Help Needed in Broad Channel

Dear Editor:

As a longtime resident of Broad Channel and a past Safety Captain with the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department, I am writing to bring a VERY SERIOUS matter to your attention! Simply put, our community is being plagued with a rapidly increasing occurrence of speeders and red light offenders through our town. In MANY cases, speeders in both directions are using the turning lanes to blow through red lights without slowing down…sometimes at speeds exceeding 40 – 50+ MPH! This occurs at all hours of the day but is especially dangerous during school hours. I’ve personally experienced near misses on my bicycle and when responding to an emergency in our Department’s ambulance! Unfortunately, it is only a matter of WHEN this dangerous combination will be fatal and as a first responder, I do not look forward to seeing one of my neighbors put into the back of the coroner’s truck in a body bag!

For the past few years, our community has brought this matter to the attention of multiple NCOs and Commanding Officers at the 100th Precinct and have asked for additional red-light cameras to be installed. Officers routinely attend our Civic Association meetings, after which we see some temporary increased NYPD presence. However, more often than not, we are simply given multiple excuses from these officers why they CAN NOT help us. Understandably, the NYPD, as a whole, is understaffed, and we’ve been told that the 100th Precinct has three patrol cars to cover their entire response area, which is simply unacceptable!

How long do we listen to excuse after excuse and simply let these offenders risk the lives of Broad Channel residents before something is done? We need ACTION and we need it YESTERDAY! PLEASE HELP!!

Mo Sartor