[BwayDems] E-News from CM Melissa Mark-Viverito - April/May 2011

[Pressley, Joey]

[cid:image003.jpg at 01CC099F.DB918960]


April/May 2011

Inside this Newsletter:

 *   Keep Up With Our Work Online
 *   Recent News and Events
 *   Updates on Legislation
 *   Upcoming Events
 *   Getting Involved
 *   District Office Information

Keep Up With Our Work Online

Subscribe to Our Blog: http://mmviverito.com
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Watch the Latest on Our Video Channel: http://mmv.vodspot.tv<https://webmail.council.nyc.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://mmv.vodspot.tv/>
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Encourage your friends and neighbors to subscribe to our listserv by completing our new online form: http://tinyurl.com/mmvsubcribe<https://webmail.council.nyc.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://tinyurl.com/mmvsubcribe>

Recent News and Events



El Barrio/East Harlem Youth Violence Task Force to Hold Second Community Discussion Event

Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and the El Barrio/East Harlem Youth Violence Task Force launched a series of community discussions on March 10th with a meeting at JHS 99 in East Harlem. On Thursday, May 5th we will hold our second community discussion in this series at the Boys' Club (321 E 111th St).  May's meeting will bring together key community leaders, public housing residents and young people to discuss the rise in violence in the neighborhood and to brainstorm collectively about ways to address it.  In order to tailor the discussion to specific parts of East Harlem, this community discussion will focus on 106th - 116th Streets (from 5th Avenue to the East River).  The last meeting in the series will cover 116th - 128th and will be scheduled in the coming months.



Melissa Hosts Tenants' Rights Forum for District 8 Residents



On April 6th 2011, our office hosted a Tenants' Rights Forum in collaboration with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) at Union Settlement Association. The forum was one of many that HPD will be hosting throughout the City in the coming months. Tenants who participated were able to voice concerns, log complaints with various city agencies and get answers to questions they may have had regarding tenant's rights, repairs, as well as many other housing related issues. If you or someone you know attended the event and have any suggestions on ways in which we can improve the forum's format, please do not hesitate to contact Joe Pressley or Diana Ayala at 212- 828-9800.



Council Member Viverito & NY Academy of Medicine Hold "Senior Tuesday" at La Marqueta as part of Age Improvement District Initiative


Melissa, the New York Academy of Medicine and local community groups held the second "Senior Tuesday" at La Marqueta in El Barrio/East Harlem on April 12th.  "Senior Tuesdays" are part of the local Age Improvement District initiative, which seeks to make East Harlem a more livable community for older adults.  At the event, seniors were given samples by many of the market's vendors, as well as special discounts on merchandise.  Seniors were also given tours of the new Urban Garden Center at La Marqueta, health screenings by Metropolitan Hospital and benefits enrollment by the NYC Coalition Against Hunger.  Senior Tuesdays at La Marqueta will continue the second Tuesday of every month.



Melissa Supports Park West Village Residents' Request for a Rent Reduction



Melissa stands with the residents and Tenant Association of Park West Village who have contested their landlord's request for a rent increase.  She supports the Tenant Association's request to the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) for a rent reduction due to the poor maintenance in their buildings.



Melissa Sends Letter to State Health Department Reiterating Call for Hearing on JHL's Plans to Move to W. 100th Street



Melissa has sent a letter to the New York State Department of Health in support of the community's request for a public hearing regarding JHL's application to open a new facility on W. 100th Street.  The full letter can be read at http://wp.me/pJ9TG-Ce.  Here is an excerpt: "Your letter states that a move of six blocks constitutes only a modification of Jewish Home's original application that does not require public comment, because the proposed new site lies within the same service area as its current 106th Street campus. This assertion - which has been made repeatedly by the Department over the past year - ignores the fact that the proposed West 100th Street site is completely different from the current West 106th Street site, and that the new proposal for a 20-story facility is completely different from the 14-story building presented in their original proposal."



NYC Department of Transportation Agrees to Install Speed Hump on 140th Street in Mott Haven



In response to concerns expressed by community members about speeding cars on 140th Street between Brook and Willis Avenues, Melissa brokered a meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to discuss potential remedies.  After consideration, DOT has agreed to install a speed hump which will help make the area safer, particularly for children at PS 179.



