Members present:
Jannie Armstrong, Santhamani Choudhary, Claudette Coles, Will Crittendon,
Diana Diaz, Margarita Espinosa, Cheryl Holt-Andrews, Marie Howse,
Kenneth Jackson, Sister Barbara Lenniger, Sara N. Logan, Elizabeth Luna,
Thomas J. Murray, Floretta A. O’Brien, Rosa Peraza, Radame Perez II,
Wendy Rodriguez and Perquida Williams.
Members absent:
Frank J. Franz, Marie G. Riolo, and Hector Torres.
Elected officials and their representatives
Ms. Yahaira Ortiz, representing Assemblyman Michael Benjamin; Mr.
Federico Perez, representing Congressmen Jose Serrano; Ms. Aurea Mangual,
representing Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion; Ms. Marina King,
representing State Senator Ruben Diaz; Mr. Adam Haight, representing
State Senator Jeffrey Klein; Mr. Daniel Contreras, representing Public
Advocate Betsy Gotbaum; and Mr. Martin F. Williams, representing
Assemblyman Jose Rivera.
I. CALL TO ORDER
The April 9, 2008 meeting of Bronx Community Board #6 was held at the West Farms
Branch Library, which is located at 2085 Honeywell Avenue, Bronx, New York, and
was called to order at approximately 6:45 p.m. by Board Chairperson Wendy
Rodriguez.
II. INVOCATION
The meeting’s invocation was delivered by the community board’s 1st Vice
Chairperson, Sister Barbara Lenniger.
III. COMMUNITY PERIOD
The following individuals asked to address the community board during the
meeting’s community period:
Mr. Timothy Campbell, Local 79 Laborers
Mr. Campbell introduced himself as a member of laborers union Local #79. He
stated that the Westhab housing construction project that the community board
approved at its previous meeting will be performed by non-union labor. He
further stated that this is the case with many of the new housing development
projects that are coming to our district. Mr. Campbell noted that the members of
his union are not opposed to the housing projects, they merely want an
opportunity to work at the construction jobs that the projects generate.
Ms. Marysel Delgado, New Sight to Life, Inc.
Ms. Delgado informed us about New Sight to Life Inc., a transitional housing
program located in our district at 781 Fairmount Place. She explained that 781
Fairmount Place is a private house that she and her husband rehabilitated and
opened to house male ex-offenders who have been drug free (clean) for a minimum
of six months. New Sight to Life is a for-profit organization whose clients
either attend school or are employed. It does not accept sexual offenders.
District Manager Ivine Galarza advised Ms. Delgado that New Sight to Life
circumvented normal procedures by opening and operating its program without
first informing the community board of its intentions. She also informed Ms.
Delgado of the community board’s objections to and history with a similar
program that recently attempted to open in our district without first informing
neighboring residents and institutions. Ms. Galarza and Ms. Delgado agreed to
meet in the very near future in order to discuss New Sight to Life in greater
detail.
Mr. Herman Lozada, Phoenix House
Mr. Lozada introduced himself as the director of Phoenix House, a 102-bed
substance abuse facility located in our district at 480 East 185th Street. He
informed us of Phoenix House’s various programs and services and stated that the
facility has been at its present location for nearly 15 years. Mr. Lozada
further stated that Phoenix House and its clients wish to assist the community
in its neighborhood cleanup activities.
Mr. Richard Balemian
Mr. Balemian complained that U-Haul trucks and taxi cabs from Flash Car Service
are constantly double-parking and monopolizing all available parking spaces
located on Bassford Avenue near East 185th Street. He also complained about the
noise and clientele that is generated by the nightclub that recently opened at
2333 Bassford Avenue, directly across the street from his house.
Mr. Raymond Alexander
Mr. Alexander also complained about the nightclub that is located at 2333
Bassford Avenue. He informed us that in response to his numerous complaints
about the nightclub, inspectors from the Department of Environment Protection
recently visited his house in order to measure the volume of noise emanating
from the establishment. Additionally, Mr. Alexander complained about taxi cabs
from Flash Car Service constantly double parking on Bassford Avenue and thereby
creating a dangerous situation for both drivers and pedestrians.
Ms. Galarza informed Mr. Balemian and Mr. Alexander that she recently visited
Bassford Avenue in response to complaints about the nightclub. She has also
forwarded those complaints to the police department and to other relevant
government agencies. Ms. Galarza has been informed by those agencies that the
nightclub should not be open and conducting business. Additionally, the
community board would strongly oppose any efforts by the nightclub to legalize
its operation.
With regards to the issue involving vehicles from Flash Car Service double
parking along Bassford Avenue, Ms. Galarza stated that she would refer the
matter to the traffic enforcement division of the Police Department.
IV. DISTRICT MANAGER’S REPORT
Ms. Galarza’s district manager’s report included, but was not limited to, the
following:
• Information regarding the
community board’s recent activity commemorating the 18th anniversary
of the 1990 Happy Land Social Club Fire.
