Usually, these appear when there has been a violent crime in the area. Otherwise, it can be viewed as attempting to intimidate members of the public who use the park.

If the issue is drug use in the park, let’s do something that is effective and humane? Much preferable is increased homeless outreach workers and foot patrol police who know our neighborhood. Open and staff bathrooms 24/7 in order for park users or those who have no homes can safely and sanitarily access bathrooms. Do we need a UN proclamation on the right to sanitation in NYC?

And get 24/7 security for the Broome Street building (Parks Department staffs the building 24/7 for the 5 Borough Alarm system which our park hosts for all of NYC).

Deutsche Bank volunteers led by Alan Mays braved the forecasts of rain to weed, rake, clean up and generally prepare the site of one of the gardens plots in front of the BRC Senior Center. It will be gardened with the guidance of the Horticultural Society and Emma Lazarus High School.

Council Member Chin allocated $6,000 through the Parks Department to support Gardening by Emma Lazarus High School students and the Horticultural Society. They will also help out the Elizabeth Hubbard Memorial Garden (EHMG) working with Bob Humber the coordinator of EHMG.

Council Member Chin also allocated $15,000 to the Horticultural Society for Bogardus Plaza as part of the Council’s FY16 Cleanup Initiative funding.

Thanks to Transportation Alternatives Ollie and company for handing out bike information in appropriate languages! And for blowing gigantic bubbles!

Thank you Park’s Department staff for fixing wooden benches in the M’Finda Garden.

And thank you to the Ohio Women’s Group that helped out in the Elizabeth Hubbard Memorial Garden and the M’Finda Kalunga Garden this past weekend.

From the Lo-Dowon

Join in remembering Adam Purple, legendary environmentalist at La Plaza community garden on Saturday, September 26th from 4pm-8pm. People are invited to speak and briefly share their memories of the famed gardens godfather of the Lower East Side and his legendary eARThWORK, ‘The Garden of Eden.’  Everyone is encouraged to wear purple and to bring a white t-shirt to tie-dye.

Voter Registration with Chinese Progressive Association!

• Did you know that National Voter Registration Day was this past week?
• Interested in voting in next year’s Presidential elections?
• The Chinese Progressive Association invites you to learn more and register to vote this Saturday!
• When: Saturday, September 26, 2015, 1:00pm-4:00pm
• Where: M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden (inside Sara D. Roosevelt Park)  (Rivington Street (between Forsythe and Chrystie Street)
• For more information contact the Chinese Progressive Association at 212-274-1891 or cpanyc@cpanyc.org

University Settlement Planning for the next 10 years!

Seen in M’Finda Kalunga: female American Redstart!

American Redstarts are common fall migrants across much of the East, and are often found in big numbers on good migration days.

Fall migration starts earlier than most people realize, with many shorebirds on the move by late June, and the first landbirds heading south soon thereafter. August through October are peak months, but migration continues into December for some species, especially shorter-distance landbirds (e.g., sparrows, blackbirds), raptors, waterfowl, and seabirds. Birds are often on the move every day during this entire period, but there are reasons that some days are better than others for observing them. The volume of migration depends on the weather, with many birds waiting until conditions are favorable before initiating migratory flights.

– ebird Cornell Bird Lab of Ornitholgy and Audubon.

This is what helps a Community Board decide what Park projects get funded.

And our park needs a lot of help (you’ve been letting us know!). Now is your chance to be heard.

Please come to support this park’s budget priorities – add yours!

Capital Projects:

-Stanton Building bathrooms renovated and opened to the public, return site to the neighborhood (bathrooms are nearly funded)

-Reconstruct the playground at Rivington 

-Fix the oval at Hester

-Reconstruct pathways at Broome Street

Expense:

Funding for: maintenance workers, tree pruners, rat abatement, and GreenThumb (which serves Community Gardens)

When? Wednesday, September 16th at 6:30pm 

Where? 59 East 4th Street (btwn 2nd Ave & Bowery)

CB 3 Public Hearing – FY 2017 Budget Priorities

Every year the Community Board submits a list of capital and expense budget priorities to city agencies. This hearing is your opportunity to have input into these district budget priorities. Tell us how money should be spent in Community Board 3.

Organizations, groups, and individuals representing all segments of the community are encouraged to participate.

From The Tribeca Trust regarding the effect of tall buildings and their shadows on our public parks.

And Community Board 5 Sunshine Task Force report – on the effects of overbuilding on Central Park.

THE PETITION TO CITY GOVERNMENT ON SHADOWS AND TALL BUILDINGS

We urge the City Council to amend (and urge Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer to support amending) local zoning laws as they relate to as-of-right development given the significant environmental impact of tall buildings over 25 stories. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should take into consideration density and congestion, the effect of shadows on parks, and the vulnerability of an area to sea rise and storm surges.  Zoning should allow for the following principles:

1. Limit height
2. Require an EIS on buildings over 25 stories (no as-of-right)
3. Consider existing density and congestion on neighborhood streets
4. Require operable windows
5. Adhere to the Public Trust and Open Space Doctrine*
6. Prohibit tall residential buildings in low lying areas subject to sea rise and storm surges
7. Contain a Sunshine Clause that prohibits shadows in parks caused by new development
8. Designate landmark-worthy sites and ensure contextual zoning in Historic Districts.

For more information check out the Lo-Down

Park’s Department staff and workers renovated the soccer field at Grand and Broome – in house! Faster, cheaper and better built! Thank you!!

And thanks to:

Commissioner Silver for his leadership

Council Member Margaret Chin for her steady funding and guidance in support of all our Parks

Senator Daniel Squadron for keeping Park Equity in the forefront of political discourse

To everyone for showing up!