Brooklyn Authorities Powerless Against Squatters, Junkies, and Illegals

Amid growing concerns over public safety, critics argue that liberal policies in major urban areas have contributed to a surge in crime and drug use. Cities across the United States, particularly those led by progressive administrations, are facing heightened scrutiny as residents and law enforcement officials grapple with increasing rates of violence, theft, and substance abuse.

In cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, the implementation of policies such as reduced penalties for non-violent crimes, decriminalization of certain drug offenses, and scaled-back policing have been cited as factors leading to the current crisis. Advocates for these policies argue that they are necessary to address systemic inequalities and reduce mass incarceration. However, detractors contend that these approaches have inadvertently emboldened criminal behavior and exacerbated the public health crisis related to drug addiction.

“Liberal policies that prioritize decriminalization and leniency have, unfortunately, created an environment where crime and drug use can flourish,” said a former police chief. “The result is that law-abiding citizens are left feeling unsafe in their own communities.”

One area of particular concern is the rise in drug use and the corresponding increase in overdose deaths. Critics point to the decriminalization of certain substances and the establishment of supervised consumption sites as contributing factors. While these measures were intended to reduce harm and connect users with treatment, opponents argue that they have instead normalized drug use and attracted criminal activity.

Crime rates have also surged in several cities, with many blaming the defunding or reallocation of police resources for the uptick in violence. In response to public pressure following high-profile incidents of police misconduct, some cities reduced funding for their police departments and redirected those funds to social services. While supporters of these measures hoped to address root causes of crime, critics argue that the reduction in active policing has led to a spike in criminal activity.

“Communities are suffering because the focus has shifted away from enforcing the law,” said a spokesperson for a national law enforcement organization. “We need policies that strike a balance between justice reform and public safety, but what we’re seeing in these urban areas is a breakdown in order.”

The impact of these policies has become a contentious issue in local and national politics, with residents demanding action to restore safety and order in their neighborhoods. As crime and drug use continue to rise, the debate over the effectiveness of liberal urban policies is likely to intensify, with voters seeking solutions amid public safety concerns.

One such issue has recently surfaced in Brooklyn, New York, where a group of squatters has occupied an empty house and is unlawfully “renting” rooms to undocumented immigrants, rendering the neighborhood uninhabitable.

As a result, law-abiding residents are being compelled to vacate their homes and find new accommodations.

This is intolerable.

The worst of New York City’s worlds have collided on one Brooklyn block – where junkie squatters rented out an abandoned home to migrants, whose dozens of apparently stolen bikes and scooters sparked an inferno that scorched two neighboring homes, The Post has learned.

But even the Aug. 17 conflagration couldn’t keep the squatters away from the East 36th Street abode in Marine Park.

“For the next two days, people were coming back again and again,” a 45-year-old neighbor told The Post, even after the city boarded up the second-floor windows and poured cement across the first-floor doors and windows.

Neighbors estimated around 10 junkies and an unknown number of migrant squatters frequented the dilapidated two-story, three-bedroom duplex, which was built in 1925.

The recent fire and subsequent arrests in the vicinity have seemingly deterred the most troublesome individuals for now.

However, local residents are anxious about the potential return of these troublemakers, and they feel that the municipal government is either unwilling or unable to effectively address the situation.

Adding to their concerns is the presence of an “unknown number of migrant squatters,” many of whom are believed to be in the country illegally.

This raises questions about the whereabouts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and why these individuals have not been apprehended and deported.

Some speculate that this may be due to New York being a “sanctuary” jurisdiction, leading to a sense of accountability for the current circumstances.

Although certain city council members are expressing concern, the municipal government appears to be slow in addressing the issue, according to the NY Post story referenced above.

Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse said her office was contacted about “the ongoing and deeply troubling issue of squatters and drug activity” on the property for the first time on the day of the fire.  

“More must be done to protect our neighborhoods from the dangers posed by neglected properties. I strongly support the need for stronger state laws that empower communities and homeowners to address the problem of squatting effectively,” she said.

A mayoral spokesperson said, “We are going to review laws surrounding squatting to protect homeowners in the city, particularly working-class New Yorkers, and we will look for ways to partner with the City Council to resolve this issue.”

Citizens are being forced out of their homes, the very homes they have worked hard to pay for and have poured much of their income and years into.

What about the city’s responsibility to uphold laws that protect the freedom and property of its residents?

This pattern is now occurring in Brooklyn, New York after previously happening in Aurora, Colorado. Regrettably, it is indicative of the continuous deterioration of our American cities.

We have witnessed the consequences of laws that lessen criminal punishments for different offenses, as well as laws that complicate the eviction of squatters.

Additionally, we have endured nearly four years of the Biden/Harris administration’s harmful border policies.

Our cities are deteriorating from within, with local governments seemingly unable to halt the decline.

The outcome of this trend is uncertain and concerning.