So anyone stumbling across this- in search of the answer as to why the NYPD were overly excessive in tracking down the Hispanic man suspected of robbing a high end shoe store in Manhattan’s Upper East Side; I will look into it and try to keep everyone informed. Yes- I agree (at the surface) that this is an overly excessive abuse of the NYPD’s own comfort zone within their ‘allocated’ budget and if we find that there was no other reason than this- the absolute embarrassment the force will face from within the influential people in the (UES) community will hopefully monitor such jug-head like decision making. At the least it will plant a seed and hopefully prove my theory that there are indeed too many New York City Police officers.
My suggestion is to have, at the least, 2/3rds less the number of cops that there are on the street currently, pay higher salaries, hire less and have stricter hiring standards. The result will be a higher caliber of a police force, less unnecessary arrests, expenditures, and court system that’s not overly-docketed.
Tamsin Wolf Ambulance Dedication
On February 19, 2007 at the corner of Greene Ave. and Marcus Garvey Blvd. in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, Tamsin Wolf was honored by the Bedford Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BSVAC). Captain James "Rocky" Robinson, founder of the BSVAC dedicated an ambulance to Tamsin Wolf in honor of her long-standing support of the Brooklyn non-profit organization.
The BSVAC was founded by Robinson in response to the lack of adequate emergency medical services in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Hundreds of lives have been saved by BSVAC, whether stabbing/shooting, traffic accidents, cardiac arrests, or asthma victims; the volunteers are at the scene with an average response time of 4 minutes. In addition, BSVAC serves as a training facility to have volunteers certified as Emergency Medical Technicians. This organization provides more than medical services to the Bed-Stuy community, but also serves as a learning and community center for the neighborhood. Bed-Stuy has seen a dramatic drop in crime rates in recent times; however the painful memories of the crack epidemic are still present. Furthermore, the community is still underserved, but improving, with regards to medical services when compared to other New York City neighborhoods.
Faced with crippling financial constraints, the BSVAC continues to function as a serious emergency medical service. The ambulance dedicated to Tamsin Wolf is unbelievably one-half of the "fleet" that belongs to the organization. The need for additional funding is quite apparent when visiting the BSVAC headquarters. On the corner of Greene Ave. and Marcus Garvey Blvd. stands a run-down trailer in a dilapidated lot where BSVAC is based. It is quite amazing that this organization is able to function efficiently in this tiny trailer. Finally, the city has recognized the value of BSVAC, and Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz has aided in securing $135,000 to provide a new trailer. The volunteers appear to be quite grateful for this "gift" and the efforts of Marty Markowitz.
The fact that Rocky Robinson's vision is still being fulfilled after eighteen years is not only a testament to the necessity of the organization, but also how the support of volunteers, such as Tamsin Wolf, has sustained its operations. On the day of the dedication, Wolf's family showed their support for her and the organization, as her young kids learned about the ambulances from a BSVAC volunteer. As we took a spin around the neighborhood in the dedicated ambulance, I asked why she has stayed involved with the organization over the years. She responded with a question, "Have you met Rocky? Tamsin explained when you meet someone that is as passionate and serious about saving lives as Rocky; you can not help but share the same enthusiasm. Tamsin is an energetic and intelligent personality, and after speaking with her you realize her knowledge goes beyond non-profit organization legal issues. She astutely describes the issue of lack of healthcare in Bed-Stuy, which is adding to the burden the BSVAC must face each day. She alerts me to an unexpected problem that is chronically plaguing the community, asthma. Due to the lack of preventative care low-income individuals, especially children, are highly dependent on emergency rooms for treatment of asthma.
Tamsin is highly optimistic about the future but alerts me to many of the pressing concerns facing BSVAC in the future. Funds, Funds, Funds — funds are desperately needed for day-to-day operations. The high price of gas is straining their budget, as it can cost over $100 a day to fuel one ambulance. Ambulance insurance rates are a huge percentage of the cost of operations for BSVAC. Medical supplies and other necessary equipment constantly need replacement. Even though, Marty Markowitz has aided in obtaining funds for a new trailer, Rocky and Tamsin hope one day soon BSVAC will have a permanent structure, such as a building, to use as the BSVAC headquarters, training academy, and community center.
