NYC expands NYPD's Quality-of-Life division
The city said since the pilot program launched in October 2024, the Quality-of-Life Team has responded to more than 41,000 calls and cut down non-emergency response time by about 50 minutes.
The NYPD’s Quality-of-Life Teams are expanding across all five boroughs.
They’re known as the “Q-teams” and address neighborhood issues, including illegal dumping, noise complaints, towing away abandoned vehicles and open-air drug use.
“Our localized precinct-based teams will be helping reduce crime and improve quality of life conditions, working hand-in-hand with the community to both keep our streets safe and clean,” said Mayor Eric Adams on Monday.
The city said since the pilot program launched in October 2024, the Quality-of-Life Team has responded to more than 41,000 calls and cut down non-emergency response time by about 50 minutes.
“People must feel safe, and they must be safe,” Adams said. “They go together.”
But do New Yorkers notice a change in their communities?
“Are there bigger things to focus on? Of course,” said Bryon Nieves, who works in Mott Haven. “But for what they are focusing on, I feel like they’re doing pretty good.”
Nieves works near The Hub, an area notorious for drug use that the city recently cleared out.
“I definitely a difference in terms of the drug use openly out here,” said Nieves.
Others are not as convinced.
“It's not working,” said Ahmed Oyinlola, of East New York.
Oyinlola said abandoned cars are sitting on his street in Brooklyn.
“We called 311 several times, but they have not come to get the cars,” Oyinlola said. “We kept getting tickets because we have nowhere to park.”
