Police in New York City are cracking down on a longtime local tradition this summer by stepping up enforcement against urban sidewalk barbecues, a move that has some questioning the city’s priorities as crime continues to rage in Gotham with others decrying the actions as being racist.
The news of the NYPD’s heightened scrutiny of outdoor grillers drew the attention of the New York Post which reported that New York’s Finest will be “beefing up enforcement of sidewalk barbecues this summer, getting in the grills of scofflaws who commandeer walkways for urban cookouts,” a seemingly minor problem amidst the murders, assaults, rapes, robberies, drug dealing, prostitution and assorted other criminal offenses that have become a sad part of daily life under Democrat leadership in the Big Apple.
“We take the barbecues in an attempt to cut down on the parties and try to eliminate the shootings and fights,” said an unnamed Brooklyn police veteran who has been on the beat for more than 25 years.
“I know people don’t really want to hear it,” the officer said, adding that the BBQ crackdown is partially aimed at reducing the number of shootings this summer. “They’re like ‘That’s bull—t. We’re just having a good time.’ But the truth is someone gets stupid and a shooting happens. You knock the barbecues out and it helps eliminate the problem.”
The cops have already posted notices advising citizens that it is forbidden to barbecue on sidewalks and to engage in the public consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as one posted in a Harlem neighborhood reading: “No sidewalk BBQ’s. No public alcohol consumption. No obstruction on the sidewalk with tables, chairs, etc.”
The flyer also cites the applicable code and NYC is encouraging people to call 911 to snitch on violators who also can be reported to the authorities via the city’s website.
The NYPD already has fliers up telling people not to barbecue on sidewalks and is asking people online to smoke out egregious grillers by calling 911.
“I couldn’t joke about this if I wanted to,” said one New Yorker on TikTok. “It’s all racism by these gentrifiers that come into these neighborhoods like Inwood, Harlem, Washington Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Bed Stuy, Hunt’s Point.”
“Considering all of the badness that’s going on in our neighborhoods nowadays, we’re not allowed to have a friendly barbecue? If it keeps our neighbors occupied, us occupied, our children occupied, then let us barbecue,” said 53-year-old Makeeba Thompson of the Fordham Heights neighborhood in the Bronx.
56-year-old Thomas Brathwaite of Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood who regularly hosts sidewalk BBQ’s for friends and family bristled at the crackdown.
“I mean, we’ve been here for 50 years doing barbecues outside here,” he said, motioning to the sidewalk outside his home, according to the Post. “This is how we come together. . . . We’ve been doing this all my life. It’s a tradition that doesn’t need to be stopped.”
Others were more supportive of the police action.
“The police would have my full support on the enforcement,” said 49-year-old Bronx resident Meris Guerrero.“You add opportunities for drinking and smoking and violence and there will be problems. Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in now. It’s better for everyone for those opportunities to just not exist.”
“That would be great if the police would get rid of them because they’re annoying,” said an 83-year-old woman who declined to provide her name to the outlet. “They play their music until 3 or 4 in the morning. It’s annoying and I can’t sleep.”
Twitter users threw in their two cents on the city’s BBQ crackdown.
Excellent! This is far more important than protecting people from being pushed on to subway tracks.
— Area10/67 (@Area1067) June 3, 2023
Shouldn’t they focus on crime and not bbq
— Chris Soto (@ChrisSoto1980) June 3, 2023
Why would anyone want to live in NYC is wild to me. You murder someone your back out on the streets in days. God forbid you have a barbecue though.
— #BroncosCountry #LetsHide (@goatwilson3) June 3, 2023
To be followed by riots, burning, looting, videos claiming police brutality, politicians siding with the criminals, and screams of racism. Then they policy will be reversed, and the cops will be the bad guys.
— Eddie Mush (@MrEddieMush1) June 4, 2023
How about arresting illegals and other criminals!
— PJ (@observentoldowl) June 3, 2023
I’m sure that’s a great way to utilize their manpower in that crumbling hell hole.
— James (@Augustus1772) June 4, 2023
“I don’t know what Eric Adams is talking about we can’t barbecue on sidewalks, but this is our backyard . . . F–k you, Eric Adams. Sidewalk barbecues all day Brooklyn!” Said another New Yorker on TikTok, putting the blame directly on Hizzoner, the Post reported.
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