News

NYTimes:

“The young plaintiffs claim that the government’s actions, and inaction, in the face of global warming violate their “fundamental constitutional rights to freedom from deprivation of life, liberty, and property.” Their age is central to their argument: For older Americans, the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change are somebody else’s problem. But today’s children will be dealing with disaster within their lifetimes; the youngest of the plaintiffs, Levi Draheim, will be just 33 in 2040, the year by which a United Nations scientific panel now expects some of the biggest crises to begin.”

So…we can panic or we can get to work…Do something, get involved, build a garden or a neighborhood, enjoy ladybugs, insist that Parks Department become a model of sustainability and green practices…

This:

Not this:

Yesterday it was time for the turtles to leave for their winter home.

From Neighbors to Save Rivington House:

Citizens for NYC website:

From MKGardener Jane:

Hello new and old gardeners:

Just a reminder that it’s very important to check that anything you are planting in the garden, or feeding to birds, is not poisonous to pollinators.

“It is estimated that of the roughly 672 million birds exposed annually to pesticides on U.S. agricultural lands, 10% or 67 million are killed. Ironically it is often the same sunflower and/or other grains intended to feed backyard birds that may have been sprayed with lethal pesticides to keep pests (often including birds) at bay.” http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/wild-wings-organic-bird-foods/

“One in eight bird species are threatened with global extinction, and once widespread creatures such as the puffin, snowy owl and turtle dove are plummeting towards oblivion, according to the definitive study of global bird populations.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/23/one-in-eight-birds-is-threatened-with-extinction-global-study-finds

“More than half of ostensibly bee-friendly plants sampled at 18 Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart garden centers in the U.S. and Canada contained high levels of neonicotinoids, which are considered highly toxic to bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators.

Even when they don’t kill pollinators outright, neonicotinoids can impair their immune systems and sense of navigation, potentially turning gardens and backyards into flowery traps.” https://www.wired.com/2014/06/garden-center-neonicotinoids/

NYTimes:

Stanton Building Across from Sara Roosevelt Park:

“Thelma Burdick, for whom the building was named, was instrumental to the Lower East Side’s fight for affordable housing.

“Nearly six years after tenants agreed to the deal that paved the way for the hotel, they are still waiting on a playground.

“These days, 43.5 percent of New York City’s population lives below or near poverty, defined as a family of four with an income of $32,402.

The contrast between rich and poor is extreme in the yellow spots on the map below, where at least 40 percent of the families make less than $30,000 a year and at least 5 percent of the households have an annual income above $200,000….”

Added to the 70 per hour anticipated buses coming in during the L Train Shutdown.

Delancey Street corridor.

More particulates, more pollution across from 3 schools and a heavily used field.

From Community Board 3 vote sheet:

A new Bus Stop Application: “Super Bus Inc”, 51 Chrystie St

VOTE:    TITLE: Approve a Curbside Bus Stop for Super Bus Company @ 51 Chrystie St.

                WHEREAS, Super Bus, Inc. has applied for a designated bus stop for curb-side loading/unloading operations located at 51 Chrystie St, on the west side of the street between Canal St and Hester St. The buses will operate under the Super Bus brand name, providing service between New York and Monticello, NY with 5 arrivals/5 departures daily between the hours of 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. Super Bus would be approved for only one bus at a time loading/unloading; and

                WHEREAS, The bus stop is an existing 75 ft bus stop in front of 49-53 Chrystie St that would be shared with Tribal Sun Bus. That company was represented at the meeting and reported that they currently operate 14 arrivals/14 departures daily at the location, so adding a permit for Super Bus at this location would bring the total to 19 arrivals/19 departures daily; and

                WHEREAS, The bus stop is immediately adjacent to a truck loading zone at 45-47 Chrystie St designated from 8am to 7pm, Mon-Sat, which is used by existing businesses that require loading and unloading. CB 3 resolutions passed in April 2013, September 2013 and June 2017 explained serious concern about designating a 100-foot long bus stop, because it eliminated a truck loading zone from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday to Saturday, on a block that has existing businesses that require loading and unloading. In 2013, three of these businesses appeared at a CB 3 meeting to present their concerns; and

