CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Precinct Council meetings are held once a month and serve as a forum where residents the of communities that reside within the confines of the 71st Precinct to gather and raise concerns regarding crimes and nuisances. The turnout to yesterdays meeting was described as the largest turnout ever, said one attendee, that in all his 20 years attending these meetings he has never seen the auditorium that full.
The meeting began 15 minutes late, due to the children’s holiday party that took place before the meeting, and opened as usual, with the precinct council president, Mr. C. Karl Cohen thanking everyone for coming and recognizing dignitaries and elected officials. He also made note of the obvious presence of over 200 Jewish residents, which included mothers, fathers and even some children.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
The Largest Turnout Ever to a Precinct Council Meeting, Residents Leave Fuming…
CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Precinct Council meetings are held once a month and serve as a forum where residents the of communities that reside within the confines of the 71st Precinct to gather and raise concerns regarding crimes and nuisances. The turnout to yesterdays meeting was described as the largest turnout ever, said one attendee, that in all his 20 years attending these meetings he has never seen the auditorium that full.
The meeting began 15 minutes late, due to the children’s holiday party that took place before the meeting, and opened as usual, with the precinct council president, Mr. C. Karl Cohen thanking everyone for coming and recognizing dignitaries and elected officials. He also made note of the obvious presence of over 200 Jewish residents, which included mothers, fathers and even some children.
More pictures in the Extended Article.
Mr. Stuart Balberg then read the minutes of last months meeting and the crowd stood up for a moment of silence. Mr. Errol Robinson delivered the treasurer report.
The stage was then given to Deputy Inspector Frank Vega, the Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct. His appearance was notably different, wearing his dress uniform and was ready with a speech with a number of topics he prepared to speak about.
He covered a variety of topics from thanking and commending the Community Policing Unit to speaking about a crime impact zone which gave our precinct an additional 34 officers, and who’s officers are responsible for over 300 arrests in the past half year. He thanked the officers in charge of that operation.
Mr. Vega went on and spoke about the various responsibilities the 71st Precinct entails, this went on for nearly an hour and a half, while residents slowly trickled out and left. Things got heated up when one Jewish resident stood up and interrupted Mr. Vega and said “its embarrassing that so many people gathers here to come and voice their concern, and all your feeding us is your speech”. Mr. Vega cut him off saying “I hear you, there will be time for questions and answers later, right now I have the floor and I’m talking”.
He then began showing on a map the area the 71st covers, and how it split up into zones and sectors. The majority of attendees got even more agitated and the tension was mounting. As Mr. Vega began reading the crime statistics, depicting how crime is down, Mr. Berel Sugar got up and called for everyone to leave while yelling “You played my people like fool, don’t play my people like a fool”.
As the crowd headed for the doors, residents vented their anger while saying things like “put the officers back on the streets”, “end police corruption” one accusation was “if you stop hiding the police reports there will be more crime”.
All this took place as Mr. Vega called for Mr. Balberg to come and take down the minutes of the crime report, to which Mr. Balberg yelled in response “I herby tender my resignation!”, Mr. Vega then asked another member of the Precinct councils to take down the minutes.
Very few of the crowd remained inside the auditorium and heard Mr. Vega out till the Question and Answer session. One Yid got up and attempted to read the seven Noahide laws, but was interrupted and was told that they will only be hearing questions.
While outside in the lobby, angry residents felt like they were taken advantage of, some attempted to reenter the meeting but were not allowed to. Residents spoke with Lt. John Cantwell who listened and defended the Inspector.
Back inside, black residents were heard murmuring things like, “the Jews think they can do what they want, we don’t need them at these meetings”, all this while still taking questions.
Rabbi Yitzchok Schwartz, a teacher in a school, whose daughter was hurt in an accident when crossing the intersection of Empire and Troy, raised the issue of accidents at that intersection, he said that something needs to be done about it. Mr. Vega responded that it’s a matter of the community board and Department of Transportation and made a note of it.
Mr. Avrohom Benarroch, a business owner and resident got up to ask his question, he opened with a statement “I’m not here to disrespect you, but what you did here tonight was completely uncalled for, you set an example for your officers when you stand there and ignore the so many complaints residents have” he went on to say that this sets the precedent and then he went on to his question. He asked; out of the number of assaults that took place in Crown Heights in the last months, how many were solved, Mr. Vega said something about statistics and did not directly respond to his question.
One resident got up and said, how this isn’t the first time that residents got so agitate at the fact that the police didn’t listen to them and walked out of such a meeting. He went on to say that this is an issue that plagues both the African-American community as well as the Jewish community. He added that it would only be right that the Inspector should address these questions and concerns. (Click Here to read our coverage of that meeting).
By this time the scene calmed down and Ms. Letitia James, 35th District Councilwoman, got up and voiced her support for Mr. Vega and said that she would fight to keep him in our precinct, she also said that we need to fight for a pay increase for our officers and that it’s the cause of the lowest recruitment rate ever.
Following the conclusion of the meeting CrownHeights.info approached Mr Vega and asked; “In light of the significant attendance of jewish residents, do you feel you should have changed the progress of the meeting?” To which he replied “In the future I will have to shorten my remarks, but I don’t feel I should have altered the meeting in anyway”.
CrownHeights.info then asked him if he has a message to the jewish residents who attended the meeting. He said, “I hope to see you all here next month”.
Back outside some residents that still hung around said how its not right, we have families and to keep us in a meeting till 11:00pm just isn’t right, now wonder people don’t attend.
fumming resident
internel affairs needs to come down to 71st precient and fix the curruption first step is to get rid of vega he is the first to be corrupted we all need to complain to mayors office and make compalints to 311 enogh is enough
yg
its time you guys stop kissing vegas tush and publicize his shnanagins
yes the infighting causes him to play us against each other, and get away with not doing anything.
but we need to KEEP UP THE PRESSURE –
he doesnt give damn about our community, just his stats
if you dont complain – it didnt happen!
concerned resident
How are residents supposed to address their concerns if there is not time given to them at the meeting and when they call the precinct they are told to address their concerns at the meeting.
