Meeting notice and neighbor tips

Hi All,
 
Dont' forget our COMET meeting this Monday, 10/1 at 7:00 pm at the Bethzatha Church, 85-20 57th Avenue.  Parking available. Directions on our website at:  www.cometcivic.com
 
On Thursday, September 27th, DI Michael Cody, and Lt. Lombardi, 104th Precinct, together with Comet President Roe Daraio and Comet VP Michael Harte, met with residents of 71st Street at Maspeth Town Hall to discuss how to resolve problems they are having with a disorderly neighbor.  They were also offered the opportunity to ask questions to help address other issues on their block.  In a nutshell, here's some information that was given to them and might be helpful to you in the future.

• If a neighbor is playing music or is being very loud and disturbing the neighbors, call 311.  You can make a noise complaint during the day as well as at night as long as the noise is unnecessary.
• If a neighbor is harassing you by calling you names, making obscene gestures, banging on the walls and yelling to you, call 311.  Always keep a log of the complaint numbers when you call in case you may need them in the future.
• If, for any reason, you feel threatened by someone and feel that you might be in physical danger, call 911.  Be very clear to the operator that you feel you are in danger and explain why.
• If the person comes on to your property to bang on your door and yell to you, he/she can be arrested for trespassing if you have a "No Trespassing" sign posted on your property.  Keep in mind that "bottle collectors" and "scrappers" cannot trespass on your private property.  Remember, they might be using that as a ruse to case your house and burglarize it.
• If you call the police to address a problem, you should be willing to press charges, if necessary.  If you don't pursue the complaint, the perpetrator will feel that he can get away with it.  If he goes to jail, he might think twice the next time!
• Neighbors on a block need to stick together - there's strength in numbers!  And please, don't always rely on one person to do the dirty work.  If something is negatively affecting you, call 311 or 911 - don't wait for someone else to do it.  In some instances, Orders of Protection are issued to the victim if the problem persists.
• The police DO NOT give out the name of the complainant.  It is important that you provide a callback number in case they have some followup questions.

Other Questions/Issues

• If you see a suspicious person looking into cars or private property, call 911.  Tell the operator exactly what he is doing and say you believe he is looking to steal something.  Give a description of the person and the direction he is traveling.
• A taxicab/livery cab is considered a residential (private) vehicle.  A private bus is not considered a private vehicle and is not allowed to park on the street overnight between the hours of 9:00 pm - 5:00 am.  Call 311 with the plate number, vehicle description, address where it's parked.
• If someone is parking a commercial vehicle on private property, or has an unlicensed/unregistered vehicle stored on their property, it is a violation.  Call 311 and they will connect you to the Department of Buildings.
• If there is no alternate side parking regulations, a vehicle cannot be parked on the street at the same location for more than 7 days.  Call 311 with the plate, etc.  The NYPD will then observe it and write a summons, if necessary.
• Loud motorcyclists can receive a summons.  They are difficult to catch, but if you can give the police a time when it usually occurs, they will address it.  Give a complaint like this, or other problem that occurs on a regular basis, to your precinct's Community Affairs officer.  You can call the precinct if you don't have a direct number and they will switch you over.
• If something is stolen from your yard or vehicle, please report it.  The police patrol the communities that are having crime problems.  If you don't report it, the precinct doesn't know it happened and will concentrate their efforts elsewhere.
• Please pass this information on to others in the neighborhood!!