                WHEREAS, Although Super Bus, Inc. had indicated on its CB3 application that a storefront at 47 Chrystie St will be provided for the use of customers, so they may wait to board their bus and use the restroom facilities, that is not actually true. It is important that a bus company of this size – operating 10 of the 38 total arrivals and departures daily – provide a storefront with restroom for its customers. Otherwise, crowds of passengers will inevitably cause sanitation, nuisance and safety issues; and

                WHEREAS, Super Bus, Inc. has agreed to return to the November 2013 committee meeting and will try to rent a storefront before then; now

                THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that CB3-Manhattan requests that DOT extend the CB3 comment period for this Super Bus application by 30 days.

-The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board is active and all meetings are open to the public. See their excellent website for updates. http://www.manhattanswab.org/ 

Let us know if you want to support recycling and/or organics efforts on your block. HChu@manhattanbp.nyc.gov or 212-669-8300.

Note (from Hack:Trash:NYC):

• About 33% of NYC’s wastes are organics
• NYC’s waste diversion rate (recyclables and organics) is about 20.5%
• DSNY (Sanitation Dept) collects 3.5 million tons of wastes and recyclables each year
• DSNY’s FY18 budget for recycling and organics education is $4.5 million out of a total agency budget of $1.6 billion
• It costs $380 million per year to transport just wastes out of NYC to landfills
• The average New Yorker throws out 14 lbs. of garbage per person per week

–On Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 3333 Broadway two interns, Maria Ordonez and Luis Ordonez, organized a Recycling Day, 1-6pm with the support of  Manhattan Borough President’s Office, Urban American, 3333 Broadway Tenant Association, NYC Dept of Sanitation, NYC Dept of Health, WE ACT, GrowNYC, Citizens Committee for New York and DJ Marlon Bizzy as well as residents. Great credit to Maria Ordonez and Luis Ordonez who organized this event and who are spearheading recycling at 3333 Broadway with the Tenant Association and management. The good news: Management has set Tuesday every week as Recycling Day in this 1,022 unit building! Another intern organized recycling education at PS 125 and other public schools!

“Charter Revision Commission: vote NO on #2 and #3. 

-Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Election Day. In NYC, turn over the ballot and be sure to vote on the 3 referendum questions, and vote NO on #2 and #3. Tell your friends.

I know you’re used to hearing from me about what’s going on in the office and events listings, but I’m writing today—from my personal account!— with an important message about the NYC Charter Revision Proposals on the November 6, 2018 ballot.

I’m writing to let you know that I am opposing Charter Revision Proposals 2 & 3—and I hope you’ll join me.

Proposal 3 would term-limit the unpaid members of the City’s 59 Community Boards (yes, all 2,950 of them) and Proposal 2 would shift who provides services to those boards (among other things).

These proposals would be a real—and in some cases dangerous—disruption to the way Community Boards protect our communities.

Community Boards are truly the grass roots of city government; these citizens volunteer their time to help decide everything from liquor licenses to city services to land use, zoning and real estate development in their districts (and almost everything in between). I served on CB 7 in the 1990s.

Land use and zoning regulations are hard to learn; it takes time. And city agencies take time—sometimes a LOT of time—to complete projects. Yet Proposal 3 rigidly terminates all members after eight years. It would have the effect of allowing developers and their lawyers—who are never term limited!—to dominate development negotiations, because those long-time members will be gone. And on long-term city projects like street redesign or sustainability, newly-appointed community board members would have little influence over long-term projects. Every Board’s institutional memory would be wiped out.

Term limits are not just dangerous, they’re redundant—since Borough Presidents and City Council members are already term-limited!

