Update on Bunkersville – Manhattan Beach

Update: June 19th – GerritsenBeach.Net and Sheepshead Bay Civic were interviewed over at Manhattan Beach for tonights 5 & 6 O’Clock News in response to Dr. Biondo

Dr. Biondo responded here and below. & it made the NY post here

Good afternoon everyone.
On Friday, June 8 I received several telephone calls @ my office from my wife and concerned neighbors. They indicated to me a variety of activity that they witnessed on the beach and in the community.
Some stated that it was a “Cut” day. SInce I have not lived in the community too long, I have never experienced a “CUT” day.

We are all fortunate to be protected by the 61st Precinct. As a community leader, I reached out to the 61 precinct and imediately received a response from our Captain. We had a very productive conversation and we decided that a small meeting would be held with MBCG leaders to discuss this issue and to give recomendations to try and prevent it from happeneing in the future.

On Monday morning, June 11, I reached out to other members of MBCG and a suggeastion was made to have an “Emergency Meeting” and include all MB residents. After thinking about it, I agreed that it would be a good idea. I hoped that perhaps MB residents that do not normally attend our meetings would attend and possibly give new suggestions.

On Tuesday afternoon, I was contacted in my office by a very alarmed member of MBCG. I was told there was a shooting on the Beach!
Two hours later I was given the same information by another reliable source.
I tried contacting my wife and was unable to get through on her cell.

I did not contact the Captain due to very unfortunate circumstances.

Wednesday afternoon I received another call from a MBCG member stating that a bicycle was robbed. He then called 911 and had to identify the youths to the NYPD. There was significant concern in his voice. I received other telephone calls from parents that have children in P.S. 195 that reside in SB.

I sent out an E-mail to one of the MBCG board members asking the board member to notify everyone about the meeting.
When the board member responded and asked why we needed a special meeting or what it was about, I wrote the E-mail with all of the suggestions on it. These were only knee-jerk suggestions that were written when I had every reason to believe that there was a stabbing on Friday June 8 and a shooting on Tuesday June 12.

As a community leader, It is my responsibility to work closely with officials to ensure that our public facilities are safe, clean and accessible to all people. I have had discussions with officials on a major capital project that would result in new public facilities for the beach.
I have had numerous discussions with our private security patrol to ensure the safety of visitors to the beach.
I have assisted the Parks Department in maintenance projects on the beach.

However, when I had reason to believe that serious crimes occured on the beach, my first reaction to one of our board members was to list all extreme measures to solve what I felt at the time was an extreme safety situation that could have affected anyone that was using the beach on those days.

I have limimted time throughout the day due to my office and operating room schedule. My office is in Midtown and I have to rely on information that is provided to me.

I felt personally responsible for whatever unfortunate instances that DID occur that day. It is now clear that there was no shooting or stabbing but there were criminal acts that did indeed occur.

I should have been more aware of the fact that this “CUT” day was planned. If I would have researched it more, and I was prepared, I would have contacted our precinct and let the officers know about it before it occurred.

Whatever I have written in my E-mail was my own personal opinion on how to solve a major crisis that I had every reason to believe was
true at the time. After all the information was told to me from my own board members. Those extreme suggestions have absolutely nothing to do with MB residents or the Manhattan Beach Community Group. As a matter of fact they are the ones that are the most outraged.
If those unfortunate instances that were reported to me were indeed true, then I personally stand behind everyone of those extreme suggestions as a way to tackle the situation. Remember there ARE metal detectors @ public schools, public pools and all public buildings. They are there for a reason.

I hope this post cleared up most of everyone’s questions.

Dr. Ronald Biondo

We think this guy is insane. He doesn’t admit he reported rumor or seem apologetic. I guess the meeting will tell what the community really wants.