Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
During a press conference on Aug. 8 at the 14th Street Y, Mayor Adams announced that a $1 million state-of-the-art Mobile NYPD Command Center would be placed near the troubled corner of 14th Street and First Avenue. (The Times first reported that Adams allocated the money in early July.)
According to the news release touting the command center on Aug. 8, the city noted it was part of a "fiscally responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget passed in June."
Two and a half months later, no one seems to know about — or wants to comment on — the mobile command unit. When can residents expect to see it on 14th Street? Given his legal troubles, how much is the city's first indicted sitting mayor paying attention to neighborhood issues like this? (In addition, NYC's interim police commissioner is leaving after a few weeks on the job.)
This long-problematic stretch of 14th Street finally seemed to garner attention after, tragically, a triple stabbing among unhoused residents who were vending left one man dead on June 23.
The corridor had been a problem for years. Mayor Adams gave it the proper amount of lip service during a press conference on Aug. 8:
"When we came into office, we had a clear mission: protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make our city more affordable and livable, and the '14th Street Community Improvement Coalition' precisely addresses these concerns — enhancing the quality of life and making the East Village safer. Our administration does not and will not tolerate an atmosphere where anything goes."
In a piece from July titled "A Street Brawl, a Stabbing Spree and a New York Block No One Can Fix," The New York Times observed:
East 14th Street also embodies New York City's struggles with a web of interconnected ills that have defied attempts to rein them in and have flared since the pandemic in parts of Manhattan: homelessness and mental illness, addiction and rampant shoplifting and seesaw battles for control of public space.
Since the stabbings on a Sunday afternoon in June, the NYPD has been a regular presence on the block, both on foot patrols and in patrol cars. The NYPD also installed three light towers between A and First on the south side of 14th Street. The city formed the multi-agency 14th Street Community Improvement Coalition to address the complicated convergence of public safety issues, including illegal vending, retail theft, and substance use and sales.
One matter that hasn't been resolved is the weekend flea market at Immaculate Conception on 14th Street at First Avenue, which some residents said contributes to the quality-of-life issues. The market is too big for the available space, and it attracted a patchwork of sellers with dubious and stolen merchandise setting up on the sidewalk along the block. The police have mostly kept them away from the corridor.
Residents have noted improvements along 14th Street, though familiar issues have been gradually resurfacing. Late last month, a 68-year-old woman was bashed in the head by a stranger on 14th Street and First Avenue.
Against this backdrop, where is the $1 million NYPD mobile command unit that "will serve as a central hub for law enforcement operations in the area"? Is it still on the way?
According to a source at the NYPD who was not authorized to speak on the record: "It's not something that was going to happen right away. No time frame or date was given [for its arrival]."
The source continued:
In my experience, the NYPD will just show up and arrive without proper communication with anyone involved. I don't know when the unit will arrive, but I don't think we will see it this year. Local elected officials may have more info than we will have. We are usually the last to know.This [mobile unit] will require manpower, and three officers will be assigned to it at all times. Where are the three officers coming from? Right now, two officers are assigned to the foot post at the location — one from the 9th Precinct and one from the 13th Precinct.
I asked the NYPD source if the underlying issues had been addressed and if the problems might have spread to other areas.
Absolutely, the problem has been pushed to other areas. We have seen illegal vendors move into the confines of the 13th Precinct, and some vendors have moved to First Avenue and Houston Street ... We have received complaints regarding 12th Street and First Avenue, but I have only seen homeless people there, no vendors. Now they [the vendors] are scattered around.When we take the footpost away, they will all come back. We did this once before during the DeBlasio administration. We were there for a month or two, and as soon as they took the footpost away, [the vendors] all came back. We have questions, too. Is this going to be an overtime post? Where are these officers coming from? We made the press conference, we made these nice promises; when are we going to see this? These are good questions to ask local elected officials. When is it coming? You need to announce when it is going to happen. Give me a time frame.
In recent weeks, I have asked about the mobile unit. The NYPD said to ask local elected officials. Local elected officials said to ask the NYPD.
"At this moment, the Council does not have an update to share on the timeline of the mobile command unit," said a spokesperson for Adrienne E. Adams, speaker of City Council. "I would implore you to reach out to NYPD if you haven't already to get answers to your questions."
