MAKING THINGS A LITTLE EASIER FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES

from our New York City Councilmember, Brad Lander:

The small, independently-owned businesses that line our commercial avenues are - as we so often say - a key part of what make our neighborhoods, well, real neighborhoods. We are lucky to live in a place where we can walk to do so much of our weekly shopping, where we are likely to see neighbors, where we know the proprietors, where we have a choice to support local businesses instead of only global chains. Whether its 5th Ave, Court Street, Church Avenue, Prospect Park West, 7th Ave, Smith Street, Columbia Street, or Fort Hamilton Parkway, so many of you have talked with me about the importance of working to help strengthen and support small businesses.

Unfortunately, our small businesses face big challenges. Real estate, energy, and other costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Too many of us these days are doing more of our shopping online. And the economic downturn has been especially hard on those businesses without deep pockets or cash reserves.

Government can't solve all of these problems, but we should do all we can to provide a level playing field. So I've been troubled when I've asked small business owners their biggest problem - and they've indicated it was agency inspectors who seemed bent on levying fines in order to raise revenue for the City, rather than attending to public health or safety, much less to help make our small businesses better and stronger.

So, I was proud this week when the City Council passed the "Small Business Owners Bill of Rights," an important first step towards ensuring that small businesses in the city are able to survive and thrive in these difficult economic times. The new legislation requires inspectors, upon entering a business, to give owners a written bill of rights, that lets them know how they can contest a claim (which they will soon be able to do online) or make a complaint, and sets a standard for fair and consistent enforcement.

The idea of a small business owner's bill of rights was one of 14 recommendations that were proposed by the Regulatory Review Panel, a joint task force between the City Council and the Mayor's office that reviewed City regulations and their impact on small businesses. Many local businesses and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce weighed in as part of the Panel's efforts. Find out more here.

The other recommendations include:

-Giving small businesses the opportunity to resolve some low-risk violations before fines are levied
-Providing the opportunity to settle or contest any violations without having to go to court
-Implementing customer service training for agency inspectors
-Expanding programs for immigrant small business owners
-Enhancing 311 to better assist small businesses
-Helping business owners avoid violations in the first place

I am working to make sure we continue to make progress on these and the other recommendations - and also to address some of the other problems small businesses face, like the rising costs of real estate and energy. The Bill of Rights is just a first step, as there is much more to do, but I believe it is a good one.

Closer to home, you can also check out the online presence of some of our neighborhood merchant associations, join their e-mail lists, and learn about events and opportunities to support the neighborhood businesses we treasure. We've also listed some other local business-related websites.

Park Slope 5th Avenue BID
http://www.parkslopefifthavenuebid.com/

Kensington Area Resident/Merchant Alliance
http://karmabrooklyn.blogspot.com/

Court Street Merchants Association
http://www.courtstreetmerchants.org/

Atlantic Avenue Betterment Association
http://www.atlanticavenuebkny.com/

Park Slope Chamber of Commerce
http://pschamber.tumblr.com/

Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/

Borough President Marty Markowitz "I Shop Brooklyn" website
http://www.ishopbrooklyn.com/

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
http://www.ibrooklyn.com/

Serving the neighborhoods of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope,
Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, and Kensington

456 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215 * (718) 499-1090
http://council.nyc.gov/d39/html/members/home.shtml
http://www.bradlander.com
lander@council.nyc.gov

FHP BIKE PATH OPEN

As of yesterday morning, a bike path running from Prospect Circle to the intersection of Fort Hamilton Parkway and McDonald Avenue is officially "open for business." The aqua-colored line on the lower left side of the diagram shows its route.

The overpass over the Prospect Expressway that leads to Fort Hamilton Parkway now has a left lane for cars and a right lane for bikes, with a concrete barrier between them. Fort Hamilton Parkway also has a car lane on the left and a bike lane on the right.

As of this afternoon, some cyclists are still riding on the sidewalk, and a car that was traveling in the bike lane abruptly crossed in front of a car in the left lane to go to the gas station. Whether you're a driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, please be careful!

SHOPPING STREET TRASH TALK

"It's official: the city has stopped picking up garbage."

