Harlem's Tower of Fun Enjoys Nice Day at the Park

1.

How long before the usual suspects complain that this is racist as you don't see such towers on east 82nd st?

2.

its not racist, there are just problem kids up there that have nothing better to do than mug and harass people. I'm all for the towers!

3.

At night the park might be dangerous but other than that nothing to worry about. The fence is probably there to prevent the kids from the high school directly in front, from climbing the tower.

4.

I think a wait and see approach might be helpful. Monitor the crime stats and if things seem to be getting better...not to say that things are horrible because I don't know....then the tower should eventually come down.

5.

Are there apartments homes that face the park here? What an eyesore, if I lived there I'd be complaining, what a way to ruin the park and aesthetic of an area, especially with the barricades. Then again, I guess Harlem is a war zone and its residents are accustomed to zoo like conditions.

6.

Sashay, your knowledge of Harlem youth must be grounded in the usual ignorant stereotypes.

I live in the area and know a lot of these so called ‘problem kids’, I have found them to be nothing but respectful.

7.

I’m sure the cost of this tower could easily pay for many permanent cameras.

We could learn catch up with Europe on several proven fronts

1) Surveylance cameras
2) Congestion tax
3) Gun control

New York could be an even greater city if we could adopt all three, this tower only shows to me how far behind New York is on some fronts.

8.

I don't know if I've ever said this on a message board before, and I apologize to everyone who has to read this, but, #7, go screw yourself.
Your not an American.

9.

#8, Sorry but I am an American, but not living in your redneck part of America.

With respect to the ‘go screw yourself’ comment, does not deserve a response, but I may be right in guessing you are already doing it with a family member in your redneck part of America.

Apologies to all.

10.

Born and raised in the East Village.
I've seen more in my 46 years then you ever will.
But your only as good as today.
It's that camera remark that freaked me out.
Never.

11.

#10 Private cameras outnumber police ones and as such have been responsible for the apprehension of many criminals. I have been in situations where I wished a camera were present.

12.

#11, Agreed, cameras have helped apprehend criminals, but are proven far more effective as a deterrent.

13.

actually, whether they are useful as a deterrant is a very contentious question. The UK is the most surveilled (?) country on earth and the Home Office keeps putting out reports that promote CCTV, but there are genuine questions about the statistics and methodology used to put the case.

there's a potential problem with the spread of private CCTV in NYC, and our weak data protection legislation isn't addressing it.

14.

This camera tower is placed backside of city college of new york campus. I can see this tower from my dorm building.

15.

everyone, get a fucking life..

16.

#7 - I too live in the area, just down the hill from this surveillance camera and I can tell you that it went up shortly after the local police precinct contacted the community group of which I am a member notifying us of a group of teenagers who have mugged and assaulted people along the stretch of area on which this tower is located. So no, it's not based on stereotypes but on fact. And if you've never read any crime statistics in your life, criminal activities are disproportionately committed by teens and those in their early twenties.

17.

Yeah, what #16 said...see here:
St. Nicholas Park

18.

#16, Agreed, stats show mostly younger people commit crimes.

However, your comments may give the impression Harlem is overrun with marauding teens terrorizing the general population.

I my years of living in Harlem, never had any problem with teens, again, only found them to be respectful.

19.

#16, Agreed, stats show mostly younger people who commit crime and New York does have crime. However, your comments imply Harlem is overrun with marauding teenagers terrorizing the general population.

Sorry if this does not fit the stereotype, but my years of living in Harlem, never had any problem with teens, again, found them to be nothing but respectful.

20.

#18, send those teens our way so they can teach the problem kids respect and manners!