Is 311 and filing a complaint online (http://www.nyc.gov/html/ccr…) the only solution?
fed up
Kudos to Beryl Sugar for asking everybody to leave. This Vega is a terrible anti-semite he won’t admit bias crimes taking place on his watch.. he is a politician beaurocrat, he has bigger plans for himself that won’t happen if he can;t take care of a “shmecky” little precint like the 71 how is he going to take on something bigger like one PP? Listen up Ray Kelly he is gunning for your job!
Yossi
First of all why is there only one comment .Isn’t security of our community an important one?
Secondly,I called the Borough Presidents office this morning and alfhough they sent a rpresentitive to the meeting I made an official complaint.
It was very painfull when he asked me why our elected Vaad Hakohol members did not do or say anyhing before or at the meeting.
The answer is very clear:We need young blood to lead our community,a leadership that cares and is not involved in politics.
The Rebbe m”h mentioned on sevseral occasions that we need to learn from Williamsburgh and Boro Park how to build a relation with the police dept.
just as our comminty has a good relation with Kigs County hospital thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Lieder and others so too must we develope a connection with the police dept.
Let’s deal with the solutions rather than accusations.
yossy h
we cant get young blood b/c all the chasidish young people run to go on shlichus and the not so chasidish cant be proper representatives of c-h never mind the fact that there some very weird rules in the vaad elections
yossi
Dear Yossy h
Did you attend the meeting last night?
secondly we have to work with the people that we have and not find fault with others.Maybe you sholud get involved too.
BigBen
It’s about time you report what has occured at the meeting last night. The other site beat you to it this time. Anyway, last night Vega proved he is not a friend of our community he is just a politician making many excuses for the police dept.
When she needed our support Laticia James came to us very soft spoken. Promising cooperation and to work for all in the community. You should have heard her yell at the top of her lungs last night as she attempted to defend Vega. Both of them (Vega and James) must be replaced. They should not be allowed to get away with this.
Yitzchak
The way vega acted towards us last night-trying to “play us like fools” was disgraceful and a personnel insult to each and every member of this community,
the fact that so many people attended and that we showed unity by following berls request to leave was very positive and one of our better moments in a long while.
we have to build on this by uniting all our factional organization’s which the police pit against each other to bring us down, and get vega out.
lets seize the momentum to do right by ourselves and our children.
boruch ben tzvi(A H)hakohaine hoffinger
B”H
I once sent an email to Laticia James’s office with an important issue and only received a formal reply.
Crown Heightser
A BIG BIG Yasher Koi’ach to Berel and anyone else who’s involved in this new organization, for getting out the people and the message and showing a new sense of positive leadership.
Dear JLC
We must arrange a open emergency meeting NOW, when everybody’s still hot under the collar, or else we all just let it go till the next kid gets beaten up
Dear Yossi
This is what your comment looks like after spell check.
First of all why is there only one comment .Isn’t security of our community an important one?
Secondly I called the Borough Presidents office this morning and although they sent a representative to the meeting I made an official complaint.
It was very painful when he asked me why our elected Vaad Hakohol members did not do or say anything before or at the meeting.
The answer is very clear:We need young blood to lead our community’s leadership that cares and is not involved in politics.
The Rebbe m”h mentioned on several occasions that we need to learn from Williamsburg and Boro Park how to build a relation with the police dept.
just as our community has a good relation with Kings County hospital thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Lieder and others so too must we develop a connection with the police dept.
Let’s deal with the solutions rather than accusations.
dovid hamelech
ch.info why are you making the cops look so good? say the story as it was and how it is!!!! its about time these officers deal with the community thats their job if they cant they should resign!!!!!!!!
A CH Citizen
Well everyone, here is the link, you know what to do. Spend 5 min and show them that we have had enough.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/ccr…
Prepare yourself, speak/write clearly and state how you feel and a few facts. This is how YOU make a difference.
bochur
One problem is that the crown heights community will always vote at least in local and state elections for those who are soft on crime. This is the way we get welfare, food stamps etc. Politicians though will not listen to our constituency since we are only a minority here with african-americans making the majority. Unfortunately the poli’s who are elected tend to pander to those who fight tooth and nail against any policing crackdown.
out of towner
The media loves controversy–especially racial controversy. Everyone should send emails to the NY newspapers and TV news stations. Once an investigative reporter gets on the case, you can bet the police will be pressured to respond.
YG
yossy h wrote:
we cant get young blood b/c all the chasidish young people run to go on shlichus and the not so chasidish cant be proper representatives of c-h….
What a crock! The not so chassidish can’t be proper representatives of CH? Why don’t you kick them all out then?
an observant Crown Heightser
Maybe we should get someone like yossi frankel to run for vaad hakohol, or to represent the community with the police as he has an amazing shprach with them and has helped out many yiden in harsh or bad situations, at any given time, day or night, i have seen his scooter outside the precinct at 12p and even at 2am or 6am, or 5p, he has helped out so many yiden, when it comes to raising a bail, he goes out all night and day to get the bail together, he is someone we are proud to have in our community and he should continue doing the work he does with community relations and the police department.
i have personally seen where someone was involved in an accident and he waited at the scene the whole time until everything was finished and he has helped me out as well as many many others in filing a police report and any event the community does from a hachnosas sefer torah to a levaya, he’s there on hand to help in whatever is needed, from arranging police presence to being there himself to control traffic, you always see him driving around at all times of the day and night, always with a smile just to help out another yid, he doesn’t get paid for it, he does it out of the goodness of his heart.
maybe he can help the situation with community relations, community issues, helping a yid who has been arrested r"l, he is seen every night at Mendy’s Restaurant picking up bags of food that has been donated by mendy’s and he goes to all the precincts throughout Brooklyn to give kosher food to the Yidishe prisoners.
