Yesterday the NYC Guardian Angels flooded the parks where crime is on the rise. At nite we gathered with our friends of the Christopher Block Association to celebrate our Partnership in fighting crime which has lasted for 34 years. A woman named Barbara told the story of what it was like in the mid 1980’s. Crime, Crack, Shop Lifting, robberies and Gay bashings that motivated the residents and merchants of Christopher Street to ask for the GA’s help. We have been helping ever since.
Back in the mid- 80’s the NYPD said they couldn’t do much about those problems because they were committed by teenagers. As a result of changes made in the city along with our efforts suddenly teenagers were getting arrested when they committed those crimes. 35 years later the same problem is happening all over the city. Teenagers are committing crimes but now not getting locked up. We saw what happened in Morningside Park. A group of 3 teenagers aged 13 – 14 have been on a crime spree. Nothing was done to stop them. Robberies, Assaults and now a murder. After our Rally last nite Milton and his patrol returned to our HQ in Canarsie. Along the way they spotted 4 youths about 12 – 14 robbing a 14 year old victim. He was trying to buy a container of milk for his mother. 2 of the muggers put on masks, pushed him against a wall, and were going through his pockets. The other boy and a girl acted as lookouts. The Guardian Angels arrived. The gang ran and eventually the
police arrived. They rode through the neighborhood but the little thugs had escaped to rob someone on another day. And even if they were caught by the NYPD they would have been cut loose.
Last nite I told the dozens of Guardian Angels that we would have to triple our efforts because on Jan. 1 the rules for the criminals will now favor them. Home Invasions, robberies and domestic abuse arrests will result in no bail. They will be cut loose to go back into the streets. Information about their victims and witnesses will be turned over to their lawyers in just 15 days. Many will then be afraid to show up to court which will result in charges being dropped. To encourage those arrested to show up for their court dates Mayor de blasio is offering them NY Met and concert tickets. That is CRAZY.
