By Yitzy
A few nights ago, a friend and I chased a burglar around Crown Heights, we had Shomrim on his case, but at the last second he ran onto “base” where we wouldn’t be safe to follow him.
That “base” being a building in the heart of Crown Heights where, as the Shomrim put it: “If we walk in, it could end a lot worse than a burglary. We don’t need dead heroes”. This isn’t a crazy story, far from it. This has become regular life in crown heights, as the list of crimes and threats that our community has to put up with only gets worse.
I’m not a frantic person, and I’m not trying to frighten parents or scare anybody. I don’t think fear is the correct response, and I don’t think this is what will make our community safer or stronger.
All I’m saying is that we have to acknowledge the issue and bring it center stage, and that is: We live in a community where a significant number of our neighbors feel comfortable harassing us, stealing from us, attacking us, and worst of all, robbing us of our basic sense of security.
They aren’t going to stop anytime soon unless something is done about it. I don’t care if the reason is poverty, education, media, or Anti-Semitism. We need to fix our security situation before the root causes are fixed. We need action and we demand it.
The sense of personal safety is what every healthy community needs, and that doesn’t only mean that we expect to be able to walk down the street without actually getting hurt- it means that we expect to feel safe, and allow our children to walk to school or a friend’s house without being afraid. This is OUR community, there is no reason we should be feeling threatened in our own home. Something must be done!
I was going to include a dark and scary prognosis of the future if we don’t do something about the situation now, but I chose to leave it out of this letter because I don’t think as Chassidim, this is the approach we are meant to take.
At the same time, to sit back and let things happen to us, to not stand up for our and our families’ safety, to continue scrolling when we hear of another case of theft, harassment, or Cha”v an attack, is definitely not the correct Jewish approach.
We have local activists and city activists, we have council people, assembly people, congress people, mayors and borough presidents, and we still got nowhere. On the contrary, things are getting worse. The homeless problem, gang violence, Anti-Semitic harassment and attacks, and still nothing. Our hands are tied.
We love our volunteers and we thank our cops, but we still have a huge issue. I don’t know if it’s an overload on the justice system or a change of policy, it may also be the demonization of cops and new restrictions, but bottom line, as a Crown Heights resident, I feel there is a threat to my safety that no one is taking care of! I really hope that as a community we can reverse this problem, but in the meantime, all I can do is let out my desperation in this frustrated letter.
I’m tired of kvetching, and “tsk tsk”ing every time I hear news about the shchuna. I’m tired of all the fancy words and inaction, and truthfully I’m hurt and offended by the complete indifference of the very people we fund and elect who look us in the eyes time and time again promising safety and security and fail so miserably to deliver.
I don’t have the answers. All I know is that we do not have the right to stand down or to stay quiet, we owe it to our children and families to fix this problem. I’m looking at our leaders and activists, waiting and demanding that they create the safe Shchuna that we are being denied.
Recently walking around CH does not feel safe. Thank you for speaking out!
I would suggest putting together a few caring people and meet with activists in Williamsburg and come up with a plan. Then demand elections for the community council and run on this agenda.
And until it’s fixed, I can’t bear to see little children walking without an adult. Just the other day, a little, seven-year-old girl was walking all alone down President toward Utica. I see these little babies walking alone all the time. Please don’t allow this. Also, for everyone, teenage girls, boys, and all adults, let’s please start using the buddy system and walking together, even adult men. A lot of these things happen when people are walking alone. Please Moshiach today! Movers and shakers, let us know what to do to fix this. But for sure, please everyone remember to… Read more »
But since gimmel tammuz the REAL root of the “problems ” only got worse. So your prediction might be more real then you think. You want a demand from the “leaders” of the community – if they feel like they could have, they would have. They will try to patch up temporary the problem but never permanently. I feel like your core of community togetherness to fight the root will not happen unless if people DECIDE to stand together as one union and not look for selfish gains or exchanges amongst themselves.
Funny that you chose to put the word “leaders” in inverted commas.
