I’m sure that the homeless population of Bay Ridge is very grateful that Inspector Eric Rodriguez, of the 68th Precinct, has provided them with such an excellent place to congregate.
Rarely do I walk by the subway entrance on 5th Avenue between 94th and 95th streets when I don’t see at least one homeless person, often three or four, congregating on the subway steps drinking alcohol, engaging loudly in unprintable conversation, and from the smell of it, urinating all over the place.
My nine-year-old daughter learns so many interesting words and concepts from these people when I walk by them on my way to the market. Of course, I dare not send her alone to the market as long as those people are constantly hanging out right in the middle or the block. Perhaps, I can suggest to the merchants on the block to stop selling alcohol to these people.
I know that they think of this as a police problem, but since the police clearly have no intention of addressing the problem it might help if the merchants do their part to avoid making those stairs party-central for the derelicts who ride in there from who-knows-where.
Dan Peters Bay Ridge
