A New C.O. for the 78th
The new commanding officer for the 78th Precinct, which includes Park Slope, joined the Civic Council at our most recent Trustees Meeting, Jan. 5 at New York Methodist Hospital. On his new job for just three weeks at the time of the meeting, Captain Michael Ameri said he’s done a lot to learn about Park Slope.
He noted several concerns in our neighborhood, among them crime in Prospect Park and incidents involving neighbors coming home from work, traffic and other quality-of-life issues (“they play a bigger role here while in another precinct they may not be an issue”), and theft of electronic devices such as iPhones and iPods.
The captain has been a member of the Police Department for 18 years. Before arriving at the 78th, he was the commanding officer of the Queens Vice Enforcement Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau, and before that in charge of the Brooklyn North Narcotics Module.
“Most of our problems are solved with the help of people in the community,” he said. “The more information that flows in [to the precinct], the more successful we will be.”
Historic District Update
Also at the monthly Trustees Meeting, Peter Bray discussed the ongoing efforts to expand the Park Slope Historic District. Good news is expected midyear for the South Slope when the Landmarks Preservation Commission formally designates the expansion area, said Bray, who chairs the Civic Council’s Historic District Committee.
Outreach efforts are now well under way to include more of the North Slope in the district. On Dec. 20, committee members met with Councilmember Stephen Levin — whose district includes the area under consideration — and presented him with some 200 signatures of homeowners on petitions in favor of northern expansion. Two days later, Levin and Councilmember Brad Lander met with lpc Chair Robert Tierney to “show that they and the North Slope community want this to move forward,” said Bray.
Committee members also brought the petitions and detailed research on 700 North Slope buildings to the lpc, and met with agency representatives in late January to discuss the proposed expansion area.
The Historic District Committee will continue with its work to include the North Slope in the Park Slope Historic District, one of the city’s first such districts. To learn more about our efforts or get involved, e-mail historic.district@parkslopeciviccouncil.org.
About Trustees Meetings
The Civic Council’s Trustees Meetings take place the first Thursday of every month from September through June, and are open to everyone. Join us for a meeting: Learn more about your neighborhood, and help keep Park Slope a vibrant, active community.
Details can be found on our website, parkslopeciviccouncil.org/calendar.
from the Winter 2012 Civic News