Go Yossi Go
BS
I was there. I saw, I heard and I listened to every word and saw every body language that was used by the presenter and his staff. Kudos to the Pastor that opened the meeting praising the G-d of Avrohom, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. The fact that so many yidden turned out was very immpressive to show unity on these important issue of crime. Yes, a shame no opportunity was made available to vent. Yes, I am guilty I don’t attend regularly but maybe I will. I feel, especially as a woman in CH I don’t have the leadership or political savvy to deal on a sophisticated level with these politican.The most poignant speaker was a young woman whose husband was attacked. Our neighborhood is represented by a young woman Letitia James. A greater involvement of woman to deal with the new political generation would be a plus to Ch. I came home from the meeting and I told my has changed in the last 30 years in CH. Let’s go to Boca!
THE NYPD 71ST PRECINCT ROCKS
You acted like you so speacel. The jewish community made a hilah hashem at the meeting the community as a whole look like arses. Why follow the lead to the biggest fake in crown heights. Berel Sugar is nothing more than a troble maker and i hope to see him locked up you don’t dispect the police who protect us if you have a problem you bring it to the attention in a privet forum. He does not speak for the jewish community of crown heights.
eastnewyork
great article well written. Thanks for always keeping us informed with whats really going on in crownheights.
Here is a gut check for your community.
Who do youu people think you are. These cops are out there risking their lives. One cop was just shot and killed in the 71pct protecting you. How much more do want us. We are trying our best and that includes D.I. Vega. Life is alot easier from your side of the fence. You try being on our side. Take the oath get yout gun and your shield and stop being part of the problem and become part of the solution. Give your self a gut check people. Without the police officers from the 71 risking their lives everyday your world would be alot smaller. There is not one of us who would not follow the C.O. of the 71 into hell because we know he would bring us out on the other end safe.; You people need to get a clue. You use words like anti-semitic, well stop being anti-cop.
shocked
sheesh crazy stuff
Bored on Empire
A few cpmments
1) When Vega spoke, he mentioned the good work he does in the community, but could not name even ONE jewish school he helps
2) It was the best move to pick up and leave, we will not tolerate being treated like second class citizens, if thei is the treatment we get, then we need to go to the next level
3) YeS – We need young energetoc blodd, who cares and will get things done, not like all those waana be politicions that need to print newspapers to let us know how great they are. OT school got young guys involved, why should we as a community
4) We are not talking any politics, any 770 sides we are talking about the saftey of our children waldking the streets – Next time there is a meeting called we should see at least 1000 members
Thank you for your service of voicing ourt opinions
A Crown Heights Mother
It’s funny how some people are so quick to bash some others. All it takes in this neighborhood is for one person to do a good thing, and then there are loads of people ready to complain, ridicule, make fun of, or just demean that good deed.
Yes, I was at the meeting. I sat for 2 hours listening to a lot of nonsense from out Deputy Inspector Vega. I am not a police basher. I was brought up to honor and respect a police officer. But in today’s day and age, and especially living in Crown Heights, I find this nearly impossible. About the only time that I can really count on the police is if I forget to move my car promtply at 11:00 for alternate side parking – you can be sure that a police office is there writing a ticket!
When we wanted a permit for a Lag B’Omer parade – Inspector Vega fought tooth and nail not to give us a permit. He said that once a year is more than enough for us to have a permit. When we made a Siyum Sefer Torah – the police were right there along with us, making sure that we did not take up too much space on the street, must stay on the side walk, only cross with the light, do not hamper the flow of the traffic, we must let some cars through on the service lane of Eastern Parkway, hurry up and finish so that we can go home!
But, Mr. Sugar, we need to come to the meetings prepared. We should have papers typed up with 10 or our questions that we would like to discuss. We can give copies out, and we can even give some to Mr. Vega so that he can come to the meeting prepared with answers. We were just sitting there like little lambs, clapping away at his every comment. We were a very willing audience, encouraging him along, until that nice young man finally got up to voice his comments. We did not have to wait that long. A 5 minute introduction, a short moment of prayer, a short reading of the minutes – and next time we don’t have to watch any films – we already saw them, we won’t have to see a map of the 71st precinct – we already saw it, we will just be able to move right along to that for which we came.
But thank you Mr. Sugar, it’s about time we got together and worked together to help out our community.
We need the cops of the 71st PCT
Berel Sugar is what you call a trouble maker…
It was an inappropriate to do it at the council meeting it was the most disgusting thing that the Jewish community has done.
Why follow the lead of someone who is try to ruin this community and the relationship with the New York City Police Department meaning the 71st Precinct.
Next time we need police coverage for a Jewish event they can look back and say do we want to protect a community who is looking to start trouble.
TO, Here is a gut check for....
Stop with this sentimental, HooRaa Gong Hoo, Italian, Irish, Cop hero, american mass Media, garbage.
Your not putting your lives on the line for anybody, last year the total amount of NYPD officers killed on duty- out of 40,000+ was 1 (one) in 2006 the total killed was also 1 in that time the cops killed way more innocent people in error and its far more dangerous to drive a taxi night shift or to work nights in a convenience store, the number one killer of cops is hart disease from all the fast food they eat and lack of moving around
Stop making as if you guys are serving in Iraq or something, Working for the NYPD is like any other job: come in give your 100% go home and get paid, and if the results are bad- like any other job there’s accountability.
We pay you to serve and protect, so GO DO YOUR JOB
ch resident
Someone who knows the NYPD up close told me that the officers are basically lazy and don’t want to take a half hour filling out a police report about the goy who broke into your house or smashed your car window. After an arrest, the officer has to accompany a perp all the way to central booking, which they consider a big pain in the tuchus. They would rather sit in their squad cars and shmooze. Vega also benefits greatly by being able to claim that crime is down in his precinct. He has no motivation to encourage his officers to fill out reports and make more arrests. No wonder the cops won’t respond. Shomrim has to wait a HALF AN HOUR or more AFTER they have caught a perp and are holding him, until the cops show up. Then they sometimes even go a few blocks and let them go. Yasher koach to Berel and his friends for putting pressure on Vega to finally stop this insanity.
Proud of Mr Suger
To the commenters bashing Mr Sugar and wishing he gets locked up.
