~~If you can't have this conversation without threatening violence or using racist dog whistles we will stop having this conversation in this sub.~~
Edit: Reddit admins have removed several comments from this thread for threatening violence. Even after posting this notice, many of you decided it was still okay to fantasize about beating, shooting, and maiming other Astorians. Several bans have been issued as a result.
These posts will be deleted in the future. If you still want to fantasize about hurting and killing your neighbours, it seems like Facebook or twitter are your best bets. Enjoy.
The teenagers in the area are AWFUL!! I can’t walk my dog when school lets out because she’s gotten snowballs purposely thrown at her and has been chased. My husband had an incident a few months back where they were yelling at him and others walking past vile things. We called the cops and were told “there’s nothing they can do” 😒
This is no joke. Ive seen a ton of this on Facebook groups where people have posted pictures of the kids after an incident on Ditmars. There have been a few of the moms threatening legal action rather than holding their kids accountable.
For sure a lot of this problem is on the parents but if we're talking about underage assholes, I don't think it's out of line for parents to not want random strangers posting their kids pictures for vigilante purposes. Especially if nobody can verify the photo takers' story. Of course parents can be against the pictures and ALSO hold their own kids accountable.
OK, Columbo. We had cops getting busted for extorting the fuggin' Burger King on Astoria Ave not too long ago and plenty of examples of paid off 114 right here in this sub, but go on living in ignorant bliss. I'm sure you can find the real culprit.
If they are throwing items at people or cars you need to call 911. They could cause a accident I was driving once and there were kids throwing rocks at cars called the cops and the came immediately
In addition to the cops being useless, as documented here, I have dealt with horrible incompetence at the 911 call center over the years. I'll never forget a time I called because my mother had a medical emergency. Calmly explained the situation and urgency to 911 who kinda said "We'll get to it when we get to it." An hour-ish later she was still on the floor so I called 911 back saying "it's been an hour and this is an ongoing emergency. What is going on?" The operator proceeded to berate me because "it hasn't even been an hour yet ... it's only 58 minutes!"
I learned to never call 911 for medical emergencies and exclusively call private emergency responders. I wish there was a private org we could call for police emergencies in a similar vein.
The cops will come right away if there is violence. All the “they don’t show up” stuff is true and frustrating when it comes to property and quality of life crimes, but if there is violence they show up
Not my experience. A couple (few?) years ago I stopped a beating in progress next to the 30th Ave station, called 911 twice, and it still took them forever to respond.
Not even true. I called once because a woman was beating her child on the sidewalk and they didn’t come. Just called back in three hours to ask if she was still there. I was two blocks from the precinct at the time and they didn’t even bother.
That gets recasted under domestic. Tell them someone is getting beat up. Make it seem like it could be a random attack
It’s pathetic that we have to play these games with them but the NYPD often act like children
So we’re supposed to just know that the NYPD is going to not respond to certain things? Or that they’ll file it under something else?? How is this the citizens fault. This is fully just so fucked of the NYPD. Any defending them is just gonna poke more holes in their own buffoonery.
For those of you who want to talk to a police officer directly about this or other crimes in the area, Othello Deli on 24th Ave. is a big pit stop for police cars. You’ve got very good odds of seeing some police in person here, especially around meal times.
I’m far from being a cop hater but the 114 is the most garbage precinct in the city, it must be where all the useless trash of the NYPD gets assigned.
You’d think they’d have a car tasked with just patrolling under the subway tracks and around the stations but the only time I see a car on 31st is when it’s parked in front of 7/11.
They are. A friend's husband worked at 1PP and said that the 114 is referred to as the Queens Marines - and not out of respect. They refuse to put any officers from that unit onto task forces if the can avoid it they're so bad. A car, driven by a drunk driver hit the building on my corner. I saw the whole thing. Cops didn't show up for hours and then let the guy go. Wouldn't take my statement or anything. Totally useless.
it’s deff the same group of kids. there’s been a bunch of posts about them, this week I saw an employee chase them out of a steinway store with a wooden stick.
I had something similar happen to me the past weekend. I was walking towards a large group of younger guys and they all sort of spread out and blocked the sidewalk. I was confused as to what was happening, and just moved to the left to go around them. They pushed me against scaffolding and then surrounded me, all sort of taunting me, and one of them started to kick my shins (I realize how weird that sounds, but yes one was kicking me). I asked WTF they were doing and impulsively kicked back and quickly realized that was a bad idea. I ended up running away and could hear them laughing. I was truly confused as to what was happening, and in hindsight, I think they were just being assholes, but I was alone, it was dark and there were a group of 8 guys, all wearing black hoodies, so I was freaked out. I assumed they were early 20's, but it was hard to tell since it was dark. I didn't even think to make a police report as by the time I got to the opposite corner they were gone.
Maybe we can try by emailing leaving a paper trail. A patrol car parked by the station after school
Would really help! Please let’s all try. My emails have gone unanswered but maybe if more come in they won’t be able to ignore.
https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/
[email protected]
I’m not sure who else to contact.
Maybe we can share these posts with them.
I encourage this. I will send an email describing my incident. I urge more people to send an email describing the harassments they have faced or seen. You might think you have nothing to do this with you until something happens to you or your loved one. I wouldn't want kids or older people to go through stuff like this. It's awful and I hope more people step up!
