By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LOWER MANHATTAN — Community Board 1 has formed a taskforce to combat a spike in crime downtown.
That spike hasn’t happened just yet — in fact, crime is down in all major categories in lower Manhattan’s 1st Precinct compared to last year.
However, some residents are alarmed by recent incidents near the South Street Seaport and in Battery Park City and want to take preemptive action.
“Rather than wait for the situation to get worse, we should be ahead of the curve,” said Julie Menin, chairwoman of CB1.
Menin pointed out that the city’s murder rate is rising, and while lower Manhattan has not seen any murders this year, “It could be a matter of time,” Menin said. “What we have to do is make sure we don’t see spikes.”
John Fratta, who chairs the new CB1 Crime Taskforce, said at the first meeting Monday night that he grew concerned after the rowdy teenagers who hang out in front of the Fulton Street Burger King attacked a Southbridge Towers resident last month. Southbridge’s management put up a fence after the incident to keep the teens away.
Fratta and other residents also mentioned a Battery Park City teen who was attacked last month on Rector Place. Several other teens beat the 17-year-old boy with a metal pipe and an umbrella, the Tribeca Trib reported.
“If you don’t deal with these small problems, it gets worse,” said Fratta, 57, a Southbridge resident.
Anthony Notaro, 58, chairman of the 1st Precinct Community Council, said that while downtown’s population has exploded over the past 10 years, the precinct’s does not have any additional officers. He suggested the new taskforce advocate for more resources for the precinct.
“We’re not looking to send the message that the 1st Precinct is not doing their job — they are,” Fratta added. “Our concern is manpower.”
CB1’s Crime Taskforce will hold another meeting next month, which the 1st Precinct and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office will attend.
