MAJOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION & GAPPING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
WERE KEY ISSUES ADDRESSED AT COMMUNITY BOARD 3’S MONTHLY MEETING


Community Board 3 which represents the Bedford Stuyvesant and Ocean Hill Communities, held its monthly meeting November 7, 2006 at Restoration Plaza. Monthly agenda items included an informational presentation for the Education Committee; a brief presentation on the services being offered by the Bedford Stuyvesant Police Athletic League’s Wynn Center; and an update by the Transportation Committee on upcoming construction on Fulton Street between Clinton & Bedford Avenues.

On behalf of the Education Committee, Paul VanLindenTol, Manager, Community Cluster Library Branches, provided an instructional visual slide presentation on how to access and use the Library’s new Electronic Resources center. The new system allows library card holders the ability to log on 24 hours a day and access a variety of library resources including testing and instructional manuals as well as download applications and files.

Marion Little, Community Board 3’s Youth, Parks & Recreation Committee chair, introduced Gregory Paul, Director of Wynn Center Police Athletic League, one of Bedford Stuyvesant’s oldest youth centers. Mr. Paul, who was accompanied by a few of the center’s participating teens, who jointly shared with board members and attendees the various programs The Wynne Center has to offer encouraging all to participate. Mr. Little later made a request for assistance in helping his committee form a Youth Gang Prevention Campaign which will address the rising gang activities in the Bedford Stuyvesant area.

The transportation committee, chaired by Rev. Robert Waterman, made a presentation on the forthcoming reconstruction of Fulton Street between Clinton & Bedford Avenues. Present were Community Liaison for Department of Design & Construction (DDC) Nadine Harris along with Engineer Alvin Goodwin. Residence major concern was the issue of abatement. Since the project calls for digging along the rat infested A & C subway line, residence wanted assurance that the construction would follow proper abatement procedures which calls for signs posted informing neighbors of traps and poison. Road safety and noise reduction from improperly placed steel plates was also a concern. Residence along the planned construction site requested that steel plates be properly placed and secured to reduce noise and that the sanitation department be notified in advance of work being done and signs be placed instructing snow plows to be raised to avoid damage.

DDC , which recently successfully completed a major construction along Halsey Street, assured residence that they will do their best to accommodate all concerns. Environmental Protection/Sanitation Chair, Nelson Stoute, chimed in to insure residence that his committee will keep a watchful eye on the site and commended the company on department on the Halsey project.

The Transportation Committee also had one action item on the agenda which was a letter request for support of the co-naming of five (5) blocks of Gates Avenue in honor of Brother George Washington. Mr. Washington, a former sparing partner of the late great Joe Louis, was a legendary boxing trainer and major youth advocate in the Bed Stuy community. The board unanimously voted in favor of the co-naming and applauded the presenting committee, chaired by Mr. Washington’s son Kenneth, for its leadership and signs of solidarity in committing to share the naming of the strip with the December 12 committee who earlier solicited the board’s support of co-naming same strip in honor of Sonny Carson. Both parties came to mutual agreement to splitting 10 blocks.

Committee reports included updated information from the Education committee on the forthcoming Brownstoner’s Third Annual Book Drive. The Block, Civic & Religion committee encouraged Block Association leaders to submit their street permits 60 days in advance. Application handed in after the 60 days prior to schedule date of event will not be considered. Economic Development Committee and Police Fire & Safety committees thanked all supporters who attended their respectful past affairs and Board Chair reminded block association leaders that applications for block trees are due December 1.