Melissa Chairs Hearing on the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Program<http://mmviverito.com/2011/04/29/melissa-chairs-hearing-on-the-parks-enforcement-patrol-pep-program/>


Melissa chaired a hearing on the City Council's Parks & Recreation Committee on Wednesday regarding the Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) program.  The hearing focused on the disparities in the allocation of PEP officers among different parks and communities as well as workplace issues faced by the officers.  PEP officers are unarmed peace officers, who enforce the rules of our parks and are empowered to issue summonses for quality of life offenses, as well as disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of weapons.  They also review park facilities for health and safety issues.  There are currently 92 PEP officers to cover over 28,000 acres of parkland, with an additional 83 officers that are contracted by conservancies and other private entities to work in specific parks.  There are often just a few at-large officers on duty at any given time for the entire borough of the Bronx, whereas in a single park in communities of greater means, there might be a dozen.  Melissa and other members of the committee stressed the need for more resources for the PEP program so that these officers can cover more parks, particularly at a time when the City is seeing an increase in crimes committed on parkland.  Melissa also highlighted that the practice of contracting with private entities that are able to purchase increased security from the department while the majority of other parks go unsupervised sets up a two-tiered system in our public parks.  In the coming months, the Committee plans to hold another hearing jointly with the Public Safety Committee on crime in parks, which will continue to examine these issues.  For more information and a list of media coverage, visit http://wp.me/pJ9TG-BW.



Melissa Stands with the Central Park Boathouse Workers



Melissa spoke at a rally last Thursday for the workers of the Central Park Boathouse, who have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices and union busting.  As Chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee and the Council Member representing Central Park, Melissa has made clear that any union busting efforts will not be tolerated, particularly within our city-owned public parks.  To watch Melissa's speech at the event, visit http://wp.me/pJ9TG-BE.



Council Members Rally to Save GreenThumb<http://parksnyc.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/council-members-rally-to-save-greenthumb/>



Parks & Recreation Committee Chair Melissa Mark-Viverito<http://mmviverito.com/> joined Council Members Tish James and Jimmy Van Bramer, as well as members of the NYC Community Garden Coalition<http://nyccgc.org/>, in rallying to save funding for GreenThumb<http://www.greenthumbnyc.org/>, a Parks Department program that provides support and technical assistance to our city's community gardeners. Currently, the program's funding is in danger as its entire budget comes from federal Community Development Block Grants<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Development_Block_Grant> (CDBGs), for which the Congress and President Obama have proposed serious cuts<http://www.npr.org/2011/02/27/134058899/proposed-cuts-to-block-grants-spark-outrage-panic>.  Attendees at the rally called for the restoration of CDBG funds at the federal level. Chair Viverito has also called on Parks to come up with a contingency plan, in case this funding does end up getting cut. Parks has responded that they will work to harness public and private dollars to keep Green Thumb alive. The Committee will be monitoring this situation as we approach the Executive Budget hearings this May.



Council Members Viverito & Dromm Reject Claims by Mayor's Office Regarding the Collaboration of DOC with ICE and Urge the Mayor to Reverse His Administration's Position


The Mayor's Senior Policy Advisor wrote a letter to New York Times reaffirming the administration's support of the collaboration between the City's Department of Corrections and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The letter is available by clicking here<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/opinion/lweb14immig.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=feinblatt&st=cse>.  Council Members Melissa Mark-Viverito and Danny Dromm issued a statement in response to Mr. Feinblatt's letter. Here is an excerpt from the statement: "Instead, as exhibited by a recent letter to the New York Times authored by the Mayor's Senior Policy Advisor, the Mayor's Office has distorted the facts and has relied on the ugly politics of fear. The facts are that DOC's current policy is to transfer anyone and everyone the federal government wants to deport into the deplorable immigration detention system, whether or not they pose any real threat. It is time for the DOC to develop a sensible and balanced policy that stops sending those New Yorkers who pose no threat to society into this deplorable system." (The full version of the statement is available at: http://wp.me/pJ9TG-AI)

The Council Members also joined in responding to the Mayor's recent participation in a national immigration summit held by President Obama: "It is difficult to reconcile Mayor Bloomberg's national platform that our immigration system must be reformed when New York City is a willing participant and partner with the federal government in that same broken system. We call on the Mayor to reconsider his administration's current position and to join us in crafting a sensible and balanced policy that will stop DOC from facilitating the deportation of those New Yorkers who pose no threat to public safety." (The full version of this statement is available at: http://wp.me/pJ9TG-Bh)

Melissa Appears in PSA Urging President Obama to Halt Deportations



Watch Melissa in a public service announcement for the New York Immigration Coalition's Stroke of a Pen Campaign urging President Obama to sign an executive order halting unjust deportations of immigrants (in both English and Spanish).  The videos are available at http://wp.me/pJ9TG-Ak.  Please also take a moment to sign the petition at www.pencampaign.com<http://www.pencampaign.com/>.



