KEEPING KENSINGTON PLAZA NEIGHBORHOOD-FRIENDLY: A WALK-THROUGH WITH NEIGHBORS AND PARTNERS (FREE)

Kensington Plaza Walk-through with Neighbors and Partners

Wednesday, June 26th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Take a walk through Kensington Plaza and speak with representatives of the city agencies and organizational partners whose goal is to maintain and improve the plaza as a clean, accessible, and safe neighborhood space. Learn how you and other neighbors can contribute to that work.

The city agencies and organizational partners are Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE), Department of Transportation (DOT), The Horticultural Society of New York, Sector D 66th Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs), Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and Breaking Ground. 

Shahana Hanif, Director of Organizing and Community Engagement in the Office of New York City Councilmember Brad Lander, will host the event on Wednesday, June 26th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

RSVP by sending an e-mail to Shahana Hanif at shanif @ council.nyc. gov.

Location
Kensington Plaza
Beverley Road, at its intersection with Church Avenue, in front of Walgreens
Kensington, Brooklyn

WORKING TOGETHER: THEY GET JOBS AND TRAINING, WE GET A CLEANER, GREENER CHURCH AVENUE

City Councilmember Brad Lander allocated to Church Avenue and Kensington Plaza the majority of the funding provided to his district in the City Council budget for the NYC Cleanup Initiative. Brad is flanked by the workers from the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE).

The workers from ACE, together with the Horticultural Society of New York, will beautify Church Avenue from Ocean Parkway to Story Street and Kensington Plaza.

As Brad Lander wrote below, they "will sweep sidewalks, remove liners from trash and recycling baskets, clean tree pits, and remove snow from corners" and will also provide seasonal plantings in tree pits and water them.

Henry Buhl (left), who founded ACE's predecessor organization in 1992, with Brad Lander

Brad Lander with Kensington Plaza Stewards Bridget Elder (in blue shirt) and JC Martinez (wearing a cap)

Kensington Plaza Stewards Mike Rosenbluth and Sue Braverman. Mike is describing the satisfaction he gets from helping his neighborhood.

Community Board 12 president Yidel Perlstein (left) and Sergeant at Arms Larry Jayson

The Walgreens branch manager, Al (left), and the supervisor of Walgreens' Brooklyn pharmacies, Daniel. Al and Daniel talked about how happy they are to have the plaza in front of their store and how it has increased foot traffic into it.

And now, a word from our City Councilmember Brad Lander, who has worked alongside the residents of Kensington for years to make our neighborhood cleaner, greener, and safer.

21-SECOND VIDEO FROM NEWS 12 ABOUT CHURCH AVENUE CLEAN-UP

Update: That video got replaced. In the new one, Sue and your blogger are still on the bench, and Bridget is still standing. JC, unfortunately, ended up on the "cutting room floor." Showbiz can be a tough gig!

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News 12 has posted a 21-second video of this morning's press conference in Kensington Plaza about the Church Avenue clean-up initiative. In the first "scene" are your KARMABrooklyn blogger (in red, sitting on the bench), Sue (in purple, also on the bench), JC (standing), and Bridget (behind JC). JC is telling a story that's cracking us up.

In the second "scene," City Councilmember Brad Lander is on the left, and Albemarle Neighborhood Association president Larry Jayson is on the right. Behind them in red jumpsuits are the workers from ACE (Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless) who are going to clean and green Church Avenue.

More news will follow!