With summer fast approaching, East Flatbush residents and block associations have to scurry to get in applications if they want to hold a block party.
However, police officials from the 67th Precinct are putting out the word that all rules must be followed, and that any applicants that held a block party that went awry last year will not get a permit for this summer.
“We like to grant as many block parties and close off as many parks as we can, but we need the cooperation of the block parties,” explained Deputy Inspector William Aubry at the precinct’s recent community council meeting.
That means when the sergeant comes at 8 p.m. to shut down the party, the police are given as much respect as they deserve, and you start shutting down the music and don’t wait until a quarter to nine, Aubry added.
Aubry said last year such an incident happened at one fairly well-run black party, but because it didn’t shut down when it was authorized, some trouble happened.
“We have resources there for only a certain amount of time. Once that time is up we have to end that party, and it’s a good thing that nothing bad happens. That’s what we want,” said Aubry.
Detective Leroy Hutchinson, of the community affairs department for the 67th Precinct, said that each community board permits block parties differently.
It was determined some years ago that those block associations that want to have a summer block party start the process by coming to the precinct 90 days before the actual event for police authorization, Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said block parties are held throughout the summer on Saturday and Sunday, but only eight are authorized on any given day.
It the applicant is a block association, the request must be made on the association’s letterhead, and if it’s a resident they must bring a petition signed by 75 percent of the addresses, said Hutchinson.
Hutchinson said if the block party takes place in a commercial area, 100 percent of the businesses must sign off on it or authorization will not be granted.
Once the precinct issues a pre-approval form, the sponsors of the block party must take it to Community Board 17, where they send it to the mayor’s office of street activity which issues the permit, he said.
Hutchinson said the precinct does issue sound permits for amplified music for $45 and there is a $15 application fee that CB 17 charges.
Hutchinson said the precinct actually wants the party and music closed down at 7 p.m. for a general clean-up so that the block can promptly be reopened at 8 p.m.
Over the years, the precinct knows the more unsavory block associations and it screens out any block parties where there have been problems in the past, he said.
“You can’t have a block party when there’s a crime or it’s uncivilized. Why give a permit if someone got stabbed at the last one?” said Hutchinson, adding the precinct does allow a tremendous number of summer block parties.
For more information on block parties in the precinct, go to the stationhouse at 2820 Snyder Avenue or call community affairs at 287-3235 or 287-3236.