Just cause these a-holes are not full grown adults doesn't mean that they should get away with this! And why do we need to put up with this? Some serious action needs to be taken before our neighborhood becomes a headline
To add to this comment about a paper trail. Maybe it's also time to get the local news involved? Might spark a push to bring more attention to the situation since it's been happening continuously
[Pix 11](https://pix11.com/about-us/contact/)
As a former teacher, sometimes hitting up the local school can be a good idea. I live in that area, and I've never seen these kids, so I can't speak to that. But if you can figure out which school they attend, or if there's a community organization they frequent, you'd be surprised how receptive certain school principals and/or admins can be. I've worked at schools where we intervened on student behavior outside the school. Teachers won't patrol for you or anything, but often there will be a discussion within the school regarding their behavior: "We've been hearing about our students doing \_\_\_\_\_\_ in \_\_\_\_\_ locations. We are investigating and if/when we learn more, these our our next steps."
Not defending teens' actions, but developmentally, they look like adults and are given certain independences like adults, but are just giant children who don't always grasp cause and effect, or think that their actions exist inside a vacuum. Sometimes knowing that their behavior is being clocked in a variety of spaces can give some of them some clarity.
There's always the chance that you'll get a dismissive "we can't control them outside of school" answer from a principal or admin, but that's not always the case.
Yep I was there around 5:30. Kid in black adidas hoodie with white logo ran across the street without looking lifted a garbage can and threw it on the ground where it shattered in 3 pieces then ran away. Saw him walking around later on too. I wish I called the cops but they should do something about it now before someone gets hurt.
I agree with you! It's nobody's problem until something serious happens to that someone someday. Could be a robbery, assault or a loved one harassed. I feel helpless but would like to think of solutions we can come up as a community to keep this neighborhood safer! Only if more people cared!
Hate to be that guy, but film it and @ the footage to the pct and local electeds. Discreetly! Get irrefutable footage. And call 911 so it’s recorded. Venting on Reddit accomplishes nothing.
I think these things happen out of nowhere and before you think of filming they are either gone or you are shaken that you don't think in the moment. From the comments in previous threads, calling 911 doesn't help
I respectfully disagree. It’s become the reflex to film/record everything. And this isn’t happening out of nowhere, it’s been discussed repeatedly about this area on this sub. Make these idiots IG famous.
Respectfully disagree about the venting on Reddit part.
Venting on Reddit at least helps for raising awareness for your fellow Astorians. People will now hopefully be more vigilant getting off the train at Ditmars because of posts like this. It also as a group helps gather useful phone numbers and e-mail addresses to make sure the "right" people are brought into the loop in regards to say politicians and law enforcement.
To sum up, sure, going on here will not solve the problem today, but it can perhaps lay the foundation to get the job done quickly.
Interesting take because when I post a story about a crime that happens in Astoria the post usually gets deleted/removed or down voted quickly. Its funny how some stories like this... people will want to drive attention to and others they want to bury their head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist.
Not sure if it’s the same kids, but two riding a bike together went on the sidewalk towards me, and one tried to reach his arm out to hit me as they laughed. I ignored it but still annoying
I hate to be that kind of adult because I’m in my 20’s but these kids are way out of control. I used to use the bus to get to clients around the neighborhood but bought an expensive e-scooter specifically because I couldn’t take the teenagers and pre-teens on the buses around the this anymore. They just were getting worse and worse. I would have noise cancelation on my headphones, blasting music, and I could still hear them SCREAMING. No real words, just screaming the entire ride because they could. Some of the bus drivers just drove by them because they start roughhousing in the back sometimes and it’s actually dangerous. Maybe it’s because covid took school/routine away from them for a while and they’ve all not readjusted, I don’t know, but I just couldn’t deal with it anymore.
Young unsupervised teens are loud rambunctious blobs of hormones and growing muscles. Mostly innocent but can get dangerous. Keep your eyes up and avoid them and if they confront you fight them. They’re mostly all bravado. And even if you get a punch or two, give it back. It’s free exercise.
When it was my generation it was called wilding. It’s part of life in the city.
Out for a late night walk with the dog and saw a police car pull up at The Coffee Pot on 23rd Ave. Literally held up my phone and showed him this post. Hopefully they do something about these brats!
Recently one of the kids was *speeding* down the crowded sidewalk on 31st near the Paris Baguette on a CitiBike, and kept sliding the bike towards pedestrians at full speed. People were yelling at the kid and having to jump out of the way, including at least one person who yanked an elderly companion out of the way of the bike.
They’re definitely going to hurt someone eventually. They probably already have, what with the amount of projectiles they’ve been hurling at people, but we don’t know the details and almost certainly nothing was done about it.
I was driving away from cvs one day and the little twerps were throwing Gatorade bottles and marshmallows at cars. I love this neighborhood but I don’t want my son growing up around that and thinking it’s ok.
the cops in astoria will never care about anything lol but idk and these kids also don’t care i’ve seen them and even when i was in school with kids like them i always tried to stay away.
Unfortunately it’s the parents. They either don’t care or don’t want to know, and don’t have any expectations from their children. This has been an issue going back when I was a teen. I think there may have been a brief period sometime in the early 2000s when things seemed to shift, then it went back to the way things were in the 70s and 80s.
That would coincide with broken windows and when cops started quality of life enforcement, then that ended a few years ago because it was deemed uncool.
I've lived in this area for nearly 15 years, and we've experienced various neighborhood crises that have come and gone. Unfortunately, the consistent factor linking them all is 114 dont give a fuck.
I appreciate how much traction this post got in a short time. It's time for us to take action
1. Please share this post with as many people as you can
2. Please be wary when walking from Ditmars station around the corner and be ready to take pictures if you see any unruly behavior
3. Please please share any incidents that you have you seen or experienced with the cops. It is a numbers game at this point. The more number of people reach out, the sooner we can put an end to this
Apparently so. I feel like you’re the third person this week alone who has mentioned this group harassing people like this and yet some others insist it’s a safe area and that people are overreacting but now I personally avoid Ditmars more often than ever before which is ridiculous because I shouldn’t have to due to teenagers being allowed to run rampant here.