From the office of District 2 City Council Member Carlina Rivera: "NYPD press would have the most accurate timeline — we are working to get an update as well."
State Assemblymember Harvey Epstein was the most talkative on the topic.
"There is regular police [presence] on 14th Street and coordinated efforts with both the 9th and 13th [Precincts] working together along with sanitation, DHS, etc.," he said. "My understanding is the command center exists now but [is] not visible to the public except what we see on 14th Street with police and equipment there."
When I pressed for clarification, he said, "Let me ask."
Epstein said he contacted the Mayor's office three times for an update and was told there was no update.
Leaders at Community Board 3 also did not answer. "I have nothing on record to say," said longtime District Manager Susan Stetzer. CB3 Chair Andrea Gordillo said, "I don't have anything official to follow up with, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know."
I also contacted the Mayor, the press office at City Hall, Sen. Brian Kavanagh, District 4 City Council Member Keith Powers, and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information. However, none of them got back to me.
I waited to file this story to give people time to respond. They did not.
37 comments:
The only solution is to stop buying stuff from the illegal vendors and
giving to the homeless . They will go away!!!!
There's def. an uptick of vendors by the subway on Houston and 1st Ave. Plus the abandoned kiosk in First Park doesn't help as the park is merely a loitering ground now.
I don't see the point of running that thing that's there both night and day, lights on, spewing fumes.
Excellent reporting, Stacie - thank you! You have dug deep and persisted, and in so doing you have shown the deficient and careless "government" that is operating in NYC at ALL levels. I personally don't believe there is a level of NYC government that is not poisoned by ineradicable fraud - all of it promoted and countenanced by our fraudster-in-chief, Eric "Always On The Take" Adams.
Thanks for the update!
Thank you so much for this update and reporting! As someone who lives near by, this is very helpful information. I can say anecdotally that I agree that this area is much better and alot of the regulars I used to see are now much more spread out. I've noticed almost every time I walk by there are at least 2 police officers on duty which is great. I hope they stay because I agree once the cops leave, everyone will come back. My guess is the NYPD might see if this is enough before they bring in this expensive command unit. Either that or the money for this is now going to Adams' defense fund.
Highly competent, forward looking officials looking at the big picture.
ie, They're just waiting to convert entire block into EV Technology Hub 2 as the solution.
Thank yo for reporting on this.
Do neighbors believe we need a mobile unit added on 14th st? I am only on that block a. couple of times a week, daytime--but it seems pretty calm. There will always be a few homeless and /or people in need of other types of social help. (This is NY and we see this on *all* of our blocks.) But that 14st block is definitely a different scene since the clear-out and two officers that were posted there. Is it an increased NYPD presence that we need to spend on there? Or is this sufficient showing? It feels like the thing people talk about most frequently is bringing back more beat cops, who you would see walking the neighborhood rather than a based "unit".
The guy asking for a dollar to get a cheese burger is back
Love the invisible command unit! Is that some sort of newfangled AI tech?
You mention overtime. That might be part of this. This morning I read an article that the city is putting a hold on all new street fair permits because of the costs of overtime in the nypd
There won’t be any command center. Adams is too busy covering up from the FBI.
First, thank you for the excellent reporting! Second, what a perfect illustration of the uselessness of the current City Council — too busy considering sick leave for pets to address the nuts and bolts of making the city livable. Perhaps this coverage will shame some of the myriad electeds Stacie contacted into following through.
Police officers are sporadically present east of the mcd's. Peddlers are often set up at nw corner of 14 st beyond empanada mamas.
Lately they've been gone from there as well
It would be helpful if the NYPD walked up and down the block and around the neighborhood. I have noticed their presence, but they’re usually huddled together talking to one another and on their phones.
"Do neighbors believe we need a mobile unit added on 14th st? I am only on that block a. couple of times a week, daytime--but it seems pretty calm. There will always be a few homeless and /or people in need of other types of social help."
Sorry are you knew here? Have you been following what has been going down on the east side of 14th Street between Ave A and 1st Ave for at least 3 years now? This 6/24/24 Grieve link was posted in this article.