You are very wrong. You think that a walk out is a chilul Hashem? It was a very emphatic way to register our disappointment to the treatment we were getting at the meeting, and in general by our police department. Far too often we are ignored. Reports get lost, details are ignored and promises are broken. For years we have allowed our ‘leaders’ to try and improve the situation. Apparently politely asking for favors has not worked.
We need not ask for any special favors. We do not need special treatment. All we want is equality. We may be the minority in this neighborhood, but we are generally law-abiding, peaceful citizens and it is high time we were treated as such.
You call Mr. Sugar a troublemaker. Why? Whose car or home has he burgled? Which mugging is he responsible for? When was the first time he used racial comments to taunt his neighbors? Has he assaulted anybody?
He has given of his time and money to help his community get what they deserve. So that ingrates like you can walk the streets without fear. For this he deserves out thanks not our hatred.
If you have better ideas, please suggest them. But do not destroy what he and others are building.
anonymous
Shame on whoever is trying to bash another jew and say that he is ruining the community. The people that say this are ruining the community.Why can’t the community unite and try to help each other. If the police see that jews bash each other and can’t unite it makes a big chilul hashem and the police will ignore the crime that happens with the jews against the jews.
THE COPS ARE BASHING BERAL
The comments against Beral sugar have most likely been written by a non-Jew and probably a cop.
If you look at the time that two of those comments were written, its after shabbos started, also the implication is that the author is himself a police officer.
Personally i find that very interesting as and its probably a sign that Mr. suger is doing something right.
Power to our people
We are the ones with the power. Don’t be fooled by anyone.
achdus
I felt that we were treated like kids when the C.O. started showing us videos and making sideshows. I thought he was trying to beat around the bush with the idea that the heat would settle. I do respect the cops, and feel that they should get a BIG raise in their pay. Who can live on 25,000 dollars a year?! Most officers are doing the best they can. While poor political management and a lack of control for corruption and bias are problems, the BIGGEST problem, and the ONLY one that we can directly CHANGE is our lack of unity. Nobody cares if the Jew who gets hit in the back of the head wore a Yechi kippa or not. We are just sad that our of our brothers got hurt. So every C.H. Jew, join our new Jewish Leadership Council and get active if you want the voice of the Jewish community to have any power!
Suspicious
I have a feeling that,
“We need the cops of the 71st PCT”
is in fact a member of the police department trying to brew trouble by instigating fights amongst ourselves.
Webby check where the IP address leads you…
To all those trying to help our community, G-d Bless you and keep up your great work!
The community supports and will continue to back you!
Outraged Rabbi !!!
Men and women sitting TOGETHER!? Why is this not okay at an Avram Fried concert…but at this meeting it is FINE!? A shonda!!
We-re Screaming because it hurts
Good intentions, but we have to consult with our experts befor going ahead. Shugy got alot of hart, but we still need the police.
We need the cops of the 71st PCT
This community is naive, ok so you are unhappy.
If you want change it doesn’t come in one day but by listening to mr trouble maker Berel Sugar will only get you locked up.
He is no friend of crown heights he is trying to make waves with the Jewish community by starting with cop.
I hope the cops of the 71st Precinct don’t use Berel Sugar’s store Kingston check cashing.
I live in this community also and I can’t belive you are listening to his crap.
Don-t spit in the bowl that feeds you
For the last fifteen years or so Beryl has supported dozens of activists and political candidates. This past year, he donated the downpayment for five or six new school buses so the children of our community can be driven in safety.
Now, with good reason to be upset with the police and with our own political leadership or the lack thereof, he is putting his Neshoma and pocketbook in his desire to help out
if some of our elected reps are unhappy with his methods and/or feel he needs political guidance, then reach out to him but please don’t bash him, hey you never know when you might need him or one of his friends next
KR
I don’t believe that those comments about us making a chillul hashem deserved to be answered with a straight face. However, unfortunately for the writer of that comment, he is obviously lacking a little background in (recent) Jewish history…….. It’s only been a little over 60 years since we were “sitting ducks” (pardon the rhetorical and aggressive terms) for the slaughter of 600,000 of us. They say that “history repeats itself”(pretty scary! huh?). Face it, we -as Jews- are never really safe. living in America does not make us immune to hate. B“H us Americans do not feel the hatred like like our brothers in Israel or Europe. I’m not even talking about Crown Heights where it’s pretty much in your face (and almost weekly), there is the story on the NYC MTA where a Jewish young man and his Jewish partner were beaten to a bloody pulp because they were feeling festive and announced ”Happy Hannukah“ (Imagine that, and we send our boys out every night of Chanukah to wish the world ”Happy Chanukah“). True, this is an isolated case, but apparently many people didn’t get the message: ”we aren’t safe, anymore“ and so it will happen again -and more often, if we don’t take action NOW!!!! But slowly we are starting to see a trend in the increase of boldness of Anti-Semites as of late; they seem unafraid of committing these atrocious and horrible crimes of hate, because, they know in the back of their heads they won’t get charged for them. We as jews tend to be passive when it comes to these matters, not wanting to draw attention to ourselves or be called ”Rabblerousers“. However, now is the time to say ”enough is enough“ our own Police Department don’t care anymore! However, we have people in our midst that can’t come to grips with our reality. and to this I think they should read some history books what happened to those very people (i.e. the ones that believed ”it can never happen here in Germany where we have so much connections and power“) during the Holocaust; many of them perished!!!! I think that these people -if they are even Jewish, which I don’t want to believe- are like the Gestapo where they suck up to police while we are getting beaten on our own streets!!!! What is wrong with you??? Not enough people victimized for you to see our present plight???? Something truly does not add up, I believe (more like hope) that those comments were really written by the police themselves . Beryl Sugar is not a hero nor a visionary, he is a realist! He does not sign any of those fliers going around CH for one simple reason. Beryl feels it’s an equal concern of every member that joined the JLC. He doesn’t need our respect. He does not need our money. H does not need Kudos (although they are all appreciated and no doubt he will deflect them and say something to the effect of ”no, it’s about us and our future. Not me or Levi“) All he asks of us is to ”wake up and smell the coffee/blood“ and let the world see that we are not like ”lambs to the slaughterer“ we want our protection and we want our feelings of safety back. Not much to ask from a Police Inspector considering that’s what he gets paid for. No one needs to hear speeches on how crime went down and look at maps. That is tactical whitewash. And like Beryl said, ”he is taking us for fools“ by showing us his total disregard for our safety concerns. He knew we were going to ask some questions that would have made sweat come of every pore in his lying face, he received a flier before it even went to print. He chose to ignore our pending onslaught, for that very reason he did not let any press in when they showed up, he warned anyone that opened their mouth ”would be escorted out“. Miss James showed another side of herself on Thursday night. I can guarantee she lost a majority of our respect in those few minutes when unabashedly started yelling in defense of Vega……(That in itself should be a wake-up call for us)
We must show that we aren’t going down as suckers……
1)We have to stop kissing up! (unfortunately, that never got us anywhere)
2)We must unite on this issue if we ever want our kids to feel safe (no more bashing of any person that simply wants to feel safe again)
3)We need to take this to the next level (generate as much press as possible, call the Mayor [again and again] and let him know of what transpired on Dec. 20th In the 71st Precinct.
