August 13, 2012

Dear Judge Cohen, We are here representing neighbors from the University City area where Tyshanek Presley committed robberies along with her accomplice Kareem Drayton. The particularly traumatic crime of robbery, then rape which occurred on the 900 block of 48th St. was the event which caused the formation of our group called 48th Street Neighbors. We have organized to keep informed about crime, share safety tips, and build community. In organizing ourselves to respond to issues related to crime in an ongoing way, we have come to realize that being present in the courtroom is very important, for the support of the victims and for the court to understand that we as a community have also been violated. There has been a struggle to regain a sense of safety for us all, and a sense of loss. We are aware that all 5 of the victims ended up moving out of the neighborhood, due to the trauma they suffered. That was a loss to us all, not only because they are gone but also because we were not able to reach out to them, and it troubles us. We wish our presence to be a statement of that to you, in the case of Tyshanek Presley. And while we want justice and righteousness to prevail, there are those of us who are also praying for Tyshanek and her family, that this will be a time for her to truly experience remorse, and to change her ways, and for her family to experience that in a healing way as well. Thank you for accepting this statement from us, and we hope you will consider it as you decide what will be the outcome for Tayshanek.

Yours,

Patty Bulack, for the 48th Street Neighbors