We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast...
... for an unscheduled update on life here in Fun City
“You’ve made enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” — Winston Churchill
This past Saturday was sunny, crisp, with a tinge of that umber mood that lets you know autumn’s close. Weather to be outside. Life feels good on a day like this.
Now, your humble narrator is vying for a spot in NYC’s only roller hockey league (surprisingly competitive), so I dug out my skates and headed for the river. There’s an open pier that was recently paved: Hudson River Park at West 36th Street. It’s a bit of a hidden gem — perfect spot to get in game-shape:
There’s usually just a few skateboarders and joggers, maybe dancers making Tik Toks. Parents and kids. But lately, it’s starting to turn, taken over by homeless of the “don’t make eye contact” variety.
This time, amidst the “Saturday in the park” vibe… these fine taxpayers:
In case you missed it, here’s a closeup still:
There were kids nearby, learning to skate, and a young family not 25 feet away, taking in the river air:
Everybody steered clear of the druggies, who for some reason seemed to take forever to finish shooting up.
A common new sight around town: syringes on the streets. And of course, kids see them, and probably step on them or pick them up.
Then, when I happened to look up from my mild constitutional, it was just in time to see this worthy citizen making off with my bag:
He was probably hoping for a cell phone or laptop, but all it had was my sneakers and a skate tool.
I chased him down and we engaged in a reassessment of his prospects, which resulted in the return of my sneakers and his decamping for greener pastures. Maybe he had opera tickets.
Folks, this ain’t rhetoric or statistics. This is all day, every day in this town.
And right on cue, here’s Saturday’s NY Post, discussing… the effect the rampant crime and disorder in NYC is having on children.
Look, I’m a retired cop — I’m in a better position than most to deal with this stuff. But for families and — so conveniently ignored — women, our cities are becoming a daily gauntlet of hazards. Daily. Every woman in this city has a story.
And for kids: Combined with the effects of two years of covid lockdown and eight years of social justice “reforms,” we’ve created a new lost generation.
We start the week with two new pieces just dropped onto our website:
Recently retired NY police exec Al Reilly drops his inaugural article titled “Be Careful What You Wish For,” which rounds up all the factors currently sabotaging NYC’s criminal justice system. It’s a handy guide to exactly why the descent has been so swift and steep. Read it and weep.
And in a Behind the Badge feature, our own Chris Flanagan gives a heartbreaking example of what the change in discovery laws actually did to an elderly New York crime victim. I defy you not to feel this one.
Both pieces should be required reading in Albany, where the RICO that is our state legislature regularly convenes to make things worse.
Both are worth your time.
Raise the Age 1: This story from here in New York, where a career criminal who formerly served as the poster boy for New York’s crim justice “raise the age” reform is being sought for an attempted homicide following a loss at 3-card monte.
There are a few lessons embedded in this debacle. The previous age-of-responsibility in New York had been 16 — which was then raised to 17, and then quickly to 18. Oft-overlooked, it’s one of the “reforms” that keeps perps like Pedro Hernandez free, even as violent recidivists.
But also in this story: (1) The clear lack of fear of any retribution; (2) The willingness to shoot on Fifth Avenue, in front of St. Pat’s, in the middle of the day, amid crowds; and (3). The fact that there even was 3-card monte underway there.
Monte was supposed to be a thing of New York’s past. When I was on patrol as a rookie, God help you if there was a monte game on your post — the Sergeant would crush you. The game is illegal and is often part of a pickpocket scheme; the picks work the crowd of onlookers (often tourists).
Oh yeah — and monte games also lead to disputes (see Hernandez, Pedro).
Like squeegee men, monte games are a surefire “tell” of street conditions. That a monte game was set up and going in front of St. Pat’s, on the verge of the holiday season, is all you need to know.
