Curt Ritter 212-788-2971
MAYOR GIULIANI EXPANDS "DRUG FREE PARKS" TO INCLUDE SIX ADDITIONAL PARKS CITYWIDE
Mayor Recalls the Life and Death of Anti-Drug Crusader, Maria Hernandez, Who Was Shot to Death by Drug Dealers in 1989
As part of the City's continuing efforts to rid neighborhoods and schools of drugs, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced that he will expand Drug Free Parks initiative -- successfully implemented in Washington Square Park -- to include a total of six additional parks in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Staten Island and Queens. The Mayor also dedicated the City's efforts to the life and death of Maria Hernandez, who was shot to death by drug dealers in 1989 as she tried to rid her Bushwick neighborhood of the scourge of drugs.
Joining the Mayor today for the announcement at Maria Hernandez Park in Brooklyn were Carlos Hernandez, Maria's husband; Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington; Police Commissioner Howard Safir; Parks and Recreation Commissioner Henry J. Stern; Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and Council Members Martin Malave-Dilan, Priscilla Wooten and Victor Robles.
"Today, we gather at Maria Hernandez Park to show New Yorkers that it is possible to rid our City's parks and neighborhoods of drugs and make them safe, once again, for our children," said Mayor Giuliani. "In 1989 the City dedicated this park in memory of Maria Hernandez, a community activist who lost her life in her struggle to rid her neighborhood of drug dealers. It is only appropriate -- I'm sure Maria would appreciate it -- that we are here today to announce additional efforts to rid our City's parks of drugs."
The Mayor added, "Effective immediately, we are expanding our Washington Square Park 'Drug-Free Zone' initiative to include Lincoln Terrace Park in East New York, Brooklyn; Foster Park in East Flatbush, Brooklyn; Poe Park in the Fordham section of The Bronx; Markham Playground in West Brighton, Staten Island; Linden Park in Corona, Queens; and Rufus King Park in Jamaica, Queens. Each of these parks was chosen because of chronic complaints of drug activity and a history of drug-related crimes.
"In Washington Square Park, and now, starting today, in these other six locations, drug activity will simply not be tolerated. Anyone caught selling or using drugs in these parks will be arrested and vigorously prosecuted. Each park will also see an increase in police patrols and sting operations to help eradicate the drug problems. And we will continue to ask the Department of Probation and the District Attorney's Offices to urge judges who sentence misdemeanor drug sellers to probation to also place conditions on the offender's probation requiring him or her to stay out of the park in which they were arrested. If found in the park, the offender's probation will be revoked and he or she will immediately be placed in jail.
"Throughout our City, in each community, we will work together, block by block, park by park and school by school to rid New York City of drugs and drug dealers -- just as we have worked together to return Maria Hernandez Park to the residents of Bushwick and reduced crime, Citywide, in record numbers," the Mayor concluded.
Crime in the Bushwick area, covered by the 83rd Precinct, has plummeted since 1993: overall crime has been cut in half; murder has fallen by almost 53 percent; robbery has declined by 52 percent; and car thefts have dropped 63 percent. Similar declines have been seen in other serious crime categories as well: rape is down 33 percent; felony assault has dropped 34 percent; burglary has fallen 51 percent; and grand larceny has been reduced by 46 percent.
"The Police Department will continue its zero-tolerance for drug trafficking in and around our City's parks," said Police Commissioner Safir. "By increasing police presence, conducting undercover operations and through greater coordination between our precincts and park officials, the expansion of our enforcement initiative in Washington Square Park and the implementation of similar efforts in other parks will help us ensure that law-abiding New Yorkers and their families can enjoy our City's parks safely and without the fear of drug traffickers."
In a four day sting operation in Washington Square Park from October 22 through October 25 the Police Department made 95 drug-related arrests.
On October 1, 1997, Mayor Giuliani released a plan to address New York City's drug problem with a three-pronged strategy that encompasses education and prevention, treatment and law enforcement. Yesterday, the Mayor announced an increase of Drug Free School Zones from 40 to 100 schools. Under the program, anyone caught selling drugs within 1,000 feet of school grounds will face enhanced felony penalties.
The Safe Corridor program, which provides young people with extra police protection as they travel to and from schools, has already been increased to 200 schools, with the additional forty schools to be completed by next month.
Highlights of the Mayor's plan to remove drugs from our neighborhoods and schools include a 24 percent increase in BEACON schools; the expansion of drug- and gang-resistance education programs in public schools; a 50 percent increase in substance abuse treatment services provided in City jails; an increase in outpatient and residential treatment programs for substance-abusing probationers and the establishment of a Manhattan Drug Court.
Other measures of the plan redouble law enforcement efforts, including the expansion of drug initiatives to Southeast Queens and the South Bronx and the creation of a special Hotline (1-888-374-DRUG) for citizens to report drug activity in their neighborhoods.
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