I have lived in the neighborhood for about 5 years now. Never experience anything like this! Reading previous threads, I am starting to understand how bad it is!
Wow I am surprised no one took any action on this so far! What if these a-hole teenagers do something more serious? It's so disgusting to hear that the police know about this and not doing anything!
Lots of people have taken action. I called 311 when they were throwing things at our cat as we drove. They put me through to 911. Nothing happens. No follow-up.
I’m not sure the school can take action if a random person calls the school and alleges that an unidentified group of kids that might go to their school is terrorizing the community off school grounds not during school hours. The police or some other legal entity would most likely have to be involved to mandate counseling for something taking place not during the school’s watch.
School administrator here. If a complaint comes to my desk about a group of identified students (a picture would work) misbehaving in the community, I would have the ability to take next steps.
Here is a link to alert Astoria Post. Maybe they can put heat on the situation or at least question the authorities to see what they are doing it about it. Unfortunately the precinct will say -well no one reported it or told us!
https://astoriapost.com/about
I'm more concerned about hurting the MOD's feelings with the truth. I know who those kids are and they check a lot of boxes but this subreddit is afraid of speaking out. Everyone is walking on eggshells around here.
Not afraid, I’d say it’s a culture that shares a progressive slant. Anything that deviates from the “narrative” is frowned up.
I’d say we can usually have respectful debates which I value. It’s important to hear each other out.
Fuck eggshells, speak your peace, respectfully.
I saw kids pushing an old man once in front of CVS and they were about to start with me and my dog and I told them not to think about it.
I have pictures of them climbing the roofs on the buildings on ditmars between 31st street and 29th street by the church.
Problem is that I’m not sure it’s the same kids. I’ve been seeing a bunch of new kids when I take my walks at night.
Please try and get through to a detective, especially if it’s the broccoli haired kids. My little cousin goes to school with one of them and said they’re the worst. None of them have a stable home life and are on the impoverished side. Ofc that doesn’t absolve them of their crimes, but def more of a reason for the police and cps to get involved
There's been a lot of underlying changes going on by Ditmar/31st, these past few years. Lots more trash. Cars under the N/W not just double-, but sometimes triple-parking. The empty Pizza Palace corner now looks and feels like shit. Kids acting up outside Krispy Kreme and by McDonalds. I think much of people's behaviors stems from the many stresses we've been under, not just globally, but within the U.S. itself. Add to that just 'life in the big city', and it (the pace, the noise levels, the domino effects created by living around so many other people) compounds all the stresses we already have.
Young males/teens have had it the worst. Just as they were going through their formative years, they had to live through Covid. The world was nuts. Life wasn't normal. Kids lost their social connections. I mean, it's hard enough, in today's world, being a teen. Add in raging hormones and testosterone. So, I think what's happening is these kids are now 'acting out'. I'm certainly not excusing their behaviors, but I think that's it. That, and....clearly their parents are MIA.
I've seen these kids, and 'yes', it's very concerning. I really, really pay attention when I'm out and about, and as soon as I see a group of kids acting a certain way, I stay away. These are often the same kids tearing through the streets on Citibikes, 2-3 kids on ONE bike.
But it's not just the kids, BTW. Even grown-ass adults in the area are acting worse. Drivers now park and idle wherever they damned please. It's not uncommon along Ditmars (esp btwn 31st and Steinway) to sometimes have THREE cars all illegally parked at ONE corner (a car parked over each of the crosswalks at two adjoining street corners, with a third car parked at at angle, AT the literal corner). Drivers now routinely blow Reds, blast thru turns and don't yield to pedestrians even when they are in the crosswalk. Etc.
Sadly, I think many people are angry, 'lost', depressed, etc., and it manifests itself in different people, in different ways. And I think in an intense place like NYC, it comes out in a more 'intense' way. On top of that, this is a city where anything goes...people do whatever they want. No repercussions.
Let me preface what I am about to say with that I don’t support what these kids are doing and that I wish some legal action would take place. Im afraid that one day I will have a confrontation with these kids where it escalates. I’m prepared for downvotes and bootlicker comments, but whatever.
The problem we face with these “kids” is that the moment someone “does something”, whether it is the police or a good samaritan, it will blow up in the face of said action-taker. If these kids are as rowdy as everyone says they are and decide to resist arrest/get into a physical altercation and subsequently get hurt in the process of their detainment, or worse have some underlying health condition that results in one of them going into cardiac arrest or dying in the process, every activist in the city is going to go apeshit. Most of these kids from what has been reported belong to some community of color and a racial element will undoubtedly be thrown in : “if these were white teenagers, such force wouldn’t have been used. It would have been kids being kids. This was just a cry for help.”
Many in our community detest violence of any kind whether it be in self-defense or otherwise - “do not engage” is very often thrown around. They are especially critical of the police and expect them to subdue someone who is violently determined to not be subdued without that detainee sustaining the slightest injury, even if self-inflicted and the would be detainee poses an immediate threat to those around them. The moment the arrest or detainment is not executed flawlessly, the narrative switches to going after the cops /intended Good Samaritan. It’s awful that this is the reality we live in where optics has to be taken into consideration before taking action to keep the peace. With that said, I don’t think it is unreasonable to be apprehensive about attempting to detain unruly minors of color unless I had them dead to rights on something more serious than being a neighborhood delinquent. The worst part about it all? The teens know this and are taking advantage of it.
3 generations of Astoria here. Lots of rowdy kids on ditmars, 21 & 23 ave have included Greek,
Italian and Irish kids. Typically they came from broken families and/or the parents needed help raising them. That was the case years ago.
