In Fort Greene, Calls for More Attention to Gun Violence and Its Victims

Pictured: Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo speaks Friday outside the Whitman Houses, joined by Assemblyman Walter Mosely and community anti-violence activists. Photo by John V. Santore

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — Officials and activists held a press conference outside the Walt Whitman Houses in Fort Greene on Friday afternoon, in an effort to draw further attention to a woman shot dead at one of the complex's buildings earlier this week.

The victim, who has yet to be identified, was found early Thursday morning inside a building at 56 North Oxford Walk with gunshot wounds to her head, leg and arm, police said.

"We have been on this corner for far too many tragic occurrences," said Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo, who represents Fort Greene and who led the event. "Black lives matter, communities of color matter, the residents of NYCHA matter."

"That's somebody's daughter," said a visibly moved Anthony Sosa of the victim. Sosa leads the tenants' association at the nearby Ingersoll Houses. "It's a travesty."

At the event, voices were raised against gun violence from members of multiple community groups, including S.O.S. Crown Heights — which just this week led an anti-violence march in Bed-Stuy — Brownsville In Violence Out, Kids In The Crossfire, and Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes, or GMACC.

Shanduke Mcphatter, GMACC's executive director, talked about the lack of "trauma services" for those touched by gun violence. "Who'se talking to them about [avoiding] retaliation?" he said. "This is our work. We understand the issues. When the cameras are not out here, we are."

Cumbo discussed $1.66 million she and Assemblyman Walter Mosely, whose district includes Fort Greene and who also attended the event, secured in recent state and city budgets for security cameras at Lafayette Gardens in Clinton Hill, Farragut Houses in Dumbo, and Walt Whitman Houses.

Cumbo stressed that more security cameras in the Whitman Houses could have helped identify the person or people behind the recent shooting there, adding that their installation has been too slow.

"We're asking for urgency," she said, describing the pace of installation as "unacceptable."

"NYCHA is working in close collaboration with the community, including residents, the NYPD, and local elected officials, to identify where these security resources will be most effective with the ultimate goal of making Whitman Houses a safer community for all,” a NYCHA spokesperson said in response.

The Whitman Houses currently have 11 cameras operating in 3 of the complex's 15 buildings, according to the spokesman.

Money has been allocated for ten additional cameras to be installed at five buildings, the spokesman said, and fiber optics will be laid to support cameras at the complex's remaining 7 properties.

The spokesperson said there are currently 13,000 cameras operating at 186 NYCHA developments, adding that the agency has spent $64.4 million since 2014 on cameras and security doors.