Community Board 3 Meets

Community Board 3, chaired by Henry L. Butler, met on Monday, September 10, 7:00 p.m. at Restoration Plaza, the first meeting following the summer recess.

A leading topic of discussion at Monday's meeting was the Democratic primary election, on Thursday, September 13. Elected officials in attendance called on the community to get out and vote.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS

Assemblywoman Annette Robinson:

• She is now chair of the Banking Committee; she is working on eradicating the prevalence of PayDay loans in poor communities; She is fighting to end them, as they are predatory and expensive.
• She recently passed legislation to stop prescription drug use.
• Pointed out that primary elections are this Thursday. Also there are some changes in voting sites, so some residents may need to go to a new site. If you did not receive a letter and your site has changed, you will be advised at the old site where you need to go. If your name is not there. Ask for an affidavit ballot and still vote.

Representative from Darlene Mealy’s office: Mr. James

• On Oct. 1, the councilmember will hold a free citizenship application assistance workshop in the district. For those who meet the requirements of the naturalization and immigration. Will have access to an immigration lawyer.
• The next advisory board meeting 10-12noon, 1757 Union Street, next advisory board meeting

Councilmember Al Van:

• Bed-Stuy North rezoning was passed in June and approved last week by City Planning Commissioner
• Mandela Jones, Vann’s former chief of staff has been replaced by Ms. Gross. Her new contact information: dgross@council.nyc.gov 

Representative from Councilwoman Tish James: Aja Worthy Davis:

• James was involved in the “Let’s Move Brooklyn” campaign, encouraging people to get out and become physically active.
• The councilwoman introduced a bill to reinstate the anti-graffiti task force and hopes to move it through the House and have it passed in the council soon

District Leader Robert Cornegy, Jr.

• He outlined specifics about election day and encouraged everyone to get out and vote.
• If you are a senior or disabled, contact his office for information on securing transportation to and from polls, 347-385-8074 .

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz: Jamila Rose

• On September 27, BEEP’s office will hold a summit and reception at Borough Hall for families who have lost a loved one due to violence. Anti-violence organization and community leaders will be present to get information on job opportunities. 
• Also please remember to come out to the Brooklyn Book Festival. 718-802-3700, or www.brooklyn-usa.org.

District Leader Walter Mosley

• Please remember to get out and vote. Some polling sites have changed. There is a website where you can find out where you need to vote: gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps

Senator Velmanette Montgomery

• Governor Cuomo signed one of her bills that helps bolster the state’s procurement of New York-grown products, helping to support local farmers
• Visited in April with a group of clergy to Sing Sing Prison. Some incarnated members raised a few thousands dollars that they would like to use to address the issue of violence in the community. Would like to devise a way to get involved with curbing gun violence. Oct. 19, will also bring youth leaders.
• Visited SUNY Maritime, its engineering program that specializes in maritime-related industries, one of the highest-paying level of engineers in the world. Would like to get more young people in the community involved.  The president wants to reach out to our young students and do a campus visit to encourage greater interest in getting these scholarships in the hands of poor youth to encourage this career path.

Other Announcements

• The Adelaide Sanford Institute is sponsoring an informational session on the Common Core State Standards.

• The Marcy branch public library will now be re-opened on Saturdays, not Mondays to provide more options for the weekend. And Macon will be offering a “Making The News” 3-week class on how to understand create the news for 3 weeks. If you have questions or need more info, call 718-230-2014.

Update on the Nostrand Avenue Project: Ian Thornell, with the office of Reconstruction at the DEP:

• Has not started the project yet, due to utilities still in the ground. But has started cleaning sewers and community outreach.
• Have been walking up and down Nostrand handing out surveys. Schedule has not come forth yet. But as soon as they do; will hold a pre-construction meeting. Were supposed to start in April. Are hoping will be ready by end of month.
• A few residents complained about rats, huge holes and water mains breaking as a result of the construction. Said Con-ed/National Grid have not been responsive. Thornell said these agencies are not required to bait for rats, but to reach out to his office with any complaints, and they will try to address accordingly.

