Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
Last Thursday, citing safety and quality-of-life issues, including an increase in unhoused residents, the 9th Precinct removed the park benches from across the station house on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Sources from the Precinct told us that they've fielded complaints and witnessed activities including drinking, drug use and sex work. (Sources said the benches were also serving as makeshift toilets.) All this despite the presence of dozens of NYPD vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The NYPD asked people to unlock their bikes from the benches and fence as well... the posted flyers describe this operation as a "cleanup."
The incidents occurred outside the playground for PS 751 Manhattan School for Career Development on Fourth Street. The benches are the school's property, and officials there were said to be in agreement with their removal.
Benny (below), a resident who lives in a building on Fifth Street adjacent to the benches, approved of the removal, stating that he has seen the drug activity here. Benny has two kids and said he's "scared to walk by sometimes."
Precinct sources said they'd consider introducing a limited number of chairs and tables here at some point in the future... though it remains to be seen where the funding for such additions might come from...
37 comments:
Good example of how the issue isn’t a lack of police. I’m sure the bigger issue is there isn’t much the police can actually do. We really need to change the approach so we can punish repeat offenders of things like the issues cited here and force a lot of these people to get help.
I am not surprised they removed those benches I walk past there all the time and the benches were usually taken over by homeless people camped out on them with their personal belongings all over the place and openly doing drugs right across from a NYPD precinct no less. It is a shame because it used to be a nice place to sit and relax in the neighborhood.
Noticed this too just last week - walked through there in the middle of the day and it's clear people are just camping out here. It did surprise me with the precinct right there, I guess this is the solve - a clean out. I'm all for tamping down on these encampments.
Pretty sad that the best we can do to address poverty, homelessness, drugs and mental illness is to remove a few benches across from a police station.
I live on the block and sit on those benches with friends on a fairly regular basis. When I'm there, I see most of the benches occupied by other people from the neighborhood having friendly chats with their friends. There often is someone who appears homeless taking up one of the benches, but I've never seen those people trying to interfere with others. I don't think the rationale for removing these benches is credible. Every time I walk down the block (and whenever I'm sitting on one of those benches), there is a group of police officers hanging out in front of the precinct. So if some kind of intervention is needed if there's some unsavory action going on across from the precinct, it would seem that there would be a more constructive approach than taking out the benches. This sounds more like an application of a city-wide habit of removing any kind of structure where homeless individuals might try to sleep,god forbid. The precinct says that they might install tables and chairs - I would think you could just as easily deal drugs at tables as at benches, but, of course, it would be more difficult for anyone to rest at a table vs a bench.
Agree with 12:01. I walk by all the time. Never have felt unsafe and am an older woman. The neighborhood needs seating outside and this is one of the few places it is possible. Mostly neighborhood people there, often the elderly. Of course there are homeless there given the lack of political will to do something meaningful about the housing crisis.
I often sat on those benches and agree that it was NOT overwhelmed by homeless. However It was a mini-park pushed back a few yards back from the sidewalk that no one agency took care of. It’s not run by NYC Parks Department. I was told it was property of the school behind it.
Whoever had jurisdiction, never cleaned it. It was strewn with garbage. Often times smelled of urine and waste. It was an ebike graveyard with numerous out of commission bikes chained to the benches & fence. And always filled with litter until neighbors took it upon themselves to clean it up. At the end of the day, 5th street between 1st & 2nd was one of the dirtiest blocks in the East Village. Unfortunately the solution was the remove this quiet little spot — and one of the few remaining side streets with public benches
I enjoyed doing morning stretching here for years! Boooo!
