Community Board 3 Meets

Community Board 3 held its monthly meeting on Monday, January 9, at Restoration Plaza, led by board chairman Henry L. Butler.

Three big issues that emerged Monday evening included the recent State Supreme Court decision surrounding Brooklyn’s Broadway Triangle, the mayor’s support of a decision to ban the use of school buildings for worship and advancing landmarking opportunities in the neighborhood through technical assistance offered by the Landmarks Conservancy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS:

--City Councilwoman Diana Reyna, of District 34 representing parts of Williamsburg, made a plea to the community members for their support of a recent groundbreaking decision by a State Supreme Court judge granting a preliminary injunction that bars the Bloomberg administration from moving forward with a plan to develop affordable housing on the border of Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Reyna and other supporters of the decision say that the housing as planned would create dramatic racial disparities and increase existing segregation in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, and the judge agreed.

On Wednesday, January 11, at 11:00am on the steps of City Hall, community advocates and residents will urge city leaders to take a new approach and support an inclusive affordable housing development in the Broadway Triangle. Reina is urging the Bed-Stuy community to align behind these efforts, as it effects a portion of the community along the Williamsburg border.

--Vincent James, from Councilwoman Mealey’s office, invited interested community members out to the councilmember’s district office on Saturday, February 4, when the DOT will discuss its plans for the Utica Avenue station. The meeting will take place on Saturday, February 4, at the District Office, 1757 Union Street, 2nd fl. 10am - noon.

James also reminded all non-profits and community groups that now is the time that city council begins budgeting for next year’s discretionary funding. Also, once applicants are registered online, they do not have to apply multiple times; they can just check the boxes of the different elected officials or parties from whom they are requesting funds.

“Everything should be done online,” said James. “The process opens in the next couple of days, and the expense side will be online shortly. But It’s only open for a certain period of time. If you have a 501 c 3, you can file online. You can fill it out one time and check which councilmember you’d like to review.”

Applicants can also solicit funding through the Brooklyn delegation, Black, Latino and Asian caucuses and Women’s caucuses, as well as through Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Get it in early, make sure your application is correct to make sure you can get your funding,” said James

--A representative from the office of  State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery: The Senator with Assemblywoman Joan Millman will hold a home energy conservation forum on Thursday, January 19, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the YWCA, 30 Third Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and State Street. The Forum will provide an opportunity for residents to learn how to make their homes more energy efficient and reduce their utitlity bills.

--Renee Murphy from Councilmember Al Vann’s office thanked all those who participated in a very successful self-defense course this past Friday, January 6; Jordy Dourdain and the YMCA branch in Bed-Stuy, Robert Cornegey, Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, CB3 and Bridge Street. The event turned out more than 75 participants.

--Lee Church representing Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries’ office invited the community out to the Assemblyman’s 5th Annual State of the District Address on Thursday, January 26, at Pratt Institute, 6:00pm, at Higgins Hall. Please 718-596-0100 to confirm your attendance. “It is very very important that you RSVP—not only because we would like to have a great turnout, but also, we need a headcount of how many chairs we need to have available.”

OTHER CITY AND STATE OFFICERS:

--Sam Pierre, Brooklyn Director in Community Affairs from the mayor’s office, invited the community to begin accessing important city services through a new social media tools put in place, including 311 Online, Big Apple Rx, NYC Business Solutions, the Young Men’s Initiative and NYC Health.

Tensions flared a little when Reverend Robert Waterman of Antioch Baptist Church asked why the clergy was not included in the discussion by the mayor and his administration to move forward with the enforcement of a US Supreme Court decision not to review a court ruling that upholds the NYC Department of Education’s policy of refusing to rent public school facilities to religious groups for the purpose of conducting worship services. This means that around sixty congregations in New York City will have to find new places to worship by Sunday, February 19, 2012.Watterman: “What should we do, protest and worship out in the street?” asked Watterman. “How can you have meeting without clergy?”

Pierre made a commitment to arrange for Watterman to be a part of a future meeting surrounding this controversial decision, which has been deemed as an “attack on the church.”