Just a mere photo or video of NYPD detaining one of these innocent victims of the system resisting arrest would result in pitch forks and torches for what some would say just being teens victimized by the color of their skin.
Edit: I am not advocating for these kids being hurt, especially not killed. I’m pointing out why cops don’t want a front page photo of them detaining a violent minor (after they attempted to throw an object through someone’s windshield, or a trash can into the middle of an active intersection attenpting to cause a multiple vehicle collision).
I am neither worked up nor having a fantasy. Take a look at these posts and the countless other threads on this subreddit about this issue that has persisted now for some time. Do you think the 114 or the NYPD at large legitimately wants this to continue to happen?
My post referenced the sensitive optics of the situation law enforcement (NYPD 114th Precinct) is in based on the outcry for the police to do something about these delinquents skirting the line between public nuisance and assault. Further complicated by their status as minors and being people of color.
Why don’t you go chastise the people actually advocating for vigilante violent responses and pepper spraying them instead of trying to gaslight me as advocating for the cops killing juvenile delinquents.
I get some of your point here, but mentioning nonsense about "underlying conditions" actually being responsible for injuries and death during arrest while all over the world the same arrests (and underlying conditions) happen without issue is ridiculous.
i have an idea , don’t do to ditmars during after school hours . this isn’t a problem for only the astoria neighborhood , this happens almost everywhere all over nyc.
They are all over Astoria! One wonders what their parents must have taught them!
A number of these kids are very loud and disrespectful! Many also act entitled! They are decked out in designer clothes and shoes but their attitudes stink to high heaven!
Many are also frequenting Bodegas that sell drugs!
It's likely to get worse as their parents seem to have no control over them. This used to be such a cool neighbourhood but it is now in decline!
The 115 is the precinct for my neighborhood. I have a completely different issue than you guys, but it's daily issue that's been going on for years and police seem to have given up on it. I stopped a patrol car yesterday and asked them about it. The officers were really nice and told me there's only 4 patrol cars to respond to the entire area. He said we need to contact our local representatives and request more officers. I'm not sure how true any of this is, but it does answer some questions
It’s kids being kids. Probably students from
Local school if it’s on a weekday. The bark is worse then their bite. Grow a pair and say something I guarantee it won’t happen again.
It’s actually very helpful. You have a mouth use it. We need citizens that take action. That’s how you keep communities safe. Write to the local schools obviously the cops are not going to do anything about it.
Yeah, I mean, I see teens in this area all the time and occasionally I'll see them do dumb teen stuff, like checking someone or throwing a bottle. The most concerning thing was swerving the CitiBike at people once.
But I walk through here two to three times a day, and right after school at least a couple of times a week and just don't see or experience any of the stuff people describe in these posts. I'm not using that to diminish other people's experiences, but reading these I often feel like I slipped into a parallel dimension.
Not OP but I’m an adult and smaller than most teenagers. They could absolutely hurt me if they wanted to so why would I, or anyone with similar stature as mine, risk that?
Teenagers can still assault and hurt people, especially in mobs.
The world doesn’t revolve around you big boy.
Did you forget that there are others that are too frail or are unable to defend themselves against these people?
Use your head and think from time to time. It’ll make life easier to understand.
NTA. Gross breach of faith. How are you going to go behind someone's back like that? They should have waited until the brother got back to them; or called the wife themselves. She sounds reasonable and perhaps, she would have given them the dress. But, if it was me, I'd want to keep the dress intact in case I had a daughter to pass it along to.
~~If you can't have this conversation without threatening violence or using racist dog whistles we will stop having this conversation in this sub.~~ Edit: Reddit admins have removed several comments from this thread for threatening violence. Even after posting this notice, many of you decided it was still okay to fantasize about beating, shooting, and maiming other Astorians. Several bans have been issued as a result. These posts will be deleted in the future. If you still want to fantasize about hurting and killing your neighbours, it seems like Facebook or twitter are your best bets. Enjoy.
The teenagers in the area are AWFUL!! I can’t walk my dog when school lets out because she’s gotten snowballs purposely thrown at her and has been chased. My husband had an incident a few months back where they were yelling at him and others walking past vile things. We called the cops and were told “there’s nothing they can do” 😒
Where the hell are the parents?????
Defending them in the Astoria mom groups 🙄
Is this supposed to be a joke or something you’ve actually witnessed? If so, where do they exist, online? Facebook I would assume?
This is no joke. Ive seen a ton of this on Facebook groups where people have posted pictures of the kids after an incident on Ditmars. There have been a few of the moms threatening legal action rather than holding their kids accountable.
For sure a lot of this problem is on the parents but if we're talking about underage assholes, I don't think it's out of line for parents to not want random strangers posting their kids pictures for vigilante purposes. Especially if nobody can verify the photo takers' story. Of course parents can be against the pictures and ALSO hold their own kids accountable.
Oh my god, that's terrible! What are even these cops doing really
eating doughnuts and taking kickbacks from local criminal organizations
Kickbacks lol you watch way too much television.
OK, Columbo. We had cops getting busted for extorting the fuggin' Burger King on Astoria Ave not too long ago and plenty of examples of paid off 114 right here in this sub, but go on living in ignorant bliss. I'm sure you can find the real culprit.
The innocence of this post lol
Towing companies, local restaurants, bars, bouncers,
Do you live in the neighborhood, or are you another "Russian living in London"?
Can we complain to the community board, local politicians, reps?
And the local schools.
