Track Crime in Parks

Thank you for your article, “Vigil for Shooting Victim in St. James Park,” which appeared on the Bronx News Network Web site and in the Norwood News (Sept. 9 – 22, 2010). This article illustrates the importance of tracking crime in parks, both for efficient use of NYPD resources and for public safety. Following several high profile crimes in parks and subsequent advocacy efforts, in December 2005, Mayor Bloomberg signed Local Law 114 mandating the tracking of the Seven Major Felony Crime Complaints in city parks. This marked significant progress towards transparency, accountability, public awareness, and efficient resource deployment. Unfortunately, after five years, we have not progressed beyond the pilot phase of the program and are still tracking only the 30 largest parks in the city. Aside from our 2007 report, “Tracking Crime in Parks,” the NYPD data is not readily available to the public. It is essential that the City continue and expand this essential program.

Thank you again for highlighting a parks issue in your recent article.

Lee Stuart
The writer is the executive director of New Yorkers for Parks. 

Mosque Editorial Off the Mark
I have to take exception to your editorial (Aug. 26 issue) regarding Mayor Bloomberg, and his “brave stance” regarding the Ground Zero mosque.

Bloomberg has the main issue of the mosque wrong. There is no one taking the position that Imam Rauf, or any other lawful person, cannot build a mosque on a site that is legally purchased, and does not violate any previous ordinances. As long as all requirements are met, with regard to building codes, etc., no one is stating that a mosque, church, or temple cannot be built.

The real question, and issue is should the mosque be built?

The correct position of opponents, and that includes the dreaded Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich, is that in the spirit of “building bridges” between Islam, and other religions, is the location the best choice, considering its proximity to Ground Zero, and the fact that it was actually hit by a major piece of one of the planes that devastated the Twin Towers? The answer has been no, by the majority of New Yorkers, in excess of 70 percent. There are very few topics that 70 percent of New Yorkers can agree on.

The second  point of contention is your comparing the 92nd Street YMHA, with a mosque. The century-old “Y” has been open to people of all faiths, to enjoy its facilities. The “Y” is a Center that has been funded by local New York supporters, that is not a religious center, unlike the proposed mosque, which has not disclosed its potential financial supporters.

Point three is the questionable background of the owners of the mosque’s property. Currently, he is over $250,000 in tax arrears. This is the person that Mayor Bloomberg is standing behind? I guess he has lowered the bar for friends.

Point four is Imam Rauf himself. As a “moderate imam,” he has not renounced the actions of Hamas — yes, the same group that just recently ambushed four innocent Israelis, including a pregnant woman, killing all four.

No, Mayor Bloomberg is not brave — he is a fool.

Michael Schwartz
The writer,  a New Jersey resident, was born and raised in University Heights.