4)Watch your back from the Police (How unfortunate? But it’s a sad thing we should be prepared for) they are going to make us problems in any way they can, starting from tickets and any other way they can vent their hate for us.
5)Attend the next meetings coming up (and I can almost guarantee the PD will announce ”an emergency council meeting”)
THIS BITTER GOLUS MUST END ALREADY BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS HURT!!!!
ch
I was aat the meeting and when everyone got up and started to leave I was disappointed – but then I realized that it showed that there is unity in our community. And there is strenght in numbers We are willing to work with PD but I did not see Vega willing to work with us. But righ now he is there and we have to try to work together. Having IAB review evidence disapearances will become the standard unless we can begin to dialogue
KR
Idiot wrote, “I hope the cops of the 71st Precinct don’t use Berel Sugar’s store Kingston check cashing.”
wow!!!!!!! Beryl’s only intention of having us come to the meeting was us to voice our growing concern! He orchestrated it for the communities sake he had no personal agenda!
FOOL!!!! Beryl gave of his sweat and blood to save your neck! Everyone knows that the walk-out was not part of the plan, we came to voice our concerns. However, Vega had every intention of silencing us so we had nothing to stay for. We came to speak, we couldn’t, we left! Pretty simple!
You write, “don’t use Berel Sugar’s store Kingston check cashing.”
Where does this hate come from? it seems like you have a personal beef with Beryl. Do you have a tendency bounce checks by any chance?????
Here’s a little food for thought:
Sucking up to Police never worked!!! They will just use and abuse us to benefit themselves and pretty much the whole community agrees on this. Something had to be done!
So stop the hate and infighting between us and lets unite to fight for our right to feel safe once again!!!!
YosselHeller22
One wonders whether the new Jewish Leadership Council will, by default, become the new Crown Heights Jewish Community Council.
The CHJCC was created 38 years ago to help the entire community with social service issues and liaison with the government. Unfortunately, while the staff still delivers necessary social service programs to the needy of all races, the leadership has been wrought with petty political nonsense.
There’s a lot to be said to for good deeds of Rubashkin and Sperlin; and a lot of criticism of both too. I was pleased to see Sperlin at the meeting and say a few words. Rubashkin was nowhere to be seen.
Barry Sugar has done a lot of good work; he’s also new to politics and may be rough around the edges. But Sugar has hit a nerve in the community; he can deliver a crowd with a punch.
Unless the CHJCC gets it’s act together, and moves away from the religious wars (leave those fights to the Vaad HaKahol- the CHJCC is a secular non-religious social service agency), perhaps the Jewish Leadership Council can fill the void created by the internal machloches.
I’d be very interested in comments on this proposal.
Channaleh
Reading through everyone’s comments made me proud and yet shocked at some of the things people are saying, even within the same sentence. I knew Berel Sugar (however spelled) many years ago. I cannot say I was impressed with his strong aggresive attitude, but I must say that this is the kind of strength that gets things done. Whoever said that the non-chassidishe people of Crown Heights should not represent CH should know that this kind of Chillul Hashem is what pushed those “kids” away in the first place. We’re living in a different world from 10 years ago, and it’s sad that so many fell off the derech somewhat, but this is not the way to bring them back. THEY COUNT! I believe that everyone should try harder to attend these monthly meetings. Boring or not, you need to be there, os send representatives. I lived in CH up until 7 years ago, and I’ve been robbed, had my tires slashed, and given tickets, and yelled at by a cop because I was signalling to enter a parking space that someone was leaving. I don’t have a great opinion of cops, because I lived in the real world long before teshuva and see how they treat people. They are tired, and unrewarded, and don’t love their jobs, and like anyone else, they will overlook things if they will not get in trouble for it. I have to agree that they don’t file reports, especially for petty crimes, I experienced it first hand, but don’t forget that they DO put their lives on the line every day that they go out there. Generally, it’s not Jewish people that they have to encounter in the crime field, they should take into consideration that we are generally a peaceful people, and deserve our needs to be met. I once drove down Empire and witnessed two cops pulling out a fellow officer from a car after having been shot. He looked pretty dead to me, that was about 9 years ago. I went home crying, thinking how his family will never see him again, because he met the wrong fate that day. It’s a very scary job, and they do put their lives out on the line everyday, never knowing that when they walk up to a car to give a ticket, someone might not shoot them down.
Instead of showing boring videos at the meeting, they should have set up a viewing of Malcom X. Perhaps his earlier expression of violence to get things done and to be heard were frightening, but he felt (in representation of Afro-Americans) that he was being laughed at no matter how much they cried, and they were never going to get their needs met, just as Berel Sugar and the members of the Yiddish community who attended the meeting. Berel was upset, and who could blame him, but Vega was completely unprepared, and did not know how to respond to the humiliation that was set before him.