I wonder how many of them would have chosen to put them around the word “community” instead…?
From your intention. My intention was there are no leaders. And yet certain community leaders are the most powerful more then the official leaders… bottom line a mess, as it was intended to be.
Put shomrim and police units in front of these buildings, get more patrols on our streets. Get more streets lit up.
Do everything we’ve been scared to do. And don’t rely on our useless community leaders, they’ve walked us into this mess, and they have no intention of getting us out of it. They’re just interested in the next photo op and the next bruncheon.
Enough is enough,
Unfortunate “America ” is now a body without a head…
First and foremost everyone 18 or older must register to vote. This is the only way to change the system and make the current politicians listen. In certain ways crown heights has become safer than thirty or forty years ago as many white yuppies have moved in around crown heights. The only reason Boro park is safe because their neighbors are Chinese. Before that crime was rampant. It’s who your neighbors are. You need shomrim with trained attack dogs. Dogs are not afraid to enter dangerous areas.
Why is that first and foremost?
You literally missed the whole point of the article. The article was saying that it doesn’t matter what the root of the problem is because we aren’t in the position to fix that right now. What we are in the position to do is to come up with ideas on how we can combat this, like increasing security, implementing safety protocols, etc.
Then we can start worrying about encouraging people to vote for the right people.
The “dangerous “ areas are owned by our very own . How about starting right there and clean up our neighborhood. outside and inside .
It’s a good idea, but there are Department of Housing regulations and getting rid of tenants is not so simple, easy, or quick in NYC. Believe me, landlords don’t want crappy tenants.
We need moshiach now
Rent to Lubavitchers (Or even for some owners that don’t want to rent to Yidden for certain reasons) Rent to normal working law abiding people, instead of renting to violent ex cons and gang members with long rap sheets just because it’s “simpler” to rent to them and have NYC fully pay their rent thru the different “programs”.
Its the Rebbes community, Renting to the Rebbes chassidim will bring brochas in everything.
The streets of kingston between Empire and lefferts has one building that is filled with dangerous characters, the same landlord has another building corner of crown and Troy, Crown and schnectady and many more in prime locations filled with criminals on vouchers program. If he would give ONE building to yidden the whole market would change in town. The characters coming out of these buildings are some that would make you shake in your pants. My wife got hit from one of these people right on kingston and empire.
If this is true, this is terrible
I don’t know what to believe
Its true unfortunately. They prefer non jews with vouchers so are sure of getting the rent. They just care about money and are destroying the neighborhood and endangering everyone.
The rabbanim need to put these landlords in charem until they stop accepting these tenants. Why not take jews on vouchers?
A landlord gets income from rent. That’s his parnassa. It’s not his job to be community police or person filter. He can choose who to sell his product to to make as much money as he can – not to give away his product so his fellow-religionists have a less-than-market-value rent place to live. It’s not his responsibility to house anyone in particular, nor to control his customers. If there are criminals or problem causers, that’s a social issue to be resolved by community or government.
Dude if u had a building, would u rent to ppl who may not pay?
Legally they cant be evicted
The landlord can decide he no longer is accepting new tenants with vouchers. At some point the tenants dont pay and he can evict them. The voucher doesnt pay the full rent and many refuse to pay their part of the rent
The landlord bears the responsibility of everyone hurt by his tenants that he took in instead of jews, thus endangering the shchuna to satisfy his greed.
Rabbanim need to get involved and force these landlords to stop renting to these tenants
An immediate and permanent refuah shlaimeh physically, emotionally, and psychologically for her! <3 Also, something’s going on lately with them being more aggressive with literally jumping in front of moving cars. Like they’re looking for a reason but for what . . . ? Insurance payout Just be careful and ready to slam on your breaks more than usual. Also, that fatal stabbing of our beautiful Yid recently elsewhere in Brooklyn, the article stated they were in an argument. The perpetrator perhaps tried to get under his skin so that, if he does get caught, he will be able to… Read more »
Murderer was caught and was someone he knew
Which building on Troy and crown are you talking about?
