Tuesday, December 8, 2020

CITI BIKE EXPANSION INTO WINDSOR TERRACE, SUNSET PARK, AND SOUTH SLOPE: AN ONLINE Q&A SESSION


Update: DOT's presentation at the Citi Bike Brooklyn Expansion Information Session has been posted online at https://www.dropbox.com/s/wbtx8nfnrap4v0k/Citi%20Bike%20Brooklyn%20Expansion%20Information%20Session.pptx?dl=0.
 
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Citi Bike Expansion in Brooklyn: an Online Q&A Session
Thursday, December 10th, 6:00 p.m.

Join the New York City Department of Transportation and Lyft--which operates the Citi Bike program--for an online information session about Citi Bike’s upcoming expansion in Brooklyn.
 
Citi Bike docking stations will be placed within Brooklyn Community Boards 7, 10, 12, and 14. The installations will be in South Slope, Sunset Park, and Windsor Terrace. The target date for completion is mid- to late-winter/early spring 2021. Installation will begin in the northern part of the borough and work its way south.
 
The first version of the Citi Bike Expansion Draft Plan for Community Board 7, 10, 12, and 14, shown below, was presented to Community Board 7's Transportation Committee at last night's meeting. Fifty members of the public had registered to attend, and several of them asked the DOT representatives questions.
 
 

The second version of the Citi Bike Expansion Draft Plan for Community Board 7, 10, 12, and 14 will be available at https://nycdotbikeshare.info/maps_plans#brooklyn today.
 
Join the virtual town hall (Webinar ID 971 2363 1391) from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Register for it at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W_Rha7gfTz-Uw66rkHCG4A. 

Installation sites must offer round-the-clock access, so they will not, for instance, be placed in parks that close at dusk. Most of the stations will be located in roads. Just a few will be on sidewalks. Some will take up space currently used for parking. Others will utilize current daylighting and pedestrianized spaces.

To be eligible for use, a sidewalk has to be at least fifteen feet wide, but the presence of other variables, such as hydrants, trees, and gas utilities, is factored in.

At Machete Circle/Park Circle, the plan is to install one station, but its exact location has to be coordinated with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
 
Docking stations at subway station entrances will have a minimum of nineteen docks.

E-bikes will be twenty percent of the citywide Citi Bike fleet.

Monday, December 7, 2020

COVID-19 TEST & TRACE CORPS ONLINE PRESENTATION

 

 

NYC COVID-19 Test & Trace Corps Online Presentation
Monday, December 14th, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
 
The NYC COVID-19 Test & Trace Corps will make a presentation via Zoom to Community Board 7's Health and Mental Health Committee. The public is welcome to attend. 

The webinar will take place on Monday, December 14th, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
 
Register in advance for the webinar at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6mQsXrXzTei2_K8zk9PLFw. 
 
After you register, you'll receive a confirmation e-mail that contains information about how you can access the webinar.
 
About the NYC Test & Trace Corps
The NYC Test & Trace Corps is a public health initiative to fight the threat of COVID-19. The Corps is a group of doctors, public health professionals and community advocates working to reverse the COVID-19 outbreak and protect our city.

The public health program is led by NYC Health + Hospitals in close collaboration with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other city agencies.

Through its robust and citywide partnerships, The Corps helps New Yorkers receive free, safe and confidential testing for COVID-19 and for the antibody test. It ensures that anyone with the virus receives care, and can safely isolate to prevent the spread. To help New Yorkers navigate this process, The Corps has activated a specialized group of Contact Tracers to provide resources and support every step of the way.

Friday, December 4, 2020

POLICE FOR KENSINGTON AND DITMAS WILL MEET WITH RESIDENTS

 
Kensington Neighborhood Policing and Safety Meeting
  Wednesday, December 9th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) and the Steady Sector Officers in the 66th Precinct's Sector D (Kensington and Ditmas) will meet with residents on Wednesday, December 9th, to discuss any issues that you want to bring up.


At 6:30 p.m., refreshments will be served at the Build The Block Neighborhood Policing and Safety Meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.
 
The officers will update the community about public safety issues in the neighborhood.

Ask questions and express your concerns, complaints, and suggestions about rapes and other sex crimes, robberies, assaults, home burglaries, packages stolen from porches and lobbies, street safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, noisy cars and buses, and any other issues that you have. 
 
