Police Drug Sting is Off the Hook

The NYPD announced they took down a $12 million-a-year drug ring in the Red Hook Houses. Over the past 18 months, the police have been working on "Operation Off the Hook" and arrested 153 dealers. The gangs avoided conflicts with the police by not fighting with each other under mutual agreement and even gave nicknames to parts of the housing development - "Poor Block, Slytown, Paradise and Peyton Place." Police Commissioner Kelly said their motto was "No beef, no police,"

There a PBS Independent Lens film called Red Hook Justice, looking at the Red Hook Community Justice Center; the PBS website has some information about the Red Hook Houses. And the Red Hook Houses, built in 1939, has 30 buildings and more than 6,500 residents according to the city.