There have been a disturbing number of shootings on Franklin Avenue in the past few months.  The most recently, last week as chronicled on the Brooklynian message board.   In response, we recently received the following notice from the Crow Hill Community Association (CHCA), which is organizing folks to start a letter writing campaign to stop Commissioner Kelly from pulling the Impact Zone from Franklin and Nostrand Avenues.  Please join in!!  We have adapted CHCA’s letter so that it is relevant to both Franklin Avenue and Nostrand Avenue.

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Hello All,

By this time, you probably know a young man was shot in the leg on Franklin Avenue, Saturday afternoon at about 2:30 [p.m.].  What you might not know is that Commissioner Kelly is planning to pull the Impact Zone from Franklin and Nostrand Avenues at the end of the month.

This means we will lose the increased foot patrol that has had such a positive effect on our community since January.  We got the first Impact Zone as the result of a very strong letter writing campaign.  We need to do another immeadiately!!!

Even while our neighborhood continues to improve, this is the 3rd shooting on Franklin since the middle of May.  Below (and attached as a word.doc) is a letter to send to Commissioner Kelly.  PLEASE do it today.

You can send the letter the way it is, or even better, personalize it: Say how long you have lived in the community, mention if you are raising a family here or if you have a business in the area.

But the most important thing is to send it!  We would like to have an idea of how many letters go out, so when you send yours, please reply to this email and just say “I did it”. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the About Time Kids Day event this coming Saturday on Franklin between Park & Sterling, stop by the Crow Hill table and say hi.

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July 18, 2010

Raymond Kelly

Commissioner, NYPD

One Police Plaza

New York, NY 10038

Dear Commissioner Kelly:

I am a resident of [the Crow Hill section of] Crown Heights and I understand that at the end of the month Nostrand Avenue and Franklin Avenue will no longer be part of the Impact Zone. Given the escalation of gun violence on Franklin over the last couple of months and the rampant drug trade that was recently uncovered on Nostrand Avenue, I find this alarming; just this past Saturday someone was shot on our crowded summer street at 2:30 in the afternoon. We can not afford to lose this protection!

The Impact Zone officers have had a very positive effect on Nostrand Avenue and Franklin Avenue. The large groups of aggressive young men hanging out on our street corners have diminished and there is less evidence of drug activity, this in turn has led to a more vibrant street life for residents which we both know is an excellent deterrent to crime.  But with summer here, it is critical to keep a strong police presence on our commercial strips.

We must not allow Nostrand Avenue or Franklin Avenue to revert back to more dangerous times.

These shootings MUST stop.  Please keep the Impact Zone on Nostrand Avenue and Franklin Avenue.

Sincerely,

(your name)
(your address)

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