Melissa Chairs Parks Budget Hearing



On March 31st, the City Council Parks & Recreation Committee held its preliminary budget hearing for Fiscal Year 2012.  The Mayor's preliminary budget includes a number of cuts, including the proposed closure of four pools, the shortening of the pool season by two weeks and the elimination of funding for playground associates, along with other reductions.  Last year, after the Mayor proposed the same cuts, the Council restored all of the funds so that these services could continue.  The budget also increases fees for recreation centers, tennis permits and athletic fields.  Parks Chair Melissa Mark-Viverito highlighted the adverse impact that the cuts and fee increases could have on low-income communities, who are simply seeking access to opportunities for recreation and healthier lifestyles.  She also raised the concern that the moneys generated through these fee increases would simply go into City's general fund and are not even being utilized to improve the quality of the recreation centers.



NY Electeds React to Puerto Rico Supreme Court Decision Limiting Domestic Violence Protections

Melissa joined 15 New York elected officials in releasing a statement denouncing a recent decision by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court which upheld a lower court's decision that limits domestic violence protections for women involved in extramarital affairs.  See below for the statement. Here is an excerpt from the statement: "As lawmakers - many of us Puerto Rican, Latino/a and women - representing districts in New York, we denounce this outrageous decision by the Court, and also commend the three dissenting justices, particularly Justice Liana Fiol Matta, who wrote so passionately against the decision.  Additionally, we call on Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly and Governor Fortuño to correct any possible ambiguities in Law 54 so that is abundantly clear that all intimate relationships - including extramarital affairs, as well as same-sex relationships, which are not currently referenced in the law either - are considered equal when it comes to domestic violence protections." (To see it in full, visit http://wp.me/pJ9TG-A8.)




Updates on Legislation

City Council Passes Legislation on Energy Efficiency and Snow Response

The City Council has passed two packages of legislation, one aimed at improving energy efficiency in our city's buildings and the other to address the slow clean-up following the December 2010 blizzard.

Solar and Cool Roofs Legislation

This package of legislation seeks to encourage owners of existing buildings to reduce emissions and increase the usage of renewable energy.


 *   Intro 341<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=775425&GUID=7638B129-3FE8-4DC2-B523-AC400214C3BC&Options=ID|Text|&Search=341>: Removes some of the barriers to installing large solar thermal panels on rooftops, by allowing solar thermal and solar electric collectors and/or panels and their supporting equipment to take up more than 1/3 of the area of a roof without being considered an extra floor.
 *   Intro 358<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=775441&GUID=56667AEE-8778-4047-A85F-0A89BB418653&Options=ID|Text|&Search=358>: Provides a legal definition for 'combined heat and power systems' as equipment that simultaneously produces electricity and heat from a single fuel source and reaffirms that these rooftop structures shall not be considered an additional story or be included in the height of the building.
 *   Intro 347<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=775430&GUID=ACD8FDE7-B0AF-4321-B340-6CAB2B3725A5&Options=ID|Text|&Search=347>: Strengthens standards for cool roof coating, which involves covering roofs with white reflective material, rather than the traditional blacktop.  Doing so keeps buildings cooler, thereby reducing emissions during the summer months and improving air quality.  Under this bill, owners who choose to make this improvement to their buildings will have to adhere to the new standards so that the maximum benefit is derived.

Snow Response Legislation

This package of bills was introduced after the infamously slow response on the part of the Bloomberg administration to the December 2010 blizzard.  These pieces of legislation seek to ensure that such a poor response does not happen again.


