Caught this interesting NY Daily News article on a group of men who’ve been escorting commuters from the Utica Avenue stop and reaching out to the young men of our community.
Courtesy of NY Daily News
“They’re not part of a political club, they don’t come from any one church and they’ve never been particularly active in the community – until now.
After a spate of recent muggings and robberies, a group of 20 Bedford-Stuyvesant men started escorting people home as they got off the train and are walking through the neighborhood reaching out to young men…” [continue reading this article]
Seems like a great idea. Have any of you near the Utica Avenue stop used this service?
Interesting article, particularly some of the comments. I don’t think the politicians let this happen to Bed-Stuy. The people there let this happen to Bed-Stuy. These great volunteers are not doing the work of the police, the police are doing the work that we as citizens need to be doing. If we take care of our own, others would not have to. Also, we as a people do plenty for the population of Bed-Stuy. Let’s not forget where all that welfare money comes from.
I use this station every day and have never seen anyone offering to walk people home. Not saying it doesn’t happen, just saying I’ve never seen it. I also have to say that personally, I haven’t seen anyone menacing, etc. near the station exit in years. I for one had thought things had calmed down there. Knock on wood, of course.
This is great.
Back when I was living on Gates & Lewis and would travel down Lewis Ave & Stuyvesant Ave, that northern stretch of blocks called “purse and gold chain snatchin’ alley”.
Kudos to these brothers and hope they can spread their act of good will to the J train stops at Gates Ave & Kosciuszko St & G train stop at Bedford.
@ Steve
i echo the same remarks.
The lubavitch and satmar hasidic communities police themselves and utilize law enforcement for better purposes where they live. (i.e. show of force presence, etc…)
I know some of these guys slightly (we have kids the same age). What a great idea!