BY JANE ARGODALE | As part of the annual National Night Out Against Crime, two West Side precincts held outdoor festivities on the evening of August 2 to bring together local police officials and the community. The Midtown North precinct in Hell’s Kitchen and the 10th precinct in Chelsea both hosted events that drew numerous officers as well as many neighborhood residents, including families with their children.
In Hell’s Kitchen Park on 10th Avenue, between 47th and 48th Street, a crowd that included City Councilmember Corey Johnson quickly made short work of 35 boxes of pizza that the Midtown North Precinct Council provided for the evening.
“It’s always an opportunity to come together and further our relationships, and it’s one of the biggest community events,” Johnson told Manhattan Express. “The relationship between the police and community on the West Side is really good. There’s an open dialogue, violent crime has gotten lower, and I’m proud of the NYPD’s work here.”
Eileen Spinner, a Hell’s Kitchen resident who is treasurer of the Midtown North Precinct Council, described police in the neighborhood as “very responsive,” noting that they had recently acted quickly on noise complaints she made.
“Crime statistics have gone down all over the city,” Spinner said.
At the 10th precinct event at the Fulton Houses on 17th Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues, police officials emphasized the resources available to residents in the community. Along with games for children, a barbecue with burgers and hot dogs, and a DJ, information booths were set up by groups including the NYPD’s Domestic Violence Unit, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Hudson Guild, and Friends of the High Line. At the Domestic Violence Unit booth, 10th precinct Officer Maria Candres, handing out information flyers, explained, “It’s good for residents to see cops when they’re not arresting people. There’s a lot of bad stereotypes about cops, especially in low income areas.”
Captain Paul Lanot, the precinct’s commanding officer, also praised the event, saying, “We’re building relationships and connections block by block. The people here have been so warm and inviting, and I’m hoping to get to know everybody — or as many people as I can.”
Barry Wilson, a resident of Fulton Houses, found the event successful in improving police-community relations.
“People really get to know the police,” Wilson said. “Every year it’s nice. [The police-community relationship] is good, a lot better than it is in other places.”
The events in both Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea remained packed all evening, a sure sign that the effort to spur dialogue and understanding in those communities was something residents see as important to their lives.