• A request that the community board adopt a motion at this meeting
to issue a letter to the New York City Department of Parks and
Recreation suggesting that the department appoint the families of
the victims of the Happy Land Social Club Fire as the overseers of
the Happy Land Memorial that is located at East Tremont Avenue and
Southern Boulevard.
• Information about her work to assist the families who were
affected by the April 8, 2008 fire at 2115 Honeywell Avenue. Ms.
Galarza was able to have some of the families temporarily relocated
to the Howard Johnson Express Inn that is located in our district on
Boston Road. Assemblyman Jose Rivera has sponsored meals for the
affected families at a local restaurant.
• The community Board’s general meeting of May 14, 2008 will be held
outdoors at the Fordham Plaza mall. Part of the meeting will include
a tour of the mall in order to permit the community board members to
witness its current condition and then formulate recommendations on
how the area should be redesigned.
• Chairperson Rodriguez, Ms. Galarza and most of the chairpersons
and district managers of the Bronx’s twelve community boards
recently went to City Hall in order to urge the City Council to
restore the $15,700 that Mayor Bloomberg proposes to cut from each
community board’s fiscal year 2009 budget that begins July 1, 2008. |
V. INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
At this point, the community board entertained an informational presentation on
the New York City Transit Authority’s plans to redesign and rehabilitate the
East 180th Street IRT elevated train station that is located at East 180th
Street and Morris Park Avenue. Making the presentation on behalf of the Transit
Authority were Ms. Jacqueline Carter, Assistant Director for Government and
Community Relations, and Ms. Shirley Moy, a Transit Authority Design Manager.
Highlights of their presentation included the following information:
• The East 180th Street elevated train station opened in 1919
and in 1976 was designated a New York City Landmark.
• The redesign and rehabilitation project is currently in its
final design phase and a contract for the project is expected to be
let in the fall of this year (2008). Construction is expected to
start in the second quarter to 2009 and take two years to complete.
• The project includes, but is not limited to the following
features:
■
The installation of elevators.
■
The rehabilitation of the station’s entrance and its
administration building.
■
Improvement to the station’s employee’s facilities.
■
Installation of skylights to increase the amount of
natural light reaching the station.
■
Making the station wheelchair accessible. There will be
no gaps between the platforms and the train doors
■
The installation of new stairs |
|
Ms. Carter informed us that she will be back
before the community board for a follow-up presentation as the Transit Authority
gets closer to the project’s start date. She also promised to get back to the
community board with a response to a suggestion to extend the route of the Bx9
bus.
VI. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
Ms. Rodriguez informed us that she recently appointed Mr. Radame Perez, II as
the new chairperson of the community board’s Transportation Committee.
She also acknowledged the presence of Ms. Yahaira Ortiz, representing
Assemblyman Michael Benjamin; Mr. Federico Perez, representing Congressmen Jose
Serrano; Ms. Aurea Mangual, representing Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion;
Ms. Marina King, representing State Senator Ruben Diaz; Mr. Adam Haight,
representing State Senator Jeffrey Klein; Mr. Daniel Contreras, representing
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum; and office, and Mr. Martin F. Williams,
representing Assemblyman Jose Rivera.
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Economic Development Committee: Mr. Will Crittendon, Committee
Chair.
Mr. Crittendon informed us that the Economic Development Committee will convene
its next meeting sometime in May, 2008. Notices about the meeting will be mailed
to community board members and the public once its date and time has been
confirmed.
Health & Human Services Committee: Mr. Thomas J. Murray, Committee
Chair.
Mr. Murray informed us that the New York City Department for the Aging plans to
restructure the way services are provided at city-funded senior citizen centers.
He also distributed copies of several documents, one of which described the
economic advantages that hospitals bring to their host communities. The other
document, entitled “Understanding You Health Care Provider” encouraged people to
take a more active role in the planning for their health care.
Housing and Land Use Committee: Ms. Sara Logan, Committee Chair
Ms. Logan announced that the next meeting of the Housing and Land Use Committee
would be on April 24 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the community board’s district office.
The meeting’s agenda includes a discussion of the Department of City Planning’s
study of the possible rezoning of Third Avenue from East 184th Street to the
Cross Bronx Expressway.
Parks, Recreation and Sanitation
Committee: Ms. Margarita Espinosa, Committee Chair
Ms. Espinosa informed us that applications for Bronx Borough President Adolfo
Carrion’s May 3, 2008 “Clean Up the Bronx” activity are currently available.
Individuals and community groups that wish to clean and beautify an area in
their neighborhood as part of this activity may get an application from the
community board’s district office. Ms. Espinosa also announce that the Parks,
Recreation and Sanitation Committee’s next meeting will be held sometime in May,
2008. Lastly, she urged the public to contact the community board’s district
office with their sanitation related service requests and/or complaints.
Ms. Galarza added that the community board will participate in the borough
president’s “Clean Up the Bronx” activity by removing graffiti from the front
wall of the West Farm Branch Library.