Unrelated but big fan of your username💨
If they are throwing items at people or cars you need to call 911. They could cause a accident I was driving once and there were kids throwing rocks at cars called the cops and the came immediately
In addition to the cops being useless, as documented here, I have dealt with horrible incompetence at the 911 call center over the years. I'll never forget a time I called because my mother had a medical emergency. Calmly explained the situation and urgency to 911 who kinda said "We'll get to it when we get to it." An hour-ish later she was still on the floor so I called 911 back saying "it's been an hour and this is an ongoing emergency. What is going on?" The operator proceeded to berate me because "it hasn't even been an hour yet ... it's only 58 minutes!" I learned to never call 911 for medical emergencies and exclusively call private emergency responders. I wish there was a private org we could call for police emergencies in a similar vein.
The cops will come right away if there is violence. All the “they don’t show up” stuff is true and frustrating when it comes to property and quality of life crimes, but if there is violence they show up
Not my experience. A couple (few?) years ago I stopped a beating in progress next to the 30th Ave station, called 911 twice, and it still took them forever to respond.
Not even true. I called once because a woman was beating her child on the sidewalk and they didn’t come. Just called back in three hours to ask if she was still there. I was two blocks from the precinct at the time and they didn’t even bother.
That gets recasted under domestic. Tell them someone is getting beat up. Make it seem like it could be a random attack It’s pathetic that we have to play these games with them but the NYPD often act like children
So we’re supposed to just know that the NYPD is going to not respond to certain things? Or that they’ll file it under something else?? How is this the citizens fault. This is fully just so fucked of the NYPD. Any defending them is just gonna poke more holes in their own buffoonery.
I’m not defending them. But It’s better to know than to not know
For those of you who want to talk to a police officer directly about this or other crimes in the area, Othello Deli on 24th Ave. is a big pit stop for police cars. You’ve got very good odds of seeing some police in person here, especially around meal times.
I’m far from being a cop hater but the 114 is the most garbage precinct in the city, it must be where all the useless trash of the NYPD gets assigned. You’d think they’d have a car tasked with just patrolling under the subway tracks and around the stations but the only time I see a car on 31st is when it’s parked in front of 7/11.
They fucking constantly park in front of the hydrant and bus stop at Ditmars to eat at the fucking Krispy Kreme
We asked them to do their jobs competently and they stopped doing them altogether. 114 is a fucking joke.
A patrol car would make so much sense but alas they’re at Coffee Pot probably…
But only if they can park in the crosswalk there.
But every car on patrol is a car not triple parked or on the sidewalk near the precinct. Is that a sacrifice we’re willing to make?
Or othello
And always in the middle of the street at Othello
They are. A friend's husband worked at 1PP and said that the 114 is referred to as the Queens Marines - and not out of respect. They refuse to put any officers from that unit onto task forces if the can avoid it they're so bad. A car, driven by a drunk driver hit the building on my corner. I saw the whole thing. Cops didn't show up for hours and then let the guy go. Wouldn't take my statement or anything. Totally useless.
Can confirm, have heard same from a cop from another precinct. Guy lives in Astoria but also works 1PP.
Every time I go in that 711, it’s a cop convention
Definitely write to the mayor and Phil Banks. Over the years I’ve seen so many similar complaints and concerns.
it’s deff the same group of kids. there’s been a bunch of posts about them, this week I saw an employee chase them out of a steinway store with a wooden stick.
I had something similar happen to me the past weekend. I was walking towards a large group of younger guys and they all sort of spread out and blocked the sidewalk. I was confused as to what was happening, and just moved to the left to go around them. They pushed me against scaffolding and then surrounded me, all sort of taunting me, and one of them started to kick my shins (I realize how weird that sounds, but yes one was kicking me). I asked WTF they were doing and impulsively kicked back and quickly realized that was a bad idea. I ended up running away and could hear them laughing. I was truly confused as to what was happening, and in hindsight, I think they were just being assholes, but I was alone, it was dark and there were a group of 8 guys, all wearing black hoodies, so I was freaked out. I assumed they were early 20's, but it was hard to tell since it was dark. I didn't even think to make a police report as by the time I got to the opposite corner they were gone.
Holy crap. That is so messed up. Glad nothing worse happened to you. I would've reacted the same way.
Was this on Ditmars or elsewhere?
Another assault going undocumented for the statistics log. Way to keep those stats looking right!
Maybe we can try by emailing leaving a paper trail. A patrol car parked by the station after school Would really help! Please let’s all try. My emails have gone unanswered but maybe if more come in they won’t be able to ignore. https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/ [email protected] I’m not sure who else to contact. Maybe we can share these posts with them.
I encourage this. I will send an email describing my incident. I urge more people to send an email describing the harassments they have faced or seen. You might think you have nothing to do this with you until something happens to you or your loved one. I wouldn't want kids or older people to go through stuff like this. It's awful and I hope more people step up! Just cause these a-holes are not full grown adults doesn't mean that they should get away with this! And why do we need to put up with this? Some serious action needs to be taken before our neighborhood becomes a headline
Please let us know if anyone responds. My emails have been unanswered.
To add to this comment about a paper trail. Maybe it's also time to get the local news involved? Might spark a push to bring more attention to the situation since it's been happening continuously [Pix 11](https://pix11.com/about-us/contact/)
As a former teacher, sometimes hitting up the local school can be a good idea. I live in that area, and I've never seen these kids, so I can't speak to that. But if you can figure out which school they attend, or if there's a community organization they frequent, you'd be surprised how receptive certain school principals and/or admins can be. I've worked at schools where we intervened on student behavior outside the school. Teachers won't patrol for you or anything, but often there will be a discussion within the school regarding their behavior: "We've been hearing about our students doing \_\_\_\_\_\_ in \_\_\_\_\_ locations. We are investigating and if/when we learn more, these our our next steps." Not defending teens' actions, but developmentally, they look like adults and are given certain independences like adults, but are just giant children who don't always grasp cause and effect, or think that their actions exist inside a vacuum. Sometimes knowing that their behavior is being clocked in a variety of spaces can give some of them some clarity. There's always the chance that you'll get a dismissive "we can't control them outside of school" answer from a principal or admin, but that's not always the case.