The police most definitely can do something about drug dealing and public defamation on the street (contrary to what the previous poster said about the problem being that the police can’t do anything about the problem). If this is going on right outside the precinct and the only thing the police is willing to do is remove the benches then god help those of us who don’t live on a block with a police station. At some point during the de Blasio administration the police retreated and decided that they were not going to do any work. Open drug dealing and heroin users shooting up in broad daylight in the middle of the sidewalk steps away from the 9th precinct became routine. In my 40 years in the neighborhood I have never seen the police less interested in this type of thing happening under their very eyes. Most of these cops do not live in the area and have no personal stake in keeping the area safe and crime free. I used to think they were protesting de Blasio. I don’t know what they are protesting now but their failure to control crime in the area right around the station shows that they have no interest in even the appearance of wanting to begin to tackle the problem.
And this is why we can't have nice things
During the pandemic, when life was limited, my wife and I would occasionally sit on those benches and feed the pigeons. That was a very peaceful tranquil place. Removing the benches has to be the worst solution, and doesn’t solve any problem. Just like when the city removed all the trees from east river park. Those in leadership roles are supposed to make good decisions.
It wasn’t as filthy as Tompkins. Just sayin
I sat on those benches often, a comfortable way station between my apt and lugging groceries from Key Foods. Sometimes, a place to read a book. Occasionally saw homeless or delivery people resting or sleeping, but otherwise a friendly and comfortable spot. Granted, I’m never there at night and most likely that’s when dealing, etc goes on. There’s plenty of resting spots on 3rd and 4th Aves, Astor Place, etc. but these were the only public benches between 2nd Ave and Tompkins Square. We need these benches or something to replace them.
Oh man I lovedsitting there
Nobody understands that the Cops have thier hands tight. Most of them will love to do their jobs the way they have to do it but the problem it's because even if they arrest those people they will be out before they finish their report.All of you are hiding behind Anonymous names and saying that you live in the neighborhood I am the person in the picture and I can tell you tha I'm very very happy that they removed those Benches I'm a person that walks there MANY times a day and I know very well what was happening there. First it became like a public bathroom secondly, there were Drug needles and thirdly it became like a Homeless shelter. I really fell bad for some people that they don't have their own place to stay I don't blame them I blame the government and these politicians that are trying to help others country's and not helping their own people. the only thing they know. It's steal the money and kill us with taxes . All of you are talking about the benches. But I don't know why you guys don't talk about other things that are going on right now in general look at the food prices look at the toll prices gas electric.
If the cops as currently constituted can't stop (alleged) open illegal drug use and sex work right across the street from them, why do we think they can do anything at all?
I will tell you right now, why. Because our politicians made it easier for people that are doing that kind of stuff like stealing at people buildings the police it's doing their jobs for sure and I'm sure that they will do much more if they will have the right Courts and judges behind them they get arrested they go to Court they get released right away because the city can not get nothing from them. I will tell you if me and you will steal or do something they will destroy our life's my and you're
Most of people are blaming the police. I'm sure that there are good and bad cops but they ar not to be blamed because we know very well that someone it's in top of them and they have to do the way the say. Don't blame them Blame us tha ar giving the Votes to put those politicians on that position that the can play with us the way the want. 😉
All of this was done without any input from the residents. With all of its problems this was still a little "parklet" used regularly (for over 50 years) by many of the older residents. Surely they should have been given the opportunity to be part of the discussion. Also it is unfortunate that there was no effort to re-purpose the benches. I am sure there are many nearby spots/people/restaurants/etc. that would have been happy to have them.
I live on the block and sat on these benches a lot, especially while I waited for my laundry. I don't have anywhere else nearby to sit outside, so these benches will be missed. I never had a problem with anyone hanging out there (20+ years).
So for all the people who loves to sit there I guess you was one of the people doing drugs. Because there was no one sitting there for the neighborhood I’m a super and my building has camera and we can go back and check EV GRIEVE can come and check proof NO JUST BS TALKING. Thank goodness the police took those out.
There appears to have been no discussion with the 5th St Block Association, though I may have missed something (?). I’ve lived on 5th St for 46 years and used the benches frequently - and never seen drugs, sex trade or anything out of place on these benches. Yes, sometimes homeless or occasionally alcohol being consumed. It does seem that a handful of people have complained, robbing everyone else from a comfortable outdoor spot.
