Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Beach) today congratulated the 100th, 101st and 106th Precincts on a highly successful National Night Out Against Crime (NNO), held last night as part of the 34th annual celebration of the national event, which brings together law enforcement with the community. NNO was introduced in 1984 by Matt Peskin, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer from suburban Pennsylvania. He started National Town Watch in 1981 to help community watch groups share resources, inspiration and best practices. Today, National Town Watch helps coordinate the annual NNO celebration in communities nationwide.

This year, the NNO celebration for the 106th Precinct was held at the Harold Schneiderman Playground in Lindenwood; for the 100th, outside the Precinct building at Beach 94th Street and Rockaway Beach Boulevard; and for the 101st, at Beach 17th Street and the Seagirt Blvd Boardwalk. Pheffer Amato and her staff attended the events in rotation. Activities were geared toward families and young adults, and included games, free food, music, rock climbing, a bounce house, raffles, balloon artists, face painting, a photo booth, dancing, and information about crime-prevention programs in which community members could participate.

“Our Precincts have done just the most amazing job of making our neighbors feel safe, and I think there’s a real trust factor there,” said Pheffer Amato. “A large part of that is the investment they make in our community. I see the men and women of the 100th, the 101st and the 106th at every community meeting, and they keep in touch with us and with our neighbors personally. This celebration was a real outpouring of community appreciation, and I think, given the departments’ hard work, that won’t come as a surprise.”