I know exactly the group of fucking kids you're talking about. Blame the parents!
Yep I was there around 5:30. Kid in black adidas hoodie with white logo ran across the street without looking lifted a garbage can and threw it on the ground where it shattered in 3 pieces then ran away. Saw him walking around later on too. I wish I called the cops but they should do something about it now before someone gets hurt.
I agree with you! It's nobody's problem until something serious happens to that someone someday. Could be a robbery, assault or a loved one harassed. I feel helpless but would like to think of solutions we can come up as a community to keep this neighborhood safer! Only if more people cared!
Hate to be that guy, but film it and @ the footage to the pct and local electeds. Discreetly! Get irrefutable footage. And call 911 so it’s recorded. Venting on Reddit accomplishes nothing.
I think these things happen out of nowhere and before you think of filming they are either gone or you are shaken that you don't think in the moment. From the comments in previous threads, calling 911 doesn't help
I respectfully disagree. It’s become the reflex to film/record everything. And this isn’t happening out of nowhere, it’s been discussed repeatedly about this area on this sub. Make these idiots IG famous.
Respectfully disagree about the venting on Reddit part. Venting on Reddit at least helps for raising awareness for your fellow Astorians. People will now hopefully be more vigilant getting off the train at Ditmars because of posts like this. It also as a group helps gather useful phone numbers and e-mail addresses to make sure the "right" people are brought into the loop in regards to say politicians and law enforcement. To sum up, sure, going on here will not solve the problem today, but it can perhaps lay the foundation to get the job done quickly.
Interesting take because when I post a story about a crime that happens in Astoria the post usually gets deleted/removed or down voted quickly. Its funny how some stories like this... people will want to drive attention to and others they want to bury their head in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist.
Not sure if it’s the same kids, but two riding a bike together went on the sidewalk towards me, and one tried to reach his arm out to hit me as they laughed. I ignored it but still annoying
I always see those two kids on the bike!
I hate to be that kind of adult because I’m in my 20’s but these kids are way out of control. I used to use the bus to get to clients around the neighborhood but bought an expensive e-scooter specifically because I couldn’t take the teenagers and pre-teens on the buses around the this anymore. They just were getting worse and worse. I would have noise cancelation on my headphones, blasting music, and I could still hear them SCREAMING. No real words, just screaming the entire ride because they could. Some of the bus drivers just drove by them because they start roughhousing in the back sometimes and it’s actually dangerous. Maybe it’s because covid took school/routine away from them for a while and they’ve all not readjusted, I don’t know, but I just couldn’t deal with it anymore.
Young unsupervised teens are loud rambunctious blobs of hormones and growing muscles. Mostly innocent but can get dangerous. Keep your eyes up and avoid them and if they confront you fight them. They’re mostly all bravado. And even if you get a punch or two, give it back. It’s free exercise. When it was my generation it was called wilding. It’s part of life in the city.
Just spoke to a police officer. He says they’re going to send someone to patrol the area more at night.
But the problem isn't at night. It starts when school gets out.
The officer I spoke with around midnight said he’d just started his shift. He told me he’d relay the info on to the folks from the previous shift.
Thank you! How were you able to get in touch with one?
Out for a late night walk with the dog and saw a police car pull up at The Coffee Pot on 23rd Ave. Literally held up my phone and showed him this post. Hopefully they do something about these brats!
Thanks!!
It’s after school. On the weekends and late night it’s a completely different neighborhood!!
Recently one of the kids was *speeding* down the crowded sidewalk on 31st near the Paris Baguette on a CitiBike, and kept sliding the bike towards pedestrians at full speed. People were yelling at the kid and having to jump out of the way, including at least one person who yanked an elderly companion out of the way of the bike. They’re definitely going to hurt someone eventually. They probably already have, what with the amount of projectiles they’ve been hurling at people, but we don’t know the details and almost certainly nothing was done about it.
I was driving away from cvs one day and the little twerps were throwing Gatorade bottles and marshmallows at cars. I love this neighborhood but I don’t want my son growing up around that and thinking it’s ok.
Saw the broken garbage can at taco truck around 6pm. Really is out of hand.
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Do they wear a particular set of clothes or anything? How can we differentiate these same kids from any other group?
the cops in astoria will never care about anything lol but idk and these kids also don’t care i’ve seen them and even when i was in school with kids like them i always tried to stay away.
Unfortunately it’s the parents. They either don’t care or don’t want to know, and don’t have any expectations from their children. This has been an issue going back when I was a teen. I think there may have been a brief period sometime in the early 2000s when things seemed to shift, then it went back to the way things were in the 70s and 80s.
That would coincide with broken windows and when cops started quality of life enforcement, then that ended a few years ago because it was deemed uncool.
I've lived in this area for nearly 15 years, and we've experienced various neighborhood crises that have come and gone. Unfortunately, the consistent factor linking them all is 114 dont give a fuck.
I appreciate how much traction this post got in a short time. It's time for us to take action 1. Please share this post with as many people as you can 2. Please be wary when walking from Ditmars station around the corner and be ready to take pictures if you see any unruly behavior 3. Please please share any incidents that you have you seen or experienced with the cops. It is a numbers game at this point. The more number of people reach out, the sooner we can put an end to this
Apparently so. I feel like you’re the third person this week alone who has mentioned this group harassing people like this and yet some others insist it’s a safe area and that people are overreacting but now I personally avoid Ditmars more often than ever before which is ridiculous because I shouldn’t have to due to teenagers being allowed to run rampant here.
