NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2022: PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHT REPORT

from Rochdale Village Bulletin Newspaper - August 2022 Edition

Ideal Supermarket Customer Appreciation Day 2022

By Cynthia Bernadine

On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Rochdale’s Public Safety, the NYPD, and city officials at more than 70 New York locations, along with countless officers nationwide, celebrated a National Night Out Against Crime.

National Night Out is an annual community-oriented event that promotes partnership between community leaders, police officers, and the communities they serve. Starting in 1984, the first Tuesday of August has been set aside as a night to let criminals know that neighborhoods are organizing and fighting back.

Hosted, this year by the Rochdale Village Public Safety and Community Relations Committees, the mood of the evening was festive and began with an opening prayer by Evangelist Betty Smith.

Awards were presented to members of Rochdale’s Public Safety, the NYPD, elected officials, members of Homeland Security’s Task Force, and local community leaders. Notably our very own Board President, Jean Randolph- Castro, and General Manager, Jay Williams, were recognized. Each person was commended for tireless work within the community and dedication in the pursuit of community safety.

According to Jean Randolph-Castro, the evening was a success, “One of the biggest events ever and very successful. Not only did the Mayor come out to support the event, multiple elected officials attended. We tried to do some things differently this year by making sure the children and families had fun with entertainment, food, and snacks before the evening’s long program and regular dinner at the end of the night.” She applauded Public Safety Committee Chair Clifton Stanley Diaz for partnerships he fostered in order to achieve “such an amazing event for the community.”

For his part, Diaz, who also serves as the Rochdale Village Board Chairman, stated, “I was so happy to work with the Community Relations Committee and Board President Jean Randolph-Castro this year. We worked together during the pandemic on various projects with people from Rochdale as well as the outside community, so it made sense to work together for National Night Out an event bringing community together. This year’s program was made longer so we can award the many people who go above and beyond and we still have many more to recognize and will do so at the next Public Safety Committee meeting.”

A highlight of the night was an appearance by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who gave an impassioned speech on community and partnerships stating, “They go together. You do not have to choose one or the other. That is where we are right now. And I am not going to allow people to divide us from the men and women who swore to protect us. We need both, but that is not to say we are going to permit anyone to desecrate the nobility of public protection. If you are not capable of serving in that uniform with the level of dignity that it deserves, then you can’t be in the NYPD.”

Queens District Attorney, Melinda Katz, Assembly Speaker, Adrienne Adams, Assemblywoman Vivian Cook, and Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards all received awards before addressing the crowd. Richards stated, “Tonight is a great night to celebrate National Night Out on crime, but we got a lot of work to do right now. There are a lot of folks that are traumatized and hurting, and we have to make sure that those folks are centered in every conversation we have, whether it’s policy, budget, or policing. ... I am confident after seeing how the community has come out tonight that we’re going to rebuild and destroy what has held us back from reaching our full potential.”

His sentiments were echoed in the speeches and private conversations of those in attendance. Specifically, Public Safety Committee Vice President Talib Bey, and Rochdale’s Public Safety Chief Adolph Osback, who were instrumental in preparing for the occasion, both expressed excitement at the recordbreaking turnout of people and politicians, which they saw as a good sign for change.

At previous events a balloon release ceremony in memory of lost loved ones was established. But this year to remember, a special candlelight vigil was held instead. Attendees stood together in the shape of “RV” while holding lighted candles. The amazing evening ended with a delicious dinner served while music from the Renegade Band played in the background.