A meeting with the Judges at Thurston Road Street Watch

This Discussion is being started so we can review what went on at the October 27, 2010 meeting The Public Safety/Thurston Road
Street Watch Initiative at which we had the opportunity to talk with six City Court judges about the many crime issues that have citizens concerned for the future of their neighborhoods.

The meeting was extremely well attended and very informative for all involved. For those not there here are a few pictures of this meeting at which took place at the Presbyterian Home on Thurston.

People are still arriving as the meeting starts.

After everyone had arrived the meeting shifted to a question and answer format with the Judges.

I invite people who were there to offer their impressions of the meeting. John BoreK was taking minutes and should have them ready soon to post.

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on October 28, 2010 at 5:48pm

Here is a post of Officer Kristin Runyon's comments on the meeting:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Last night’s meeting with the Judges was incredible. A quick re-cap for those who did not attend:

At last night’s 19th Ward Public Safety/ Thurston Road Street Watch meeting, six local Judges attended and were put on the hot seat a little. The Judges fielded questions and I thought, did a great job answering them. At no point did they refuse to answer anything or lay blame elsewhere. In fact, when specifically asked about the circumstances surrounding the Wellington incident, and what as a community we can do to send the message that we are not ‘ok’ with the rapid release of these criminals that are terrorizing our neighborhoods, one Judge frankly said something similar to, “well, we are voted in and can be voted out”. They explained the processes behind all releases whether from bail or hearings, etc. They also brought a good point to light. Judges have a real and credible fear that they will release someone, in hopes that they will do right, and in fact they do worse, or like the Wellington incident, commit a horrible new offense. After the meeting, I spoke for quite a while with Judge Morse in the parking lot. He remembers the names of the defendants he has released that did bad things when they were out, some from 15 years or more ago. They really seemed to connect with the community members and show their ‘human’ side. One of the Judges there last night is actually a 19th warder and the victim of a recent burglary.

We will have a more extensive discussion of the meeting and all that came out of it at the next meeting which will be November 17th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rochester Presbyterian Home located at 256 Thurston Road. Generally this meeting is the last Wednesday of every month, but with Thanksgiving in there, we changed the date. I hope you all can make it, and bring a friend. We will keep finding bigger rooms to meet in if need be!

While we were meeting with the Judges, in an effort to make change, neighbors in the Post Avenue area met to discuss the killing of their neighbor, Paulie, who was shot and killed outside his home on Sunday evening. Fliers with Crime Stoppers information are being distributed in the area. I have some in my office if anyone wants them.

Thank you all again, for being involved and working to make our community the best, safest place to live.

Kris

Officer Kristin Runyon
Rochester Police Department
Southwest NSC
923 Genesee St.
Rochester, NY, 14611
(585)428-7635 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (585)428-7635 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
kr0615@cityofrochester.gov

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on November 15, 2010 at 5:38pm

John Boreck has just sent me the minutes for the October 27th Meeting:
19th Ward Public Safety Thurston Road Street Watch Minutes October ...

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Permalink Reply by John Boutet on November 15, 2010 at 9:59pm

Here is the latest from John Borek on what the coming meeting will have on the agenda:

Dear 19th Warder:

This Wednesday, November 17th, we will hold our November Pubic Safety/Streetwatch meeting at The Rochester Presbyterian Home, 256 Thurston Road. The 19th Ward Public Safety meeting will review our safety challenges and begin at 6:30 PM; at 7:00 PM Councilman McFadden will introduce Tim Donaher, Monroe County Public Defender and Sandra Doorley, First Assistant District Attorney.

Please come to hear how the Public Defender's Office and the District Attorney's Office function. And please voice your questions and concerns.

John Borek, Public Safety Committee Chair

John W. Borek
296 Melrose Street
Rochester, NY 14619
TEL (585) 455-6921
email: johnwborek@yahoo.com