[TheBurgerking]

Is it me, or is the drug dealing on St. John's and Franklin out of hand? Perhaps it is me, because I am around during the day and I see it. But as clear as day I see hand offs, and guys going to their stash in nearby garbages. I guess I am just surprised by how obvious it all is. Are the cops on the take or just don't care?

[whynot_31]

I think some of it has moved to Franklin from Washington.

...yea, they seem to feel no need to be discreet about it.
_________________
Hey you! Enlighten up.

[homeowner]

Yes, its out of hand, yes, the cops don't see the need to arrest people who are only going to be free the next day, yes, the neighbors do complain, and yes, its been like this for years.

I keep hoping that rather than have cell phone ticket sweep days they'll have a corner drug dealing sweep day, but no such luck yet.

[MeredithB]

What are they selling?
_________________
Walking on the beaches looking at the peaches.

[whynot_31]

I've seen very small "rock" bags, but mostly weed bags.

...I also regularly see bent, burnt metal spoons, supporting my "rock" theory.
_________________
Hey you! Enlighten up.

[raw]

[bluemagoo]

The police respond to complaints, the more the better. They will also respond to complaints from elected officials. All precincts have monthly community meetings where things like this can be brought up directly with the precinct commander. If there are any neighborhood associations they can be contacted as they may have connections with the police that can be tapped.

I would guess that the local cops know all about this location but again they respond to pressure from above so you have to push at times to get them to act.

For your safety I would try to be as anonymous as possible but you and others may need to take some risk to get things cleaned up, if it's really a serious quality of life issue for you.

Back in the day, mid 1980s, there used to be wide open pot dealing in Marine Park at the intersection of E 31 St and Fillmore Ave. This went on for years and there were lots of cars pulling up to deal especially on Fri & Sat nights. The police did nothing until there was a robbery that went bad and one local was shot and then the dealing stopped at that location almost overnight. FWIW Marine Park, was and mostly still is, a middle class white neighborhood. There are lots of city workers who live in the area who had to see the dealing going on but apparently did nothing about it. Maybe those dealers were "connected" and the cops where being paid off which worked OK until the shooting and then community pressure finally put a halt to the dealing?

[whynot_31]

[shake]

[shake]

[TheBurgerking]

I assumed it was only weed.

[whynot_31]

have your investigator look for tiny "fingernail sized" little bags (the kind too small for $5 worth of weed). ...also, have him look for burnt and bent metal spoons.

I have no direct knowledge of what is being sold, but the spoon/micro baggie combination points to something that either will not burn without constant flame (crack, heroin, or hash) or needs to made into a solution prior to injection (heroin).

...does any one still use hash balls? The last time I saw the "press the hash ball between two hot metal objects, then suck the smoke thru a funnel" method was college.

P.S. I agree most of the guys are selling weed (and the majority of baggies seen are weed size) , but something else is available too.
_________________
Hey you! Enlighten up.

[Hatemail]

Just put one of these up right? Should work.

_________________
"My main objective is to be professional but to kill him." - Mike Tyson

[Jay B]

Crack is still big in this neighborhood. I stayed home one day last week and a lady came into my apartment building (the front door is broken) and laid down right outside my door. She then proceeded to smoke crack. At least I think it was crack - I know it wasn't weed or a cigarette by the smell. I called 911 but the cops came after she bounced. This is about a block from the drug dealing spot we're talking about. Can't wait til August when it's time move out of this crappy neighborhood!

[ntfool]

[TheBurgerking]

Wow, made Brownstoner!


http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archiv.....g_dealing_ho.php#comments

[whynot_31]

KWAC and Paraderest, care to chime in?

...are you guys seeing an increase in dealing as well?
_________________
Hey you! Enlighten up.

[mantic]

The area you are taking about was/is/will be notorious for drug dealings.
They sent in the crack 20 odd years ago, destroyed the neighbor hood. Property hit the sewers. It lay dormant for a while, the crack festered. Once all the buildings were bought up at rock bottom the shift to get the suckers in with golden mortgages came. They fixed it up and got new suckers in, took the money and ran. After all these neighborhoods just like this all across the country were looted and gentrified, they pulled the plug and cried broke. Then they got the bailouts.

Anyway. Things were dying down a bit over there. I believe the P-Funk is coming back up over there. Mad mention of that on here some time ago. New neighbors bring new drugs. Crack is definately still in the area.

When will the world look and understand Portugal's experiment gone good.
_________________
Everything you believe to be true, is a lie.

