Marching for a Safer West Village

On Sunday, November 20, I joined Manhattan Community Board 2 (CB2) Chair Brad Hoylman and dozens of other West Village residents, business owners and community stakeholders in a march calling for increased public safety on and around Christopher Street.  I applauded the West Village Coalition for organizing the march and the New York Police Department’s Sixth Precinct for its efforts to fight crime and protect all of us who call the West Village home.  I and my colleagues in government are working with the Sixth Precinct, CB2, the West Village Coalition and representatives of FIERCE, The Door and other organizations that serve the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth who have historically congregated on the Christopher Street pier to develop new, collaborative strategies for deterring crime, violence and quality of life offenses.  I am encouraged by the new spirit of cooperation between all stakeholders and believe that by working together we can create a safer West Village for us all.