Five women in Bushwick have been attacked in the past week. The attacker is tall, medium build, Hispanic, wearing a hooded jacket. He grabs the women in the dark from behind and slams them against a building wall, covering their mouths so they can’t scream. He has attacked several women on Knickerbocker Ave., on White St, Bushwick Ave, & Moore St (near Roberta’s). We only know of 5 women attacked so far, but the actual number is quite possibly much higher.
There is nothing in the news or the police blotter so please help spread the word to keep you and your loved ones safe & do not travel alone in Bushwick after dark.
I also just heard about an attack on Wythe & N11th last week…we may have a loose cannon on our hands, thought you’d want to know & get the word out.
I forwarded the information to Bushwick Daily’s Katarina who reported that NYPD said, “there were no sexual crimes reported in Bushwick in the past week, which however doesn’t exclude other violent crimes.”
Bushwick Daily’s Advice: Call Brooklyn Bike Patrol if you are not feeling safe at 718-744-7592, they will escort you home.
Will keep you posted as we find out more information.
Sometimes I wish we had a neighborhood watch for this sort of thing. I wonder if it’s the same guy I have seen in plain daylight peeing with his you know what hanging out on Nassaue Ave by McGolrick Park, and no one (including me) did anything about it. But peeping into windows is a different story.
An anonymous tipster emailed Greenpointers:
“There have been several reports of a prowler/peeping Tom on Humboldt Street between Nassau and Norman. It might even go beyond the one block. The latest incident was on Friday but there have been multiple cases of a man looking into windows. In one instance from a few weeks ago he was seen masturbating on someone’s porch (but the eyewitness did not call the police). Everyone who has seen this guy failed to call the police. Word has been spreading down the block and all neighbors are now on alert to call the police immediately at anything slightly suspicious. Police seem to be aware of the situation but no official reports have been filed and I don’t know if they are actively doing anything about it. A common description of the guy (this includes the masturbator) a few people have seen is: white, Polish (someone actually spoke to him so this is not an assumption) and in his late 30s – mid 40s. He seems to be out and about around midnight-1am on weekends.
A pretty generic description, I know. So I guess the overall point is that people in the area should be aware of this, especially if they live on ground level apartments, and call the police if they see anyone suspicious.”
Tuesday night’s regular meeting between the 94th precinct’s residents and police officers came loaded with a clear mandate conveyed through signs posted around the neighborhood and seen earlier this week on utility poles and local blogs. After a remark that Bedford Avenue on New Year’s Eve looked more like Mardi Gras than New York, the presentation compared crime rates between 2010 and 2011, highlighting lowered rates for most major crimes and pointing out that the 94th precinct enjoys the 9th lowest (out of 76) rate for the major crimes that the department is required to report to federal authorities.
The news wasn’t all good, though, and pedestrian strikes and motor vehicle accidents were both up by 63% and 5% respectively. Also mentioned were the two fatalities caused by motor vehicles, a hit-and-run on Calyer and the fatal collision between a drunk driver and a man doing deliveries for the Chinese Musician restaurant. The driver in that case, who lived on the block where the accident occurred, was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter. The police also pointed out Greenpoint’s continuing problem with car theft.
While the statistics from the police department were illuminating, the meeting got interesting once the floor was opened for questions. By far the most vocal attendee of the night came with a strongly-worded case against the Production Lounge, whom he claims is responsible for serious and sustained noise issues. The issue seemed to strike a chord with the audience who raised familiar concerns about the changing nature of the neighborhood.
However, new and interesting points were raised in what has become a common discussion on the nature and effects of gentrification and the danger of Greenpoint becoming like “a weekly frat party” or like “the Lower East Side,” to paraphrase examples given at the meeting. One resident pointed out that poor urban planning and a lack of response to demographic trends on the part of the City are directly to blame for some of these issues; while an influx of new residents may not be avoidable, it is certainly exacerbated by poor transit, antiquated zoning, and odd rules that require historic preservation of such things as building facades while allowing for noisy new neighbors.