 *   Intro 498<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=853021&GUID=8AEB34DF-F50F-472A-B854-6AC30DB655BF&Options=ID|Text|&Search=498>: Requires the Commissioner of the NYC Office of Emergency Management to develop certain protocols around how the office should respond when the national weather service forecasts severe weather conditions, including whether to contact other relevant city, state or federal government agencies for emergency assistance
 *   Intro 505<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=853018&GUID=54FC0B78-1A75-4A84-B25F-2AC53D38F4A3&Options=ID|Text|&Search=505> - The public will now be notified by city agencies as to the status of government services, such as solid waste collection, public transportation, and the operation of schools in severe weather conditions or other emergency.  The public is to be notified through a website and other media intended to reach the widest population possible.
 *   Intro 528<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=853019&GUID=65C41DA3-81D1-4D7F-9957-25172BAA09D2&Options=ID|Text|&Search=528>: 311 will now have to provide tracking information for each complaint and a unique identifier for each call taker, as well as implement a protocol to deal with high call volume during weather emergencies.
 *   Intro 508<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=846982&GUID=2EDDF37D-602F-4D7B-863D-92198851EDE4&Options=ID|Text|&Search=508> - Each year, the commissioner will make available to the Council and on on the city's website a detailed report about the city's preparation for and response to all snow events during the preceding 12 month period, including the roles of various relevant city agencies, an assessment of the city's performance and an inventory of all snow removal equipment.
 *   Intro 511 <http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=846975&GUID=7EB2307C-47B1-4A65-B779-9B99955B7C0D&Options=ID|Text|&Search=511> - The Department of Sanitation will assist organizations to establish registries of volunteers to help remove snow on behalf of persons who can't, due to infirmity, illness or physical incapacity.
 *   Int 517<http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=846981&GUID=06FBDB4C-6E18-42EA-9B0B-A5E8CE9F3FEE&Options=ID|Text|&Search=517> - Each year, the Commissioner will make available to the Council and on the city's website a snow plowing and removal plan for each borough, including, but not limited to, the level of snow removal staffing per borough, an inventory of snow management equipment, the priority designations of each street in the city (primary, secondary or tertiary), and how the department plans to address snow and ice removal from curb cuts and bus stops.

While the Bloomberg administration initially opposed all of the snow response bills, after negotiations, the Mayor is planning to sign all of the measures into law.


Opportunities


Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Applications Now Available - Deadline is May 27th!



Applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) are now available for New York City residents ages 14 to 24.  SYEP is a job program that provides youth with work experience, life skills training and income during the summer months.   The application process will run for 4 weeks with the deadline for submission being May 27th, after which a lottery process begins. SYEP is a seven week program that kicks off on Tuesday, July 5, 2011 and continues through Saturday, August 20, 2011.  If you should have any questions please call Youth Connect at 1-800-246-4646.  Apply online today at https://application.nycsyep.com/


The Community Development Project of the Harlem Community Law Office

The Community Development Project advises and represents small businesses and not-for-profit organizations.  Those seeking assistance should call for an intake appointment.
230 East 106th Street, New York, New York  10029, (212) 426-3000<tel:%28212%29%20426-3000>

Harlem RBI Seeks Volunteer Softball Coaches

Harlem RBI, an award winning non-profit organization that provides East Harlem youth with year-round opportunities to play, learn and grow, is looking for volunteer softball coaches to work with youth ages 11-18 in practices and games. Practices typically last two hours and games last between 2-5 hours. The coaching staff of a Harlem RBI team consists of up to six adult volunteers: a manager, assistant manager and four coaches. Coaches must attend at least 75% of team activities. Teams practice on fields in East Harlem. Games for older youth take place around New York City (transportation is provided to away games). Visit www.harlemrbi.org<https://webmail1.council.nyc.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=709dd85047bd4c379541145e98fa444b&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.harlemrbi.org%2f> and complete a short volunteer form to sign-up for a Volunteer Orientation. Please email volunteer at harlemrbi.org<https://webmail1.council.nyc.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=709dd85047bd4c379541145e98fa444b&URL=mailto%3avolunteer%40harlemrbi.org%3fsubject%3dHarlem%2520RBI%2520Volunteer%2520Question-%2520ZogSports> or call (212) 722-1608<tel:%28212%29%20722-1608> Ext. 277 for more information.


Upcoming Events


Senior Tuesdays at La Marqueta
When: Every second Tuesday of the month, 10:00 a.m. -12.00 p.m.
Where: La Marqueta, 1607 Park Avenue
Sponsored by Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and NY Academy of Medicine.  Free giveaways, screenings and other programming for seniors at La Marqueta.


Exhibition at Art for Change: Faces of the Economy

When: Ongoing until July 9, 2011

Where: 1699 Lexington Ave

A group art exhibition focusing on how the pressures of the economy affect the lives of individuals locally. The exhibition gives voices to those who are disenfranchised, and works to deconstruct the complexities our economic structures. For more information, call (212) 348-7044.


