Vallone Wants More Blue And Gold Amid Flushing Meadows' Green Acres
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Vallone (D- Astoria) stated: "The NYPD is stretched to the limits, but we need to ensure that our officers are where they can do the most good."

After a recent report showing that criminal activity in Flushing Meadows- Corona Park remained the second highest in New York City, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. called on the New York City Police Department to add a permanent police presence in Queens' largest outdoor facility.

In making the request, Vallone (D- Astoria) stated: "The NYPD is stretched to the limits, but we need to ensure that our officers are where they can do the most good."

Vallone, chair of the council Public Safety Committee, added: "Flushing Meadows- Corona Park is a valuable asset to Queens, but our residents must feel safe in order to use it. Although crime is at an all-time low, we can always be doing more to keep New Yorkers safer."

Vallone said park crime statistics for the third quarter showed there were 21 crimes committed in the park in both the second and third quarters of this year, which was an increase of two and five crimes, respectively, from the corresponding quarters last year.

The only park in New York City with a higher crime rate than Flushing Meadows- Corona Park is Central Park in Manhattan.

Vallone said that for the first three quarters of 2007, ending September 10, Flushing Meadows- Corona Park had a total of 43 crimes, only one of which was reported during the first quarter because of the low park usage from January through March.

The third quarter total of 43 crimes compared to about 90 crimes in Central Park during the same period, Vallone noted. The city park with the next closest number of crimes was Prospect Park in Brooklyn, which had 27 crimes in the third quarter, Vallone said.

Vallone and other public figures in Queens for a long time have called for a greater police presence in Flushing Meadows- Corona Park. These requests have varied from a new police precinct to cover the park area to a mobile command center to added patrols.

The NYPD in its responses has noted that crime statistics from the park were an aberration caused by one particular set of thugs during a crime spree last fall and winter, Vallone pointed out.

But, he said, crime figures covering the first three quarters of this year confirm that there is a continuing need for more officers to stop more crimes from occurring.

"People go to the park for peace and solitude, and that is both their greatest advantage and their greatest danger," Vallone said. "We want people to be able to wander the city's wonderful green areas, but still see enough blue and gold to feel safe."

- John Toscano