(MSCC) Secretary Eileen Miller, Assistant Secretary Frank Kelly, June 16, 2016 — A report on the Midtown South Community Council’s May 19, 2016 meeting…

PROGRAM:

Inspector Green addressed the meeting updating on previous month’s issues:

Which included quality of life issues on 8^th Ave between 34^th to 38^th Streets and intercity commuter bus parking W31st.

He enumerated arrests since January 1, 2016, for quality of life crimes including: possession of open container of alcohol, disorderly conduct, public urination, and possession of marijuana or K2 (synthetic marijuana).

Inspector Green addressed the enforcement effort for the crisis of merchant parking on 35^th and 36^th Streets and Dyer Ave. 124 summonses were issued and cars & motorcycles were towed. He enumerated traffic violations precinctwide. Grand larceny continues to dominate crime statistics in the precinct.

On May 18, 2016, a disturbed individual  became belligerent in Food Emporium  49^th St & 8^th Ave. and menaced customers and employees. After being engaged outside the store by an officer on foot patrol the individual displayed a foldout knife and approached the officer. When the man refused to drop the weapon, he was fired at several times by two other officers arriving at the scene. He did not survive. A female bystander was grazed on the wrist by a stray bullet.

Inspector Green cited the example of a man arrested in Penn Plaza on May 13 to emphasize his frustration at the incidence of repeat offenses. It was the individual’s 105^th arrest. “We can do better.”

Special Operations Lt. Louis Marines described the functions of his team – two sergeants and 10 police officers – which includes an anticrime unit, bar and restaurant unit, conditions unit and midnight cabaret unit.

John Mudd introduced Dan Simons, who will be videotaping the guest speakers at the council meetings.

Sharon Jasprizza introduced the evening’s first speaker, “restorative justice practitioner” Liz Alexander, founder of She Dreams of Freedom (shedreamsoffreedom.com), which advocates for girls in the juvenile justice system. She cited statistics indicating that African-American, Native American and LGBTQ/GNC girls have a much higher rate of representation in the juvenile justice system than they do in society at large, The organization offers services and training for girls incarcerated at such institutions as Rikers Island. It seeks to “humanize the system” through dialogue, advocacy and structural change.

Also addressing the meeting were Sonu Adams, outreach coordinator with Presbyterian Senior Services Circle of Care (toll-free hotline 866-665-1713), which assists caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and Hannah Bellinger, PSS care consultant at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 7 W. 55^th St. there are Circle of Care locations in all five boroughs. For further information, go to www.pssusa.org or Facebook.com/PSSCaregivers.

MEETING OPENS FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

Dan McAteer, director of safety and security at InterContinental New York Times Square, 300 W. 44^th St., raised the issue of the MTA’s handicapped elevator near the hotel being hijacked by drug dealers and other non-handicapped individuals who hang out in the area, thus preventing those who need it from using it.

A resident of W. 31^st St. thanked Lt. Marines for being “incredibly responsive” in dealing with the issue of intercity commuter buses on the block.

A resident mentioned that Sapphire West, a gentleman’s club, was said to be preparing to open at 20 W. 39^th St. and wondered if it had been granted liquor and/or cabaret licenses.

MTS CC President John Mudd, Vice President Bill Otterson, Secretary Eileen Miller, Assistant Secretary Frank Kelly, Community Service Director Sharon Jasprizza,

Officials in attendance: Inspector Russell Green, commanding officer MTS;

Lt. Louis Marines, Special Operations, MTS; Det. Paul Spano, MTS Community Affairs; P.O. Richard Fazio, Transit District 1; P.O. Phil Conti and Sgt. Sharon Robinson-Hewitt, NYPD Community Affairs/Outreach; eight recruits from NYPD Academy.

Also attending:

John Clancy, Foley’s Restaurant, 18 W33rd St,

Eugene Sinigalliano, Ultrasound Rehearsal Studio, 251 W. 30^th St.

David Rios, Rick’s Cabaret and Vivid

Jerome Moorehead, Times Square Alliance, 1560 Broadway, Suite 800

Twitter account handles:  @NYPDMTS, Transit Division @NYPDTRANSIT

The next MTS Community Council meeting will be held on Thursday June 16, 2016, 7:00 p.m., at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel on 8th Avenue between 34th and 35th streets.