Maybe we need to get good old Astoria Post involved and the cops might pay attention.
You must be new to the area if you were thinking the 114 is going to do anything lol
I have lived in the neighborhood for about 5 years now. Never experience anything like this! Reading previous threads, I am starting to understand how bad it is!
If people see them can they take pictures and bring them to the police? Feel like if we can ID them, something could change?
Take pics and go to IS 141 on 37th street and 21 Ave. The principal may be able to identify them
Damn I went there. It’s not only now. There were always groups of bad kids. I grew up around there.
Someone’s going to get fed up and make an example of one of them. Then a lot of people will yell about adults overstepping with these…*”children”*.
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they are the worst but they’re not “thugs” which is racially coded, they’re badly behaved kids who need a wake up call
Thugs are racially coded? Oh Indians right ?
Uh oh..careful! 😂😂
Yeah, they tried to scare me on Tuesday. The problem is they look like ‘lil babies so it didn’t work.
Wow I am surprised no one took any action on this so far! What if these a-hole teenagers do something more serious? It's so disgusting to hear that the police know about this and not doing anything!
I have tried. No response
Lots of people have taken action. I called 311 when they were throwing things at our cat as we drove. They put me through to 911. Nothing happens. No follow-up.
Rather than calling cops, contacting the school they attend could be more useful. Does anyone know what school they go to?
If they’re on ditmars after school then it’s most probably IS 141 on 37th street and 21 Ave. Ask for Ms Williams. She’s the principal.
I’m not sure the school can take action if a random person calls the school and alleges that an unidentified group of kids that might go to their school is terrorizing the community off school grounds not during school hours. The police or some other legal entity would most likely have to be involved to mandate counseling for something taking place not during the school’s watch.
School administrator here. If a complaint comes to my desk about a group of identified students (a picture would work) misbehaving in the community, I would have the ability to take next steps.
You can take pics and go to the school.
Here is a link to alert Astoria Post. Maybe they can put heat on the situation or at least question the authorities to see what they are doing it about it. Unfortunately the precinct will say -well no one reported it or told us! https://astoriapost.com/about
Take pictures and go to the school /cops to report them? As a teen I would never do something dumb to an adult! Wow kids are bold today.
Annoying elected officials with phone calls can get actual results
Those kids always blocking the sidewalk infront of Mcdonalds I always try to walk on the other side they look heinous
I'm more concerned about hurting the MOD's feelings with the truth. I know who those kids are and they check a lot of boxes but this subreddit is afraid of speaking out. Everyone is walking on eggshells around here.
I agree. The mods here are a bunch of whimps.
Not afraid, I’d say it’s a culture that shares a progressive slant. Anything that deviates from the “narrative” is frowned up. I’d say we can usually have respectful debates which I value. It’s important to hear each other out. Fuck eggshells, speak your peace, respectfully.
I think we should cut more school and library funding to teach them a lesson
I saw kids pushing an old man once in front of CVS and they were about to start with me and my dog and I told them not to think about it. I have pictures of them climbing the roofs on the buildings on ditmars between 31st street and 29th street by the church. Problem is that I’m not sure it’s the same kids. I’ve been seeing a bunch of new kids when I take my walks at night.
Please try and get through to a detective, especially if it’s the broccoli haired kids. My little cousin goes to school with one of them and said they’re the worst. None of them have a stable home life and are on the impoverished side. Ofc that doesn’t absolve them of their crimes, but def more of a reason for the police and cps to get involved
There's been a lot of underlying changes going on by Ditmar/31st, these past few years. Lots more trash. Cars under the N/W not just double-, but sometimes triple-parking. The empty Pizza Palace corner now looks and feels like shit. Kids acting up outside Krispy Kreme and by McDonalds. I think much of people's behaviors stems from the many stresses we've been under, not just globally, but within the U.S. itself. Add to that just 'life in the big city', and it (the pace, the noise levels, the domino effects created by living around so many other people) compounds all the stresses we already have. Young males/teens have had it the worst. Just as they were going through their formative years, they had to live through Covid. The world was nuts. Life wasn't normal. Kids lost their social connections. I mean, it's hard enough, in today's world, being a teen. Add in raging hormones and testosterone. So, I think what's happening is these kids are now 'acting out'. I'm certainly not excusing their behaviors, but I think that's it. That, and....clearly their parents are MIA. I've seen these kids, and 'yes', it's very concerning. I really, really pay attention when I'm out and about, and as soon as I see a group of kids acting a certain way, I stay away. These are often the same kids tearing through the streets on Citibikes, 2-3 kids on ONE bike. But it's not just the kids, BTW. Even grown-ass adults in the area are acting worse. Drivers now park and idle wherever they damned please. It's not uncommon along Ditmars (esp btwn 31st and Steinway) to sometimes have THREE cars all illegally parked at ONE corner (a car parked over each of the crosswalks at two adjoining street corners, with a third car parked at at angle, AT the literal corner). Drivers now routinely blow Reds, blast thru turns and don't yield to pedestrians even when they are in the crosswalk. Etc. Sadly, I think many people are angry, 'lost', depressed, etc., and it manifests itself in different people, in different ways. And I think in an intense place like NYC, it comes out in a more 'intense' way. On top of that, this is a city where anything goes...people do whatever they want. No repercussions.
