Carroll Gardens' Corridor of Crime

Carroll Gardens crime was the subject at a Nov. 2 meeting of the 76th Precinct Community Council. One resident, Nicole, told police that, above all, "residents are afraid of gunshots." The gunshots emanate from what is commonly known as the "corridor of crime," Warren Street between Wyckoff Gardens and the Gowanus Houses. Nicole, a young mother, also voiced her concern about a teenage girl who was killed in the "corridor" about six months ago. She told police that "every car on the block has been keyed," reports the Brooklyn Eagle.

The "corridor of crime" is in the 76^th Precinct. The police precinct's commander, Capt. John Lewis, has been sending auxiliary police to the area. He assured residents that "the auxiliaries would be sent again," and that police would circulate "gun stopper" cards that promise a $1,000 reward for information leading to illegal guns. Lewis pointed out, however, that the "people in the brownstones" do not have the information; the "people in the projects" have it.

His statement designates the "corridor of crime" as a socio-economic problem. The "people in the brownstones" have money. The "people in the projects" are low-income residents.

Society has come to accept, and even expect, crime in low-income areas. Does anyone else see something wrong with this scenario? Money buys safety. People who are short on cash are subjected to living in danger and our society accepts it?

The overall crime in Carroll Gardens is comparable to other Brooklyn neighborhoods. As of Oct. 24, there have been 487 crime complaints this year, including two murders, two rapes and 76 felonious assaults. The other 407 crimes were all forms of theft, according to the NYPD's CompStat report.