PROGRAM:

November was the first meeting under the new format introduced by John Mudd, who presented two sign in sheets: Topic Sheet and Agenda Sheet

Inspector Green addressed the meeting by describing the shootings at the entrance to the A-C-E subway station on Monday, 11/9/15 at 35^th St and 8^th Ave around 6:15am where 3 people were shot, one of whom died. The victims were patients at the methadone program at the clinic, West Midtown Medical Group, 311 W35th St. The victims got into a discussion at the McDonald’s on 8^th Ave near 35^th St with a former clinic patient and another man. The discussion continued out on the street and the 3 victims were followed into the subway entrance, where the shooting took place. 2 arrests have been made and a third suspect remains at large.

Inspector Green mentioned that there had been big meetings in June and July about

the McDonald’s and the methadone clinic, which has operated at the current location for 23 years. It has 950 registered patients and serves 700 hundred patients a day, six days a week from 7:00am to 5:30pm. After meeting with authorities, the owners of the McDonald’s were “very cooperative,” enforcing a policy of limiting table seating to 30 minutes at a time and keeping bathrooms locked.

Inspector Green expressed frustration at the fact that several individuals with 50-plus arrests — two with more than 100 – have been repeatedly let back on the street, only `to be arrested again and again.

Inspector Green gave updates of issues raised at the October MTS CC Meeting:

• Uniformed officers visited Slake, 251 W. 30^th St three times at night  and did not hear any noise
• Aladdin Hotel shelter, 317 W. 45^th St.: 7 charged with quality of life offenses, 2 arrests for sale of crack cocaine
• 307 W43rd St: Inspector Green visited site, where residents had complained of quality of life issues. He observed what residents reported and took action which resulted in a 50% improvement

MEETING OPENS FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

Inspector Green said that activity of homeless people in parking lot in the area of 42^nd to 44^th Streets between 8^th & 9th Ave had been addressed but despite multiple arrests and summonses many of the accused were back in the vicinity the next day. Issues

involving the homeless plague the area.

There has been a 50% decrease in illegally parked cars near MTS precinct’s headquarters

Resident asked about the lack of lighting in the public space behind the Aventi Hotel, 851 6^th Ave Between 29^th & 30^th streets. Det. Spano will look into it.

Area resident said that the homeless situation around NY Beer Co, 321 W44st St between 8^th & 9^th Avenues had slightly improved after 3 undercover officers patrolled.

There was a report of serious problems with the homeless at Molly Wee Pub, 402 8^th Ave

There was a discussion of united efforts among citizens, police, city and state

officials, business improvement districts and community boards to address the issue of homelessness. One suggestion was that concerned citizens walk or ride along on police patrols to survey the situation in problem areas.

MTS CC President John Mudd, VP Bill Otterson, Secretary Eileen Miller, Assistant Secretary Frank Kelly, Sharon Jasprizza, Community Programs and Services

Officials in attendance: Inspector Russell Green, commanding officer,  Det. Paul Spano, MTS Community Affairs, P.O. John O’Reilly, MTS Crime Prevention, Lt. Louis Marines, Special Operations, P.O. Laura Colwell, P.O. Aaron Ayala, NYPD LGBT Outreach

Also attending:

Gerard McNamee, SLAKE, 251 W30th St

Kelly of West Garden Spa

Alfredo Marty, Blarney Stone, 410 8^th Ave

David Rios of Rick’s Cabaret and Vivid

John Clancy, Foley’s, 18 W33rd St.

Jeff Wice, Auxiliary Sgt, Citywide traffic task force

Christine Korloncis / Parker & Quinn Restaurant / Refinery Hotel, 63 W38th St.

Representatives of Macy’s Security

Edgar Yu, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

Ray Montgomery, Liberty Theater, 423 W 41st St

Twitter account handles:  @NYPDMTS, Transit Division @NYPDTRANSIT

The next MTS Community Council meeting will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel on 8th Avenue between 34th and 35th streets.