Looking back on twenty years of accomplishments one cannot help but see a kaleidoscope of community people, organizations and elected officials working together for the betterment of a neighborhood. It is wonderful to see the hope and determination that fires people’s imagination and to see it fulfilled in their actions.

That, simply, is what has made the New York Anti-Crime Agency such a citywide leader in crime prevention and safety. We all have a different understanding of what being safe means after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina; but the reality of it is that we can all make plans to be safer and implement this in our daily lives. The services and classes the NYAC offered since 1984 have certainly improved many people’s lives. New York City is a totally different place than it was two decades ago. From being a crime ridden metropolis we went to being the safest city in the USA.

At strategy meetings with various law enforcement agencies, the same mantra surfaced. Regular citizens, working in tandem with the NYPD, the DA’s and responsive elected officials brought this change about. It does “take a village,” and no neighborhood in our city better exemplifies that than Astoria-Long Island City.

A heartfelt thank you to all those people in this journal that contributed to the above and a special mention to the honorees for the “Eternal Vigilance” and “Light of Liberty” awards.

Lastly, to quote one of our greatest presidents, Teddy Roosevelt “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” There is no better work that ensuring the safety of our loved ones. To another twenty years of successful crime fighting.

God Bless You All and keep safe.

Sincerely,
Antonio Meloni