Is Violence on the Rise (Again) in Williamsburg?

Just last year around this time word was circulating amongst the rapidly gentrifying streets of Williamsburg that gang warfare and machete attacks were on the rise. While the police presence in the area was heightened, the violence continued throughout the summer—and now that spring is in the air once again, it seems the gangs are done hibernating for the winter. A reader sent us in a tip, saying things are heating up between the Pretty Boy Goonies and the Trinitarios on the Southside. The local reported back saying that the community was on edge after this past Sunday night around 7 p.m. "there was a pipe fight on Bedford around South 4th Street that sent a kid to the hospital." And on Monday night at 6 p.m. "at the pizza place on South Fourth and Bedford, a bunch of guys went into a restaurant and caned a kid while he was on the phone to his mother." Just three hours after that, on South 3rd and Bedford, "a guy was beaten with bottles and a window was broken out of the building behind him." This is what happens when weapons are sold with $1.25 slices!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on March 18, 2009 11:21 AM

Comments [rss]

theLtrain

Uhh Bushwick is way bigger than Williamsburg, what are you talking about?

bktv

Maybe because Bushwick is extremely tiny and Williamsburg is way bigger?

ocm123

I'm not sure why Gothamist obsesses with the gang activity in Williamsburg and yet, virtually ignores the significantly more serious gang problems in other parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx. For example, Bushwick, which borders Williamsburg has a higher concentration of gangs, but is almost never mentioned by this blog.

ed_Extinct

Whatever happened to the Van Buren Boys?

Wza

Crime on the southside of WillyB?

wow..who knew?

Splicer

This is what comes of a political climate where people are more worried about offending people than they are of getting beaten or killed.

For the umpteenth time: Use provisions of the Patriot Act to sweep up the gangs as terrorist organizations. Either that or use assassination squads to take out the trash.

whitecastlerock

How would cops supplement their income without street gangs?

TheKlaus

Obviously you've never been in a gang and have first hand knowledge of how fun and cool it is. That Patriot Act is good for one thing; toilet paper on a camping trip

Comic Book Guy

How do you know how long they had the tip? Also, since I don't believe you pay for what you read here, why don't you just be appreciative they're covering this at all, or maybe start your own blog.