The NYPD divides each precinct into four or five sectors to carry out neighborhood policing. This means that the same officers work in the same neighborhoods on the same shifts. The radio dispatchers, supervisors, and sector officers work together. Sector officers and sector cars stay within the boundaries of their assigned sectors, except in precinct-wide emergencies.

The four sectors in the 66th Precinct are Sector A, Sector B, Sector C, and Sector D.

Sector D's boundaries are Fort Hamilton Parkway and Caton Avenue to the north, Coney Island Avenue to the east, 18th Avenue and Avenue F to the south, and McDonald Avenue and 37th Street to the west.

 The NCOs for Sector D are
  • Police Officer Viviane Perrone (phone: (917) 863-5169, e-mail: viviane.perrone @ nypd.org)
  • Police Officer Karol Smiarowski (phone: (917) 826-6569, e-mail: karol.smiarowski @ nypd.org.

Meeting Location
United Talmudical Academy

123 Clara Street
between Chester Avenue and 36th Street
Kensington, Brooklyn

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66th Precinct
phone: (718) 851-5611
5822 16th Avenue
between 58th and 59th streets
Borough Park, Brooklyn
e-mail: 66precinctcc @ gmail.com
website: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/66th-precinct.page
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NYPD66pct/posts/?ref=page_internal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYPD66Pct or @66precinctcc
 

Thursday, December 3, 2020

WREATHS FOR SALE ON PROSPECT PARK WEST

 

Wreath Sale
Friday, December 4th and 11th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 6th and 13th, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
 
Boy Scout Troop 237 will hold its annual Christmas wreath sale this weekend and next weekend outside of Holy Name Convent. Sale days are after Mass on Friday, December 4th and 11th (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and after Mass on Sunday, December 6th and 13th (8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.).
 
Free delivery is available in Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and the surrounding area.
 
All proceeds from the sales benefit Boy Scout Troop 237’s outdoor program.
 
Prices
  • Plain 12” Wreath  $15.00
  • Decorated 12” Wreath  $20.00
  • 16” Plain Wreath  $20.00
  • 16” Decorated Wreath  $25.00
  • Fresh Pine Garland  $1.00 per foot
  • 25’ Fresh Pine Garland  $25.00
  • Grave Blanket Arrangement  $45.00

Additional details and the order form are at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zstr-1u9xXFpNq5urGvpyN0_uGhgBYAS/view.
 
Either e-mail the order form to Kathy at kpc326 @ aol.com or drop it off at the Holy Name Rectory, 245 Prospect Park West, during the week. You can enclose a check with your order or you can pay cash when you pick up your wreath(s) on the next sale day.

Location
Holy Name Convent
243 Prospect Park West
at the corner of Windsor Place
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
 

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

WREATHS AND POINSETTIAS FOR SALE ON FORT HAMILTON PARKWAY

Wreath and Poinsettia Sale
Saturday, December 5th, Sunday, December 6th,
Saturday, December 12th
Sunday, December 13th
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Boy Scout Troop 187 and Cub Scout Pack 187 will be selling wreaths and poinsettias from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on these days:

  • Saturday, December 5th,
  • Sunday, December 6th,
  • Saturday, December 12th, and
  • Sunday, December 13th.
 
Their wares will be set up in front of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
 
The price of a wreath is $25, and the price of a poinsettia is $15.
 
Some local delivery options will offered, if needed.
 
Location 
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING SUSPENDED NEXT TUESDAY

 


Alternate side of the street parking (street cleaning) regulations will be suspended on Tuesday, December 8th, for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

All other parking regulations, including those for parking meters, will remain in effect.
 
Parking meter regulations are only suspended on these major legal holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

HOLIDAYS FOOD AND MASK DISTRIBUTIONS

Update: On December 10th and 17th, distribution will be done at 944 Newkirk Avenue, between Coney Island Avenue and E. 8th Street.



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Holidays Food & Mask DistributionsThursdays, December 3rd, 10th, and 17th
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

People In Need (PIN) will distribute holidays food and masks outside of the Newkirk Community Garden on three Thursdays--December 3rd, 10th, and 17th--from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.


500 boxes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
Everyone who participates must wear a mask and must socially distance so that you can protect yourself and protect other people during this pandemic. 


