Recently installed Thomas Jefferson Young Democrats President Steven D. Patzer might be only 22, but he is already hitting the ground running as the force behind reintroducing legislation that offers protection to honest buyers and sellers in the City’s thriving second-hand marketplace on the internet.
Patzer has now partnered up with City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst), who intoduced the original legislation two years ago with City Council Member Alan Maisel, to reintroduce creating Internet Protection Exchange Locations to combat assaults, scams, and robbery that occurs when criminals posing as buyers or sellers meet up with the innocent other party and rob them.
“These past few years, we have witnessed tragedies among our youth due to the violence and scams that stem from websites such as Craigslist, Letgo, Offerup, and Facebook Marketplace. Just a week ago a young man was robbed at gunpoint right here in Brooklyn for his shoes,” said Patzer. “Consumers turn to New York’s thriving second- hand market to save and make money and the inconvenient truth is, that they need protection.”
Patzer said the idea of meeting a stranger in a public, well-lit, and trafficked area is no longer good enough to deter criminals. New Yorkers need access to safe monitored environments such as local police precincts, and this is being done successfully in 17 other states to date, he said.
“The worst part about this is that crooks prey upon the younger generation who use these websites the most. Vulnerable teenagers do not report these crimes in fear of embarrassment or ridicule from their friends or family. Over a dozen victims I have spoken to personally denied speaking on the record about their experience to maintain their anonymity,” said Patzer.
Treyger noted that just a week ago, what one individual thought was a simple cell phone exchange in Brooklyn turned into a robbery at gunpoint.
“Fortunately, the victim was not hurt this time, but other incidents have ended in tragedy. Municipalities across the country are creating internet purchase safe zones, and here in New York City, we should be doing the same so we can remove the risk from what should be a simple second-hand market transaction,” said Treyger.
Patzer said Treyger is the sponsore of the bill with Maisel being the prime co-sponsor. Brooklyn City Council Members Chaim Deutsch and Justin Brannan are co-sponsoring the measure.
Patzer said he has met with police officials and there was some pushback to not have meeting at precinct houses between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., which are the most active hours at local precincts. The 69th Precinct in Canarsie has agreed to it being a location as a pilot program, Patzer said.
Patzer said other protected locations being considered include libraries and malls with security cameras.
Patzer and Treyger will hold a press conference at 1 p.m., next Thursday, March 28 on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan to further discuss the legislation.
