Coney Island

Pols, civic leaders want Coney Island shootings to stop

Demand action from City Hall, NYPD

June 30, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
State Sen. Diane Savino and Councilmember Mark Treyger (at podium) gather with Coney Island community leaders to call on City Hall to take specific steps to respond to gun violence in the neighborhood. Photo courtesy Treyger’s office
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A coalition of civic leaders, clergy members, elected officials and everyday residents came together on Monday to demand action from City Hall to combat increasing gun violence in Coney Island.

There have been four shootings in Coney Island in the past week, according to Councilmember Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-parts of Bensonhurst), who organized a press conference to shed light on the serious danger residents are facing. This year to date, there have been 12 shootings, Treyger said.

Treyger and other advocates said there are specific steps the city should be taking to make residents’ lives safer.

Standing outside the Coney Island Houses on Surf Avenue and West 30th Street, Treyger and state Sen. Diane Savino (D-Coney Island-parts of Bensonhurst-Staten Island) said something has to be done.

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Treyger laid out a number of requests to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, the NYPD and the Department of Parks and Recreation that he said would reduce gun violence across Coney Island.

The steps include expanding the NYPD’s Summer All Out and One City: Safe and Fair Everywhere program to the 60th Precinct, which covers Coney Island; allocating additional Parks Enforcement Patrol officers to the amusement area (a move Treyger said would free up precinct officers to patrol residential areas); implementing ShotSpotter technology to gain accurate statistics regarding the frequency and location of all shootings that occur in the 60th Precinct; and reopening New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) community centers that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

“Residents are tired of hearing about historical trends and need tangible action and results,” Treyger said. “I will continue to push to bring the programs and resources needed to greatly reduce the senseless shootings and violence that is impacting residents.”

“I commend Councilman Treyger for being proactive when it comes to our Coney Island community and calling attention to the issue of gun violence and the different ways we, as not only elected officials but active community members, and the NYPD can begin to combat this issue. We all must play our part,” Savino said.

Those speaking in support of the call for city action included Queenie Huling of the National Action Network and Dr. Mathylde Frontus, acting chairman of the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative.

“No neighborhood in America should live under such duress and worry about the personal safety of local residents,” Frontus said.

Civic activist Keith Suber called on residents to play a role in combating violence.

“As someone who has been affected by gun violence personality, I feel that we older brothers need to step up and become more active in the community and take responsibility,” he said. “With that being said, there also should be funding made available for organizations who have credibility on the streets to help prevent these incidents from occurring.”

Recent shooting incidents have included a 19-year-old man shot in the leg on West 24th Street on June 26; a 23-year-old man shot in the eye on June 23 at Mermaid Avenue and West 24th Street; and a 51-year-old man shot to death at the corner of Neptune Avenue and Bayview Avenue, adjacent to Kaiser Park, on June 22, according to Treyger’s office.

 


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