Following a two-month summer hiatus, Bronx Community Board 4 met last Tuesday night to raise a sweeping breadth of concerns, ranging from safety and sanitation concerns to a spike in moped robberies.
Assembly Member Landon Dais of the New York State Assembly for the 77th District opened with “somewhat good news” from his office, including the installation of two district sanitation cameras to disincentivize dumping and catch perpetrators.
“I’m tired of seeing garbage in our community,” Dais said.
Of 10 cameras coming to The Bronx, two will be installed in the wider neighborhood, with one specifically in Highbridge.
According to Deputy Inspector Anthony J. Mascia of the 44th Precinct, the community will also pilot a new safety initiative to combat an uptick in robberies and noise complaints from the summer months. At the heart of the initiative is FUSUS, an opt-in, community-based security camera integration platform scheme unveiled by Mayor Eric Adams in May earlier this year, which will allow businesses to share real-time footage with police to help solve crimes.
“With [FUSUS], we’re able to tap into some local businesses… whether a business is open or closed, or if the building manager is there or not,” Mascia said. “It’s so important that we have the camera so we have the right people targeted.”
The scheme will also double in part to catch highly sophisticated moped robbers, notorious for switching clothing and bikes. In the week prior, there were four offenders snatching residents’ neck chains and cellphones, and on Tuesday, police seized 26 unregistered scooters.
“It’s a never-ending problem,” said Mascia.
The precinct has also clamped down on the number of illegal marijuana stores, shutting down 20. Two stores reopened since, prompting a string of arrests for those responsible.
The gathering also marked Beverly Bond’s first meeting as newly-elected Board Chair. The community board is, however, without a district manager.
The board also highlighted festivities like Hispanic Heritage Month, an October Celebration at The Max Schoenfeld School, and a $1 million cheque to The Hip Hop Museum by Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson in recognizing the 51st anniversary of Hip-Hop.
“This is our community,” said Bronx resident and attendee Tyreke Israel. “At the end of the day, this is where we live, this is where we eat, this is where we have a roof over our heads and where we raise our kids. It’s time for us to address our community.”
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