An article in yournabe.com reports that "A Sanitation official admitted this week that it ended regular pick-ups of public trash cans along commercial strips last July — instead only picking up the trash when trucks making residential runs drive by. Now, pick-ups that occurred “as often as two or three times a day, seven days a week,” said Ignazio Terranova, are only happening once or twice a week."

SMALL BUSINESS LEGAL CLINIC

Small Business Legal Clinic
Tuesday, June 15th, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Owners of small businesses and those thinking of starting one can meet one-on-one with an attorney to learn about the legal consequences of owning and operating a business in New York City. If you have questions about incorporation, contracts, intellectual property rights, or renting a storefront or renewing a commercial lease, volunteers from the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project can help you.

Register for an appointment for a free individual consultation by filling out the form here or by calling (718) 368-6790.

The clinic will be held at Brooklyn Public Library’s Business Library at 280 Cadman Plaza West.

66TH PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETS TOMORROW

The 66th Precinct Community Council will meet tomorrow instead of next Thursday. The council normally meets on the third Thursday of the month, from September through June. The meeting will be held at 5910 13th Avenue, between 59th and 60th streets, and will run from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All residents of the community are invited to attend to discuss their concerns about crime and the policing of our neighborhood.

The precinct's CompStat crime statistics for the week of 4/26/2010 through 5/2/2010 are online at http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs066pct.pdf.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT ON 37TH STREET

a drawing of the proposed housing

The City Planning Department certified the proposed Culver Estates housing project on 37th Street between 12th and 14th avenues on Monday. A six-month public review process will now take place, after which the city must approve the plan.

Culver Estates would include seventeen buildings with four condos each, and each unit would have four or five bedrooms. The housing is intended for moderate-income families (those earning 100% of the area median income or below).

The land, last used as a right-of-way for the Culver El, a discontinued elevated railway, is owned by the city and will be sold to Southern Brooklyn Community Organization (SBCO), a not-for-profit organization that develops and provides affordable housing in Borough Park and Kensington.

SOHO CAFE & GRILL ON CHURCH AVENUE

The store that's being renovated at 215 Church Avenue now has a sign on it that says "Soho Cafe & Grill Opening Soon." It's between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets next to Rich Frog Toys and is the former location of Astro Cleaners.

More news as it comes in!

MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT AT GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY

Green-Wood Cemetery’s 12th Annual Memorial Day Concert

Monday, May 31st, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Green-Wood Cemetery's 12th Annual Memorial Day Concert will feature the ISO (InterSchool Orchestras of New York) Symphonic Band playing select compositions by Fred Ebb, Leonard Bernstein, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, and Paul Jabara, who are all buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

Bring a folding chair or a blanket to sit on. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase cookout food, snacks, and drinks.

The concert will take place by the Gothic Arch, located inside the cemetery's main entrance at 5th Avenue and 25th Street.

Reserve your free tickets at http://www.green-wood.com/store.php/store/category/2/event/40.

TRY TRY AGAIN: SMALL BUSINESS SURVIVAL ACT

On April 14th, the Small Business Survival Act was introduced again in the New York City Council and was referred again to the Committee on Small Business. The bill (Int. 0154-2010) would establish a small business lease program that would create an environment for fair negotiations between landlords and commercial tenants during the lease renewal process. The ultimate goal is lease terms that both the landlord and the tenant consider reasonable. Our Councilmember, Brad Lander, is one of the sponsors of the bill.

For background information on the Small Business Survival Act, type "small business survival act" in the Search box on this blog.

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

FLATBUSH JEWISH CENTER ON FACEBOOK

The Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center created a Facebook page yesterday. The congregation was organized in 1921, and its building was completed in 1924.

A bazaar and flea market will be held at the Center on May 23rd.

The Albemarle Neighborhood Association holds its meetings at the Center from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month during September, October, November, March, April, May, and June. The meetings are open to the public.

Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center
327 E. 5th Street, corner of Church Avenue
(718) 871-5200
http://flatbushjewishcenter.org

Calendar of upcoming events: http://flatbushjewishcenter.org/index.php?p=50

NOTES FROM THE MARCH 23RD COMMUNITY BOARD 12 MEETING

Notes from the March 23rd Community Board 12 meeting:

Lauren Luft, a representative of the Metropolitan Jewish Health Center (16th Avenue at 62nd Street), announced a new community day service facility for people with chronic illnesses.

A resident reported that conditions in the emergency room of Maimonides Medical Center (10th Avenue at 49th Street) are unacceptable.

Tracey Mantrone of Brooklyn Public Library's Mapleton Branch (60th Street at 17th Avenue) asked people to protest the city's cuts in library budgets.

Residents of a block on E. 2nd Street who have a complaint about music being played loud at all hours by a neighbor were referred to officers from the 66th Precinct who were at the meeting.

CB12 board member Abu Khalquzzaman proposed that a monument be erected on Church Avenue in memory of the millions of Bangladeshi martyrs and that Church and McDonald avenues be renamed Bangladeshi Town.

A resident spoke against summonses being issued to residents by the Department of Sanitation during snowstorms when the department hasn't collected the trash. He also asked what procedure to follow to become a board member. He was referred to the Borough President's office.

A rabbi thanked board chairperson Alan Dubrow for arranging a meeting with the Fire and Police departments about the Passover bread burning plans, an event conducted for the past forty-four years. Precinct commander John Sprague said he would increase car and foot patrols at that time.

The current Executive Committee was renominated and reelected.

KENSINGTON COMMUNITY LEADERS MEETING

Representatives of neighborhood institutions and organizations participated last week in a meeting of Kensington community leaders that was hosted by our New York City Councilmember Brad Lander and our New York State Assemblymember Jim Brennan.

The purpose of the meeting was to gather together the diverse institutions and organizations in our neighborhood and have them work together on the issues and concerns that we have in common. This was the first time, to the knowledge of those gathered, that such a diverse group of Kensingtonians had sat down together.

Some of the institutions and organizations represented were P.S. 230 and P.S. 179 and their PTAs, the 66th Police Precinct, Community Board 12, Kensington Area Resident/Merchant Alliance, Albemarle Neighborhood Association, Dahill Neighborhood Association, Sandwip Educational and Cultural Society USA, West Kensington Action Group, Bangladesh Muslim Center, Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Kensington Action Force, and several mosques.

We were each asked to learn enough about one other person present so that we could introduce that person to the others.

Suggestions generated by the meeting include creating a community center that would promote intergroup relations and provide a place for young people to gather, an intercultural outdoor event, assistance to local small businesses, creation of green space, and addressing safety issues in the schools and in the neighborhood. Precinct Commander John Sprague offered to hold a meeting to discuss gangs and teach parents how to recognize if their children are gang members.

We're all looking forward to meeting again and moving ahead together on our common goals.

SICILIAN SALAD AND SEATING AT CONNIE'S CAFE

Sicilian Salad at Connie's Cafe: baked eggplant, strips of fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, romaine lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. Delicious!


Connie has applied to the city for a permit for outdoor seating. Let's hope that the powers-that-be grant it!

Connie's Cafe
424 Church Avenue, corner of E. 5th Street
(718) 633-3557
Open daily from 6:00 a.m. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

STORY AND PLAY

Saturday, May 15th, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Story & Play

Join the Friends of Greenwood Playground at the last play group of the "winter" season.

Kids: Play with neighborhood friends, hear great stories, and play with new toys! Recommended ages: 5 and under.

Adults: Enjoy the singing, dancing, and storytelling and get exclusive information about all of the great summer programming in the works for Greenwood Playground! In between the singing and stories, the Friends will be brainstorming about how to make the playground even more fun than it already is. If you loved the flea market and want to see more fun events at Greenwood, stop by and share your ideas.

This program will be held in the meeting room of the Windsor Terrace Library, 160 E. 5th Street, corner of Fort Hamilton Parkway. Enter on E. 5th Street.

Find out more about Friends of Greenwood Playground from their website or Facebook group.