A perceived lack of response by Production Lounge owner Joe Ariola has certainly contributed to local ire, and this matter may well find its resolution in front of the Community Board 1 liquor licensing committee in the future.
Interestingly, it wasn’t only longtime residents who voiced concerns about noise. Owners of recording studios operating within the Pencil Factory lofts at the corner of Franklin and Greenpoint Avenues, who come under fire themselves for noise at times, pointed out that for legitimate businesses who care for both their neighbors and sound quality within their own establishments, straightforward engineering solutions exist for noise problems. My favorite quote of the evening was from a recording studio owner who said that he was not in business to make noise but to make “music that your kids listen to,” and that business adds jobs and revenue to the community.
Other issues raised included drug-buying Access-A-Ride drivers, the questionable legality of short-term vacation sublets, police response to car break-ins, and coordination between police and community watch groups. I would be surprised if the Production Lounge didn’t see increased scrutiny in the near future and in the meantime residents should continue to call 311 and the precinct with noise complaints. Even if no immediate action is taken, calling 311 helps to establish data on noise patterns and helps guide future planning decisions.
This Friday you can register your bicycle for free with the 94th Precinct to enhance your chances of getting your bike back in the event that it is ever stolen.
Bicycle is marked with an identification number using an engraver. A decal is affixed to the bicycle, which is difficult to remove. In the event that it is removed “void” appears on what remains of the decal.
In the event that the bicycle is stolen and recovered, it can be traced back to the owner through I.D. number.
Friday August 26, 2011
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
94th Precinct
100 Meserole Avenue (between Manhattan and Lorimer)
Crime Prevention Officer Henry 718-383-3979
Update 8.4.11: The Brooklyn Paper reports they nabbed the suspect Felix Lagoa.
Studio Jewelry on Nassau Avenue was robbed early this afternoon and the owner, Richard Sanocki shot in the stomach by the thieves. Word is the owner will be ok. The robbers/shooters are still at large.
Ah, busy little Greenpointer hasn’t had time to blog! But the world keeps turning and others keep writing so here’s a roundup of some Greenpoint goodies from around the ‘net.
Getting to know Greenpoint and Williamsburg – This post is hoping to be the definitive one to give you all the yummies around the hood. – Chowhound
Speaking of drama from local residents, the madness surrounding Club Exit and the nearby shooting has been the buzz of the neighborhood. The Brooklyn Eagle even added another tasty tidbit that “The woman was shot in the leg as she fled down Greenpoint Avenue around 4 a.m. Friday while running away from the scene of a brawl inside the club.” Monday night there was supposedly a community meeting at the side of the old Greenpoint savings bank. The Brooklynian thread has a poster on there that’s claiming it did take place and “that the actual owner of exit was at the town meeting to answer all questions”, as well as stating “the captain of the 94, and the owner of exit, have sat down and spoke,and will try to work together to make the neighborhood safer and quieter”. Hmmmmm, anyone else go to this meeting?
Even more neighborhood drama was at the McCarren Park Go Green! Greenpoint Earth Day event. Exxon was apparently a major sponsor of the event that it caused some folks to do a sort of “protest” at the event. Personally, I think it’s quite fucking hypocritical of everyone to at one point berate Exxon for not doing enough for the community after their major oil spill fuck-up of the century but then when they do try, we give ‘em shit for that, too. It just goes to show people love to bitch and moan.
Thanks to commenter Jay for the tip on the Daily News’ further info about the Club Exit gunshots post.
Partygoer shot near Brooklyn club
BY Tanangachi Mfuni and Jonathan Lemire DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Saturday, April 19th 2008, 4:00 AM
A 20-year-old woman was wounded by a stray bullet as she fled a brawl that erupted outside a Brooklyn club early Friday, police said.
The victim had been hanging out at the “Fashion Mayhem” party thrown by a SUNY-Old Westbury student group at Club Exit in Greenpoint.
She left the club when it closed at 4 a.m. and then heard shots behind her. She was wounded in the leg as she ran along Greenpoint Ave., police said.