Before leaving BSVAC, Tamsin invites me into the trailer for food and refreshments. While eating my kosher plate of food, I witness the dynamism of Tamsin and this organization. A volunteer in sunglasses approaches Ms. Wolf and both are familiar with each other. He states his aim to enroll in law school, and would like advice on what schools to consider. Tamsin gladly offers her knowledge and I leave knowing that this is not the first or the last individual who will be helped by BSVAC.
When she is not providing assistance and support through fundraising, bookkeeping, grant proposals, and professional expertise to the BSVAC; she serves as the Assistant General Counsel for Time Warner, provides pro bono legal services to various non-profit organizations, and raises two bright children.
-Herston Elton Powers
The Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BSVAC), the nation's first minority-run volunteer ambulance corps, was founded in 1988 by two EMS workers, Captain James Robinson and Specialist Joe Perez. The creation of BSVAC was their response to the crisis in emergency medical service that afflicts New York's minority communities.
As in other minority communities, many residents of Bed-Stuy do not have health insurance. As a result, they are less likely to visit the doctor's office for routine care or for treatment in the early stages of disease. At the same time, African-American men and women suffer disproportionately from high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, heart attacks and strokes. These factors lead to a disproportionate number of emergency room visits -- 75% of all emergency medical calls in New York City come from minority neighborhoods.
When BSVAC first began operations, the response time in Bed-Stuy for city ambulances averaged about 30 minutes. BSVAC established a record-breaking ambulance service that currently responds to over 100 emergency calls a month with an average response time of less than 4 minutes. BSVAC also established a neighborhood first aid center and has worked to promote preventive health care in the community. BSVAC has lost count of the number of lives it has saved.
In addition to medical services, BSVAC has worked tirelessly to train the Bed-Stuy community. To date, thousands of local residents have been trained as First Responders who can save lives in emergencies. BSVAC has also developed a remarkable Youth Corps program that provides CPR, first aid and basic emergency medical training to teens and young adults, preparing them for full-time employment in emergency medicine. A program for younger children, called the Trauma Troopers, has also been developed by BSVAC; it provides CPR and first aid training. In addition to medical training, these programs provide positive role models and social activities. To date, hundreds of young people have completed the program; almost 100 of the graduates have become EMTs or have otherwise embarked on careers in medicine as nurse, physician's assistant, or doctors.
While based in Bed-Stuy, BSVAC has reached out to other minority communities, from Harlem to LA, providing emergency medical training and assistance in setting up programs. Closer to home, BSVAC responded to the· first World Trade Center bombing 10 years ago; it also responded on 9/11 when BSVAC Vollies saved a firefighter's life.
For its remarkable accomplishments and ongoing efforts, BSVAC has received numerous honors, including: Robin Hood Foundation Hero of the Year Award, New York City Hero Award, American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award, Points of Light Award (awarded by President George Bush), and Maxwell House Hero Search Award.
BSVAC is a New York not-for-profit organization that is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations to BSVAC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted bylaw.
-Michael Hamilton
This is what you call an initiative out of appreciation and honor for the Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps. I am truly thankful, very fortunate and a better person as a result of this experience. It is an opportunity to have an opportunity jump in front of you- bith slap you across the face and say WAKE UP! I have been introduced to the real inner-fabrique of what humanity is all about. When you hear of Bed-Stuy- you think of the worst inner city community on the globe- as it undeniably is; in regards to the per block capita of poverty, drugs, crime, violence, homicides etc... The Bed Stuy Vollies are not just an ambulance corp. they are the first minority run ambulance corps in America, and also the most reliable.
The organization has recieved countless awards, praises, and recognition on the national level- which has dwindled as has the fashionable funding resulting from.
Currently, now that BSVAC has at the least added to the patriarchy within the community- do or die in Bed Stuy!" let alonoe-irrespectively laying the foundation to the gentrification process (I don't see it yet) to the mass development in downtown brooklyn, (there are no signs of gentrification). the city has plans for auctioning off the lot. After all- if the property value goes up- the productivity of 'city' ambulances will go up as well.
-Michael Hamilton
