Community Board 3 Meets

Following a three-month summer recess, Community Board 3 resumed its monthly meetings Monday night, September 12, with a lot on its plate.

Representatives from the offices of Bed-Stuy's elected officials were present. The community affairs officers for the 79th and 81st police precincts were in attendance. And Councilmember Tish James and Assemblywoman Annette Robinson also were in attendance.

I. INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Naa Oyo A. Kwate, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Human Ecology and Africana Studies at Rutgers University gave an informational presentation regarding a community study on the effects of environmental racism on African-American health. Ms. Kwate started with a PowerPoint presentation that leveraged findings from a previous study, Project REACH, which examined how outdoor advertising in Harlem correlated with a disproportionate number of people who abused alcohol in those areas were advertising was most saturated.

Ms. Kwate and her team have set up offices in Brooklyn and Harlem and will be conducting a study from a random sample of addresses from Bed-Stuy inviting people to participate. She wanted to alert the community that she will be knocking on doors in the coming months and is requesting people be open to completing a one-hour survey, and then follow up with a blood draw to do a test of cholesterol level to measure obesity rates.

Ms. Kwate is asking we keep the study on the public’s agenda. Also, she is hiring survey takers. If you are interested as a surveyor, visit www.rniaa-lab.com.

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State Senator Velmanette Montgomery is asking the community to go online and review The American Jobs Act, recently put forth by President Barack Obama in which money will be released into the local communities toward infrastructure jobs, modernization of schools, money for community colleges and other services. “There’s a lot that will benefit us directly and indirectly. Please look at the jobs bill online, and begin to think about the projects that we would like to see,” said the senator.

Senator Montgomery announced that this Wednesday, September 14th at 11:00am, at Long Island University's Kumble Theater, the community will celebrate for the first time in Brooklyn four high schools that will receive funding that will provide for a few hundred high school students to participate in “Smart Scholars,” an early college high school program. One of those schools is BGHS, along with Roberson, PolyTech and Medgar Evers High School. “They will be able to bring into that program 100 young people. What it means is that they now are in an early college program where the lat two years of their high school will be in college. So by the time they leave high school. They will have taken up to 20 college credits with LIU.  We’re trying to work to make sure that BGHS does not get stolen,” said the senator.

Senator Montgomery announced that Mayor Bloomberg has proposed to take over and privatize the juvenile justice system, in his overall effort to push for the Black Young Male’s Initiative. “This means we will lose all accountability to what happens to young people,” said the Senator. She is asking that the community speaks out against any future moves to privatize the juvenile justice system in New York City. “There are some nice things about the black Young Male’s Initiative. This will just be one more opportunity for people to make money on all children’s bodies. There are some nice things about the initiative, but he will be gone in 16 months or less. We want to make sure that the language that allows for privatizing is removed.”

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Assemblywoman Annette Robinson announced that she is now chair of the NY State Banking Committee.  She said, she is working on behalf of foreclosure prevention, foreclosure, loan modification and the involvement of credit unions, and lending.

Assemblywoman Robinson invited the community out to take part in New York hearings on redistricting on September 21. “The state will be re-drawing the lines so they resemble where the populations are, according to the Census,” said Robinson. “When they redistrict, there’s a change in where goods and services go, according to how many people are there.” She pointed out that there have been a lot of services that have been cut out. Additionally, there are still some outstanding issues with people being counted. “So we need to be at the table to make sure the lines are drawn correctly so that we can continue to have some representation that we need and deserve (like with the Landmark hearing). If we do not put feet on the ground, people will not believe we are serious about achieving what we are trying to do,” said the assemblywoman.

In regards to crime and safety, last weekend was a very tragic weekend for all of us, said the assemblywoman. “We’re trying to promote safety. There are some issues that we need to deal with. The police department has the buy-back program. So we want to continue to do support these and other measures. We need to make sure our children are safe and secure.”

II. COMMITTEE UPDATES:

• Nelson Stout, chair of the Environmental Sanitation/Transportation Committee announced that the final plans of the Nostrand Avenue Construction Project will not begin until 2012; Streetscapes revisions are going on along Fulton Street; There will be a bike shelter placed on Nostrand and Fulton Street that allows people to house their bikes while they ride the subway; and they are looking into replacing and adding more bus shelters along the BID corridor. MTA rep will come to discuss the elevator project and the Franklin Shuttle; and this Friday, the committee will meet with sanitation to discuss the community’s ongoing need for a sanitation garage.
• L. Joy Williams, co-chair of Housing and Land Use Committee: In the process of rezoning parts of CB3. If you have any interest in any of those issues, feel free to come to attend the meeting this Wednesday at 6:30 in the board office at Restoration Plaza.
• T.J. Wilson, vice-chair of the Parks, Arts and Culture Committee announced that two new community gardens have opened at Herkimer btw Kingston and Albany Avenues  and at Halsey Street at Ralph Avenue. Also, there will be an event Block Beautification and Cleanup day September 24 and 25. “Friends of Von King Park” on the Internet. 10/15 is “It’s Your Park Day” on October 15. Please visit “Friends of Von King Park” online, and come out and help with cleanup. Also, you may contact the board office or attend the board meetings for more information. The committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30. “If you have questions about gardens or green space, please join us,” said Wilson.
• Richard Flateau chair of the Economic Committee is asking for more participants at its meetings every first Thursday of the month at the board office in Restoration Plaza. “We need help, more members from the community. Please join us,” said Flateau. “We will carry out a few mandates, including a workshop for MWBE certification, which will address issues of why local contractors are not getting any work. Will also deal with the liquor license applications. Please join us at our next meeting October 6, at 6:30 in the board office.”
• District Leader Robert Cornegy, who is also the vice chair of Health and Social Services Committee, pointed out that one of the components to increasing quality of life for Bed-Stuy residents is accessible healthcare. He announced that Interfaith Hospital is having financial problems and is in danger of closing. “And if that happens, that will do a disservice to our community,” said Cornegy. He is encouraging the community to attend the next committee meeting, which will be held on September 21, in the board office at 6:00pm.
• Education and Youth Committee will meet this Thursday at the community board office in Restoration Plaza at 7:30pm.

III. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Richard Flateau, with Audra Barrow is working on a seminar series on building and preserving generational wealth. The series will feature a real estate broker, a financial planner and an attorney. Audra Barrow will “discuss the purpose of planning your estate through wills, healthcare proxies, power of attorneys; reducing the possibility of family dispute; and being able to choose who inherits from you.” For more information about participating, call 718-963-2732.
• Richard Winslow announced that they are building 120 affordable homes. Come out to informational session at the Bed-Stuy NHS on 1012 Gates Avenue on September 27, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm for more information. Or call 212-991-4000, ext 319.
• Bed-Stuy resident Michael McCasland started the Marcy Tennis Club, which brings tennis into the community to children who otherwise would not be exposed to the sport. His club has 20 volunteers and mobile equipment, and he is inviting other community organizations to use the services of his club. He announced that the club is holding its End-of-season jamboree on October 1, from 1:00pm -3:pm at the Marcy tennis courts. He is inviting the community out for a registration drive, free food and an open tournament. Also, he is inviting other organizations to set up booths. If you are interested in participating contact Mr. McCasland at: mccaslan@gmail.com.
• Bed-Stuy resident Andre Wellington got up to voice his complaints regarding increased littering and loitering around and Spencer and Hancock Streets. Also, along 1221 Bedford Avenue, neighbors are complaining about a lot of trash that is being left out, which is attracting a lot of rodents. Henry Butler, CB3 president suggested he call the Board office with his complaints. “Call them; they will take care of it. That is their job,” said Butler. 718-622-6601.