He needs to be advised next time that the community would like to speak on matters, whether they take them seriously or not, they must make the effort to speak, and advise him beforehand, then they can take further steps. It’s important that this matter is made public, and people in the community must make their own reports of crime. Keep records of incidents, and dates, and take this to Vega, read him our numbers. If he then ignores our pleas, take it to the next level. Community members employed in the legal field should be addressed and asked to help with their expertise. Start a committee of community members complied of all aspects of residents, from the most chassidish to the least, they all count. Berel Sugar, regardless of your personal vendetta, seems like a leader willing to open his mouth to speak. If you disagree with the way he speaks, elect someone to represent your voice. Make a committee of a few leaders who will voice your concersn, community meetings, people should meet and prepare before the town meetings commence, we also need to be prepared. Stop the Loshon Hora, there is not way we will always agree, but we do need to make our concerns heard. I’d rather have Berel Sugar representing me than Vega, so get it together CROWN HEIGHTS, even you chassidishe “Rabbi’s” who think they are free to do Loshon Hora against our youth. They are the future of the world, rather than reject them, teach them with chesed, make them feel they belong!
Kan Tziva????????!!!!!!!
I unfortunately was not able to make the meeting, but can someone tell me whether there was any representation by any of the “official” community leadership??? It sounds as if the police are very aware that we have no leadership, which is why they couldn’t give two hoots about us. To the bashers: What will it take for you to wake up to the CALAMITY in this neighborhood? For YOU to get mugged or have YOUR teeth knocked out? What exactly are we asking for? Wanting to feel safe walking the streets — does that make us wanting to be treated special??? Are you NUTS??? And to the police rockers: Rock on. You are the best. But we are asking about “minor” issues like investigating assualts and robberies and making arrests and filing police reports. Why can’t you rock those as well? Yes the police put their lives on the line each and every day, but I am right now afraid to walk the streets of this neighborhood and everytime I do, I too feel like I am putting my life on the line as well — except I don’t have a gun. And I know that if g-d forbid something were to happen, I would not get even 1% of the response that a police officer would get in a similar situation. So what is left? To take justice into our own hands? The unfortunate reality is that the police will probably lash out against us because of this with ticket blitzes — ironically making them look even better to city hall, along with the “low” crime rate. But the squeaky wheel gets oiled. And someone has to get up and make a stand, especially with the absence of “leadership” that only cares about their own self interest. So Kol Hakovod to all those that are making that stand so that we can ALL feel safe in our own community (isn’t that pathetic?).
asahmed
well i am a jew and live in crown height, and can tell you i am ashamed of the was berel sugar behaved. he is “soch hakioll” a store owner. who tommorow can decide to move to monsey and leave us hanging with the mess he leaves behind. whether we like it or not we have leceted reps and they should be there conducting what should be done, and we dont like them then 1) elect new pepole or 2) complain to them. someone like berel sugar has no place in the comunity to decide how to deal with police or any other public ofichial, becuse he has a tie does not mean he is a leader
We need the cops of the 71st PCT
I no this community not perfect but we don’t need people come in like banchese and looking like idiot either.
Yeah I know they don’t file all polie reports but that isn’t only the 71st Precinct, it’s a citywide problem.
Most Precinct in this city sweep crime under the rug.
There is not much you can do cause most reports get shreeded so you got no eveidents of what happened.
The NYPD is a large organzation, their is less cops now. There are 36,000+ cops now compared to 2001 when they had 40,000+ cops. The NYPD is working with less. So that mean we are dealing with more as city.
I live in this community. I grew up here is was a lot worse 10-15 years ago there were prostatuse on every corner.
The C.O. of the 71st Precinct is trying to work with the community. Maybe you don’t see but I do. There is a lot of stuff that is he is doing behind the scene that we the public don’t see.
VEGA CAN PEYGA!
to We need the cops of the 71st PCT:
The guidebook “Internet Trolling for Dummies” states that if you are going to troll sites (post just to get a reaction), you should spell correctly so that you at least look somewhat serious.
As for Berel Sugar not being a leader – sorry, but he stepped up to the plate when no one else would. When I lived in CH, no one showed up for these meetings and our voice was not heard.
elchonon
To the 71st fans,
I know a bit about cops, been arrested (for no reason as well) been beaten, been abused, sat through 4 hours of interrogation with no rights to a lawyer.. that’s here in Israel.
Do the cops here put their lives on the line ? sure but that means nada if they ignore all the arabs attacking us.
The NYPD does not put their lives on the line, your telling me that a cop walking down the street in ny is putting his life on the line ? maybe considering the fact that these nudniks cant shoot for their lives and dispense 50 bullets without hitting anyone.
I have said this before, and I will say it again.. you gave away your 2nd amendment rights to the politicians.. you lost your self defense rights…
Did you know that in Florida, the minute someone breaks into your home you can shoot them dead and wont spend 5 seconds in jail?
If you people had shotguns and shot anyone breaking in, violent crime would disappear (dont take my word.. google it)
I bet if you smashed a burglar with a baseball bat in ny you’d go to jail.
The problem is, that no matter how bad the cops are.. you still rely on them..
I feel bad for you guys, you cant carry mace, knives.. anything.. and the NYPD is NOT going to protect you..
Walking out was a good thing, but what needs to be done is; wait till the Q&A session.. and ask point blank questions… very clear, sharp and to the point..
Ask why the case you filed disappeared, why nothing was done about muggings, why yada yada has not been stopped.. forget the drashos.. ask DIRECT questions and videotape it!
Stop expecting special treatment or ANYTHING… just go right for the point..and firmly restate your question if he changes the subject.. polite yet firm.. Consider having a trial attorney direct questions as well
In my 5 years of dealing with cops and courts and bureaucracy here in Israel, I can guarantee you that will work..
Stop fearing the cops, the Rebbeim were not scared to stand up for what was right..
And lastly, to those that say the neighberhood is safer now than 15 years ago.. I nebach have pity on you.. for a long as jews are being attacked thats TOO much!
If you think it-s bad now...
Totally destroying our anemic relationship with the 71st is a very bad move.