Just what we need, another prejudice-laden puff piece to reaffirm our bigoted biases. How many times must we spew this tired trope that paints every Jewish girl as a damsel in distress threatened by a gang of demons and devils that are denizens of our dwellings? Perhaps if the main characters of this drama would snap out of this hallucinatory fantasy, we might find ourselves breathing easier at night. Try chasing your dreams instead of dreaming about chases. The true culprit of this crime is the current community standard which allows for overexposure to outside influences. This is what happens… Read more »
A conservative in NY, is a liberal who’s been mugged
Or, in other words, you think it’s not a real problem as long as it’s happening to someone else. Speaking of shtusim…
For someone who doesn’t get involved in the secular culture im pretty impressed with your vocabulary!
Berachot 58a: The Torah has said: If a man comes to kill you, rise early and kill him first.
Avid inish dina le-nafshei.
Unfortunately the powers that be frown upon this approach. The civil authorities are only concerned with the rights of criminals. Defend yourself and your world will be turned upside down.
In a perfect world, Shomrim would be armed like the IDF. In the real world, despite and due to several outlying horrific episodes of police brutality, the majority of good cops are reluctant to use force.
Why restrict it to Shomrim? Be prepared on your own.
Hope you’ve set aside a hefty budget for legal fees.
I forgot you can’t purchase Concealed Carry insurance in NY. What a State…
You are all living in “Chelm”. NOTHING is going to happen in a positive manner, because the only thing that you do, and unfortunately CAN do is talk…. You DEMAND this, and DEMAND that, it’s all useless “hot air”. The only way to stop this is with ACTION! But that is unfortunately a pipe dream for most people at best (and the “animals” know it all too well)! In Florida last week the police had to save a “burglar” who was shot by a homeowner, who encountered him breaking into and entering his residence. As they say “you reap what… Read more »
Where is this dangerous building located
We demand to know which building is this. Out of all this article that is the most important piece of information. You are telling me that shomrim, shmira and the cops and your mother know that there is a building criminals use a a fort and you dont disclose that!!!!! Attacking the root will solve the problem!!!
Could you list the addresses of the building you are referring to?
Is it the 441 kingston Ave building again?
There is that building, ,and plenty more all following the same trail…. Around lefferts park etc. V’hameyvin Yovin.
Take a walk around town when the weather temperature goes up slightly and you will clearly know. Many of these buildings are in the heart of Crown Heights. Its a Sakana. You think the landlord cares? all they care is the thousands they get each month from the city. My heart breaks for the children that spend summer in this crime and drug infested city but what choice do we have.My own children included. We need strong leadership who do not fear big names etc to get out of this mess. People who will truly work Lmaan Hashechuna to make… Read more »
We demand to know which building is this. Out of all this article that is the most important piece of information. You are telling me thag shomrim and shmira and the cops and your mother know that there is a building criminals use a a fort and you dont disclose that!!!!! Attacking the root will solve the problem!!!
sorry 451 kingston
shouldnt we be allowed to know the address of that safe base building?
Every single building in ch with no jews
…a number of the ones that do, but where they’re outnumbered.
Make a list of these buildings.
1) then everyone should write google reviews on the crime that goes on in them.
2) call 311 and make a complaint every time you pass by the building and see garbage or other building issues.
I never felt unsafe here.
People need to learn martial arts and not just sit back and watch someone get assaulted and take pictures or run away .
I would like this. Where is a local Krav Maga training center that can train women in a tznius but effective way?
If you find a building that has all these druggies and muggers living there. Simple. Just have someone go to the roof and seal up the air vent pipes with a little roof paper and tar. Then in no time all the sewage will come up all over the building. Non of the troublemakers will be able to live there. There are many other tricks of the trade.
Next thing your photo will be all over with pleas for donations of pidyon when you get arrested for trespass and vandalism.
