Precinct Council Seeks Greater Participation By ABIGAIL GOLDMAN The 52nd Precinct Community Council, a volunteer organization that provides a forum for community residents to meet with local police officers and the precinct commander, wants more people to come to its monthly meetings. Steven Bussell, president of the Council, says that citizens have a unique opportunity to pose questions to officers and air their complaints. On the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m., the Council holds a meeting at one of a number of locations throughout the precinct. Bussell, who has led the Council for nearly two years, is joined by six other board members and four or five police officers, including Deputy Inspector Joseph B. Hoch, commander of the 52nd Precinct. The precinct covers Norwood, Bedford Park, North Fordham and University Heights. The meetings follow a set format: the minutes are read, the commanding officer gives an overview of crime statistics, and then those in attendance can ask questions. Afterwards, a guest speaker discusses a community issue in detail. Previous guest speakers have included Council Member Joel Rivera and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. "One of the benefits of attendance is the fact that [people who attend the meetings] get access to important people -- the Congressional representatives and assemblymen," Bussell stressed. "It's not only the police." Sallie Caldwell, the Council's correspondent secretary, described the meetings as an opportunity to "throw your question at the people who are supposed to be out there taking care of the street for you. You can pinpoint them when you come to a meeting [and] hold them accountable for what is going on in your neighborhood." Meetings draw from 40 to 60 attendees, 25 of whom are "regulars," according to Bussell. The meeting location changes every month to attract nearby residents. Yet Council members are not happy with this turnout, and feel that perhaps the sheer number of Bronx community organizations detracts from their own. "If they [community groups] would all get together and work with the Council to air out their issues as a group, I think it would accomplish a lot more things," said Ena Nemley, the Council's vice president. (Other Council board members include Treasurer Kathy Mahoney, Recording Secretary Brenda Caldwell, Sergeant-at-Arms Larry Laflamme and Attendance Secretary Gwen Hunter.) Bussell feels a "reluctance to come to our meetings" and says he wants it known that "people who come to the Council meetings can get things done." "There are specific issues that police can handle pretty quickly from the community affairs side," Bussell emphasized. "And there are larger issues as well, like Operation Impact. People in University Heights have been bombarded. They came to the meetings. When they came back, they said they noticed change." Caldwell puts it bluntly. "If we haven't heard of your problem, what can we do?" she said. Ed. note: For more information about the 52nd Precinct Community Council, call (718) 220-5824. The next meeting of the Council will be on Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Brendan's School Cafeteria, 333 E. 206th St.
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