THE GROUP THAT GAVE KENSINGTON A MURAL WILL BE AWARDED A PRIZE

 

Groundswell, the organization behind the creation of Kensington's colorful "React, Respect, Intersect" mural, will be the recipient of a sizable monetary prize awarded to Brooklyn social justice nonprofits.

The significance of our neighborhood's mural, painted on the side of the building at 338 E. 5th Street (off Church Avenue) in 2011, is detailed on Groundswell's website here.

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Ana Gasteyer to Host, Clara Wu Tsai to Receive Honor 

at Annual Brooklyn Nonprofit Celebration

2022 Spark Prize Winners to be Awarded $100K Each 

by Brooklyn Community Foundation

                                                                                                                                                                    

What: The annual “who’s who” of Brooklyn nonprofits is back after a COVID hiatus. Brooklyn Community Foundation will host more than 300 guests at its Spark Breakfast celebrating the five winners of the 2022 Spark Prize for Brooklyn social justice nonprofits. Each organization will receive $100,000 in recognition of their work to build equity and strength in Brooklyn’s communities. The event marks the sixth year of the Spark Prize, which has awarded $3 million since 2016 to 25 winners and 75 finalists.

 

Who:  Actress, comedian, and singer Ana Gastayer hosting; businesswoman, investor, and philanthropist Claire Wu Tsai, the event’s honoree; leaders and Board members of Brooklyn’s most beloved nonprofits; Brooklyn business leaders; members of the Spark Prize committee; Spark Prize finalists; and Spark Prize winners: Arab American Association of New York, Black Women's Blueprint, Brooklyn Movement Center, Groundswell Community Mural Project, and Weeksville Heritage Center.

 

When: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 8 to 10 a.m. (breakfast at 8 a.m., program begins at 8:30 a.m.)

 

Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway

 

More information on Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Spark Prize, and this year’s winners can be found here.

DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IS ON THE AGENDA FOR COMMUNITY BOARD 12 MARCH MEETING

Community Board 12 Public Meeting

Tuesday, March 26th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 12 (representing Kensington, Borough Park, and Midwood) will hold its monthly public meeting tonight, Tuesday, March 26th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The board's monthly meetings are open to the public.

Unfortunately, CB 12 doesn't e-mail us the agenda until the day of the meeting, so here it is now. The e-mail opens with the salutation "Dear Board Members, Elected Officials, & Interested Parties."

Agenda for the March 26th meeting

1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Public Session
3. Chairman's Remarks - Yidel Perlstein
4. District Manager's Remarks - Barry Spitzer
5. DOT Presentation of the Ocean Parkway, Church Avenue & Prospect Expressway Intersection Safety Improvements
6. Adoption of February Minutes
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Attendance
10. Adjourn

During the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting (agenda item 2), you can speak about any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address. To do so, arrive at the meeting before 7:00 p.m. and sign up to speak. You'll have only three minutes to present your topic.

Some issues you may be concerned about are

•     pedestrian safety,
•     traffic congestion,
•     housing,
•     land use and zoning,
•     construction sites,
•     outdoor lighting,
•     potholes,
•     sanitation,
•     libraries,
•     crime,
•     police presence,
•     graffiti,
•     social services,
•     rodents,
•     trash collection,
•     public litter baskets, and
•     street and sidewalk conditions.

General meetings of Community Board 12 are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through June, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board, which serves as the neighborhood's liaison to city agencies. Board members are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and the borough president.

Community Board 12's committees are

•         Planning, Zoning Variances and City Map
•         Education, Library, Cultural Affairs
•         Sanitation & Environmental Protection
•         Fire, Safety & Police
•         Health & Social Services
•         Housing & Buildings
•         Legislation
•         Parks, Capital Projects & Site Selection
•         Transportation & Franchises
•         Youth & Community Development

Meeting Location
Amico Senior Center
5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor
corner of 59th Street
Borough Park, Brooklyn

Enter the building on 59th Street. The meeting room is accessible by elevator.