"[Updated] A look at 14th Street this morning after the triple stabbing and homicide yesterday"
https://evgrieve.com/2024/06/a-look-at-14th-street-this-morning.html
14th street was quiet and safe for a whopping 3 weeks. I literally just walked by the TMobile store on 14th around 7pm after going to TJs and saw a bunch of thugs getting into a verbal arguement.. with zero cops around
I always put a few singles in my pocket when I leave my apartment. If I see him I'll give him one. Thanks for the heads up.
This expenditure was approved for the NYC fiscal year July 1, 2024 - June 30th 2025. Though it's an important issue for our neighborhood it's just a small part of the city budget.We're only through 1/3 of the city's fiscal year. Maybe contact Brad Lander's office for an update. He's the CFO of NYC
Instead of increased police presence, we need increased poverty-alleviating social services. Unconditional cash transfers, free housing, and community-based addiction treatment would be cheaper and safer.
“The NYPD said to ask local elected officials. Local elected officials said to ask the NYPD.”
Typical.
“Meanwhile, I would have contacted more people listed on the press release about the mobile unit, but they have either since been indicted or resigned.”
Legendary.
Thank you for doing all this journalistic legwork to get to the bottom of this situation. If only our major media outlets had this level of diligence and honesty.
unfortunately, the million dollars had
to be redirected to Adams’ legal fees
to keep his ass out of jail
Where is the million $$$ command center?
Like the old song says
Up in smoke that’s where are money goes!!
@9:37am: You say "unconditional cash transfers" are what's needed. Isn't that called "being mugged"?
Can normal permanent street lights be installed instead of those noisy generator driven temporary lights?
Don't worry once the weather freezes the cops will disappear and it will be too cold for the blanket vendors to return. Then the cops will forget to come back when it warms up. The blanket vendors will return and by summer we will be talking about the next murder on 14th st
He is not looking for a cheeseburger, he's looking to buy drugs. Right before the block was cleaned up, another man in need of housing called this guy on his schtick. "Knock it off! You're going to buy drugs!" After a brief back and forth, cheeseburger man admitted he was going to use the money for drugs.
They do not run both night and day with lights on, spewing fumes. They turn off when the sun comes up. My co-workers and I are grateful to have them as we unload trucks before dawn as the light deters the people who previously made this block unsafe.
Agreed, the NYPD are a welcome presence on this block. Any over time the four of them may or may not receive is minimal to the overtime shelled out for hundreds of NYPD sent to manage large scale events like protests or chaotic 'influencer' giveaways at Union Square.
I do wish DHS/DOHMH would make an appearance on the block ASAP. There is an emaciated elderly man in a wheelchair who has a constant presence outside of the T-Mobile store. I feel so bad for him because he's basically rotting away on the spot and in dire need of services.
Or old school Wonder Woman's jet!
I’m 40+ years here! Hahahahahahah. I think everyone who lives here has noticed —you mean you haven’t noticed???? how much calmer and quiet the block is now with the clear-out and the 2 officers positioned. Will there continue to be *occasional* craziness and violence? of course. Maybe if you haven’t lived here for 40+ years you don’t realize that will always be. And nowadays random violence punching in the face or a knifing if I don’t like the look you just gave me, etc.
So, with the current general calm since clear-out & police officers. it certainly bears the question do we really need an additional mobile unit too? I know I’d rather see cops walking the neighborhood again, if we’ve got that kind of money to burn in our neighborhood.
Wow. Great reporting!
" Maybe if you haven’t lived here for 40+ years you don’t realize that will always be."
Oh I have just lived here all my life and I am an alumni of Immaculate Conception School which was and is a major problem of why 14th St between A and 1st will be a CF again when the NYPD pulls out without a MCC on site. And this CF scene was not what 14th between Ave A and 1st Ave was but happened starting with the start of the IC flea market and Covid so get your history right. In their courtyard and in their auditorium, the Immaculate Conception flea market is a stolen goods bazaar, especially for food items where I have seen one the infamous food panty and TJs stealers unload her shopping cart to one of the vendors in the auditorium Are there legit vendors there? Yes I personally know and have bought from the sock guy. That being said even Carlina Rivera stated at the infamous recent Adams 14th Y press conference that the IC market was too big, was part of the problem and needed to be ended. One more thing. My wife was in TJs when the shit hit the fan.
Just have to add one more "Thank you Stacie -- and EVG -- for this diligent and important reporting.
The solution to poverty is money. The state needs to give the impoverished money with no strings attached.
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