Even if the burglar would get caught, and the nypd would arrest him, AND the District Attorney office would actually do their job and put this criminal in jail for a long time. Even if… Then these certain center of CH buildings which are “home bases” for many criminals. The building would just rent out their apartment to another same type of criminals character that was just released from jail. because Hey NYC is footing the bill and paying the rent, in many cases even overpaying for what those apartments are worth. To a few Yiddishe Lubavitch Landlords, please try… Read more »
Boruch Hashem, only Yidden live in my building. And it wasn’t so easy to get in.
But let’s not let this just be “another” OPED.
Take action!
Join Shomrim/Shmira.
Join Community Board 9
(There was a recent oped on COLlive about how to join community board 9 which covers CH, if someone can please post the Link)
Register to Vote.
Get involved.
And most importantly Daven for Moshiach now.
Dear Friends, 700 MORE of these criminals are coming to town. They are coming under the terms of “supportive housing”. They will have a big base on clarkson and albany. Already the area past Sauce and Cheese pizza is unsafe yet that is where there is room to buy for people that need/want to stay close by. I BEG AND PLEAD with you to send an email TODAY to our 1- to our local community council 2- [email protected] tell him that WE went out and voted for him and now its up to him to protect the future of our… Read more »
Kingsboro Breakdown – 681 Clarkson – Albany & Clarkson
Two Very Old Existing Homeless Shelters – 364 Beds are to be Rebuilt
New “Supportive” Housing – 297 Units for Supportive Housing
Formerly Homeless Seniors – 91 units for Supportive (306 units X 0.3)
Total Units: 388 Units plus 364 beds
Kingsboro-Vital-Brooklyn-CB9-Housing-Committee-Presentation.pdf (nyc.gov) – Click here see pp/ 6-7
Jay Sorid
[email protected]
These landlords won’t put yidden in and clean up their buildings, creating less space for us to live and therefore higher prices, how about giving people a roof over their head in the heart of crown heights first, I’m sure yiden would pay the same price as these people. Walking down Kingston Avenue feels frightening by this building it reeks of weed, blaring music and chairs lined on either side so you feel like you’re walking through I don’t know what
As a big community, we have the ability to hire our own security via multiple outlets. Annual fundraising, monthly contributions, etc. Why is it something local officials can’t comprehend? Perhaps it underscores their ability to control, but frankly they can’t control and hence we are in this situation…
Yes, excellent idea, let’s put security on every street in CH. How do we start? Definitely, only armed security who is not friends with the criminals.
Our community leaders are useless it’s so sad. We’ve been tolerating this for too long and Shomrim always steps us for us. I’ve seen them patrolling the streets the last few weeks. Out with the old in community council, we need to start again with people who can be bothered to care. I’m glad the police came to patrol after what happened in Israel but what about what’s been happening locally the last few weeks?!
BH, Get involved, apply to become a member of Brooklyn Community Board 9 which is the Crown Heights district.
The article said they are only looking for males. No idea why, but that’s what it said.
Is there anyone thats from our community that is Involved in politics that really really cares about the community. Cares about us feeling safe cares about our children not being terrorized in the streets. I know in politics you have to play the game but it seems that’s all that’s being done. Is it not time to make demands is it not time to actually say it how it is.
This is one of the reasons why there should be zero tolerance within the community to anyone that rents or sells to non Lubavitchers. Should be thrown out of schools and shuls.
Then you have a good point
Anyone refusing to rent to jews and renting to criminals needs to be warned and then put in charem. They should be blacklisted and not allowed in our shuls and community. They can also be reported to the govt for refusing to rent to jews, with rabbinical ok. It is against the law
It’s all “ Imagination “ that’s what hochul said nyc is safe . Our people voted for this now we all suffer .
How can I get in touch with the landlords? They can do what the police and the politicians aren’t succeeding with. How can I find their names, emails and phone numbers? I’m a victim of a violent crime in CH myself and my life was forever changed because of these thugs. More has to be done and we as Jews need to help each other!
