CB 10 Chair Calls On Boardmembers To Report Suspicions Of Sex Trafficking

By on February 19, 2013  News
Feb 192013
 
Image source: TheIRD via Flickr.

Image source: TheIRD via Flickr.

The chairperson of Bay Ridge’s Community Board 10 spoke out about the insidious practice of sex slavery at a recent meeting – and called on board members to report evidence of sex trafficking to police, notes Paula Katinas for Brooklyn Eagle.

“I suggest that it is time that we open our eyes and take action to protect powerless victims and bring its perpetrators to the justice they deserve,” CB 10 chair Joanne Seminara, who is also a lawyer, told those in attendance at the January 28, General Board Meeting. “Human trafficking is shamefully common… Many of whose victims are young teenagers desperate for our awareness and protection. The extraordinary courage of a few victims of this enslavement is making it possible to prosecute these crimes against humanity.” Continue reading »

As 93 Lounge Suspects Indicted, DA Refuses To Offer Plea Deal

By on February 4, 2013  News
Feb 042013
 
Source: Google Maps.

Source: Google Maps.

On Friday, January 25, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced the indictment of two suspects accused of mowing down a crowd with a car during a New Years Day brawl in front of the 93 Lounge [315 93rd St.], as Denise Romano and Helen Klein write for Home Reporter. Continue reading »

Following National Trend, NYC Murder Rate Drops To All-Time Low

By on January 25, 2013  Featured story, News
Jan 252013
 

 68 Precinct Stats

Murder, which is widely believed to be the most difficult crime statistic to fake, has once again fallen to an all-time low in New York City, with homicides at a 52 year low for Brooklyn, writes Denise Romano for Home Reporter.

Bay Ridge’s 68th Precinct had one murder last year – the high profile slaying of local clothing store owner Mohammed Gebeli.

According to CompStat, the NYPD system for tracking and analyzing crime rates, that means last year the 6-8 saw a 75% reduction in homicides compared to 1993, and a whopping 90% less murders than 1990. Continue reading »

Bay Ridge Unity Task Force Meets

By on January 6, 2012  News
Jan 062012
 

Early in December, over 100 people attended the annual breakfast of the Bay Ridge Unity Task Force, a coalition of religious and community leaders to promote ethnic tolerance within the neighborhood.

This is an older story that I missed during my December blog-vacation. Fortunately, it was brought to my attention this week by the Facebook page of Rabbi Dina Rosenberg of the Bay Ridge Jewish Center. The BRJC was the host, and the event was attended by religious leaders such as Rabbi Rosenberg, Imam Sheikh Reda Shata of the Islamic Center of Bay Ridge (profiled earlier by the NY Times), and Khader El-Yateem, pastor of the Arabic Lutheran Church and the Task Force chairman. Continue reading »