(St. Albans, NY)- Senator Malcolm A. Smith held his first Operation Safe Southeast Queens (OSSEQ) meeting for 2011. The meeting consisted of representatives from the offices of Southeast Queens elected officials, local police precincts, the Queens District Attorney’s office, community and civic leaders, clergy and concerned citizens.
Through the communication and relationships established at the monthly meeting, Senator Smith and his staff have been effective at targeting traditional “hot spots” and increasing police surveillance thereby curtailing drug activity, prostitution and other issues brought to their attention at the meeting.
“Preventing crime and keeping my constituents safe is always my first priority. I formed OSSEQ to combat gun violence and crime in our neighborhoods. Over the past few years with the cooperative efforts of other elected officials, precinct commanders, clergy and members of the community OSSEQ has made Southeast Queens a safer place to live, work and worship,” said Senator Smith.
Last year, a sub-initiative entitled the Operation Safe Southeast Queens Youth Committee was formed. This committee held a number of gang prevention workshops at Campus Magnet High School and brought buses of students to Albany for the Black & Hispanic Caucus weekend and kicked off what was the first of many activities for the youth committee. The committee is looking to expand their youth initiatives again this year and take bus loads of students to Albany next month to participate in all of the youth activities.
At this month’s meeting, members of the FDNY and EMS conducted a CPR training with meeting attendees.
“ Every month this year I plan to have a different theme for each one of my meetings. This month’s theme was on CPR Training. I really want people to feel like they learned something and benefited from coming to OSSEQ, ” concluded Senator Smith.
Operation Safe Southeast Queens is held the first Wednesday of every month at the Queens Long Island Medical Group, PC, 206-20 Linden Blvd , Cambria Heights, NY 11411.
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Malcolm A. Smith is the New York State Senate Immediate Past President Pro Tempore (2008-10)