Maybe the block association can find some grant money to put tables and chairs there (or to build some seating?).
I think people are missing a big part of the problem was it was right next to a school. I live on this block and a makeshift homeless encampment next to a bunch 6 year olds is a bad mix. Random psychotic outbursts ,drugs, excrement etc. So put your progressive BS away and think of the kids for once instead of thinking of the addicts.
"it's because even if they arrest those people they will be out before they finish their report."
Oh, nonsense. A former cop is LITERALLY THE MAYOR.
You're making your predilections clear, though.
We’re talking about the benches because this is what this thread is about. It’s very presumptuous of you to assume that because we’re sticking to the subject, we’re not concerned about other things as well.
Right, all the older people, dog walkers, etc. must be drug dealers.
Anonymous 8:11PM - how long have you lived on our block? I have been here 35 years and I can tell you that many of the people (who I know personally) that sit there ARE NOT DRUG ADDICTS but long-term residents who enjoy spending time in our little parklet. Please do not disparage the residents of our block with your mean comments.
Cops are told not to arrest anyone doing anything that isn't considered life threatening. Therefore it wasn't their initiative to remove the benches; someone in the neighborhood/on the street complained about what they perceived as illegal activity and the cops were forced to respond.
Anonymous October 2 10:27 PM
There are no 6 year olds at that school;the students are teenagers. I would be very concerned about any issues that might affect those kids. However, they are only there during the day and use the lot that is adjacent to these benches only around the middle of the day. And I've never seen anything in that park that could be distressing to them at that time. There are occasionally clearly disturbed people that wander around the neighborhood, including on 5th St, but they don't target that school and these kids are from NYC - they have to be familiar with that type of street behavior.
Yes, I would like to see these pictures you have. I sat there often and never experienced these “encampments” or drug deals or sex going on. I’m trying to figure out where your cameras would be that could record all this from across the street and east or west of the benches. Shouldn’t any cameras be positioned to see the doorway, not across the street?
I live in the building right next to the parklet. Unfortunately I have occasionally seen people lighting up and smoking crack there during the day.
I don't know all the details but evidently there was an incident with several men, drugs and a gun that was the final straw that caused the removal of the benches.
There was no discussion with the E. 5th Street Block Association and unfortunately the block association doesn't have the funds to buy new seating. However there are discretionary funds available through (I think) the Community Board but this area belongs to the school. They would have to approve any installation. I believe the plan is to leave the area bare for a month or so and then replace the benches with single seating elements.
If there was an incident with drugs and a gun, wouldn't that have been a newsworthy event? And certainly it should show up in the precinct's record of arrests. But whatever the actual details, what does it have to with the benches. Shouldn't the police have addressed this, since they are right across the street, without feeling the need to remove the benches?
I'm happy that they remove them. I hope they never gonna put them back. I wish I would be able to post some pictures that I have from people that were sitting there.
I'll bet the cops are going to start parking on that part of the sidewalk.
Carol is correct and yes I live on the block and have for decades now. The few homeless that slept there did for for safety reasons. Yes, homeless people are attacked on the street and have things stolen. This was an out of the way spot for them to feel a bit safer. One was a woman. They are now camped on 2nd ave half a block away. Problem solved right? Any drug deals made were by people who are not homeless. They can just walk to 2nd ave now I guess!
Anon 953 THE GUYS ON 2 AVENUE BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR NOW SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN SO WHERE YOU BEEN LOL. ANON 1027 AND FOR YOU THE KIDS THERE ARE DISABLED SO IT SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR ALL AND IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT AGE THEY ARE. THATS WHATS WRONG WITH PEOPLE. LASTLY CRAZY HOW THIS HAS SO MANY COMMENTS FOR CONCERN LOCALS FOR (benches) BUT NOT FOR THE GUY WHO WAS IN A ACCIDENT. WHO LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LOL LOL. THANK GOD IT WAS TAKING AWAY
CONCERN LOCALS(benches) is my new band name. Nonsensical yet catchy.
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