HEALTHCARE REFORM FOR EMPLOYERS

Wednesday, May 12th, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Healthcare Reform for Employers

Management Roundtable Series

Human Resources Network Forum

featuring
Diane Pfadenhauer, SPHR, Esq., President
Employment Practices Advisors, Inc.

Tuohy Hall, Alumni Room
245 Clinton Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby avenues

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, contact John Keenan (718) 940-5731.

FLIERS ON CARS AND FENCES

Tonight, newsletters were placed under car windshield wipers or rolled up and stuck in the fences and gates of private residences. The New York City law against flier distribution says that placing unsolicited fliers, circulars, notices, handbills, leaflets, pamphlets, booklets, brochures, newsletters, cards, or any other written material on cars, fences, or any other private property is illegal. The fine for violating the law is up to $75 per item. You can report it--anonymously, if you want to--by calling 311.

FAIR AT P.S. 230

Fair
Sunday, June 6th, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

P.S. 230 will hold its annual fair, a fund raiser for the school fund. All proceeds, after expenses, will be used for basics as well as such extras as the upcoming 5th grade trip to the New York Philharmonic. The school is located at 1 Albemarle Road, between McDonald Avenue and Dahill Road.

BAZAAR AND FLEA MARKET

Bazaar and Flea Market
Sunday, May 23rd, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Sisterhood of the Flatbush & Shaare Torah Jewish Center will hold its annual Spring Bazaar and Flea Market featuring new and gently-used merchandise. They'll be selling housewares, jewelry, toys, appliances, and more at bargain prices. Admission is free.

327 E. 5th Street at the corner of Church Avenue
(718) 871-5200

CENSUS TAKERS START VISITING TOMORROW

Census takers for the U.S. Census Bureau will start going door-to-door tomorrow and continue through July 10th. They'll visit you if you received a form and didn’t mail it back. Even if you did mail it back, it might have arrived too late to be processed, and you might be visited.

They'll also visit people who didn’t receive a form.

If someone comes to your door and tells you that they're a census worker, make sure that they're telling you the truth.

• They must show you their ID badge. The badge has a Department of Commerce watermark on it and an expiration date. They may also be carrying a black canvass bag with a Census Bureau logo.
• They must provide you with information about how to contact their supervisor and/or the phone number of the local census office, if you ask for it.
• They must ask you only the questions that appear on the census form.
• They must not ask you for your social security number, your bank account number, or your credit card number.
• They must not ask you for money.
• They must not contact you by e-mail.

Census workers are authorized to try to interview you up to six times. They can leave you three notices that they tried to visit you. They can then try three times to reach you by phone to either interview you by phone or schedule a visit.

If they aren't able to talk with you, they're allowed to talk to your neighbor, your rental agent, your building manager, or anyone else who knows your household in order to obtain as much basic information about you as they can.

All census takers have had an FBI background check that includes a name check and a fingerprint check. They took an oath for life that they'll protect the information they collect, and they were told that they can get fined up to $250,000, put in jail for up to five years, or suffer both penalties if they disclose any personally identifiable information about anyone they've interviewed.

By law, the Census Bureau can't share your answers with the IRS, the FBI, the CIA, or any other government agency.

The 2010 Census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Information is used to

• determine how many Congressional seats each state will get,
• distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to state and local governments each year until the next census in 2020,
• and make decisions about which community services to provide.

More than 72% of households across the country have returned their census forms. In Kensington, the percentage of returns is only in the 50s and 60s. If people in our neighborhood don't participate in the census, we'll lose representatives in Congress and lose funding for services that we need, such as schools, roads, hospitals, and emergency services.

For more information about the census, please read these posts on the KARMA blog:
Be Counted in the Census, Lower Your Taxes--Mail Your Census Form, and You Probably Know by Now That the Census Is Here.

BEWARE OF FRAUD BY ENERGY COMPANIES

Protect yourself from fraud! If anyone rings your doorbell and tells you that he or she is from an energy company and they can save you money on your electric or gas bill, do not open your door, even if they show you their identification.

If you do open your door, do not show them your Con Edison bill or your National Grid bill. If you do, they might switch your account from Con Edison or National Grid to their company without your permission. Do not sign anything. Call the police to report the person. Describe the person to the police, if you're able to. If the person touches you or curses at you, tell the police.

