Manhattan neighborhood has become ‘a 24-hour drug and sex den,’ parents beg NYPD to ‘do something’
Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood has become a ’24-hour drug and sex den’ according to its residents, as vagrants deal and use drugs in sight of a nearby school.
Parents told Fox 5 that their children have become exposed to nudity, sex acts and drug use while business owners deal with constant break-ins. Some said they are begging city officials and the police department to do something.
The new criminal activity is centered on West 21st Street between 8th and 9th avenues by P.S. 011 William T. Harris.
Vivek Batra, a local co-op owner, said ‘you can see people over here shooting up, smoking. I find pipes. I find needles in the streets and kids are playing right here.
‘What’s worse is it’s not just at night, it’s during the day.’
Residents have reported seeing vagrants openly smoking crystal meth during the daytime and within sight of a nearby school
Local co-op owner Vivek Batra said he spent ‘about $60,000’ on cameras and locks to prevent break-ins, which have not been successful
Rainbow Station, an adult entertainment store on 8th Avenue between 20th Street and 21st Street, recently had a 38-year-old man found dead from an apparent overdose inside one of its private video booths.
One man caught on film in Fox 5’s report is openly smoking what police said is most likely crystal meth.
In addition to what Batra sees on the streets himself, he has also caught an intruder on camera breaking into the basement of his building and stealing a bike.
‘We put about $60,000 worth of video intercoms, magnetic locks, cameras everywhere,’ Batra said. ‘They broke into our basement multiple times,’
‘They’re repeated offenders and if we don’t stop that flow, we’re going to have a harder time of getting those numbers under control,’ NYC Mayor Eric Adams said during a July press conference.
NYPD 10th Precinct’s Captain Robert Gault said the cause of the recent increase of drug activity in the neighborhood is because of bail laws.
Cash bails, which require a suspect to deposit a sum of money to be released, were eliminated in New York by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019 for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.
Those accused would then be released without any restrictions after being issued an appearance ticket.
Rainbow Station (pictured) recently had a 38-year-old man found dead from an apparent overdose inside one of its private video booths
NYPD 10th Precinct Captain Robert Gault (pictured) recalled arresting one woman who was smoking crystal meth, bringing her to the station, and releasing her hours later
Any drug-related arrest would fall under either a misdemeanor or nonviolent felony.
‘Our patrol arrests are up 37% right now year-to-date, and then when you look at the narcotics arrests also, we’re at a 37% increase year-to-date,’ Gault said.
‘We’re arresting the individuals, we’re bringing them in, but what we’re seeing, unfortunately, is they’re right back out there and the addiction doesn’t go away.’
Gault recalled one recent arrest in which a woman, who was caught smoking crystal meth by the scaffolding close to P.S. 011, was brought in, received a ticket and then left the station a few hours later.
Another man his precinct brought in had 151 previous arrests. He also received a ticket and was let go.
‘The police are trying to do their bit and they said their hands are tied, basically,’ Batra said. ‘All they can do is arrest them, write out a report, and they’re out in minutes and they’re back out here all over again.’
Adams added: ‘I cannot be clearer that we have created an atmosphere in the city, if not the country, that people who commit these crimes are not being held accountable, and that sends a signal on the streets that “We can continue to commit these crimes.”‘
