NYPD's Times Square crackdown leaves residents uptown asking, 'What about us?'

EAST HARLEM (WABC) -- The NYPD has created a task force to deal with costumed characters and scantily clad women in Times Square. But residents uptown are wondering about the crime in their neighborhoods.

"This is more important than women walking around naked to get attention," said Rep. Charles Rangel.

What about us? That seems to be the sentiment from elected officials and community leaders in East Harlem, as Times Square has a newly created quality of life task force and is set to get an infusion of 100 officers to address naked and aggressive panhandlers there.

"I don't mind them putting them down there, but they should have several of them come up here also because we really need them up here. All this congestion's up here all the time," said Jim Ratti, president of 1775 Houses.

At issue: the congestion at the intersection of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue. "We have six methadone clinics in the area, we are a major transportation hub. We are the major dropoff point for the homeless shelter on Wards and Randalls Island," said State Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez.

"There's all kinds of trafficking going on along the strip, even for those instances where treatment is being provided, it's being abused," said State Senator Bill Perkins.

The mayor's office says the issues are being addressed with "increased NYPD presence and sanitation services, K2 inspections and awareness campaigns, and enhanced outreach to unsheltered homeless individuals."

And that progress so far isn't being ignored. "Actually what you see today is the result of the Speaker intervention and getting more officers here," said Diane Collier of Community Board 11 in East Harlem.

The problem for these leaders is that it doesn't quite seem to be enough. "Give us the same respect as any other community and don't make it a dumping ground," said Rep. Rangel. "If you want to dump on us, bring the jobs here."