Volunteers are needed to assemble and distribute food boxes and masks. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ba4ad2ea3fe3-december.

 
Location
Newkirk Community Garden
736 E. 8th Street
at the corner of Newkirk Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn

To donate:
ioby (giving to this matching grant doubles your donation)  https://ioby.org/project/people-need-covid19-food-insecurity-campaign
Venmo  @peopleinneed 
PayPal  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/peopleinneednyc
GoFundMe  https://www.gofundme.com/f/people-in-need-covid19-food-insecurity-campaign?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&rcid=5c742357198a4d3fb41eab3cfb41c591 




Monday, November 30, 2020

STOP OVERDEVELOPMENT by PARK CIRCLE

 


Update, Monday, December 7th: At today's remote hearing, the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises unanimously voted in favor of the rezoning application. The Land Use Committee will vote on Wednesday, December 9th.

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Update, Friday, December 4th: The rally has been scheduled for noon on Sunday, December 6th, because of the possibility of rain on Saturday, December 5th.
 
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Rally to Stop Overdevelopment by Park Circle
Saturday, December 5th, noon
Rain Date: Sunday, December 6th, noon

Protest the rezoning of 312 Coney Island Avenue from a C8-2 District to an R8A District and establishing within the proposed R8A District a C2-4 District. This change would allow the building of thirteen-story luxury towers on the present site of the International Baptist Church (Ocean Parkway, Caton Place, and Coney Island Avenue at Machate Circle-Park Circle).
 
From the Stable Brooklyn community group:
This rally is in response to a ULURP [Uniform Land Use Review Procedure] filed by the developer, JEMB, which has a rental agreement with the International Baptist Church.
 
Our little part of Windsor Terrace/Kensington has been subject to spot zoning, resulting in the development of luxury housing in a once thriving, integrated working class neighborhood. Many of us have been priced out of other neighborhoods. The children we raised can no longer afford to live here.
 
57 Caton Avenue (next door to 312 Coney Island Avenue) has recently been rezoned and will be developed soon, adding even more luxury housing to the neighborhood.
 
Some of us who live near the site have been testifying: at an initial Community Board 7 meeting, the Borough President’s hearing, the City Planning Commission hearing, and the City Council Land Use Committee. We have gotten to know each other and banded together because all of us agree:

 

  • The development is out of context with our neighborhood.
  • It can only make matters worse for traffic at Park Circle.
  • The sheer wall will act as an echo chamber for our neighbors in the apartments at 10, 20, and 30 Ocean Parkway who already suffer from rush-hour horns and heavy traffic from Park Circle.
  • It will cast a shadow on the Ocean Parkway bike path entry to Prospect Park.
  • It could be an environmental nightmare for Prospect Park animals and plant life (noise and light pollution, shadows).
  • It does nothing to solve the housing crisis in our city.
  • It monetizes views of Prospect Park.
 
The rally will be held at 10 Ocean Parkway. (map)

For additional information, see the Windsor Terrace-Kensington Community Voice page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/184348329485099.
 
Previous blog posts:


Thursday, November 26, 2020

INSTALLING CITI BIKE STATIONS IN COMMUNITY BOARD 7

 
Installation of Citi Bike Stations in Community Board 7
Monday, December 7th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
 
Installation of Citi Bike stations within the boundaries of Community Board 7 will be the subject of the New York City Department of Transportation's presentation to Community Board 7's next Transportation Committee meeting.
 
The meeting will be be held via Zoom on Monday, December 7th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
 
The public is invited to register for the webinar in advance by clicking on this link:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9d2dnY-HSv2cSZzmch7cSQ
 
After you register, you'll be sent a confirmation e-mail that contain information about how to join the webinar.
 
Offer your suggestions for where to locate Citi Bike stations on the DOT feedback map at https://nycdotprojects.info/project-feedback-map/suggest-station-infill
 

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

OCEAN PARKWAY: NEIGHBORS WILL CLEAN UP AN OCEAN PARKWAY BLOCK

 

 
Ocean Parkway Street Cleanup

When:
Saturday, November 28th — 10:00 a.m. to noon

Where:
Ocean Parkway, between Avenue C and Cortelyou Road
(on the east side of Ocean Parkway
in the Yellow Zone, in front of the odd-numbered buildings)

Let's pick up some trash and help beautify our block.
 
