WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 1, 2022 12RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Theory and reality
The “broken windows” theory, in essence,
prescribes that minor problems
in a community, left unaddressed,
beget more serious problems down the
line — including felonies.
More than a quarter-century ago, during
the Giuliani administration and Bill
Bratton’s fi rst tenure at City Hall, the NYPD
fully embraced the broken windows theory
in e orts to turn around crime across New
York. It worked, as crime fell to record lows
within a few years — but a heavy price was
paid, as years later the NYPD would be
hit hard for its “stop-and-frisk” and other
proactive techniques found to violate the
inalienable rights of New Yorkers.
So criminal justice advocates bristled last
week when the NYPD announced a new effort
to tackle crime and enhance “quality-oflife
enforcement” that seemed to echo much
of the now-derided broken windows theory.
Uniformed oficers, the NYPD indicated
in its announcement, would conduct
EDITORIAL
ESTFAontB: EnLgrIavSerHs OlEd EDngl is1h 9No0rm8al
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Mayor-elect Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell outside of Queensbridge Houses. Photo by Dean Moses
THE HOT TOPIC
“proactive engagement with o enders who
commit violations that lead up to an act of
violence.”
Among those violations are things which
community residents o en complain about
to their local police: “the open-air selling
of narcotics, including marijuana; public
drinking; public urination; dice games
that lead to disputes and shootings; and
the dangers of unlicensed, unregistered or
uninsured drivers.”
The new policy comes on the heels of
the NYPD sending “Neighborhood Safety
Teams” into precincts with heavy gun
violence — a move that, critics charged,
amounted to the revival of the former Anti-
Crime Units that, all too o en, engaged in police
shootings, brutality and stop-and-frisk.
STORY:
Chip City opens new brick-and-mortar
store at Bay Terrace Shopping
Center
SUMMARY:
The newest Chip City cookie store
opened up at the Bay Terrace Shopping
Center on Friday, March 25.
Dozens of excited cookie lovers
lined up outside for the grand opening,
where the fi rst 100 customers
received a free cookie with purchase.
REACH:
36,777 (as of 03/28/22)
But Police Commissioner Keechant
Sewell said these new approaches do not
mean the NYPD was retreating back toward
failed public policies.
“To be clear,” said Sewell, “this is NOT a
return to Stop, Question and Frisk – nor is
it ‘policing for numbers.’ This enforcement
will be responsive to community complaints
and concerns, and will address the violent
crime patterns o cers and detectives are
confronting.”
With the new policies inviting criticism
and renewed concern, it is essential that the
NYPD prove to every New Yorker that it can
fulfi ll its mission of protecting and serving
the public without crossing the line.
Sewell and the NYPD brass must uphold
a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to
civil rights violations, and publicly expose
those o cers who breach the public trust.
Anything less would only reopen the stillhealing
wounds that decades of bad policy
and police overreach have infl icted upon
the Big Apple.
Because as essential as it is to protect the
rights of every New Yorker, it is also essential
that the NYPD does its job of making
every neighborhood livable, free of crimes
large and small.
“Broken windows” is merely a theory. Our
reality is our city must be made safer — and
police and community members must work
together to make it so.
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