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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 371-05
September 28, 2005

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND POLICE COMMISSIONER KELLY ANNOUNCE OPENING OF POLICE SUBSTATION ON STATEN ISLAND

Substation is a Forerunner to a Fourth Precinct For Staten Island

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced plans to open a police substation on Staten Island.  The substation is the forerunner to building a fourth precinct for Staten Island.  The establishment of a fourth precinct is currently in the planning stages and the funds for the construction of the stationhouse are already in the capital plan.  The substation will open in approximately two weeks and will cover three sectors of the 122nd Precinct that together comprise about a third of the existing precinct.  Initially, the substation will consist of a large trailer and will later be replaced with a larger modular building.  More than 30 Police Officers will work out of the substation to patrol the designated area, which includes Chelsea, Travis and New Springville.  Joining Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly were Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro, State Senator Diane J. Savino, Assemblyman Matthew Mirones, City Councilmember Oddo and City Councilmember Lanza.

"The need for a fourth police precinct on Staten Island is well known," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "Today's announcement brings some of the benefits of an additional police precinct to Staten Island while the City continues the process of planning, designing and building a new stationhouse for a fourth precinct.  Staten Island makes up 19% of the City's landmass, is the fastest growing borough by population, has roads that tend to be narrower than the rest of the City, and is served by only three police precincts.  The police substation, and the future fourth precinct, will lead to quicker response times throughout the borough and help drive crime even lower."

"The new facilities on the Western shore will be good for both the Police Officers assigned to them and the public they serve," said Commissioner Kelly.

In February, Mayor Bloomberg asked that Commissioner Kelly to determine whether there was a need for a fourth precinct on Staten Island.  In March, Commissioner Kelly's review found that there was a need for an additional police precinct.  The new precinct will be carved out of an area currently covered by the 122nd and 120th precincts on the western shore of Staten Island. 

In May 2005, the Mayor included $25 million in capital funds for the construction of a fourth precinct stationhouse in the Executive Budget.  The Executive Budget contained $5.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) '06 for site acquisition and design for the new precinct stationhouse.  In FY '07, another $17 million has been allocated for construction.  In addition, the capital budget has also allocated $36 million for the construction of a modern new stationhouse for the 120th Precinct.

"Once again, Mayor Bloomberg has fulfilled his commitment to Staten Island," said Borough President Molinaro.  "His announcement of a fourth precinct will continue his Administration's extraordinary record of crime reduction. As the fastest-growing Borough in New York City, the Mayor saw the need for a fourth precinct on Staten Island, he researched it, and now he's announced it. Thanks to Mayor Bloomberg, Staten Island will continue to lead the City in crime reduction."

"Fighting crime is essential to enhancing the quality-of-life for Staten Island residents," said Congressman Fossella.  "As the borough has grown, our police officers have continued to do outstanding work but it's clear that resources have been stretched thin.  A new police precinct will allow the NYPD to enhance crime fighting and more effectively patrol the Borough.  I salute the men and women of the NYPD for their continued dedication to keeping our streets safe. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg for once again making fighting crime a top priority and for leading the way in opening a new fourth police precinct on Staten Island."

"This is a great victory for the residents of Staten Island and the activists from C.O.P.S. led by Victoria Fagan, who have been tireless in their efforts to convince the City and the Mayor that this 4th Precinct was necessary," said State Senator Diane J. Savino.  "I want to thank everyone who made this possible."

"I applaud Mayor Bloomberg's leadership and commitment to the people of Staten Island. As the fastest growing community in New York State, a fourth precinct will ensure that we have the resources necessary to keep Staten Island the safe community it is to live, work and raise our families," said Assemblyman Matthew Mirones.

"This is great news for Staten Island," said Council Member Lanza. "Mayor Bloomberg's commitment to combating crime and protecting the people of Staten Island is unimpeachable. Mayor Bloomberg is once again showing that he will never allow Staten Island to become the forgotten borough."

"Today's announcement is a fabulous victory for all those who have fought for the fourth precinct, and is a firm down payment by the Mayor and the City Council on our commitment to building the permanent precinct," said Council Member McMahon.

"The NYPD does a great job in this borough and our city and with additional resources such as this temporary facility they will be empowered to do even more to address the quality of life concerns of Staten Island," said Council Member Oddo.  "This is welcomed news and today is a very good day for Staten Islanders."

Staten Island's three current police precincts are some of the City's largest.  The 122nd  Precinct is the largest in the City at 27 square miles.  The 2nd largest in the City is the 123rd which is 17.5 square miles.  The 4th largest precinct is the 120th which is 14.1 square miles.  Staten Island Police Officers are required to cover an unusually large area, reducing their visibility on patrol.  Precinct staffing in Staten Island is up 8% since 2002.  Since 2001, crime is down 11% on Staten Island.

Staten Island's population grew by 17% from 1990 to 2000 according to the 2000 Census.  Citywide, population grew by 9.4% in the same period.  Staten Island's population grew by another 4.4% between 2000 and 2004, and has a current estimated population of 468,000 people - the equivalent of the 36th largest city in the nation.  In addition, housing units in Staten Island also grew by 17%, compared to a 7% increase citywide from 1990 to 2000.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Robert Lawson   (212) 788-2958

Paul Browne   (Police Department)
(646) 610-6700




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