No summer blues for youngsters spending their summer with the blue. On Aug. 5, like every first Tuesday in August, New York City showed out for National Night Out Against Crime. The long-standing public safety tradition brings out youngsters across the country to connect with police officers beyond their badge and gun through recreational activities.
At the Harlem State Office Building, the NYPD 28th Precinct greeted the community with free food, train rides, rock climbing and more. Commanding officer Capt. James Whitlock pointed to the neighborhood’s crime decline and credited a community effort.
“Our community’s joining together and showing appreciation for each other,” said Whitlock. “As you look at 28th Precinct, we’re down in crime. We’re number four in the city with the drastic reduction in crime. With 28% reduction — the reason why that’s a thing, it ain’t just the NYPD who steps up and does their job. It’s also the community at large.”
Bill Moore photos
He credited community-based organizations like T.A.G. and Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. for their contributions with youth engagement. Several elected officials showed up including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and State Senator Cordell Cleare.
“Every time I talk about public safety, I remember when we pick up that phone, we want those officers to run the danger while we run away from it,” said Williams. “We also know that the community understands they cannot do it by themselves. Neither do they want to do it by themselves. So we have to make sure all of the partners are there, all the partners are funded, and all of us are doing the work that we’re supposed to do to co-create public safety.”
“I love the fact that we’re out here tonight,” added Cleare. “This is our night out, that we can enjoy our community at any time, at any hour, that it’s safe, at all times.”
An NYPD explorer learns CPR on a training dummy at Park Slope’s National Night Out event. Credit: Tandy Lau 
Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani with a young fan at Park Slope’s National Night Out event. Credit: Courtesy of Lekha Sunder/Zohran for New York 
State Senator Cordell Cleare and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at Harlem’s National Night Out. Credit: Tandy Lau
Park Slope’s 78th Precinct drew a large turnout thanks to remarks from Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and State Attorney General Letitia James. While the presumptive mayoral election frontrunner was applauded by many in the crowd, Mamdani also fielded persistent questions from the press about his stance on the NYPD during the event, despite no plans to defund the police.
“Our focus on public safety has been one that isn’t [a] competition,” said Mamdani. “It seeks to address each and every concern New Yorkers have across the five boroughs.”
But the party rolled on long after the cameras stopped rolling. Parkway residents enjoyed rock climbing, a classic car show and food as a live DJ and gospel performers provided the tunes.
78th Precinct Council sergeant-in-arms Christine Parker told the Amsterdam News the annual plays a big role each year in public safety as the Park Slope community bounces back from COVID-19 pandemic years. She says the only shame is the event happens just once annually, although precinct council meetings attempt to foster similar relationships with the community, minus the bounce houses.
“The past few years it’s been rebuilding [but] I think we’re almost back at our peak again,” said Parker. “It’s really exciting…it’s just so great to see kids being engaged.”