Raise the Age, 2: We continue to follow the mysterious murders of Devin Clark and Lyric Woods, found shot together on a country road in Orange County, North Carolina. If you’ve been reading, you know that we’ve taken issue with the possibility of the 17-year old, un-apprehended perp being tried as a juvenile. Word is now that the killer — if indeed it is he — could be tried as an adult, pending a decision from the judge. Read this to see the chaotic results of feel-good “reforms” like raise the age.
Because folks, please consider: a 17-year-old is believed to have committed a double homicide, is in the wind, and his identity cannot be released. Meaning the public has no idea who to look out for (and hopefully, avoid). No name, no photo on the news, nothing. And the likelihood is that he is still armed. Let’s just hope he doesn’t kill again.
Didn’t the N. Carolina legislature consider this possibility? And has any media asked?
Look for this case to develop soon — they’ll get him. Then maybe we’ll see how many innocents had near-misses during the manhunt.
New York Underground: Crime in New York’s subways is developing into a hot issue. While the numbers are technically up, police executives contend that the wrong metrics are being used. But is this the correct debate to have? Metrics?
There are two main reasons people avoid the subway these days: Rampant homelessness (every other car seems to have an Emotionally Disturbed Person, many psychotic), and the fact that the perps act with impunity — they will rob or attack you even in a crowd (see Hernandez, Pedro). It’s the random aspect of all this — entering the subway feels like a lottery.
And this is especially true, as we’ve noted, for women. The perps and the disturbed, happily indifferent to debates over what constitutes a “woman,” attack the double-X-chromosomed among us because they view them as easy targets.
There’s a lot of eyes on the subway issue. Transit arrests are up — the cops are doing their bit. The NYPD has two-star Chiefs — a very high rank — doing subway patrols.
And now Governor Hochul, in an effort to look like she is finally doing something, has announced cameras for every subway car. But without incarceration for the perps or a willingness to take on the homeless cartel, all we’re going to end up with is Crime TV. By any metric.
Here’s an idea: Broadcast all those cameras over the internet, live. Crowdsource keeping transit safe by letting our citizens look out for each other. (Prediction: never happen).
Criminal justice reform must look great from the Governor’s mansion. In hi-def.
Intel Brief: Mexico. Your humble narrator contends that of the big three foreign “threats” to the home front — China, Russia, and Iran (some would say China, China, and China) — a fourth need be added: Mexico. In terms of practical impact on the quality of everyday life of our citizens, Mexico’s leadership is hurting us as much as China’s (a big statement, I realize). President Obrador’s blatant willingness to give the narco-cartels free reign, coupled with his refusal to even attempt to enforce his borders, has led to fentanyl becoming the leading cause of death of Americans aged 18 - 45. Additionally, terrorists are walking across the border, and Venezuela, taking a cue from the Cuba of 1980, is apparently emptying its prisons of perps and psychotics in order to ship them here (why do I get the feeling the New York’s subways will soon be even more crowded?).
Please note the distinction I made between Mexicans and their leadership. It’s Obrador who is the issue, not the Mexican people. This Mexican president is not a friendly.
And as we’ve noted, Obrador also seems to have co-opted our own ambassador. Should the Republicans get the House in November, the border is on the agenda for hearings. Representative McCarthy: Don’t forget Ambassador Salazar. As we used to say on the PD, something here is “highly fugazy.”
Bullets: If there’s hope for Iran’s current insurrectionists, it comes from Elon Musk (what doesn’t?). Musk has gotten permission from the Biden administration to fly his internet satellites over Iran. Where they will likely remain. Way to go, Elon…. Today’s geopolitics are, more than ever, a chess game involving energy. So here’s to Jamie Dimon telling Rep. Rashida Tlaib where to get off. Every now and then, you gotta call bs…. Surprisingly, Jen Psaki comes clean on the crime issue for the midterms. Nice try, Jen. Too little, too late…. And finally, for those who responded to our recommendation for the Manhunt: Unabomber series: According to online rumint, Ted Kaczynski has been transferred out of SuperMax to a prison hospital due to terminal cancer. Which may break the heart of his reported prison bestie, World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef.
Until next time: be safe!