Manhattan Community Board #3

            Community Board 3 in Manhattan is located in the East Village and Lower East Side and meets many times a month to discuss issues surrounding their neighborhoods.  However the issue of disruptions in quality life due to a high concentration of establishments with liquor licenses in this area has been visited more than others.

            Most recently, members of the Community Board have suggested designated areas for nightlife, or “no-go” zones.  Although the concept is abstract, residents worry that the impact of underutilized private space and gentrification has triggered a robust community response to noise. 

            “Within these ‘no-go’ entertainment zones,” explains Kirsten Demaline, a member of the Community Board 3, “it is assumed that police have an increasing challenge in maintaining order and protecting residential interests I term of quality of life or property protection.”

            NYPD misdemeanor-level data taken from 2007-2010 demonstrates certain patterns from the three precincts within this community district: the 5^th, 7^th, and 9^th precincts. 

1.     Disorderly Conduct:  This is a violation beneath the level of a criminal misdemeanor.  Most likely the violator will be charged a nominal fine.  The number of summonses that were issued in this category between 2007 and 2010 has had a major increase of 53% in the past four years.

2.     Public Urination “C” Summonses:  Public urination has been an issue for the members of the board for many years.  However in the past four years, the number of violators has risen 26%

3.     DWI Arrests:  The number of DWI arrests has decreased by 4% in District 3 but has increased in a number of the surrounding districts.  The worst, is the increase in district 9 at 203%.  In an effort to decrease this number, members have suggested checkpoints or another implement for west side drivers leaving the nightlife district.

“In the 9^th precinct, the number of summons issued for misdemeanors actually increased to a large extent across the board through 2010,” Demaline offered, however, “this does not necessarily indicate the levels of offensive behavior have increased… enforcement changed could also bolster numbers.”

Members have been actively involved in trying to create solutions to these problems, but haven’t found a plan that could work.

Source for Data and Photos:

Quality of Life Doc.