Just a brief note to commemorate the semi-decennial NYPD drug sweep at the Queensbridge Houses.
I keep track of these things. (I live nearby.) 9 raids. 22 arrests. 4 handguns.
Last time this happened was 2013. And that was preceded by similar raids in 2009 and 2005. Sometimes police get disparaged for conducting wack-a-mole policing. (In fact, sometimes *I’ve* disparaged police for this reason.) But one of the reasons crime is so low in NYC is because police do wack those criminal moles (and have the resources to do so) when criminals pop their heads up. Illegal public drug-dealing, so linked to violence, is exactly what police need to focus on. And the residents of America’s largest public housing complex can be a little less afraid.
There will be another similar raid in Queensbridge in 2023. Mark my words. But maybe that is exactly what is needed. Or maybe a little more continued presence now, rather than a few years, really could prevent the next crew from popping up.
2021 Update: I was off by two years. https://queensda.org/more-than-two-dozen-reputed-gang-members-charged-in-indictment-crimes-include-murder-attempted-murder-and-gun-possession-in-and-around-astoria-long-island-city-housing-developments/
I am very interested in learning more about this concept of "whack-a-mole" policing. To my knowledge this is a fairly new tactic that requires a significant amount of resources. You have predicted for another event similar to this occur in Queensbridge in 2023. Are you predicting that these events have a five year spread?
I think that it is amazing that they have raided another house/area and stopped these criminals. I also agree with you and feel that if raids were done on a more consistent basis, that would create presence that is needed and maybe help lower the crime rate.