Community Board 3 Meets

The February Community Board 3 Meeting at Restoration Plaza was packed again last night. The board convened; fresh new ideas were presented for a parent's book club, a game night and an outdoor weight training center; a construction project on Fulton and Marcy Avenues, and a new nightclub proposal both were challenged by the audience; and one regular speaker said a lot of things very few might remember, because his gold helmet and gold boots were far more interesting.

Here are the evening’s highlights:

Remarks from Chairperson Henry L. Butler

Sumner Armory: Currently it holds around 200 homeless residents; the Department of Homeless Services wants to double its capacity. The community board and elected officials are against it. Letters were sent from CB3 to Commissioner Seth Diamond of DHS in opposition to the plan. But now, CB3 needs the community also to write letters of opposition.

Bike Lanes: The Department of Transportation has sent a letter to CB3 requesting to put a bike lane down Lafayette Avenue. CB3 does not support it. “We feel there are other streets that are much safer to put a bike lane. Why would you put a bike lane down a street that has a city bus,” said Butler. Butler said, if you agree that you do not want a bike lane on Lafayette, you can go on CB3’s website and fill out a petition.

Announcement: Next Wednesday, February 16, 6:30 - 8:00, The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission will host a community meeting at Restoration Plaza. The meeting is an important event in the process of getting the proposed districts in Bedford-Stuyvesant landmarked. Butler encouraged the audience to attend this meeting to show LPC the community’s support for landmarking Bed-Stuy.

Updates from the Offices of Elected Officials

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery: A representative from the Senator’s office announced that both houses will be holding budget hearings this week in Albany, and she encouraged anyone who wanted to weigh in to attend any of the meetings.

City Councilman Al Vann: A representative reviewed the Councilman’s “City Hall Roundup,” new legislation proposed and passed in the City Council during the month of January.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Jamilla Rose:

• Reminded the audience that elections and appointments for CB3 members is February 24th. Please pick up an application if you are interested in running for a position.
• Markowitz has a summer youth employment initiative called Brooklyn Summer HEAT. If you know a teen, age 16-18, who is interested in employment this summer, please call the borough president’s office or go online to fill out an application. The deadline is March 15th.
• Markowitz will hold a “Sweethearts Day” dinner on Valentines Day Feb. 14th, a free event for married couples 50+ years together
• “Year Up,” is a federally funded job placement program for young adults 18 or over who are high school graduates but not enrolled in college. The program trains them for a year and a half and provides them a salary during training. Once the training is complete, the program will help place them in a position making a salary of $30,000 or more. Markowitz’s office is taking applications now.

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries: A representative, Lee Church, announced that the assemblyman plans to introduce legislation that will impose a one-year moratorium on any proposed school closings. To help the assemblyman deal with the affective practices of school closures, call 718-596-0100

There were two Public Hearings:

1. The Parks Arts & Culture Committee held a brief hearing on the request by Team Beast Mode to convert a 60’ X40’ section of Von King Park into an outdoor fitness area

• Their request was for community support to build an open-air recreation and workout center in the northwest section of Von King Park.
• The center would be a destination for youth to receive physical fitness body training during the summer months
• The plan’s coordinators said, currently, teens have no where to go, and the center would provide them a way to commune and get healthy all at once
• The community raised concerns regarding security, liability, insurance and payment for the project
• Team Beast Mode says they have received the blessings of the Parks Department, but they are trying to do all of the fundraising themselves – approximately $60,000 total – to build the facility, and they need the community’s emotional and financial support.
• For more information, contact info: community@teambeastmode.info

2. A Letter of Request for an Alcoholic Beverage Control License for a new bar/club space, Studio 10, located at 566 Nostrand Avenue near  Herkimer Street.

• The club would be open from 3:00 – midnight and available only to those 21 and over. The space also would be made available for private parties
• The club would take over a space previously occupied by a club that in the past had issues with noise and loitering, teen drinking and gang activity
• The club’s owner assured the audience that he would have ample security this time; he gave the head of his security team an opportunity to speak
• There was a great deal of push back from the board and from the audience. Issues raised included: 1. The safety of people coming and going from the subway along that corridor; 2. Traffic flow; 3. Noise; 4. Underage drinking and gang violence; 5. Cleanup around the area

Informational Presentations

The Economic Development Committee gave an update on the Gateway Capital Improvement Project (Street Scape). The project costs $5.4 million and aims to turn the large road space at Fulton and Marcy Avenues into a pedestrian mall-- a small plaza area that would showcase local performances, include some trees and other greenery, a possible statue and an art installation (a 22' diameter mosaic display in the shape of a star on the plaza’s floor).

A representative from the EDC said the project would begin once the weather broke, and it would take approximately 18 months to complete. But temperatures flared in the room after an audience member raised the question of whether the BID included a place for minority employment.

“We are suffering here,” said one audience member. “Our community is unemployed. We need work. Our teens need work. You come here to build in our community with million-dollar contracts. Yet, who from our community benefits financially?”

The EDC representative responded by saying that 20 percent of its contracts, by city regulation, are supposed to be allocated for minority contractors. But some board members said that it was the usual lip service where, in fact, it is required, but rarely does it ever happen. After that, audience members traded the mic requesting written proof of which members of the community and minority contractors would benefit from any part of the $5.4 million.

“You’ve got a crisis in dealing with the black community, as far as construction procurement, and the mayor needs to know this,” said another audience member to the EDC representative. “It’s time to draw a line in the sand.”

Committee Updates

• The Infrastructural, Environmental and Protection Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 8th at 6:30 at BSRC
• The Landmarks Committee again announced the February 16th meeting with LPC, and encouraged as many people as possible to attend

Community Announcements

• Yolanda Watts Johnson introduced a Parent’s Book Club Night and a new initiative called “Help me Help My Child.” “My desire is to see every parent commit to these five steps toward academic excellence,” said Johnson. “Ban weeknight television; read a book once a month and discuss it as a family; memorize the multiplication tables; monitor the use of all electronic devises; and create and stick to a schedule of homework, silent activity and a set bedtime. If you need any supporting doing any of those things to support your child, I am here for you." For more information, you may visit www.hmhmc.com

• Monique Scott, introduce a K-12 school that she said represents a new model for education. “We are not anti-public schools, but we are trying different things in the classroom that might work,” she said. She continued, "The curriculum embraces student creativity, ability to achieve high standards. We are reaching for the success of some of the top quality schools like Calhoun and Dalton." For more information, go to www.freebrook.org, or contact freebrookedu@gmail.com.

• Ms. Thomas, opened a new child care center, Precious Gems Family Day Care, on Hancock between Ralph and Patchen, 6:00 – 6:00 pm . She also is launching a summer program for kids ages 2-12. 

• Common Ground Coffee House on 376 Tompkins Avenue btw Putnam and Jefferson Avenues

        --Common Grounds will host a Game Night this Saturday

        --2/24 Erotic Poetry by Cynthia Bryant, 8-11 pm every other Thursday

        --2/26 a Film Festival of never-screened-before black films

        --All of the schedules for upcoming activities will be publicized on the Common Grounds Facebook page.

• There are 200 Green Cart permits available. The waiting list will open in April. “It’s a good, healthy small business to start.” For more information, contact Cassandra Flechsig, Green Cart Program Manager, 212-337-4311