Grabbers, rakes, gloves, and garbage bags will be provided.
 
Invite your friends and neighbors and bring your kids.

Wear A Mask.
Maintain Social Distancing.

Wear Warm Clothes.

Interested in joining and/or coordinating future events?
Follow these Facebook groups:
Ocean Parkway Cleanup
The Kensington Stewards

 
This announcement was submitted by The Kensington Stewards.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

PARKING REGULATIONS SUSPENDED FOR THANKSGIVING

 

This Thursday, November 26th, for Thanksgiving,
  • alternate side of the street parking regulations will be suspended,
  • stopping, standing, and parking will be permitted, except in areas where stopping, standing, and parking rules are in effect seven days a week (e.g., “No Standing Anytime”).
  • Parking meter regulations will be suspended.

Thanksgiving is a major legal holiday. The major legal holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

On major legal holidays, stopping, standing, and parking are permitted except in areas where stopping, standing and parking rules are in effect seven days a week (e.g., “No Standing Anytime”).
 
Parking meter regulations are also suspended on major legal holidays.
 
On all other holidays, only street cleaning rules are suspended, and other regulations remain in effect.


Monday, November 23, 2020

AGENDA FOR TOMORROW'S ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING OF COMMUNITY BOARD 12 (FREE)

 
Community Board 12 Online Public Meeting
Tuesday, November 24th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 12's monthly public meeting will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, November 24th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Click this link to join the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99250135496.
 
Community Board 12 covers most of Kensington, Borough Park, and part of Midwood.

Two of the items on the agenda are as follows:

1) The Board will vote on a rezoning application that seeks to rezone 5802, 5804, 5806, 5808, 5822 16th Avenue; and 1566, 1572, 1574 58th Street; and 1571 59th Street, from R5 and R5/C2-2 zoning districts to C4-4A and R5 zoning districts. Lots 36, 49 and parts of Lots 50 and former Lot 34 would be rezoned from R5/C2-2 to R5. The adjoining street beds, within 100 feet of 16th Avenue to the center lines of 58th and 59th Streets and 16th Avenue would be rezoned from an R5 district to a C4-4A district. This would include a small portion of Block 5509, Lot 41 which extends into the intersection of 59th Street and 16th Avenue. The proposed zoning map amendment will facilitate the development of a five-story commercial office building with a total floor area of approximately 15,945 zoning square feet (3.99 FAR) to be constructed at 5802, 5804, and 5806 16th Avenue.
  
2)  A vote by the Board on its FY22 District Needs Capital & Expense Budget Requests.
 
If you have any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address, sign up to speak during the public session by clicking this link and filling out the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSco1v1Puh042lQ69uHJ_lKGC1-DaWqXOiLe_aFLvLQobdCfbw/viewform.

If you would like to call in to the meeting, call any of the numbers listed below and then enter the Webinar ID, which is 992 5013 5496
 
If you are calling in, please tell them beforehand the number that you'll be using so they can properly identify you. And call in at least five to ten minutes before the meeting starts.
 
Call one of these numbers:
  • (646) 558-8656
  • (301) 715-8592
  • (312) 626-6799
  • (346) 248-7799
  • (669) 900-9128
  • (253) 215-8782


Sunday, November 22, 2020

ONLINE FUND RAISER FOR COMPOST DROP-OFF FOR THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD


From the East 4th Street Community Garden:
Everyone should be able to compost their household food scraps. But with the end of NYC Sanitation's compost pick-up, where can people turn? 
The East 4th Street Community Garden is stepping up to be a composting oasis for the whole community. But the Garden needs your support. And thanks to NYC Partnership for Parks and IOBY.org, every dollar you donate will be matched 1:1 during this Composting For All Campaign

Your tax-deductible donation, which can be made here, will allow us to respond to the community's composting needs. By raising $2,500, which will be matched dollar for dollar thanks to the Partnerships for Parks and IOBY.org, we will rebuild and expand our composting area by creating attractive, durable bins and bays to replace our aging, overloaded system. You can see more on our Composting For All webpage. 
We estimate that we have at least 150 composters stopping by on at least a biweekly basis and interest grows by the month. At current rates we estimate we will compost over 3 tons of material annually. 
Won’t you show your support with a recommended donation of $25? Of course, we welcome gifts of any size to meet the matching challenge.