Parents beg NYPD to save their children from criminal acts exposure in Manhattan neighborhood

According to several of its inhabitants, Manhattan’s upscale Chelsea neighbourhood has transformed into a “24-hour drug and sex den,” where vagrants sell and consume narcotics in plain view of a local school.

Parents told Fox 5 that while business owners cope with frequent break-ins, their children are exposed to nudity, sex acts, and drug usage.

Some said they are pleading with the police and the local government for action.

Local co-op owner Vivek Batra said he spent 'about $60,000' on cameras and locks to prevent break-ins, which have not been successful

The increased criminal activity is concentrated near P.S. 011 William T. Harris on West 21st Street between 8th and 9th avenues.

A neighbourhood co-op owner named Vivek Batra remarked, “You can see folks over here shooting up, smoking.” I locate pipes.

On this area, kids are playing as I locate needles in the streets.

What’s worse is that it happens throughout the day as well—not only at night.

A 38-year-old man was recently discovered dead inside one of Rainbow Station’s private video booths after what seemed to be an overdose.

Rainbow Station is an adult entertainment establishment on 8th Avenue between 20th and 21st Street.

In the Fox 5 story, one guy is seen smoking openly what the cops believe to be crystal meth.

In addition to what Batra personally observes on the streets, he also has video of a burglar entering his building’s basement and taking a bike.

We installed video intercoms, magnetic locks, and cameras costing roughly $60,000, according to Batra. “They repeatedly broke into our basement,”

At a news conference in July, NYC Mayor Eric Adams remarked, “They’re repeat offenders and if we don’t stop that flow, we’re going to have a tougher time keeping those numbers under control.”

Captain Robert Gault of the NYPD’s 10th Precinct said that bail regulations are to blame for the current rise in drug activity in the area.

For misdemeanours and nonviolent crimes, cash bails—which call for a suspect to post a certain amount of money in order to be released—were abolished in New York by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2019.

Then, after being given an appearance ticket, those charged would be allowed to go free.

Any drug-related arrest would be classified as either a nonviolent crime or a misdemeanour.

Rainbow Station (pictured) recently had a 38-year-old man found dead from an apparent overdose inside one of its private video booths

According to Gault, “Our patrol arrests are now up 37% year-to-date, and when you look at the drugs arrests as well, we’re at a 37% rise year-to-date.”

“We’re arresting the people and bringing them in, but what we’re seeing is they’re immediately back out there and the addiction doesn’t go away,” the officer said.

Gault remembered a recent arrest in which a lady was brought in, given a ticket, and then released from custody after being found using crystal meth by the scaffolding next to P.S. 011.

Another individual that his precinct brought in had been arrested 151 times before. He was fired and given a ticket as well.

According to Batra, “The cops are attempting to do their part but they essentially say their hands are constrained.” “All they can do is arrest them, make a report, and they’re out in minutes, starting over here.”

Adams said, “I cannot be clearer that we have created a climate in the city, if not the nation, where those who perpetrate these crimes are not held responsible, and it sends a message on the streets that “We may continue to conduct these crimes.”