Range Of Complaints Aired At 108th CC Meeting
BY THOMAS COGAN

Executive Officer Captain Bill McBride conducted the May meeting of the 108th Precinct Community Council, in place of Precinct Commander Captain Thomas Kavanagh. McBride made a crime report, then listened to inquiries and complaints from those assembled at Sunnyside Community Services.

For the period ended Sunday, May 27, McBride reported, there were no homicides but grand larcenies and grand larceny auto incidents were up, the latter a glaring 25 percent, from 20 to 25. The burglary count was down, however. The captain, anticipating the July 4 holiday to come, issued a warning against firecrackers. He then turned to the audience and heard what one man called his "usual complaint" about bicyclists on the sidewalks, particularly delivery riders, who, he said, are going to do somebody serious injury before long. Another man said one of his neighbors has turned his basement into a party room, which means too much noise and probably worse: he said he has witnessed what must be drug deals made on the premises. A Woodside woman said the contents of a clothing donation box on 43rd Avenue near Roosevelt Avenue have been spilled all over the ground. Another Woodside woman said there must be three families living in a space intended for one in an apartment near her. A woman living in Jackson Heights, where the 108th Precinct ends and the 115th begins, said the sign for a bus stop on 69th Street is often moved, to the point where even the bus drivers are confused, not to speak of the passengers. Meanwhile, back in Sunnyside, persons at the 47th Street end of the Bliss Street station on the No. 7 elevated train line are often opening the alarm gate there, causing a loud siren to go off and, more to the point, letting platoons of other people in to ride illegally. McBride said he would try to be attentive to disruptive behavior and illegal drugs, and get after the people who are supposed to maintain the clothing box; but overcrowded apartments are matters for the housing authorities and insecure bus stops a Department of Transportation matter.

He replied in the affirmative when asked if vendors on Roosevelt Avenue near 61st Street are required to have and display licenses, and added that they are subject to police inspection any time- with the exception of book vendors, who are protected by the First Amendment. Graffiti inevitably reared its head as a woman asked about a tagger known as GTP, whom the captain immediately identified as "Going to Prison", if only he could be caught. The woman also asked about another individual with the tag "SS". Is it true he is a 24-year-old who was recently stabbed and run over by persons of hostile intent but who has since recovered, to return to continue his inscriptions? Yes, the captain assured her, he's a tough one. Skateboarders? They're all over the steps of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church at Roosevelt Avenue and 58th Street, and the captain will look into that too. Bars are always likely to cause problems, there are so many of them, and one woman asked what hours they are allowed to be open. The captain said they may open as early as 8 o'clock in the morning and close as late, or early, as 4 a.m.

The recent killings of Auxiliary Police in Manhattan and a rescue operation at the Board of Education building on Vernon Boulevard with a more fortunate outcome have put the Auxiliary Police in the news, so the captain was glad to announce that at the Flag Day ceremonies in Sabba Park on Saturday, June 9, the 108th Precinct Auxiliary Police will be grand marshals. They are scheduled to assemble on Greenpoint Avenue at 10 a.m.