Mayor Bill de Blasio came to the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library this morning to announce that security measures at this year’s J’Ouvert celebration will resemble enforcement procedures of the New Year’s Eve gathering in Manhattan’s Times Square.
De Blasio, who made the announcement along with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, City Councilmember Jumanee Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) and police officials, also noted enhanced security before and during the upcoming J’Ouvert. Earlier this month the city announced the start-time for J’Ouvert change to 6 a.m. Today police officials gave details on specific measures the city will take to ensure safety.
“We’re going to have a very different plan for the J’Ouvert celebration this year,” said de Blasio. “There’s going to be even more police presence –– there’s going to be a series of changes –– in fact, you’re going to see the same kind of measure we take on New Year’s Eve to create a much more orderly and controlled situation.”
In addition to increased police presence in and around the route, Chief of Patrol Terence A. Monahan, announced procedures leading up to and during J’Ouvert. Street closings will stretch along Empire Boulevard from Flatbush to Nostrand avenues, and along Nostrand from Empire to Midwood Street. The frozen zone will include 12 entry points of which attendees will have to bypass a magnetometer before entry. No alcohol or bags are allowed beyond entry points.
Despite additional resources and an increased police presence last year, the celebration became the subject of two shootings with one of them resulting in a fatality. Both shootings occurred before 6 a.m.
This year, street closings will begin at 11 p.m. with an additional weapons-sweeping along the parade route between 11 p.m. tp 2 a.m. Several checkpoints will be situated throughout the frozen zone. Parade participants will also be subjected to checkpoints.
Along with increased lighting and more cameras to increase surveillance, officials announced quality of life enforcement throughout the day leading up to J’Ouvert.
“We give discretion to our officers — there can be summonses, arrests or correcting the condition,” said Monahan about quality of life violators. Enforcement will be implemented throughout the parade route and its borders.
Yvette Rennie, President of J’Ouvert, echoed the sentiment of the others at Grand Army Plaza by acknowledging the changes were a collaborative effort between the community, police and elected officials. “I am so happy that everyone is coming together to make sure we have a smooth and enjoyable J’Ouvert,” said Rennie.
Incumbent City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Prospect Park, Ditmas Park), whose 40th district encompasses part of the J’Ouvert celebration footprint, was not in attendance, but his opponent in the upcoming Sept. 12 primary, Pia Raymond, dropped in.
Raymond told KCP as Vice President of the Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association, her involvement in J’Ouvert has evolved throughout the years.
“Our safety is something we have to ensure in J’Ouvert,” said Raymond. “Rather than us looking at the checkpoints as something volatile, look at it as a way of us entering a new space so that we can celebrate J’Ouvert in a safe and exciting way.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. Oneill, NYPD Assistant Chief Steven Powers and Community Board 9 Chairman Musa Moore were also in attendance.
