During last night’s meeting of Community Board 10 – Chairman Dean Rasinya addressed what residents are calling a significant increase in outdoor drug use, and highly organized drug dealing here in Bay Ridge.
According to Susan Polaski, chairwoman of the Police and Public Safety subcommittee: ‘the number of complaints reaching [Community Board 10] is increasing at an alarming rate.’ Further noting that complaints being registered with the 68 (which are then forwarded to Brooklyn South narcotics) were not being acted on in an expeditious manner – pointing out that the people registering those complaints are fearful for their own safety, and, in many cases, that of their children and seniors.

Rasinya said the number of complaints has taken this problem to “another level,” citing a sharp rise in complaints coming from licensed bars and other establishments of people who are allegedly on, or dealing drugs – specifically along 5th avenue.

District Manager Josephine Beckmann gave a detailed list of all residential and commercial “hot spots” where this kind of activity is being concentrated.

*Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann drew up a list of the alleged drug locations. “The building locations — both residential and commercial — were mentioned along with lengthy descriptions of the specific drug activity at those sites,” said Pulaski. “Four other sites mentioned were in parks and schoolyards.”

Ya know, like that dude who camps out around the corner from the grocery store on 72nd and 5th that looks like he’s strung out on heroin – just as one example.

According to Dean Rasinya, even tho borough-wide narcotics arrests are down 45%, arrests in the 68th precinct are up by 10%. All while calling on the borough narcotics command to work with the 68th precinct- who are working with 40 less officers than usually assigned.

Just two months ago, Helena De Paola, owner of Indoor Outdoor Garden on 5th evenue, had her Ridge Boulverd home broken into on a weekday morning.

Helena, thankfully, was not home at the time – the suspect was eventually arrested and taken into custody by the 68.

He was reportedly found with various drug paraphernalia, heroin, and stolen checks.

(Photo courtesy: The Brooklyn Eagle, Georgine Benvenuto)