Oy I am so sorry!!💗💗
It was YOU?!
Don’t apologize, stop doing it and convince all your friends to stop
i live 50 ft from 770 and encounter 10 to 15 random people just show up and look for stuff to take from my front yard… behind a gate and everything… i get it on camera every, single, time.
Sorry 50 ft na
Do you call shomrim tho? or do you just keyboard warrior away complaining?
where are our “representative” why is nothing being done ???
We could start with the spiritual!
On weekdays we can carry in our pocket or a bag :
A kosher mezuza
A small envelope that we designate as a Pushka
A Chayeinu ( CHITAS)
A picture of the Rebbe
On Shabbos we can do spiritual acts of Tzedaka
We can phrase our words in a positive way to give more positive energy
Mishna purifies the air. We can memorize and say PIRKEI AVOS and the 12 psukim!
If it’s sakanas nefashos then frum landlords SHOULD NOT BE RENTING TO ANYONE other than frum Yidden.
This should become policy and there should be protocol
This is not okay
I am so sorry to anyone that’s experienced crime in crown heights. This holy Shchuna deserves respect protection and sanity.
I also think Rabanim should make it mandatory for Bochurim and girls to learn basic self defence … both in school and including those already out of the system … and in small groups so everyone can practice and train
Its illegal to evict tenants for no reason and even if there is a reason its a very long and expensive process.
Its also currently illegal to do background checks before renting out to someone.
Since when is it illegal to do background checks? Crown hts landlords do it.
These tenants have plenty of reasons they can be evicted. Creating a danger and nuisance, destroying property, not paying full rent, etc
then the “rules” have to be fought with alot of strength and force by the right caring people.
770 needs armed and trained security guards at every entrance to prevent crazy people from coming in. Having a police car outside is not enough at all
Dont understand why there is no security for 770
the scales? One kind thought..word, action
Meanwhile, PEOPLE…. DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE WHILE WALKING ON THE STREET. YOU MUST DO YOUR PART AND BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
I see mothers or fathers walking with their kids and they are oblivious to everything around them, including their own kids, because they are busy on their phones. That goes for teens and young adults as well.
PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
Remember, this Yud Shevat, when you’re at the Ohel, 770, at his home, remember to ask the Rebbe for help with this safety issue.
Remember the story of when the Rebbe handed a man a picture of the (Frierdiker) Rebbe and told him, ‘Know that, when you look at him, he is looking back at you, too.’” He is here with us far more than he ever was, boruch Hashem!
Rebbe help!!!
Hashem will help and the Rebbe will help! We will be given the solution iy”H.
I enjoyed reading your article, which included concerns about the oversaturation of the chronically homeless in East Flatbush. I am involved with trying to reduce the amount of new and existing homeless units at Kingsboro ( Albany& Clarkson ).
Please send your email address for info on future NYS Zoom meetings.
[email protected]
It shouldn’t have to come to this, but if necessary, be ready to defend yourself, maybe with pepper spray. Also screaming and getting people’s attention that you are getting attacked will scare them off.
Also if dangerous people are following you, you can look witch houses have a mezuzah and go up to that house and pretend it’s yours.
And save shomrim and shmiras numbers to your phone
Shomrim 718-774-3333
Shmira 718-221-0303
What’s the difference bt Shmira and Shomrim?
Call them both and find out who comes first, then you will know:)
Spill the grape juice/wine from the seder on their property, it works every time.
Fire insurance is a blessing buddy….
It seems maybe we need some armed and able bodied yungermen to roam around during the late and early hours to ensure things like this don’t happen
Whether you like it or not we are left to our own defense. The police and government are protecting the criminals as opposed to the citizens who pay their salaries. Carry mace, pepper spray, baseball bats, pipes, kitchen knifes, or any other weapon you can use to defend yourself in the jungle which are our streets. Whistles are good for sounding an alarm if overwhelmed.
“sounding alarm if overwhelmed” geez man…