--79th Pct. Inspector Bartoszek: “We finished the year just below one percent up in crime in 2011. Statistically, we did okay. But there was a 37 percent increase in shootings and 16 percent increase in robberies. We have an in-depth plan for 2012, and we have already implemented one thing,” said Bartoszek. “Last Tuesday, we received 66 new officers to the precinct. We’re doing a lot of great things. We had a large increase in gun arrests in 2011, and that’s huge.

“That’s our goal: Reducing violence and reducing overall crime in BS and the 79 precinct. The 66 new officers have been assigned to the Impact Zone. They are in Impact North (Tompkins Devlopt, which runs from Willoughby to Ellery to Marcy and Throop). And Impact South, which is Fulton Street, from Classon to Marcus Garvey Blvd.

“There will be increased foot patrol. I’m committed to this position. If there are any issues that need to be brought to my attention, please feel free to come to me.”

--Captain Kight of the 81st Pct.: “Earlier, we had some burglary problems, but HQ has sent us more people and so I’m happy to report that now burglaries are down 50 percent,” said Kight. “Now we are dealing with in increase in robberies and grand larcenies in the southern part of the precinct. Primarily the concerns are people coming to and from the subway station.

“The primary perpetrators are young males, and their main targets are women between 41-60 years of age. Has increased the Impact Zone (from Bainbridge to Atlantic around Herkimer).

One audience member asked about the sensitivity training of new officers so that black males are not targeted.

INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION:

The Landmarks Committee presented an information session by the Landmark Conservancy, a non-profit organization that provides financial and technical assistance for the preservation of landmark buildings. Andrea Goldwyn and Jim Mahoney of the Landmark Conservancy presented.

The LC is not the Landmarks Preservation Commission; it is a private non-profit group that provides technical and financial assistance. It can provide references for architects and contractors; financial assistance to houses of worship for consulting services; it also works with city and state officials to provide even larger grants.

Most recently, LC helped complete work on Mt. Lebanon (The Sacred Sites Program). Has a few grant programs (The City Ventures Fund, grants for housing), an emergency grant programs for fires or damages from natural disasters for properties in district that show great historical character.

LC works on loan program for private homeowners, nonprofit organization and religious orgs surrounding exterior work to historic sites. For more information, call 212-995-5260. Also, there’s a federal tax credit program that works best with large commercial properties.

In order to qualify, you need to submit your plans to the state before you start the work. The project will end in 2014, so it’s really for projects that are in progress now.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

--T.J. Wilson, of Parks, Arts and Culture Committee: Harmony Park (Atlantic and Troy) is preparing for a gospel concert and is looking for singers, contact Mr. Brouchette: 718-756-0793.

--Nelson Stoute of the Infrastructure Committee: Dpt. Of Transportation will attend the next meeting to discuss the Bicycle Program and placement of bicycle lanes coming through the community. Please attend if you’d like to weigh in on where the community wants the bike lanes to go.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

--Andrea Thorpe, branch manager of Carver, if you are employed or contracted by City of New York. Will be doing direct deposit program; Carver is one of 6 banks to participate in this program.

--Dionne Harris, Not Just Who, started a free breakfast program every Monday, from 9:30-11:30, and Hoops on Wheels Programs will be delivering breakfast to elderly and handicapped for $10-20, depending upon how often they want

--Cassandra St. Ville of Parents Taking Action: There will be a chapter opening in Bed-Stuy, and she is encouraging all to be a part of the policy hearings on January 11; will take place at 725 St. Marks 6:30-7:30pm to take a look at the state of our schools and see how they can be replaced with stronger schools; First hearing on January 18. Ms. St. Ville will be willing to meet with you one-on-one for personal consultation, 917-830-3964.

--Idris Abdul, a reminder of 79th Pct Community Council meeting next Wednesday, Jan. 25, 585 Dekalb Avenue at Job Corps Building. It’s very important we make these meetings to address the crime issues in the community.