Wethinks our District Attorney doth protest too much.
In recent years, the once soft-spoken William V. Taylor has transformed into a junkyard dog, barking about how his office is “brickyard tough” on violent offenders. But in the last month, the D.A. has gone from canine to Kruschev, screaming on and on about his new enemy -- and darned-near banging every pulpit (and pundit) he nears -- with his well-trodden message about the Blind Man.
Oh, the Blind Man, how he consumes our dear D.A. Taylor seems singularly focused on the impending trial of alleged murderer and rapist Martin Grace ... and in light of his recent announcement of wanting to put the man on Death Row, apparently wants to make an example of him. Last week, Grace was shunted into the ninth circle of New York mental health hell -- Brinkvale Psychiatric, aka “The Brink” -- a place as lacking in its facilities as its administrators are of their faculties. Grace obviously has no chance of a fair diagnosis there, much less a fair trial.
What is fueling Taylor’s obsession? Could it be ego? The thrill of playing ringmaster to the local media’s leering fascination with this story? We say no. By examining recent violent crime statistics, it’s clear Taylor and his allies in the police department are failing at being “brickyard tough.” In fact, we believe Taylor’s grandstanding is a smokescreen intended to steer the public’s attention away from the grim realities seen on our city streets, particularly in low income neighborhoods.
While the NYPD reports that overall crime has dropped overall by 3 percent in the last year, violent crime is up. Disturbingly up. The murder rate has spiked 9 percent so far this year, with additional increases in robberies, rapes and assaults. Reports of rape have surged to 7 percent (in comparison to 4 percent this time last year), and robberies have doubled to 6 percent.
More distressing is the number of arrests and convictions for these crimes. They’ve flatlined. While violent crime is on the rise, the NYPD and Taylor’s office have not kept pace. Translation: more unpunished killers and rapists are walking our streets than a year ago. Organized crime continues also to flourish, most notably in Brighton Beach, better known to locals as “Little Russia.”
Why isn’t Taylor speaking about -- and taking on -- these issues? Why aren’t such local media outlets at the Times and Post reporting on them? These old schoolers would rather pump their resources into such Movie of the Week oddities as Martin Grace, who is an easy target for the public’s morbid curiosity. High-profile trials sell newspapers ... and keep fat cats like Taylor well-fed.
Taylor, stop mugging for the cameras and reinvigorate your commitment to tracking down -- and convicting -- not just the headline-friendly suspects, but all of them. You’re slipping, junkyard dog ... and your rabid showboating isn’t fooling us one bit.
Once upon a time, journalists drew attention to problems that were being ignored by the people in charge. Now we live in the age of infotainment, and which stories get run is determined by how many readers, or how many website hits, the editors think a particular story will gain for the publication. That is the only explanation I can come up with for why everything on the front page is about Martin Grace. This city has so many problems that are more important -- cover those instead.
Lay off William Taylor. The guy is doing what's best for his city. Sometimes the populace needs to see justice done. Yes, the city has other problems. Yes, Martin Grace is just one man. But he's the bogeyman people want -- and need -- to see brought to justice right now. And sometimes, when a city has been watching a story play out in front of them, giving that story closure is more important than making sure you point out every last little issue just so your coverage is "fair."
I read your feature on Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital with a great deal of interest. Like everyone in the area, I've heard all the stories about the place, and when I was a kid, my friends and I used to make up ghost stories about the place to tell each other at sleepover parties. Your coverage seems to have whitewashed the history of the place, however. Shame on you, Ledger. We depend on your coverage for our dose of spin-free news. Don't give in now, and over a run-down mental hospital.
Thank you for taking the time, and providing us with the opportunity, to dispell misconceptions about one of New York's most maligned public health institutions. Your piece on Brinkvale Psychiatric Hospital was a delight to read for everyone on our staff. I'd like to take this opportunity to remind the community that we are here to serve them, and to that end, we have recently launched a hospital website at brinkvalepsychiatric.com. Please come visit us and let us know how we can continue to help improve our service to the community.
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