Just a day after a New York Times article profiled the troubling impact of gangs in Newburgh, NY, multiple law enforcement agencies took action in an early morning raid this Thursday, May 13.
Later on Thursday, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, held a press conference at the White Plains Federal Courthouse. In addition to Mr. Bharara, George Venizelos of the FBI, Newburgh Police Chief Eric Paolilli, Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips, and Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois spoke.
Full video of the conference is below, and may also be downloaded:
The US Attorney has charged 78 members and associates of the Newburgh Bloods and Latin Kings with nacotics-trafficking crimes. The Thursday morning strike was a collaboration of local, state and federal law enforcement, working together as the Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force.
Additional coverage here and here, and the DOJ press release here.
“Gang violence is nothing new in this dilapidated city an hour north of Manhattan. Built along a scenic bluff on the west bank of the Hudson River, Newburgh has long been known for problems far out of proportion to its population of 29,000. In the 1960s and ’70s, it was racial strife and disastrous urban renewal efforts. In the 1980s, when the city was known as “crack alley,” it was drug-fueled violence, which has ebbed and flowed here ever since…”
The flurry of press activity began Friday, July 29, as The New York Post printed “Upstaters’ terror-ific idea: Host evildoers and profit” with Mayor Nick Valentine extolling the virtues of holding the Khalid Shaikh Mohammed trial in Newburgh:
I look at it almost as a tourist attraction. The international attention would put Newburgh on the map… The businesses around here would benefit. People would be going to restaurants and traveling around the Newburgh area who’ve never been here before.
This came as pressure mounted against holding the trial in the federal courthouse in New York City.
The Mayor also appeared on myfoxny.com:
The video above also includes an excerpt from a press conference held by County Executive Eddie Diana, at which Mr. Diana sharply disagrees with Mayor Valentine. Diana does not want the trials in Orange County, and has written as much to President Obama.
But what of the city council of Newburgh itself? Although media reports suggest implicitly or explicitly that Valentine has the support of his colleagues, when his colleagues are actually asked, their opinions are far from unanimous in support. The Newburgh Advocate asked them what they thought.
Regina Angelo – “A shot in the arm”
Reached by telephone, Regina Angelo said she agreed with Mayor Valentine, that the trials would “help businesses.” She pointed out that there’s a “hotel right there,” and that restaurants would benefit. She said it would be a “shot in the arm for us… [we'd] really be on the map.”
Marge Bell – “I am absolutely opposed to this folly”
[I'm] shocked that the mayor would launch this kind of campaign without consulting the other members of the council. Where did he receive the authority to speak for the entire council? Inviting the trials here shows a total disregard for the residents of our city. Safety and disruption of our way of life needed to be considered first. The whole notion is ill hatched, and I am absolutely opposed to this folly.
Christine Bello – “It’s like making a business deal over an open coffin”
As always this is something that the Mayor did without even consulting the rest of us prior to going public with this. He pitched it to me after the headlines, stating that the city could negotiate getting the courthouse paid off and possibly securing the salaries and benefits for 10 police officers for ten years. I would have to see that offer in writing in order to believe it. Generally if it sounds too good to be true it is. The only thing the feds have announced is that they would pay for the security required. With the military like security I believe it would limit businesses in the vicinity of the courthouse rather than economically stimulate them, something that would put some out of business. I’m told that these trials could go on for years; that is a long time to have your business interrupted, and still survive.
Personally I feel that these characters should be tried by a military tribunal. There is nothing worth putting a bulls eye on our already beleaguered little city. When Valentine stated that he had no fear of terrorist threats here I wasn’t surprised; he does not even acknowledge the existing crime stats. Unlike the Mayor, I live AND work within a block either way of the courthouse, it’s very troubling to me. Aside from the security concerns I get an overall uneasy feeling about this. It’s like making a business deal over an open coffin, or selling souvenirs at the Alamo. It just doesn’t feel right. Not to mention, what would this do to our own court cases that are already running behind? I don’t believe this was well thought out.
Curlie Dillard
As of post time, Councilman Dillard had not responded to requests for comment.
More points to ponder…
According to this press report, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly outlined a security plan that would include two perimeters, one “soft” and the other “hard.” The soft perimeter would be monitored by cops, while the hard perimeter would be blocked off. Any permutation of a similar plan here in the City of Newburgh would almost certainly place a portion of 9W/Robinson Avenue at the intersection with Broadway within those perimeters. What impact would this have on the city?
Does Newburgh have the symbolic capital to hold such a trial? The Nuremberg Trials were held in Nuremberg in part because of its association as the birthplace of the Nazi Party. Additionally, it had an intact Palace of Justice with an adequate prison nearby. There doesn’t seem to be an adequate corollary for our current situation. If anything, New York City would have made the point that “[t]his is where the attack occurred, and New Yorkers should have been proud to see justice done here.”