Community Board 12's office is at 5910 13th Avenue.
phone: (718) 851-0800
fax: (718) 851-4140
e-mail: bk12 @ cb.nyc.gov
https://twitter.com/BrooklynCB12
https://www.facebook.com/BkCB12

TOWN HALL ON PUBLIC SAFETY AT OCEAN PARKWAY/PROSPECT EXPRESSWAY/CHURCH AVENUE

Town Hall on Public Safety at

 Ocean Parkway/Prospect Expressway/Church Avenue

Monday, November 19th

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

After a truck driver struck and killed pedestrian Faustino Garcia last spring at the Ocean Parkway/Prospect Expressway/Church Avenue intersection, Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Robert Carroll held a Town Hall about the deadly location.

The Town Hall was held in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) so that the two agencies could get feedback from the community.

Decisions about the Prospect Expressway, a state highway, are made by the New York State Department of Transportation. On the other hand, Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue are city roads regulated by the New York City Department of Transportation. So when changes and improvements are needed, the two agencies are required to collaborate for the common good.

The agencies had implemented some short-term actions, such as adding missing speed limit signs and adding more signals on the approach to Church Avenue.

NYCDOT and NYSDOT have now finished their phase of data collection. They've put together a report with traffic safety measures that they'll share with the community at a public Town Hall. After the community hears DOT's recommendations, DOT will answer questions and listen to feedback. 

The Town Hall will take place on Monday, November 19th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the P.S. 130 Upper School.
 
If you have any further questions or concerns about the intersection, contact Megan Flynn in Councilmember Lander's office at mflynn@council.nyc.gov or (718) 499-1090.

Location
P.S. 130 Upper School
713 Caton Avenue
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

REBUILDING THE CHURCH - MCDONALD INTERSECTION

The current reconstruction of the intersection of Church and McDonald avenues is intended to make the crossroads safer for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists.

Improvements being made include curb extensions at the northwest and southeast corners, pedestrian ramps, bus stop pads, catch basins, replacement of the water main, and a complete pavement restoration.

Curb extensions, also known as "neckdowns" and "bulb-outs," widen the sidewalks and reduce the crossing distances. They increase pedestrian visibility, increase the space where pedestrians stand while waiting for the walk signal, provide additional space for street furniture, plants, and other amenities, reduce illegal parking at corners and crosswalks, and provide space for two curb ramps per corner.

Construction at the intersection began in July 2017. At that time, the estimated completion date was fall 2017. The project was delayed, however, in order to first complete work on a nearby water main and bus stop pads. The latest estimate is that work will be finished by fall 2018.

Residents of City Council District 39 voted to fund the improvements in 2013 as part of City Councilmember Brad Lander's Participatory Budgeting project.

COMMUNITY MEETING ON GETTING SAFELY ACROSS OCEAN PARKWAY AT CHURCH AVENUE

Community Meeting on Public Safety at the 

Church Avenue/Ocean Parkway/Prospect Parkway Intersection

Monday, April 9th, 7:30 p.m.

Life is cheap where Church Avenue, the Prospect Expressway, and Ocean Parkway intersect. A truck driver killed pedestrian Faustino Garcia this year, another truck driver killed pedestrian Ngozi Agbim in 2013, and non-fatal collisions regularly occur, sometimes causing injuries.

The Motor Vehicle Collision Report for February 2018 records six collisions at "Church Avenue and Ocean Parkway" (page 96) and four at "Church Avenue and Prospect Expressway" (page 97). That's ten collisions in just one month.

The intersection has two masters. Decisions about the Prospect Expressway, a state highway, are made by the New York State Department of Transportation. On the other hand, Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue are city roads regulated by the New York City Department of Transportation. So when changes and improvements are needed, the two agencies are required to collaborate for the common good.

Together, they've re-studied the intersection, and at a public meeting with neighborhood residents and anyone else who uses that intersection, they'll tell us what their findings are. And we'll tell them about the perils of crossing the road, as we've experienced them.

