A Summer Night spent with 10th Precinct and Chelsea Community

The NYPD celebrated their annual National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, Aug. 5, connecting with community members across more than 70 locations citywide.

Participating NYC neighborhoods enjoyed free barbecues, music, bounce houses, and more, having the opportunity to convene with police officers and city officials.

The 10th Precinct of Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen South, and Hudson Yards gathered between Ninth and Tenth avenues on West 17th Street. The event took place right outside the Fulton Houses, which are part of NYC Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) affordable public housing. The city wants to raze and rebuild the 18 buildings in Chelsea’s Fulton and Elliott housing, but that seems like a story for another day. Many Fulton residents came by to partake in the festivities.

Ramon Santos, a police officer at Precinct 10, spoke about why the annual event is such a highly anticipated and important night.

“It is a beautiful night where the police share and spend time with the community, with the ones that we serve and protect,” Santos told Chelsea News. “And we are here to tell the community that we are their friends. We are not the enemy. They can reach out to us, because we are here to serve and protect.”

The night also gives community members the opportunity to voice their priorities and concerns to the NYPD. Analiz Cruz, an Auxiliary Police Officer at the event, told Chelsea what she’s been hearing most from the Chelsea community.

“Lately they’ve been about how the loud music scene is disturbing people.”

NYC politicians also made their rounds throughout National Night Out. Former prosecutor Jim Walden, one of three independent candidates for NYC mayor, spent a good amount of time with the Chelsea community. When Walden first got there, he went down the long line of people waiting for their BBQ, shaking hands and introducing himself.

“The only way you’re going to really understand how people feel is when you’re in that kind of personal interaction,” Walden told Chelsea News. He also revealed that he often gives folks his cellphone number, “not that campaign number,” so that there’s authenticity to what he’s doing.

The same goes for dialogue between community members and the NYPD, he explained, especially given the current political climate.

“Both feel super-stressed, particularly communities like NYCHA, and the stress is from lack of political leadership,” he said. “So the NYPD is suffering through that. Communities are suffering from that. So they have something really in common, and they also both want safety, and so I want to be the unifying force and bring people together to work on these solutions together.”

This year’s National Night Out was a huge success, as community members basked in the summer air, dancing together, eating together, and reflecting together about their love for their city. Michael Anaya, a community member attending the event, swayed to music coming from the DJ booth, smiling at the crowd around him.

“I’m a participant over at Hudson Guild’s older adult center, and this event is to celebrate the neighborhood, and for the police department to make sure that we have a safe space. Thank you,” he said, addressing the NYPD. “We appreciate you, and your presence is very important to our well being.”