In early February, Bronx City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca Jr. challenged the city’s “far-left” Democrats — many who seek to scale back the NYPD’s funding capacity — to talk to his constituents about how defunding the police ensures their safety.
Salamanca, 42, implied that his constituents, who reside within the 17th City Council District and 41st Precinct in the South Bronx, would likely be opposed to any measure that would reduce the capacity and scope of police in those neighborhoods.
A few weeks after his challenge to progressives went unanswered, the Bronx Times decided to take up the task and ventured into portions of Salamanca’s district to speak with residents of Hunts Point, Longwood and Melrose. In the end, there didn’t seem to be a consensus — some agreed with Salamanca, while others didn’t.
The 41st Precinct primarily serves Hunts Point and Longwood, including its main shopping district, which is located on Southern Boulevard from Westchester Avenue to East 163rd Street.
The most recent NYPD crime data suggests crime in the precinct area is outpacing 2022 numbers with 278 major crime incidents this year compared to 249 incidents — over the same timeframe — last year.
Resident Domenica Reyes feels her Hunts Point neighborhood is like any other in New York City, there’s good days and bad days, but told the Bronx Times she feels police don’t solve crimes, rather they react and respond to them.
Others like Alvarado Green, a longtime Longwood resident, says crime evolves with the seasons, but feels that the local police are “ill-equipped” to prevent crime or handle the emotions of residents affected by it.
“Sometimes you’ll see them in uniform, other times they’re undercovers, but the interactions are always hostile, always on edge,” said Green. “I don’t think there’s trust both ways here. Most don’t live in the community, or take the time to know us outside perp and victim.”
I challenge far left…
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