The 66th Precinct will also be represented there.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 9th, at 7:30 p.m. Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Bobby Carroll will host it.

The wheels of government are notorious for turning slowly. But the wheels of trucks and cars can turn fast and can be deadly. It's past time for the injuries and deaths of our families, friends, and neighbors to end.

Location
P.S. 130 Upper School
713 Caton Avenue
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
on the Kensington - Windsor Terrace border

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROSPECT EXPRESSWAY ARE REQUESTED AT A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

Community Workshop on 

the Prospect Expressway Corridor

Wednesday, March 14th

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The NYU Capstone Team--comprised of four urban planning students in the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service--and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President will be holding a free community workshop about the Prospect Expressway corridor.

Neighborhood residents of all ages, workers, and employers are invited to attend and share their thoughts on the current state of the Prospect Expressway as well as their suggestions for improving the corridor. The current state, as we all know, is hazardous at best and deadly at worst.

The workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 14th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Shepherd’s Hall at Holy Name Church.

You can RSVP or direct any questions to PXForward @ gmail.com.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Location
Shepherd's Hall
Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church
243 Prospect Park West
between Prospect Avenue and Windsor Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Enter Shepherd's Hall through the parking lot on Prospect Park West.

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New York City Councilmember Brad Lander has asked the New York City Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Transportation, and the NYPD to participate in a separate community meeting about the Prospect Expressway/Church Avenue intersection. A pedestrian was struck and killed there on February 27th.

A meeting has not yet been scheduled. 

In addition, Lander and New York State Assemblymember Robert Carroll co-authored a letter to the three agencies mentioned above. In the letter, they requested a comprehensive review of the intersection, quick implementation of changes, and increased enforcement of laws by the NYPD immediately.

DEATH AT CHURCH AVE. AND OCEAN PARKWAY LEADS TO ANOTHER ROUND OF CAMPAIGNING FOR SAFETY

A pedestrian died Tuesday night when a truck turning right from Church Avenue onto the Prospect Expressway struck and killed him as he crossed Ocean Parkway. 

Over the years, the combined efforts of our community, our elected officials, and the city and state Departments of Transportation (DOT) have brought improvements to the intersection. But, as the community knew prior to this death, it can't yet be called "safe."

As the slogan of the community's major safety push of 2013 said, "Our neighborhood is not a highway."

In response to this most recent tragedy, City Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Robert Carroll wrote a letter to the city and state DOTs and the NYPD. Below are Councilmember Lander's statement to the community, followed by the letter.

Let's be ready to participate in making Church and OP safer for all of us--pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.

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In the wake of the tragedy Tuesday night, Robert Carroll and I sent the following letter last night to Commissioner Polly Trottenberg of NYC DOT, Commissioner Cathy Calhoun of NYS DOT, and the Commissioner James O'Neill of the NYPD, seeking their urgent collaboration to do everything we can to make sure this ceases to be an intersection of death.

After the death of Ngozi Agbim at this same intersection in 2013, we added a pedestrian refuge island (which the community voted for in participatory budgeting), and DOT adjusted the signal timing. And we have pushed regularly for additional enforcement of frequent illegal turns & failure-to-yield. But tragically (and, yes, perhaps predictably) those things have not been enough.

There has been a periodic debate about trying to close off the north-side crossing altogether, with fencing and signs -- previously, the opinion of experts has been that too many people would just go around the fence, creating an even more dangerous condition.

Obviously, and tragically, we need to look at all of this again. That's why we are calling on NYC DOT, NYS DOT, and the NYPD to work with the community on a comprehensive review, to develop plans to make it safe, and to dramatically increase enforcement until those changes can be made. We pledge to work together, with the agencies & with the community, to do everything we can.

PEDESTRIAN DEATH (AGAIN) AT CHURCH AVE. AND OCEAN PARKWAY

(photo not related to last night's collision)

As the driver of a Bread Depo box truck traveling west on Church Avenue turned right to go onto the Prospect Expressway last night (Tuesday) at about 9:30, he struck a pedestrian who was crossing Church Avenue.

