Dear Lucas,
Tuesday, August 3, 2010, was the 27th Annual Night Out Against Crime, an event whose mission is to promote neighborhood spirit and community partnerships with the police. This year, it fell on an evening when New Yorkers' attention was drawn to a string of hate crimes that have taken place in Staten Island, but affected us all.
There have been 11 bias attacks in Port Richmond since April. The most recent came this week, when an 18-year-old Mexican man, who is part of a local anti-violence organization, was beaten and abused with racial epithets.
Like so many other New Yorkers, I have been following these attacks, and I've been both saddened and angered that this would happen in our city.
Across all five boroughs and every sort of neighborhood New York has to offer, these crimes leave none of us untouched. When one of our neighbors is targeted for a physical assault or any indignity on the basis of their race, ethnicity, creed or sexual orientation, we are all victimized.
When the safety of our community and the pride in our diversity are challenged by those who would use violence and intimidation, it is a challenge to us all. And we will not back down from it.
The decency of New Yorkers runs much deeper than the hate of the few who persist in these attacks. We will summon every ounce of energy and courage from the community, and use every tool at our disposal, to stand up to vicious acts of hatred in New York City.
That's what the Night Out is about: the power in each of us to take ownership of our streets, and build bridges within our community and with the police who serve us well.
It's about sending a message that we will not give in to crime or fear.
Last night, I spent part of the evening in my district, and part of it in Port Richmond, to support Council Member Debi Rose and Speaker Christine Quinn, community and religious leaders and local advocates as they laid out an aggressive plan of action that includes an anti-bias school curriculum, a public education campaign and improved security.
New York remains the safest big city in America, and we have our police and neighbors to thank for that. In our area, violent and serious crimes are still going downward. This is a testament to the excellent work of our police precincts and to the vibrant community participation here. And I thank you for it.
And I hope you will not stop standing up to crime and acts of hatred wherever they may occur.
19th Precinct - Upper East Side
17th Precinct - Turtle Bay / East Midtown
13th Precinct - Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village
Midtown North - West 50s
Sincerely,
Daniel R. Garodnick
211 East 43rd Street, Suite 1205
New York, NY 10017
(212) 818-0580
www.garodnick.com
www.twitter.com/dangarodnick