Proposal 3’s language ends by referencing Proposal 2’s “Civic Engagement Commission” as a supplier of “resources, assistance and training” to the Boards—tasks that Borough Presidents do now. Proposal 3 also says this commission will be controlled by the Mayor—every Mayor going forward—and charges it with a host of other tasks as well (many of which are laudable, but could be done now, without a Charter change!).

Proposals 2 and 3 may sound appealing to voters, though, in a wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing kind of way. “Civic Engagement” hardly sounds like a bad thing, and “term limits” have been approved by New York City voters three different times over the last 25 years, most recently in 2010.

I am supporting a “Vote No on 2 & 3” committee, and we are getting the word out about the impact of these proposals. But time is short—November 6 is looming!  I’d appreciate your help in a few ways…

— Please join our committee—and in so doing give us permission to use your name publicly—by signing up for our committee and their email blasts at this link: bit.ly/VoteNoSignUp  Or paste this url into your browser: https://tinyletter.com/VoteNoOn2and3November6

— Like and share our Facebook page at Facebook.com/VoteNoOn2and3.

(We also have an ActBlue online contribution account at this link bit.ly/VoteNo23contribute or paste this url into your browser: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/vote-no-on-2—3-1

We’re also accepting we’re accepting checks made payable to the “No On 2 and 3 Committee” at 555 W. 23rd St., South 6L, NY, NY 10011.)

— Please let your friends and neighbors know the true impact of Charter Proposals 2 & 3. Remind them it’s important to turn out on Election Day, November 6, and that these proposals are on the BACK of the ballot. Use any of the language in this email if it would help. If you’d like to download and reprint our flyer and distribute it to your building or block, visit here: bit.ly/VoteNoFlyer1

I hope you’ll help, and soon. We have less than a month to get the word out. If you have any questions, please email our campaign account at VoteNoOn2and3Committee@gmail.com so your responses don’t get lost in my inbox—and so our volunteers can get back to you quickly.

FYI: 4 Borough Presidents signed a letter to oppose 2 and 3. Much thanks, Gale A Brewer

P.S. I explained more in an op-ed for the Manhattan CNG weeklies here: chelseanow.com/2018/09/community-board-term-limits-proposal-is-an-accidental-gift-to-developers/  Please share it with your friends!

-Mayor’s Charter Revision Commission on ballot Nov 6, 2018. These are the dates of hearings when the Mayor/Administration is trying to convince us that these are good proposals. Please attend and explain why you think they are not. The dates of these hearings are hard to find. https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-charter-revision-commission-17790519964

Mon, October 15 | 6:30 PM

PUBLIC FORUM: QUEENS

Jewish Center of Jackson Heights

37-06 77th Street

Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Tue, October 16 | 6:30 PM

PUBLIC FORUM: STATEN ISLAND

Michael J. Petrides School

715 Ocean Terrace

Staten Island, NY 10301

Wed, October 17 | 6:30 PM

PUBLIC FORUM: THE BRONX

Metropolitan College

463 East 149 Street

Bronx, NY 10455

Thu, October 18 | 6:30 PM

PUBLIC FORUM: MANHATTAN

Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics

501 West 165 Street?New York, NY 10032

Mon, October 22 | 6:30 PM

PUBLIC FORUM: BROOKLYN

Brooklyn College

2900 Bedford Ave

Ingersoll Hall IH-1127

Brooklyn, NY 11210

————————————————————————————-

http://www.charter2019.nyc/ The Manhattan hearing for the CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION 2019 took place on September 27, 2018 from 6pm-1:30am because so many people testified! This is the Charter Revision Commission that will have referendums on the ballot in November 2019. It is comprised of members appointed by many officials, not just the Mayor. It is reviewing the entire charter. ALL ideas are welcome. City Council/Public Advocate/Borough residents/Comptroller/Mayor are on this Charter Revision Commission that is reviewing the ENTIRE Charter for the November 2019 ballot. There will be many more hearings. Contact: info@manhattanbp.nyc.gov and put Charter Revision Commission in subject line or call 212-669-8300. We are glad to come to your organization and brief you on the charter if you wish.”