The victim, Faustino Garcia, who had been walking west on the north side of Church Avenue, was taken to Methodist Hospital. He died there as a result of severe injuries to his head.

Nobody has been arrested, as of Wednesday morning. A video of the aftermath of the collision is on YouTube.

The collision appears to have happened in the same location and under the same or similar circumstances as the one that caused the death of Ngozi Agbim in 2013.

This intersection has been hazardous for many years. Just the year before Ms. Agbim's death, residents of City Council District 39 (represented by Councilmember Brad Lander) had voted to allocate participatory budgeting funds to improve safety conditions for everyone who uses that intersection.

The neighborhood activism that followed Ms. Agbim's death (rallies, a petition, statements by our elected representatives, communication and public meetings with the New York City Department of Transportation, communication and public meetings with the New York State Department of Transportation) led to changes at the chaotic intersection of Church Avenue, Ocean Parkway, and the Prospect Expressway.

We need to act again to protect our community from injury or death.

UPDATE ON "SAFETY UPGRADES BEGIN AT CHURCH AND MCDONALD AVENUES"

UPDATE: Councilmember Lander's website reports that

"Construction at Church Ave. & McDonald Ave. will begin Summer 2017 and is estimated to be complete prior to the beginning of the school year in the fall.

After completing a feasibility study at Church & Coney Avenue, DOT informed our office that curb extensions are not feasible at this location due to a freight route. They can implement a hardened center line, which will be completed by the end of July.

In addition, DOT is now completing a feasibility study for a leading pedestrian interval (LPI) intersection (that shows a walk sign for pedestrian before showing a green light to car traffic).

DOT is also undertaking a feasibility study for curb extensions at Caton Ave. & Coney Island Avenue."

--------------------------------- 

Reconstruction of the intersection of Church and McDonald avenues is underway. The goal of the transformation is to make the crossroads safer for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists.

Funding for the work was approved by residents of City Council District in 2013 through City Councilmember Brad Lander's Participatory Budgeting project.

An article in Windsor Terrace Patch says that

"The improvements at the site will include curb extensions, pedestrian ramps and catch basins, replacement of the water main and a complete pavement restoration."

The Patch article is here.

SAFETY UPGRADES BEGIN AT CHURCH AND MCDONALD AVENUES

UPDATE: Councilmember Lander's website reports that

"Construction at Church Ave. & McDonald Ave. will begin Summer 2017 and is estimated to be complete prior to the beginning of the school year in the fall.

After completing a feasibility study at Church & Coney Avenue, DOT informed our office that curb extensions are not feasible at this location due to a freight route. They can implement a hardened center line, which will be completed by the end of July.

In addition, DOT is now completing a feasibility study for a leading pedestrian interval (LPI) intersection (that shows a walk sign for pedestrian before showing a green light to car traffic).

DOT is also undertaking a feasibility study for curb extensions at Caton Ave. & Coney Island Avenue."

--------------------------------- 

Reconstruction of the intersection of Church and McDonald avenues is underway. The goal of the transformation is to make the crossroads safer for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists.

Funding for the work was approved a few years ago through City Councilmember Brad Lander's Participatory Budgeting project.

An article in Windsor Terrace Patch says that

"The improvements at the site will include curb extensions, pedestrian ramps and catch basins, replacement of the water main and a complete pavement restoration."

The Patch article is here.

CHURCH AVENUE TO BE ONE-WAY?

"Hoots and hollers were the order of the day as East Flatbush residents and merchants made it clear that they did not want to see Church Avenue turned into a one-way street. DOT plans to return to the community for further discussion in October."

"One way No way, Flatbush residents declare for Church Avenue," The Brooklyn Paper, July 2, 2009, https://www.brooklynpaper.com/one-way-no-way-flatbush-residents-declare-for-church-avenue-2/