The woman, who was not identified, was taken to Bellevue Hospital where she was in stable condition. Cops did not say if the victim was a SUNY student, and calls to the university were not returned. No arrests were made.
In addition, if you’ve been following the (pretty active and argumentative) Brooklynian.com forum thread on this incident there is a community meeting tomorrow April 21 @ 7:30 pm on the side entrance of the old Greenpoint (now a Capital One, I think?) bank (Calyer St & Manhattan Ave).
just gotten woken up by these assholes.. ghetto people suck.
Then the following email just a few minutes ago:
Hi fellow “Greenpointer”-
I’m wondering if you or any of your readers heard the screaming and gunshots (?) out at Club Exit (Greenpoint Ave. btwn. Manhattan and McGinnis) last night at 4:00. We’re next door and the yelling was so loud it woke us up and I called 911 after hearing what sounded like 5 gunshots. When I looked out the window, there was a gigantic party bus and tons of people in the street. The Club Exit crowd has always been a nuisance (I’ve witnessed many fights and tussles with police, and one anonymous neighbor of mine has started a crusade against them, asking everyone to file noise complaints against them so they’ll be fined), but it’s never been as bad as it was last night. If indeed the noises were gunshots, I’d be a little worried for our mostly-peaceful neighborhood.
That said, this morning, there was no sign of anything outside and I haven’t seen the story picked up by any news outlet.
Great blog! Thanks for your help.
When it comes to Club Exit I go right to my sister who lives around the corner, here’s her account of last night:
I drove to work this morning.
There was indeed screaming and the same shit that happens almost every Thursday, then at 4am the Club Exit people were *losing it* outside.
Anyway, driving down Greenpoint Avenue toward McGuinness Blvd, right after Leonard on the right hand side, the police had the front sidewalks of three row houses yellow taped off. Right across from Exit. Not a coincidence, I’m sure.
Who knows if one actually has to do with the other, but it would be a pretty big coincidence. Anyone else got any info to share?
Search Referrers of the Day is basically a quick post of whatever weird ass referral gets someone to that site. If you’ve ever checked your stats you probably get some weird ones yourself. Just today I got “Polish Girls in Brooklyn Myspace”. Not the strangest one I received but something tells me this person was looking for something a little racier than what I’m offering here… Anyway, the site is fun for a daily chuckle.
So when I spied this post I thought not much of it.
“bank robbery at hsbc in greenpoint brooklyn on march 7 2008″ (3/7/08)
A bandit stole nearly $5,000 from a bank at the corner of Manhattan and Greenpoint avenues on March 7.
Police say that the 6-foot-2 thief, clad in black from his baseball cap to his sneakers, approached a teller window at about 11:45 am.
Not that bank robberies are a big secret but usually you don’t hear about them for a few days, yet this search was the day of… I wonder if the thief Googled himself while he counted his $5k.
The office was closed on Monday and Friday we had a long office pot luck lunch. I, of course, brought the Babka. The joint on the corner of Java and Manhattan is a tiny place but the babka was absolutely divine. The office loved it and I even brought a couple to the parents – another big hit. At $4.50 each, it’s the perfect thing to bring for any host.
I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family in Jersey. I lucked out with a new DVD player, a shower massager (oh yeah…), Ralph Lauren gloves, a new Michael Kors cosmetic bag and from the Stepmom a little fondue set so “the new boyfriend and I can have chocolate covered strawberries”. She’s a cougar.
Also, it seems there is talk about the B62 route being brought back in some way by Sept 08 if the MTA gets enough moola.
Establish a new B62 service from Williamsburg to Midtown Manhattan via the Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City waterfront to serve the growing East River waterfront in Brooklyn and Queens, with connections to the subway.
Not to mention implementing increased service on the G to operate to Court Square 24/7 in Dec 08.
Increase service frequency by 50% weekday evenings (from 12-15 minutes to 8 minutes); 20% weekday middays (from 10 minutes to 8 minutes); and 33% on weekends (8-10 minutes to 6 minutes). This increase requires operating the G to Court Square because the Queens Boulevard line does not have capacity for more G service.
You can see the proposed enhancements possible here.