• Bed-Stuy Alive is coming up soon. Will last two weeks this year, beginning Oct. 6. Will be an awards ceremony, restaurant week, Restoration Rocks. www.bedstuyalive collective.org. For more information, check out the website.

INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION—Tremain S. Wright, budget coordinator

The Budget Coordinator Gave an Update on the Fiscal Year 2013 Requests status for the Bed-Stuy District. Next month will hold budget hearing.

• Are in process of gathering ideas and meeting with city agencies about what would like to request in the budget for 2014.
• Wright read what was adopted, including developing property on Fulton street and Atlantic Ave for affordable housing and retail space; rehabilitating the Sumner Armory; refurbishing the Franklin Avenue Subway station, etc..
•  Can access the entire document on the CB3 Website: www.cbebedstuy.org
• Encouraged input from the community on what should be adopted for the budget in 2013: Results. The budget hearing will be at next month’s board meeting October 1. Will be two types of requests: Capital and Expense.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

--Infrastructure/EP/Sanitation Committee, Nelson Stout

• Looking for another agency to manage sanitation along Fulton and Nostrand. Put out a request draft at Gateway BID.
• There are 105 new trash receptacles, an additional 18 will be installed on the South side
• There is a dump out on Spencer and Fulton
• Will be putting out flyers for curbing dogs.
• Bike share is postponed until 2013 in March b/c of problems with the program’s technology
• Nostrand Ave. construction project is ongoing. Will be addressing concerns of community in regards to major project, including the elevator at Utica.  
• At next month’s meeting will have an update with the governmental communication and liaise

Economic Development Committee, Richard Flatueau,

• Is inviting everyone to meeting who is interested in economic development to the next meetings, on the first Thursday of each month. Next meeting will be Oct. 4, at 6:30.

Housing/Land Use, Joy Williams,

• Meeting is canceled for the month. They met on Saturday regarding the rezoning proposal b/c had an early deadline for city planning. Meeting will take place next month, the Wednesday following the CB3 meeting. 
• Testified on proposal; the borough president then submitted his recommendations a day before the hearing. Did not have time to review BEEP’s recommendations to increase the parking requirement for specific buildings 10 stories or higher. Did not agree with that, in addition to three other recommendations…

Education and Youth Services Committee, Charles Coleman

• Will be dealing with alternative education methods. The committee meets second Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m.

Religious Meeting, Monday, September 24, at 6:30 in CB planning board office.

Landmarks Committee, Evelyn Collier

• Had hoped the Stuyvesant Expansion would have been designated by June. But LPC was unable to get documentation completed; Will be done by early next year, but it definitely will be happening.
• Landmark Mtg is Sept. 17 at 6:30pm.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Joseph Grant, Jr. announced he will have an art show at Bed-Vyne Wine on September 15, at 3:00 p.m.  The art show will focus on Bed-Stuy. Is inviting the community out.

Chase Bank IS providing mortgage and home modification and re-financing education, as well as free homebuyers seminars at Restoration Plaza. Call 516-473-6335 for more information.

Jonathan Sulari, is the new assistant director at Slave #1, which has been purchased and renamed New Brooklyn Theatre. They are working on restoring the theatre now. Will be holding a community forum on Thursday, 27, from 6-8 p.m. at Restoration Plaza to share their vision for the new 3-stage performing arts center. Sulari is asking the community to come out and speak about their memories of the theatre.

Community Board 3 Meets the first Monday of each month. The next CB3 meeting is Monday, October 1, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at Restoration Plaza.

CORRECTION 9/12/12, 11:58pm: This article incorrectly states that New Brooklyn Theater has purchased the Slave #1 Theatre. See below comment from New Brooklyn Theatre, where it is explained that it is incorporated to purchase and restore the theatre. But they are not in contract to buy the building yet.