A neighbor wrote:
“I just got home, I walked through the park, I counted 15-20 people in Soccer Field tonight. Make shift boxes, mattress, blankets etc. Wow, is this the norm for the upcoming months?
I’m just worried about the children that play on field, isn’t this a health hazard as far as keeping clean. I smell Y2K. I feel bad that we don’t have enough beds for homeless in this City. Just put up gate. I notice our park doesn’t have secure areas for kids such as our sprinklers, now the soccer field. Wow!!!”
Our Answer:
The Police can’t enforce anything without Park’s providing signs or putting up a gate in the field. Parks Enforcement doesn’t have dedicated officers to make this work – AND all law enforcement have other things to do with their time.
We have proposed a solution to the rising use of SDR Park as an encampment for the homeless: a shared building with on-site Homeless Outreach workers and a resiliency/emergency center and meeting space for the community as a whole. It’s a win/win. We have interest (and need) from a homeless provider of good reputation, local community organizations with the know-how and experience who have the trust of this neighborhood.
The Mayor seemed interested at the Town Hall. Our Council Member Chin is on board. The Community Board is with us. What’s the hold up?
We feel the current situation pits vulnerable homeless against other community members and park-users in our neighborhood. It also attracts drug sellers who prey on the homeless. We are urgently in need of an anchor here. One that sites real help for those who are homeless with daily opportunity to build the kinds of relationships that help move people into shelter or homes.
For now:
Call 311 Get the complaint number and call or email the Community Board 3 Office: Susan Stetzer <sstetzer@cb3manhattan.org>.
