Borough Prez To NYPD: Remove Barricades Outside UWS Precinct

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — As protests against police brutality were taking place daily in New York City during the end of May and beginning of June, barricades appeared outside the 20th Precinct on the Upper West Side.

Months later, the barricades still block the street and sidewalks from West 82nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam. Additionally, there are more barricades around police cars parked on the block.

Now, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is calling on Police Commissioner Dermot Shea to remove the barricades after her office found that 19 of the 23 police precincts in Manhattan still have barricades up.

Brewer conducted the survey between July 27 and Aug. 8.

In her letter to Shea, Brewer said she strongly believes a more reasonable agreement can be reached to preserve the safety of officers and precincts.

"It will also help reduce the lingering traces of the 'siege mentality' that afflicted the city several months ago," Brewer wrote in her letter.

You can read Brewer's letter to the police commissioner here.

In August, Captain Neil Zuber, commanding officer of the 20th Precinct, explained to the West Side Rag why the block was still closed off with barricades. He attributed it to officer safety —specifically, around setting up extra security during the first nights of the George Floyd protests, police officers getting injured during those protests, and a 20th precinct police car getting set on fire on 83rd Street at the end of July. Read his full explanation here.

"Clearly the threat has not yet passed," Zuber told the West Side Rag.

Zuber did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment regarding a timeline to remove the barriers.