The local paper for Downtown wn A 20TH CENTURY GIANT ◄ P.12
WEEK OF MAY
16-22 2019
INSIDE
THE NYPD’S COMPSTAT AT 25 CRIME The groundbreaking crime analysis tool, which changed the way policing works in the city, continues to play a central role in keeping New Yorkers safe BY MICHAEL GAROFALO
From nearly the moment CompStat was introduced in 1994, the New York City Police Department’s cutting-edge crime tracking and performance management system became an instrument of unparalleled influence in law enforcement. CompStat’s implementation here coincided with an unprecedented drop in crime that saw rates fall by half by the end of the decade — a downward trend that continues with the historic low reported crime totals of today. As the NYPD evolved
from the broken windows strategy of the 1990s to the modern neighborhood policing model, CompStat remained as an ever-present tool for judging police effectiveness. CompStat (shorthand for “Compare Statistics”) was hailed as one of the key policing innovations of the era and adopted by departments around the country and world, with varying levels of success. But with its success came critiques that the system’s emphasis on numbers had helped produce unreliable crime data and unfair enforcement tactics. So what is CompStat, and how has it shaped policing in New York City over the last quarter century? At its core, CompStat is a management tool used by the NYPD to identify problems and measure the efficacy of its crime fighting strategies.
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COUNCIL TO MOVE ON VISION ZERO CHECKLIST BILL Legislation would require DOT to consider protected bike lanes, pedestrian islands on all major projects. P. 5
CompStat is definitely much smarter now than it’s ever been.”
AFTER THE CHURCHES CLOSE
20th Precinct Commander Timothy Malin
East Village residents and activists on the sale of religious buildings. P. 18
In the 25 years since CompStat’s introduction, the program’s principles have permeated the NYPD’s organizational structure. Photo: Adrian Owen, via Flickr
LITTLE ITALY’S FIRST FAMILY OF FOOD FAMILY BUSINESS A decade into their second century sharing Italian culture and cuisine with New Yorkers, the Di Palos are opening a new market, conceived as a complete experience. BY EMILY MASON
Sal, Marie and Lou Di Palo, the fourth generation to run the family business. Photo: Vincent Gardino
The Di Palo family has been serving freshly made Italian cheeses in New York City’s Little Italy neighborhood
Patrons are invited to relax with friends, sample cheeses and wines from Italy, and learn about food from the family. The new space, at 151-153 Mott Street, incorporates elements of the past in its design, including traditional Italian tin ceilings and the original store sign — “C. Di Palo’s.” after Concetta Di Palo — hanging over the entryway. While honoring their history, the Di Palo’s have plans for the future, including sem-
since 1910, when Savino Di Palo, who emigrated from Southern Italy seven years earlier, opened his first store. In 1925, Savino’s daughter, Concetta Di Palo, opened the second store, which is still in business today, run by Savino’s great-grandchildren, Lou, Marie, and Sal. This year, the Di Palo family is taking another step by opening a new market space with the same goal of sharing Italian cuisine and culture with the people of New York.
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BIG TOBACCO’S KIDS MENU A high school student says the industry is trying to hook young people with flavored “starter kits,” P. 2
SUMMER IN THE CITY Thanks to these cool day camps, city kids don’t have to leave town to have fun, P. 6
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WEEK OF APRIL
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FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE
is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He first writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereflect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice
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MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20
2015
In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS
The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She Over the past on the is handing out a record work perThird avenues. permits, there, more information of Second and an ongoing all-hours number of after-hours bad thing. of after-hours work the city’s Dept. problem can’t be a said there’s with the mits granted by nearby where according to new data jumped 30 percent, This step, combinedBorough construction project noise Buildings has data provided in workers constantly make efforts by Manhattan to mediate BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS according to DOB of Informacement from trucks. President Gale Brewer offer response to a Freedom classifies transferring they want. They knows the the rent renewal process, request. The city They 6 “They do whatever signs Every New Yorker clang, tion Act go as they please. work between some early, tangible small any construction on the weekend, can come and sound: the metal-on-metal or the piercing of progress. For many have no respect.” p.m. and 7 a.m., can’t come of these that the hollow boom, issuance reverse. owners, in business moving The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you as after-hours. soon enough. variances has led at the alarm clock The surge in permits
SLEEPS, THANKS TO THE CITY THAT NEVER UCTION A BOOM IN LATE-NIGHT CONSTR NEWS
A glance it: it’s the middle can hardly believe yet construction of the night, and carries on full-tilt. your local police or You can call 311
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for dollars in fees ated millions of and left some resithe city agency, that the application dents convinced
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