Transportation Committee: Mr. Radame Perez, Committee Chair
Mr. Perez announced that the Transportation Committee will meet sometime in May,
2008. The community board’s district office will send out notices about the
meeting once its date and agenda have been finalized. Mr. Perez also invited
everyone to become involved in the committee’s activities.
Youth and Education Committee: Mr. Kenneth Jackson, Committee
Chair
Mr. Jackson announced that the next meeting of the Youth and Education Committee
will be held on April 24, 2008 immediately following the meeting of the
community board’s Housing and Land Use Committee. He also informed us about the
Department of Education’s new policy concerning children who are entering
pre-kindergarten and about the April 17, 2008 deadline for parents to return
their school survey forms to their children’s schools. The number of surveys
returned to each school will be factored into that school’s overall grade.
Lastly, Mr. Jackson informed us that the results of the Department of
Education’s tests for gifted and talented students will be mailed to the
student’s parents between May 10 and May 17.
Law Enforcement Committee: Ms. Claudette Coles, Committee Co-Chair
Ms. Coles reported on the business that was conducted at the March 25, 2008
meeting of the 48th Police Precinct’s community council. At that meting the
council was informed about the precinct’s youth crime intervention program and
about the police department’s sky watch tower, which is currently stationed at
Southern Boulevard and East 180th Street. Police officials also informed the
council that our community is experiencing an increase in car vandalism.
VIII. ELECTED OFFICIALS AND/OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. Marina King, representing State Senator Ruben Diaz
Ms. King informed us that Senator Ruben Diaz and the other New York State
legislators were successful in restoring funds for our city’s nursing homes.
Mr. Daniel Contreras, representing Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum
Mr. Contreras informed us that Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum has convened a
commission on school governance and mayoral control of the city’s school system.
Public Advocate Gotbaum invites individuals and organizations to share their
thoughts on this matter with her by visiting her website where they can express
their opinions and offer recommendations.
Mr. Contreras also informed us that the public advocate will soon convene a
second summit on youth violence and gangs, possibly sometime during the summer.
Mr. Contreras may be contacted by telephone at (212) 669-2412.
IX. BRONX BOROUGH PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion’s report was presented by his
representative, Ms. Aurea Mangual, and included the following information:
• The borough president is
sponsoring a borough-wide cleaning and beautification activity on
May 3, 2008 called “Clean Up the Bronx.” Application to participate
in this activity must be returned to his office by no later then
April 24, 2008.
• Borough President Carrion will sponsor an event at Orchard Beach
to honor our nation’s veterans on May 17, 2008.
• Borough President Carrion is co-sponsoring “Bike to Work Day” on
May 16, 2008 with the organization Transportation Alternatives. The
starting point for this activity is Poe Park, which is located on
the Grand Concourse. Additional information about “Bike to Work Day”
may be obtained by telephoning (718) 590-3524.
• Applications for this year’s Summer Youth Employment Program are
available in our district at the Phipps Community Development
Corporation. Additional information on this matter may be obtained
by telephoning (718) 542-0109.
• Borough President Carrion is a co-sponsor of the “Non-Profit Day”
activity that will be held on May 1, 2008 at the Citi Center, which
is located at 153 East 53rd Street, New York, New York. |
X. ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE
A roll call attendance was taken verifying the presence of a quorum of eighteen
(18) members.
XI. ADOPTION OF MOTIONS
1) A motion to adopt the minutes of Bronx Community Board #6’s meeting of March
12, 2008 was made by Mr. Murray, seconded by Ms. Logan and unanimously adopted
in a voice vote (18 in favor, zero opposed and zero abstentions).
2) A motion to issue a letter requesting the New York City Department of Parks
and Recreation to designate the families of the victims of the 1990 Happy Land
Social Club Fire as the official overseers of the Happy Land Memorial, which is
located at East Tremont Avenue and Southern Boulevard, was made by Ms. Logan,
seconded by Ms. Espinosa and unanimously adopted by a vote of 18 in favor, zero
opposed and zero abstentions.
XII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ms. Ivine Galarza, District Manager
Ms. Galarza announced that she is to become a grandmother in July 2008.
Ms. Cheryl Holt-Andrews
Ms Holt-Andrews invited us to attend a surprise fundraiser and party for
community gardener Karen Washington who has been accepted to study at a college
in California.
Ms. Sara N. Logan
Ms. Logan thanked Ms. Galarza, Ms. Rodriguez and City Council Majority Leader
Joel Rivera for forming the Happy Land Committee.
Ms. Rosemary De Luca, the New York Wildlife Conservation Society (aka The
Bronx Zoo)
Ms. De Luca announced that the Bronx Zoo’s Lion House exhibit will reopen very
shortly. She also stated that free tickets to the zoo will be offered to the
families that were displaced because of the fire that recently occurred at 2115
Honeywell Avenue.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no other business to discuss, the April 9, 2008 meeting of Bronx
Community board #6 was adjourned at approximately 8:30 pm.
