Perhaps this spate of violent crime in our neighborhood is worth discussing at the CB9 meeting on Tuesday.
Community Board 9 Meeting Tuesday, November 25 @ 7:00PM (see the agenda here) MS61 (400 Empire Blvd. between Nostrand and New York)
Thanks, Livia.
UPDATE: Tonight's CB meeting is not a general meeting, but rather for the Economic Development Committee. I have amended the post to correct. Tonight's meeting is at 7PM at 890 Nostrand Ave. The agenda is available here.
Remember the battle against the developer who bought 185 Ocean and planned to turn it into condos? Well, look now, and don't smirk: the place is once again for sale.
Notice how the above Corcoran ad shows picture of a house that no longer exists. Of course, having a pile of rubble sit vacant is scarcely worth celebrating — and now that the house is gone the only possible buyer for the lot is bound to be a developer with similar plans. But we'll try to pretend this is good news.
A combination of the MTA's usual mismanagement and the global financial crisis is conspiring to degrade public transportation citywide. The Daily News reports that the MTA will release a budget tomorrow slashing service on buses and trains, including the complete elimination of the W and Z lines.
Among the planned service cuts is a reduction of service on the B train. The Daily News sidebar says that it will go from every 8 minutes to every 10 minutes on weekends but, as the B doesn't run late nights or weekends, they must have meant weekdays. The J train is also shifting from express to local service, presumably to replace the Z. I mention the J because sometimes - and I've never been able to figure out exactly when - the J will run from Prospect Park to Essex Street. I have no idea if this mysterious service will be affected.
It is hard to look at the dire budget issues facing the MTA and not be angry all over again that congestion pricing was voted down. By falling for the canard that congestion pricing is a tax on the middle class, the State Assembly instead placed a broader tax on the far more numerous New Yorkers that ride the buses and trains. Congestion pricing and the connected federal transportation subsidy would have eased the MTA's budget problems. The money was earmarked for increasing public transportation and instead, we are facing substantial service cuts.
Instead of a forward-thinking transportation plan and financial solvency we are pushing more people towards driving and the MTA may as well have as change its logo to a man wearing a barrel forlornly looking down the track for a train that will never come.
The last few days have been active in neighborhood-related NYPD news. First, the trial of Dexter Bostic, Robert Ellis and Lee Woods for the murder of Officer Russel Timoshenko began on November 11 and is ongoing. Last week the prosecution called Officer Herman Yan, who was also injured during the incident, and showed surveillance video of the police approaching the defendants' SUV and Officer Yan firing at the SUV after it drives off; Officer Timoshenko was off-camera when he was shot. Yesterday, Tameeka Buggs — an acquaintance of Woods who had sex with Ellis hours before the incident — testified that after the shooting the defendants were talking about having shot somebody. Today, Buggs testified that Woods warned her not to talk to police or she "would be next." Bostic's attorney cross-examined Buggs and she admitted that the first time she spoke to police she denied knowing the defendants or having any information about the shooting. Also, though it isn't probative of anything (though the implication is that Buggs is a person of questionable character), Buggs testified that she used to be a stripper and that she once asked for Woods' help because a neighbor was trying to pimp her out.
Maloney, 26, said he spotted cops chasing Michael Mineo and subduing him in the Prospect Park subway station. The young cop said he was cuffing Mineo when Officer Richard Kern, 25, unfolded his NYPD-issued baton and poked Mineo on the left buttock, sources said. As Mineo struggled, Kern then maneuvered the baton between Mineo's buttocks, the officer testified, according to sources.
Maloney apparently did not testify that he saw the baton go in Mineo's rectum. Mineo has testified that he was treated two times after the incident for "rectal tears."
I took the accompanying picture at the Parkside Avenue train station this morning. I probably shouldn't make light of this, but ... given Officer Maloney's testimony, shouldn't that say "NYPD -n- Criminals' Bums"?
Sustainable Flatbush, along with Freecycle, are sponsoring a free crap swap on Saturday, November 22. Bring any unwanted clothes, housewares, or other portable stuff you want to get rid of. Or don't — take a bunch of stuff home if you'd rather. They're flexible! The purpose here is simply to get people to reuse and recycle things rather than adding more junk to landfills.
People are also encouraged to bring hangers (for the clothes) and used Brita filters to donate to the Take Back the Filter campaign.
Details?
Saturday, November 22, 2008 12 noon - 3pm P.S. 217 Playground (1100 Newkirk Avenue at Coney Island Avenue) Flatbush, Brooklyn
Directions: Q train to Newkirk Ave or F to 18th Ave, or B68 bus to Coney Island Avenue and Newkirk. You will find the FreeMeet underneath the scaffolding next to the playground.
The Red Brick Cafe, at 1114 Nostrand between Maple and Midwood, just opened its doors this past week. Seeming to specialize in a variety of breakfast items, they also have some lunch dishes on the menu such as BBQ chicken, rice and peas and salads.
We've only been by on off hours so we haven't tried the food yet, but the sight of a sturdy waffle iron or two was enough to make my mouth water. More to come once we've checked out the grub...
I look forward to seeing what the final voting numbers for our neighborhood are. If the lines are any indication, they are going to be very, very high. I got on line to vote at P.S. 92 at ~8:15 AM; the line stretched all the way down Parkside, turned the corner at Bedford, turned the corner again at Winthrop and extended far enough back to look through the P.S. 92 schoolyard to see people entering the school to vote. I voted at 10:30.
According to a friend who lives on Bedford, when he looked out his window shortly after 6AM, the line was already stretched past his door - so he hurried out to get on line as soon as possible. He took video of the line (coincidentally as I joined the end of it) and we should be able to get that online later today.
After I voted, the line (pictured here) still wrapped around to Winthrop. And Hawthorne Street hadn't even given an (official) endorsement!
Election day is finally here, kids. Just so none of us can use the "I didn't know about X" excuse not to vote, here's a guide to the whens, wheres, whos, whats and hows of tomorrow's election.
When: Tuesday 11/4, from 6am to 9pm.
Where: There are a number of polling locations in the Lefferts area. To find your poll site based on your address, click here. Yes, it really varies block by block so don't rely on your neighbor across the street - they may be at a different site.
Who: Most addresses in Prospect-Lefferts (if not all?) are in Representative District 11, State Senate District 20, and State Assembly District 43. You can double check by visiting smartvoter.org and entering your address in the upper right "FIND MY BALLOT" box. Incumbents include Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, State Senator Eric Adams, and State Assemblyman Karim Camara. Want to see how they've voted on the issues? A list of current officials and candidates for 11225 and 11226 can be found here.
What: There is one proposition on the NY ballot for tomorrow, regarding civil service examinations for disabled veterans. You can read it here. For an English translation of the legalese, the League of Women Voters offers an analysis.
How: There may be some unfamiliar voting machines this year, as NYC moves away from the old style lever machines and goes to the new Automark machines (if these things are as clunky to use as they appear to be in the informational video, I'd leave yourself some extra time to wait in line at the polls. And what exactly are those latex gloves for?!).
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