Chutzpah (especially with THE COPS) will solve less than nothing.
Yossel
B”H
Since I’ve moved here in 1985, why do I feel like I’m living in a place like Munich or Warsaw, and it’s 1938?
Didn’t we learn anything from the pogrom of 1991? Or Krystallnacht, for that matter?
The rich real estate tycoons of this community are only concerned with building huge complexes to shoe-horn more people here. The store owners have no problems using ugly, creaking gates that get shut down after hours, and everyone drops garbage in the streets and alleys, making Kingston Avenue stink.
No other neighborhood in the US has the racial problems we have. NO PLACE!!
My point here is that the Rebbe wanted CH to be a BEAUTIFUL example of a Jewish Chassidishe neighborhoord, NOT a decrepit dump. That’s why the Negroes don’t mind mugging us and beating us up, G-d forbid, because they know we don’t care about our own community and how it looks and how we take care of it.
If former mayor Guiliani taught us one thing, it’s get rid of the shmutz and make your neighborhood nice; everyone will respect you and crime will go down.
In Williamsburg, if a Spanish or Negro attacks a Jew, that guy ends up in a trash can, his life hanging by a thread.
They take care of their own.
Here, we’re more interested in making a buck, leasing our fancy SUVs, then hiding in our re-decorated houses, than getting involved in making our community a better place to live.
We could start with our leaders and rich men, who do very little, from what I’ve seen, to get things started.
WAKE UP! If we want to stay here, we ought to do whatever we can to beuatify the neighborhood, with more GRASS, TREES, and CLEANLINESS! And stick up for ourselves instead of fighting all the time! Let’s fight the Negroes instead of each other!! Chazak!!
boruch ben tzvi(A H)hakohaine hoffinger
B’H
After reading the literature mailed by the Jewish Leadership Council I thought that Inspector Frank Vega to be a criminal.
I attended the meeting.
Concluding much discussion in Frankel’s Shul I thought perhaps these ‘missing reports,’ free criminals and evidence might be due to error?
We need the police and we Jews are supposed to be a light to the nations. Would an intelligent commander try to hide evidence and release criminals when people are watching? Sounds stupid and unlikely.
Inspector Vega was ignoring the questions at the meeting (I attended) because he was embarrassed.
Why not?
crown heighter since 1988
who is this guy Mr. Berel Sugar think he is ? getting up like that trying to represent the crown heights community and saying (“You played my people like fool, don’t play my people like a fool”) who dose he think he is ?!?!?
besides mr. suger how many meetings did you attend in the past 20 years to know what its all about maybe come a bit more often and find out what its all about.
i thank the police and vage for this meeting every month and if your redding this inspector vaga please know this that he is “NOT” a rep.for the crown heights jewish community
a concerned chER
literature mailed by the Jewish Leadership Council was was so illiterate i mean um i dont even know what to say.
my wife brings home that paper and shows it to me and i could not contain my…….it was just so childish like im sure i do not have to elaborate cuze anybody that knows how to write knows what im talking about right ?!?!?!?
to mr. suger
stop wile its just the beginning your only making fun of yourself good luck in Hollywood !
a nobady
dose this meeting happen every month ?
a person from NY
to a concerned chER
im all with you on that
yossi
were was reb moshe rubashkin ?
all thew he dose the most for the jewish community i still think he should come to these meetings.
hes the only one in the jewish community that gets stuff dune ( thats y i think he should show up) like the crown heights newspaper very nice and night life is a “beautiful” event my kid was there. she said they use there house for this event and two weeks ago they had a cooking event at there house to witch i herd was very nice THANK YOU ! rebbi moshe rubashkin
but i still think you should come over and be the rep. for the CROWN HEIGHTS JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNEL
thank you SHOMRIM
ON THE LAST PIC. Letitia James and shomrim ! nice pic keep up the good work !
i think you guys are the only 1 not taking credit and photo ups like all the other crown heights ehem community leaders maybe gadi hershkup should take charge of this community i think hes the only reason crime is down……………..go SHOMRIM !
former CH-er
To CH’er since ’88:
I have been a resident of CH since 1978. I do not need to attend meetings month after month after month in order to ensure that I have security in the neighborhood I live in. It is a basic right of every US citizen. I no longer live in CH as of this summer because I was fed up with the crime. you keep going to those meeting; How much has it gotten you since 1998?!
To: A concerned CHer
What type of a nut are you? You complain about the letter being illiterate, I have never heard of a letter being either literate or not? You make numerous spelling mistakes, and talk like a fool, and for what? Because someone is finally doing something good, something in the spirit of REAL achdus for a change. This organization is trying to help YOU. Or are you just so short sighted and dense that you are helpless, and wish to bite the hand that feeds you.
My only logical explanation is, (and I mean this honestly) that it was written by a cop. This would explain your contempt of this cause as well as your lack of basic knowledge of the English language. (anyone who ever spoke with a fine officer in NYC knows what I mean)
Afraid in CH
TO: THE NYPD 71ST PRECINCT ROCKS, Here is a gut check for your community, We need the cops of the 71st PCT, Outraged Rabbi !!!, asahmed, We need the cops of the 71st PCT, If you think it-s bad now…, crown heighter since 1988, a concerned chER, a person from NY, I am afraid to walk out of my house. Afraid to let my wife and kids walk the street. We personally know the yungerman that was assualted and had his teeth knocked out, never mind almost killed. I don’t want to be treated speacial, I just want to fell safe. DO YOU HAVE ANY BETTER IDEAS???
crown heighter since 1988
to former CH-er
1)
all i was saying was that if he wants to represent the crown heights jewsh community he should come to more meetings not just come to one meeting and turn in into a balgan.
2)
reb moshe rubashkin is the representative of the crown heights jewish community
3)
i dont go to any of these meetings
backing up A concerned CHer
what i think he was saying is that there is already a jewish community counsel so why dose this guy have to come up with he’s new thing called the jewish leadership counsel ? y not work together ?!?!?
shmul
to concerned CHer
why all the hatred maybe he is doing something good for the community.?!?!
so what if he cant spell ?
yacks
Imagine what would happen if two Chassidic Jews in crown heights would beat a black youth with a metal pipe while screaming Abraham Lincoln should have kept your people slaves. Imagine the outcry of the Afro American community leaders, the demonstrations, press conferences, hourly meetings with the police until they find the racist who did it.
