Community Board 3 Meets

Community Board 3, covering Bedford-Stuyvesant, held its monthly meeting for on Monday at Restoration Plaza.

Henry Butler, president of CB3, opened the meeting with condolences and a prayer for Bed-Stuy business owner Wendy McLein and her son Denim McLein, who are in critical condition at Kings County Hospital, after a terrible car accident Saturday night.

Wendy McLein, owner of Denim Lounge and Denim Cafe on Bedford Avenue, and her 3-year-old son were involved in a car accident Saturday evening while waiting at a bus stop on at Utica and Church avenues. A car jumped the curb, knocked over the scaffolding injured McLein and her son, along with 10 other people. The last reports received is that Wendy has two broken legs and in is in a coma, while her son is on life support: "We are asking the community to keep them in your prayers," said Butler of the McLeins. "It doesn’t look good for her son."

I. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

Wendy Matos, representing Assemblyman Espinal, covering the north and northeast sections of Bed-Stuy: We will be having a town Hall Meeting on April 26, at 840 Jamaica Avenue, covering public safety issues with the DOT. Also Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12:30 – 3:30 the office will hold immigration clinics. For more information, call the office at 718-235-5627.

Michael Smith, representing Assemblywoman Annette Robinson: On Friday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m., the assemblywoman will sponsor a major job fair, co-sponsored with Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Councilmember Al Vann, Councilmember Darlene Mealy, Robert Cornegy, CB3, CB8 and a number of elected officials. "We want a high attendance, for those in the 56^th Assembly Districts. Central Bklyn has an unemployment rate of 22 percent. The national average is 7 percent. Will have a large number of employers available to speak to those in the community looking for a job," said Smith. "We need your help to get the word out"

Joan Eastman, representing Senator Velmanette Montgomery: Two announcements: 1). Two paid internships are available and open for the summer for college students, 8 weeks, will be at the Navy Yard. The applications are out now, and interested students can get an application from Montgomery's office (it’s a lottery process). Internships will beginning in June and July. 2). From CB2, there is affordable housing going up on Rockwell Place. There are 63 studios to 2-bedrooms. Applications are out now.

79th Pct. Deputy Inspector Lipetri: Said he is concerned about the gun violence which continues to take place in the precinct coverage area. "It is imperative that the community works with the police department," said Lipetri. "When a shooting occurs, we need the community to share whatever information it may have in helping to lead to arrests."

Jamila Rose of Marty Markowitz’s office: Announcements— April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Markowtiz is hosting a citywide op-ed writing contest for college students on the subject matter. The prize is $500, and so far, only one college student has applied. For more information and to get an application, you may call the office at 718-802-3700.

Toby Jasmi, chief of staff for Assemblyman Walter Mosley: The assemblyman introduced a resolution to commemorate April 15 as Jackie Robinson Day. Jackie Robinson is from Bed-Stuy.

Jay, representing Darlene Mealy, chief of staff, Jay . Monthly Advisory board meeting at 10:00 a.m. 757 Union Street. Legislative updates—there’s a lien sale outreach for the district for those who are worried about losing their homes on May 8, 718-953-3097 for information on location. Will be a free immigration lawyer all day on Thursdays. Just call office to set up an appointment.

Robert Cornegy, Jr. 1). Had a great meeting last Saturday on Interfaith Hospital where they had representatives from the president's campaign to talk about the affordable care act. Enrollment begins in October. They shared the criteria to get enrolled; was very impactful. So next month, the individuals from Organize for America will come again. 2. Also, on April 20, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Magnolia Earth Tree Center, there will be a community forum on violence, the 3^rd in a series of three. The goal of the meetings is get violence classified as a public health issue in order to get the resources necessary to erect programs to address the issues. Dr. Robert Gore, the attending physician at Kings county Hospitals in the trauma Center will speak; 3. Interfaith Update: A restructuring officer has been identified.

A representative from the office of City Councilmember Al Vann: It’s lien sale season; it comes every spring (May 17). This is a huge issue in the district (could come from property tax, repair tax, water bill), because it can really lead to neighborhood destabilization. There are 1,200 properties in our district, this district has the second-highest number of properties for liens in the city. Vann has always been a supporter for helping people get off the list. On May 6, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Vann will hold a help night at Restoration Plaza. Will be doing a mailing from Vann’s office to those on the 60 day list. Those on the 30-day list, the office will be sending people door-to-door to work with them to get off the list.

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Oma Holloway, presented on behalf of the Neighborhood Advisory Board. NAB's role is to hold public hearings, do a needs assessment, issue RFPs and make selections on grants no less than $50,000 annually. NAB3's total allocation will be $542,000. Last year, there were only 10 organizations that received grants. There were not a lot of submissions. The content areas 9educational support; adult literacy; healthy families; and disconnected youth supported work experience). On April 9, NAB will hold a meeting at MS 35, located at 272 MacDonough St. They are appealing because they have 5 open seats, and they need people to apply to be on that board. If you are interested, please apply. Go here for more information.

Jeffrey Charles Pierre, from Neighborhood Housing Services—every first Wed of the month, there is a free orientation for first-time homebuyers, at 1012 Gates Avenue, 6:00 p.m.. NHS will host a first-annual Art Show on May 2, 3, 4. Will showcase 3 different artists from community and jazz trio. Welcomes the community. For more information, call 718-732-8022.

II. PUBLIC HEARING

The Postal Committee held a hearing on the postal service within the district. In attendance were Celeste James, acting customer relations coordinator; Edward Roggenkamp, post master; and James Irizarry, the area manager

Post Master Edward Roggenkamp gave presentation on the state of Bklyn office:

• In regards to elimination of Saturday delivery, it is a result of USPS being more than $15 billion in debt (they surpassed their debt ceiling), from loss of mail volume and the current economy.
• The Bklyn division will hold an employment seminar on April 26; applicants will need at least a GED, and two years of driving experience; can make between $15-$16/hour; go to postoffice.com for more information.
• There are no plans right now to close any post offices in Bklyn. Even when the leases go up, they will maintain a retail operation somewhere else, but in the same zip code.

Roggenkamp fielded a multitude of complaints from audience members about the (poor) customer service observed at some postal stations in the area, as well an inconsistent or poor quality of mail delivery service in the district. Complaints included:

• New mail carriers who talk on the phone while working
• Packages being left at the doorstep without having been signed for
• Mail consistently delivered and then re-delivered to the wrong address
• A lack of stamp machines in the community (Why are there no machines and so residents have to wait in long lines just to buy stamps?)
• No follow up or response to complaints made on the USPS website
• Repeated complaints about the poor customer service at the Shirley Chisholm Station (on Ralph and Fulton); residents complain the service is deplorable

-- In response to the packages left at the doorstep that have not been signed for, Roggenkamp explained that packages do not have to be signed for to be delivered if the carrier deems the area safe; only if a confirmation delivery is paid for will a signature be required.

--In response to complaints at the Shirley Chisholm station, USPS representatives said there WILL be changes there, and that they will be evaluating the staff and promise to improve customer service ASAP

--In response to a lack of stamp machines, USPS representatives said the machines are installed based on data they have tracked regarding stamp purchases and credit card usage when making a purchase (since stations do not take cash). And according to that data, it has been determined this district does not qualify for stamp machines

--For all other complaints, the representatives said they would look into it

*Community Board 3 meets the first Monday of each month at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton St., basement level, 7:00 p.m. The next CB3 meeting is on Monday, May 6, 2013.

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