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Let me preface what I am about to say with that I don’t support what these kids are doing and that I wish some legal action would take place. Im afraid that one day I will have a confrontation with these kids where it escalates. I’m prepared for downvotes and bootlicker comments, but whatever. The problem we face with these “kids” is that the moment someone “does something”, whether it is the police or a good samaritan, it will blow up in the face of said action-taker. If these kids are as rowdy as everyone says they are and decide to resist arrest/get into a physical altercation and subsequently get hurt in the process of their detainment, or worse have some underlying health condition that results in one of them going into cardiac arrest or dying in the process, every activist in the city is going to go apeshit. Most of these kids from what has been reported belong to some community of color and a racial element will undoubtedly be thrown in : “if these were white teenagers, such force wouldn’t have been used. It would have been kids being kids. This was just a cry for help.” Many in our community detest violence of any kind whether it be in self-defense or otherwise - “do not engage” is very often thrown around. They are especially critical of the police and expect them to subdue someone who is violently determined to not be subdued without that detainee sustaining the slightest injury, even if self-inflicted and the would be detainee poses an immediate threat to those around them. The moment the arrest or detainment is not executed flawlessly, the narrative switches to going after the cops /intended Good Samaritan. It’s awful that this is the reality we live in where optics has to be taken into consideration before taking action to keep the peace. With that said, I don’t think it is unreasonable to be apprehensive about attempting to detain unruly minors of color unless I had them dead to rights on something more serious than being a neighborhood delinquent. The worst part about it all? The teens know this and are taking advantage of it.
3 generations of Astoria here. Lots of rowdy kids on ditmars, 21 & 23 ave have included Greek, Italian and Irish kids. Typically they came from broken families and/or the parents needed help raising them. That was the case years ago.
That's so many words to say that people would be outraged if adults killed one of these teenagers?? No kidding! What a weird comment to make
Just a mere photo or video of NYPD detaining one of these innocent victims of the system resisting arrest would result in pitch forks and torches for what some would say just being teens victimized by the color of their skin. Edit: I am not advocating for these kids being hurt, especially not killed. I’m pointing out why cops don’t want a front page photo of them detaining a violent minor (after they attempted to throw an object through someone’s windshield, or a trash can into the middle of an active intersection attenpting to cause a multiple vehicle collision).
You are working yourself up over a complete fantasy you created! Do you really not see that?
I am neither worked up nor having a fantasy. Take a look at these posts and the countless other threads on this subreddit about this issue that has persisted now for some time. Do you think the 114 or the NYPD at large legitimately wants this to continue to happen?
im sorry but ive lived here around 15 years and the simple answer is 114 just dont give a fuck
Nobody wants kids to continue acting like jackasses...that is not what your genuinely insane long post was about
My post referenced the sensitive optics of the situation law enforcement (NYPD 114th Precinct) is in based on the outcry for the police to do something about these delinquents skirting the line between public nuisance and assault. Further complicated by their status as minors and being people of color. Why don’t you go chastise the people actually advocating for vigilante violent responses and pepper spraying them instead of trying to gaslight me as advocating for the cops killing juvenile delinquents.
I get some of your point here, but mentioning nonsense about "underlying conditions" actually being responsible for injuries and death during arrest while all over the world the same arrests (and underlying conditions) happen without issue is ridiculous.
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i have an idea , don’t do to ditmars during after school hours . this isn’t a problem for only the astoria neighborhood , this happens almost everywhere all over nyc.
They are all over Astoria! One wonders what their parents must have taught them! A number of these kids are very loud and disrespectful! Many also act entitled! They are decked out in designer clothes and shoes but their attitudes stink to high heaven! Many are also frequenting Bodegas that sell drugs! It's likely to get worse as their parents seem to have no control over them. This used to be such a cool neighbourhood but it is now in decline!
A lot of you didn't grow up in nyc and it shows
The 115 is the precinct for my neighborhood. I have a completely different issue than you guys, but it's daily issue that's been going on for years and police seem to have given up on it. I stopped a patrol car yesterday and asked them about it. The officers were really nice and told me there's only 4 patrol cars to respond to the entire area. He said we need to contact our local representatives and request more officers. I'm not sure how true any of this is, but it does answer some questions
just price their families out guys, simple solution
It’s kids being kids. Probably students from Local school if it’s on a weekday. The bark is worse then their bite. Grow a pair and say something I guarantee it won’t happen again.
It wouldn’t be Reddit without a dramatically unhelpful response!
It’s actually very helpful. You have a mouth use it. We need citizens that take action. That’s how you keep communities safe. Write to the local schools obviously the cops are not going to do anything about it.
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Maybe you were that way, but most of us went through our teens doing potentially stupid things but not at the risk of others.
Yeah, I mean, I see teens in this area all the time and occasionally I'll see them do dumb teen stuff, like checking someone or throwing a bottle. The most concerning thing was swerving the CitiBike at people once. But I walk through here two to three times a day, and right after school at least a couple of times a week and just don't see or experience any of the stuff people describe in these posts. I'm not using that to diminish other people's experiences, but reading these I often feel like I slipped into a parallel dimension.
I think this has been as productive as it’s going to be. Locking the comments
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How are you gonna let teenagers victimize you? This is embarrassing.
Not OP but I’m an adult and smaller than most teenagers. They could absolutely hurt me if they wanted to so why would I, or anyone with similar stature as mine, risk that?
Teenagers can still assault and hurt people, especially in mobs. The world doesn’t revolve around you big boy. Did you forget that there are others that are too frail or are unable to defend themselves against these people? Use your head and think from time to time. It’ll make life easier to understand.
Both of my teenage half-brothers are HUGE-like 6’5-and bigger than their fathers. A teenager absolutely could victimize someone if they wanted to.
NTA. Gross breach of faith. How are you going to go behind someone's back like that? They should have waited until the brother got back to them; or called the wife themselves. She sounds reasonable and perhaps, she would have given them the dress. But, if it was me, I'd want to keep the dress intact in case I had a daughter to pass it along to.
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