[Flo]

Wow. Do you think someone can get Brownstoner to post that there's a subway stop on Franklin too? I know it's kind of obvious, but they might think it's a scoop and it might generate a lot of comments too.

Brownstoner doesn't purport to actually be news does it because that is just sad.

[ilovefranklinave]

They had one of those Star-Wars-looking NYPD Skyvision towers at that corner for a week or so last September, so unless that was totally unrelated the police have taken action on this corner before.
_________________
http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/

[King without a crown]

Drug dealing has been a staple in the Crown Heights community for ages. What people don't understand is that staffing for the Police force is at the lowest level in decades. There's barely enough Officers to fill the patrol cars. Specialty units have been downsized and abolished. The Police hate the drug dealers as much, if not more than the community, unfortunately the dwindling resources along with a judicial system designed to protect the criminals makes effective Policing quite difficult these days. It's quite frustrating locking up these criminals day in and day out, only to see them released with a slap on the wrist the very next day.

[Flo]

King- I'm not sure if you are a cop or not and I certainly respect your right to speak your mind here. But I have to tell you that saying the judicial system is designed to protect the criminals and that police hate the drug dealers as much if not more than the community doesn't give me confidence in you. I think it sounds like bad PR for the police. (That is sincerely my opinion-no jokes.)

[whynot_31]

Flo, King (aka KWAC) is a cop. ...but we are about to go way off topic into the present functioning (ok, lack of functioning) of the judical system. Suffice it to say, most cops believe it is a joke. (but this is a different thread).

Back on topic:

KWAC, are you seeing an increase in crack sales on Franklin? ...or do you think we are just noticing it more for some reason? ...do think it has simply moved from Washington? Weed and crack, check. What else is available on Franklin at the moment?

(note to drug users: Fear not, there are still some dealers on Washington ...you likely don't need to walk all the way to Franklin)

...back to KWAC: Yes, I agree, a lot of the open sales likely has to do with decreased police presence. However, do you think frequent calling by locals will increase the police presence? ...or do you only want folks to call if we have specific information: "The big stash is kept in the bush." "The guy with the x color jacket has gun in waist band"
_________________
Hey you! Enlighten up.

[Flo]

Thanks for the input Whynot. I think you asked some good questions. I would like to repeat that I respect KWAC for participating here and for speaking his/her mind. Below are some links to NYPD's website.


http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_077.shtml
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/faq/faq_community.shtml#8

[King without a crown]

I don't think theres an increase in crack sales, rather the newbies are less tolerant of it. You should keep calling 911 and give detailed descriptions of dealers and where they stash their drugs. As for an increase in Police, you can call til your fingers turn blue but, NYPD wont be adaquatly staffed for years to come!

[Flo]

Thanks for the input KWAC. I'll say the same thing to you that I say to cops I know. Hope you stay safe and are well.

[ParadeRest]

With the recent homicide of a rather "successful" dealer on Bedford Avenue, we may start to see a change in some of the local drug trade.

This dealer was shot twice after he came home to find two other gentlemen in his apt. searching for his stash. They did make off with some of his product but left a few pounds behind. The confrontation actually spilled out onto the street where the shooting/killing actually occured.

There have been several arrests on/near Franklin Avenue recently but these guys never have enough product on them to make a difference on the street. These guys get locked up with less than 8 ounces and a few hundred bucks. The next day they are back out and only lost a days worth of work.

Keep in mind that a police officer can not search for drugs. A call to 911 for a "male black wearing a red hoody and blue jeans selling drugs" is not cause for a search. An anonymous call for a weapon is not cause either. If an officer makes other observations besides what is provided to 911 or in addition to then he may be able to articulate a reason for a search. Don't be afraid of these punks. The cops aren't going to knock on your door and drag you out onto the street to point the guy out. Just give 911 your first name and when we call you back to confirm who the perp is please answer the phone.

[whynot_31]

thus the depressing cat and mouse game continues.

...thanks for the advice.

P.S. As usual, drug dealers are their own worse enemy. ..."the cops are just annoying, the other dealers will kill you."
_________________
Hey you! Enlighten up.

[Newbeginnings]

Please contact Ms. Adossa in the Brooklyn DA's office. She is in the process of helping people with these types of problems. 718-250-3370

[Capt. Planet]

Numbers count. Call 911 everytime you see anything. If our 911's show big increases, we will get the cops needed. But we got to make the calls. As usual, it's up to the community to make the big change happen.

[ParadeRest]