PUBLISHED BY MOSHOLU PRESERVATION CORPORATION

Community Funds Ignite Controversy

By HEATHER HADDON

A little-known board's process of doling out thousands of dollars in community funding ignited a torrent of criticism when its selections broke with tradition. 

After a poorly-attended public hearing, the local Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) moved last spring to distribute over $500,000 in funds to AIDS, housing and other areas not previously benefiting from the funds. While youth programming was later substituted for three of the five priorities, many Community Board 7 (CB7) members are frustrated that senior and immigrant services were left out.

"It's a major problem," said Don Bluestone, CB7 member and executive director of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center. "They created priorities that don't match what the community concerns are."

Every three years, the NAB in each community district oversees the distribution of federal and city funds flowing through the Community Services Block Grants. The grants, administered by the city Department for Youth and Community Development (DYCD), are intended to help low-income individuals and families achieve greater self-sufficiency.

The NAB's 12 members must live in their community, with six appointed by DYCD and six by local officials. Appointees hold public hearings to choose five priorities, then help select the grantees among applying local organizations.

But the local NAB suffered from low participation this year, and their meetings, with an average of four members attending, fell below DYCD's required quorum of seven. Most of the appointees were also new to the process.

"There was not adequate training," said Donna Benjamin, an NAB and CB7 member who works at the Fordham Branch Library. "We didn't get the full support of DYCD."

Only a handful of people attended the public hearing last spring despite NAB's efforts to advertise it. Members sent out mailings, passed out fliers, and made announcements at CB7 meetings, according to Rafeek Khan, a CB7 member and NAB's chair. 

Based on priorities ranked at the hearing, NAB members chose the five top selections to divide up the pot of almost $530,000. In addition to Benjamin and Khan, CB7 members Sallie Caldwell and Ricardo Parker also sat on the NAB.

Given the size of the hearing, it's no wonder that the funding pie was divided and distributed into unexpected areas. But the results were also due to member miscalculations, which DYCD later worked with NAB members to correct. The list now includes teen violence prevention, teen education, teen employment, housing and economic development.

While the first three fall in line with long-standing priorities, CB7 members were angered that immigrant and senior issues were missing. NAB funds have traditionally supported programming in those areas at Tolentine Zeiser Community Center and Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC). "It's paid for buses ... and nutrition counselors for seniors for the last 20 years," said Bluestone.

CB7 members sent letters to DYCD to recommend replacing the last two priority areas, but according to DYCD spokesperson Michael Ognibene, they came too late. Proposals for the local district must be in by Dec. 6 for contracts beginning July 2005. 

But Council Member Oliver Koppell is still trying to change the situation, and he met with DYCD two weeks ago. "It doesn't make any sense," said Koppell about the priorities. "A few people show up to the meeting, pushed for one thing, and they got preference." 

The controversy instigated finger-pointing during CB7's tense fall meetings. While CB7's district manager and more veteran members blame the NAB for failing to seek advice from them, Khan, who admits the process was flawed, says that CB7 is trying to wield too much influence.

"[The NAB] is an independent board," he said. "I don't have to go to [CB7] for final advice. I'm not a rubber stamp."

NAB members also fault critics for not attending the public meeting. "Those who were not at the hearing are the ones crying now," Benjamin said. MMCC and Tolentine both had representatives at the hearing, however.

Khan stepped down as chair, and CB7 officer Sallie Caldwell has replaced him. CB7 recommended several additional appointments, but it's uncertain if they will be on the NAB in time to evaluate the proposals this spring.

Doreen Granai, a Bedford Park resident and Montefiore Medical Center employee, hopes to help NAB get back on its feet. "I live in the community and care about community," said Granai, who applied for one of the slots.

While the NAB may eventually benefit from the controversy through increased participation, the experience has left Khan bitter. "I didn't want to be in a political fight with anybody," he said.

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