News Of The Neighborhoods

Shea Cops Go Green

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced last week that police assigned to the NYPD Shea Stadium detail will be part of a citywide NYPD/FDNY pilot program testing eco-friendly scooters designed to cut gas consumption.

Shea Stadium police will patrol on two types of "Green" scooters, Bloomberg said:

•The all-electric, two-wheeled Vetrix electric scooter is capable of running 55 miles on a single charge, and has a top speed of 60 mph. It weighs 464 pounds and sits about 30-inches from the ground.

•The three-wheeled stand-up Transporter operates on two, lightweight rechargeable batteries capable of running three to four hours between charges. The Transporter is capable of reaching speeds up to 25 mph, weighs 300 pounds, and officers stand on a platform that is 9-inches from the ground. The Transporter carries a $9,000 price tag, officials said.

Community Boards Spared Budget Cuts

Officials at Community Boards throughout Queens are breathing a sigh of relief this week after a last minute deal between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City Council spared them from municipal budget cuts.

Community boards all over the city were expected to see their budgets cut by $10,000 under a preliminary plan announced by Bloomberg.

Thanks to last-minute negotiations by each of Queens' 14 community boards, they will receive an average of $200,000 for the new fiscal year, which began July 1.

The community boards, established in the mid-1970s, are a direct link to City Hall and municipal programs and services. A salaried district manager operates each board, with oversight from a nonsalaried chairperson.

Volunteer board members meet formally once each month from September to June, hearing arguments on local matters and making decisions on zoning and other issues that impact neighborhoods.

School Crimes Plummet

Crime in city public schools took a nosedive this year according to Department of Education (DOE) officials who reported a 100 per cent drop in rapes, a 27 per cent drop in robberies in the community and an 11 per cent drop in robberies in public schools throughout the city from July 2007 to June 2008.

DOE officials said the crime dip was the result of collaboration between DOE, the NYPD, teachers, principals, parents and students who made an effort to combat crime in city schools.

Officials said the number of weapons seized at city schools also plummeted by 19 per cent during the last school year.

- Compiled By Liz Goff