Representatives of several companies, including Just Energy, have been going to homes in this area. They were in our neighborhood as recently as last night. Just Energy has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. Just Energy is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. 541 complaints have been filed with the Better Business Bureau against Just Energy. The Better Business Bureau says

Complainants allege they were subject to misleading sales practices, such as unauthorized enrollment in the program offered, and/or misrepresentation of contract length, and/or guarantees of savings, and/or ability to cancel the contract after the initial three day period.
 
Consumer complaints also allege that the sales representatives from US Energy Savings...[are] misrepresenting their identities.
 
Additional complaints allege that consumers who did not speak and/or understand English were likewise solicited and their signatures were obtained, enrolling them into US Energy's five year contract, despite these individuals' failure to fully understand what they were signing.
 
Other complaints allege that upon signing up with the company on the premise of savings on gas, consumers' bills did not decrease, but instead increased substantially.

COMMERCIAL LEASE NEGOTIATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND MICROENTREPRENEURS

Wednesday, May 12th, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Commercial Lease Negotiation
for Small Business Owners and Microentrepreneurs

Kevin Drakeford of the Drakeford Group, PC will present an overview of the legal rights of small business owners and microentrepreneurs when it's time to negotiate for or sign a commercial lease.

The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so call (718) 368-6790 to register or go to http://bedc.org/Commercial_Lease.htm.

Location:
Brooklyn Public Library Business Library
280 Cadman Plaza West (at Tillary Street)

Sponsored by Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn Public Library Business Library, City Bar Justice Center Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project, and New York State Small Business Development Center.

OXYGEN FOR KENSINGTON

We're delighted that a few of the hundreds of street trees KARMA requested for the neighborhood have been planted. The trees are on Church from Beverley to E. 2nd, E. 2nd from Church to Beverley, and both sides of Beverley from E. 2nd to Church.

The tree-planting was done through New York City's MillionTreesNYC initiative.

DELI/RESTAURANT OPENING ON CHURCH AVENUE

In about two weeks, Soho Cafe and Grill--a combination deli and restaurant--will open at 215 Church Avenue, between E. 2nd and E. 3rd streets, next to Rich Frog Toys.

We'll tell you more when we know more!

PLANT SALE AT COMMUNITY GARDEN

Sunday, May 2nd, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Plant Sale

A variety of reasonably priced flowering, herb, and vegetable plants will be for sale at the East Fourth Street Community Garden, with all of the proceeds earmarked for the upkeep of the garden. 

Located on E. 4th Street between Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway, the garden has had a presence in our community for over thirty years.

5K RUN/WALK TO BENEFIT BROOKLYN PTA

Saturday, May 1st, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Brooklyn PTA 5K Run/Walk for Schools

The Brooklyn PTA 5K Run/Walk for Schools raises funds in support of local public schools. Last year, more than 300 people participated!

After the event, there will be parent organizations, face painting, music, and other community-building activities.

The registration fee for participants is $15 per person or $25 per family. You can run as part of a school team or sign up as an individual and be assigned to a group.

You can also raise money through sponsorships (prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers). Profits from the event will be split among the participating schools: 50% of the total will be divided evenly among all participating schools (those who recruited 20 or more participants) and the other 50% will be divided among schools based on the number of students in the school.

If your PTA isn't already involved, they just need to sign on and recruit 20 participants in order to share in the proceeds. You, your school, or your PTA can contact the organizers at either contact@brooklynpta.org or PTArunfortheschools@gmail.com.

The registration forms and additional information are on the Brooklyn PTA website. You can also register on-site on Saturday morning.

If you'd like to coordinate a group from your school or be a volunteer on the day of the race, send an e-mail to Jessica Turner at jturner@council.nyc.gov. Jessica is the Community Liaison for Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Borough Park for our New York City Councilmember Brad Lander.

Meet at Prospect Park at the Bartel Pritchard Square entrance near Prospect Park West and 15th Street.

Race, walk, stroll, or toddle with your neighbors!