An AMNew York article delves into the neighborhood and tactical thoughts behind NYPD sky watch towers. The towers have four digital cameras, a spotlight, and a place for a cop to observe what's happening from two stories above the sidewalk. Reaction to the sky watches has been mixed. Crown Heights Community Board 10 chairman Emil Clark said, "People that had been living in the neighborhood forever were concerned that maybe this was for the people......

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly heralded the new group of police officers to graduate from the Police Academy. And this was the most diverse class. Here are some stats from the city:Of today's graduates, approximately 28% of the graduates are Hispanic, 17% are black, 8% are Asian, 1% are other ethnicities, and 46% are white. Approximately 18% of the graduates are female. Among today's class, 23% have received four-year college degrees; 17% have......

Given current murder rates, it seems that the city's murder rate will go down yet again this year. Newsday reports that NYC is on track "to recoard the lowest homicide rate in at least 40 years": - bout 450 for the year. Even police offices are asking "What's going on?" While murder rates alone are not the ultimate quality-of-life measures, touting low murder rates is a useful tool for Mayors and other city elected officials......

The killings of the two police detectives, Robert Parker and Patrick Raffety, by Marlon Legere reminded Gothamist of a book we read this summer: Blue Bloodby Edward Conlon. There are certainly problems between police officers and citizens - especially in poor areas - but it seems that most of the time, there is a common interest in making sure neighborhoods are safe. The outpouring of support and sadness for the deaths of the two detectives......

According to PRIZM, "lifestyle segmentation system," Gothamist lives in areas that can be defined as: Urban Gold Coast Young Literati Bohemian Mix Gray Power Urban Achievers Single City Blues Hispanic Mix That seems about right: Gothamist is schizophrenic. [Via The Observer, which breaks down other NY neighborhoods... Gothamist plugged in its New Jersey hometown and came up with Blue Blood Estates - eek]......