of incidents that fosters
a rapidly growing anti-police/anti-authority
sentiment in NYC.
• The continuance of the ‘crime is
down’ rhetoric as nuisance behaviors
rise and quality of life throughout NYC
plummets.
• Continued disenfranchisements of
our area seniors by agencies such as the
MTA and certain elected offi cials that
require detailed computer registrations
to generate communication.
The current state of affairs strongly
suggests our once ‘State of Stuck’ environment
has entered a downward spiral.
The scales of justice tilt away from
the honorable, law abiding citizen. All
community residents must support
their local civic associations. Proactivity,
not reactivity is essential to community
survival. The late Spanish revolutionary
Jose Garcia Oliver stated,
“Justice is so subtle a thing, to interpret
it one only has need of a heart.” This
begs he question: Does compassion for
the criminal need to be detrimental to
the quality of life for the law-abiding
members of society?
Community Footnotes
Our valued friends at CB 10 inform us
that the NYC Department of Sanitation
has expanded their curbside electronics
collection to include the entirety of CB
10. Curbside electronics collection takes
place Monday – Friday. Please call 311 to
schedule pickups.
It is not too early to think about
snow removal or seasonal smoke alarm
checks. Area senior citizens and disabled
individuals, incapable of performing
mandated snow removal duties
please register for Councilman Mark
Gjonaj’s ‘Snow Removal Program’.
The American Red Cross in partnership
with the councilman provides free
smoke alarm installation through the
‘Sound the Alarm’ program. Remember,
a mere two minutes can be the difference
in escaping a house fi re.
Call (718) 931-1721 for registration/information
about these community services
or to contact Councilman Gjonaj.
Political leaders to gauge a community’s
interest and fortitude use the attendances
at local civic association
meetings. The continued large turnouts
show our elected offi cials that we possess
the fortitude and resolve needed
to confront adversity. The next meeting
of the Spencer Estate Civic Association
is Wednesday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m.
In our initial meet the candidate event
Ruth Papazian will be the keynote
speaker. Papazian, the ‘From Here For
Here Candidate”, is a longtime Bronx
resident and a prime candidate for the
14th Congressional district seat held by
Representative Alexandria Ocasio -Cortez.
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.’
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