Imagine if the Afro American community leaders would start an investigation and would find out that similar incidents of racial beatings have been happening in the community throughout the year and not one of the criminals were brought to justice.
Imagine what the Afro American leaders would do if they found out that most of the police reports of the incidents were missing or never filed.
Imagine what would happen if three hundred concerned parents, respected members of the community would show up at a community- police meeting to voice their concern and discus solutions about the rising crime. And at that meeting the local police sergeant would speak for an over an hour about the wonderful things the police do for the Jewish community. Like, the Lag-Bomer parade, closing the streets every Shabbas, Simchat Bais Hashiava and mention only one of the many programs the police do for the Afro American community, clearly trying to insult them.
Imagine what the Afro American community leaders would do when they found out that the sergeant usually speaks for under five minutes and that his two hour speech was meant only to philibuster the meeting.
Magdeburger Chossid
I was at that meeting. I had an open mind at the start of the meeting and thought that there would be meaningful dialogue. the deployment of police in the auditorium dampened meaningful dialogue. Inspector Vega’s speech was clearly a filibuster. It was highly irregular that he became de facto chairman of the meeting, when his leadership has itsef generated controversy.
Although his uniform and job description command respect, he is in fact functioning as a politician. Those who protested and walked out were cognisent of this fact and acted with commendable restraint. Although we have elected officials, we need someone to keep an eye on them. Beryl Sugar and his Jewish Leadership Council have so far done a good job of this. Additionally, they have articulated well the anger and frustration fermenting in our community.
It is positively sinister that anyone should wish him to be locked up for excercising his first amendment free speech rights. Speak out. Don’t give up
malnekoff
since the progrom in 91 when the cops ran and the jews hid away in their houses c.h will never be safe. the city has contempt for us. the police ,at best, dislike us and we? we’re stuck here. we’ve invested millions in housing and buildings. we can’t protect ourselves therefore we depend on the cops. that’s no way to live.what to do? !. change leadership. stop voting for people who are nice guys but incompetent.2 control your steet behavior. if the cops see jewish kids drunk and drugged up on the streets then there is no impetus to protect the jew. he’s just like the goy.3. block watch is /was a way to help control your block . block patrols are effective.
SHAME ON YOU CROWN HEIGHTS
Shame on you who attack Berel Sugar, this is not his personal agenda. Shame on you who side with the police, no one is blaming them! This is not about politics or corruption. This is about our children! letting them walk the streets without being mugged in broad daylight. This is about the grandmother who was robbed and beaten, the homes that were robbed, the cars broken into and the list goes on. That is all this is about! Shame on you Crown Heights a neighborhood of thousands and only a hand full take the time to DO SOMETHING for our children’s sake. Next time there is a meeting, come to it. Don’t talk, don’t write, show you care. No one is putting blame on anyone. You are not on one side or the other.
Katcha
I read the letter from Mr. Sugar this past shabbas. I was surprised and completely in utter shock. Did you see what foul language of a letter he sent out to JEWISH FRUM HOMES.. why does anyone have to read a letter like that? it’s completely inappropriate…I can’t imagine how he could be someone to look up to, someone to lead our community? Im so shocked that the letter was even allowed to be published, written, and actually sent.
I want to understand why anyone would think otherwise?
life time ,from crown heights
RE: Katcha.
I found Mr. Sugar talks to the point!
I found him to be the FIRST person to stand up strong for crown heights safety.
I found my heart being moved by him, in a good way.
I found my self supporting him.
I find it that he uses he’s money wisely.
I find it that he wants to make things right.
I find it that he fights for what he feels is rights, and will NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lets help him help us. Thank you so much Mr. B. Sugar.
KR
To Katcha,
DO YOU LIVE IN A CAVE?
How come you are the only one that saw foul language in the letter???
I don’t know what letter you got, but there was definitely no foul language in the one that went out to everyone……
You claim Berel’s a troublemaker, however, from what it looks like reading all the comments of your fellow CHers, You are actually the troublemaker by inciting hatred against a man that is trying to do something positive for our community. It’s bad enough you are living in a fantasyland where kissing up to police helps remedy police corruption. Now, You have to share your stories from that “peaceful world” that you reside in, a fantasyland where you received a letter full of foul language that is disturbing your sense of security in that world?
If someone has a personal beef with Sugar they should not let it take away from the fact that what this group is doing is only for the betterment of our community, besides the fact that the Jewish Leadership Council is not just one man. it is a open group of people that decided they care! Again, it is not Sugar, it is a group of over 350 people with the number growing every minute……
turning against us?
Being at the meeting for the first time, I felt that VEGA was trying to turn the cops and the black community against the Jewish community.
First he goes on how great of a job there doing. Which there is a number of them that do?
Number 2- to have a young black man stand in front of all of us, and tell us how bad he was when he was young and now he found the light and joined the army. Is he trying to make one group look better there the other?? I did not hear any words being mentioned about the Jewish community
Abe
Good evening.
I would like to say, that I have been in this community [crown heights] for 46 years now, and I have never seen any one stand up like beral sugar did. This is that first time in years that I say thank you. so here it is.
Thank you Mr. sugar for standing up for us. Abe
ch
Berel Sugar had no choice. It was 9:19 pm when he stood up. Almost 2 hours into the vega show. The hour was getting late and it seemed pretty clear that we were not going to be given any realistic time to raise our concerns. However the next move is really the crucual one. Someone (Sugar or another devoted person) shoul attempt an official sit down with vega. we should go with specific charges ans ask for specific answers. if we dont get the answers we take it to the next level. You need a paper trail showing attempts to deal with him before yu can prove he is not doing anything. Unless IAB will behandling all open unsolved cases against jews in which case vegs isssimply digging his own grave.