Cinco de Mayo Health Fair

When: Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Metropolitan Hospital Center, 1901 First Avenue
Glucose screening, HIV testing, Smoking Cessation, Blood Pressure Screening and other activities. Live mariachi band too!

Open House Meeting with DOT: Harlem River Park Gateway/E. 135th and Madison Intersection Safety Improvements
When: Wednesday, May 4, 2011, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 pm
Where: 34 W. 134th Street (between 5th and Lenox Avenues), Entrance on W. 135th St., Lower Auditorium
Learn about the implementation schedule and plan which includes changes to crosswalks, signals, traffic lanes and pedestrian islands.  For more information, contact Josh Orzeck at 212-839-6218 or jorzeck at dot.nyc.gov<mailto:jorzeck at dot.nyc.gov>.

El Barrio/East Harlem Youth Violence Task Force Second Community Discussion
When: Thursday, May 5, 2011, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Where: Boys' Club (321 E 111th St)
Second community discussion in the series, which brings together key community leaders, public housing residents and young people to discuss the rise in violence in the neighborhood and to brainstorm collectively about ways to address it.  In order to tailor the discussion to specific parts of East Harlem, this community discussion will focus on 106th - 116th Streets (from 5th Avenue to the East River.  For more information contact Elsie Encarnacion at 212-828-9800 or eencarnacion at council.nyc.gov<mailto:eencarnacion at council.nyc.gov>.

Credit Ready NYC Upper Manhattan Credit Fair for Small Businesses (Sponsored by the NYC Council)
When: Thursday, May 5th, 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, 163 W. 125th St., 8th Floor
Speak to lenders: banks, community lenders, SBA, NYC Small Business Services, alternative lenders.  On site counseling will be available.
OPERA HISPANICA: Soneto de Amor y Muerte
When: Thursday, May 5, 2011, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Where: El Teatro at El Museo del Barrio
FREE - RSVP Required (http://bit.ly/kP9ig1).  Come experience a magical evening of Spanish Zarzuela, Argentinean Tango, and Latin American opera performed by New York's first and only Spanish-language ópera company. After performing to sold-out audiences throughout the city, Opera Hispánica is proud to present its official, full-length concert of Soneto de Amor y Muerte at El Museo's  one-night only performance. For more information visit: www.operahispanica.org<http://www.operahispanica.org>.

Mother's Day Dinner & Dance (Sponsored by Booker T. Washington/Beacon 54)
When: Friday, May 6th, 5:30 pm
Where: 103 W. 107th Street
FREE - Adults Only.  RSVP to 212-866-5579/646-539-5941

Free Children's Workshops at Art for Change
When: Saturday, May 7th, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Where: 1699 Lexington Avenue (between 106th and 107th Streets), Basement
Workshop participants will create accordion book boxes, exploring identity and pride in who they are. To sign up please contact Adriana at aimc01 at hotmail.com<mailto:aimc01 at hotmail.com> or 770-402-9939.

Jane's Walk of the Old Bloomingdale Community (Led by Jim Mackin)
When: Saturday May 7th and Sunday May 8th, 11:00 am
Where: Straus Park, 106th Street and Broadway
FREE - RSVP to 212-666-9774.  Limited to 25 attendees.



One Day, One Purpose, One Harlem Community Service Event
When: Saturday, May 7, 2011, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Service Projects), 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Block Party)
Where: P.S. 38 at East 103rd Street
Help transform the community with muraling, gardening and landscaping.

Community Discussion on PCBs in Our Schools
When: Tuesday, May 10th, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center, 1680 Lexington Avenue, Theater

Teenage Suicide Prevention Conference for Schools and CBOs (Sponsored by the Samaritans of NY)
When: Friday, May 13th, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Where: UFT Headquarters, 52 Broadway, 2nd Floor Conference
Pre-register by Monday, May 9th at www.samaritansnyc.org/conferences/2011a1.php<http://www.samaritansnyc.org/conferences/2011a1.php>.


A Celebration of the Harlem River Art Project
When: Opening reception Friday, May 13, 2011, 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Art Gallery at 163 West 125th Street
Displaying six youth-painted banner designs from CAW's Summer ArtWorks program and 15 etched-steel plaques created by Harlem-based artists for Harlem River Park. Refreshments provided.

Annual Plant-A-Thon (Sponsored by DEBNA)
When: Sunday, May 15th, 12:00 pm to 2 pm
Where: 50 W. 106th Street (@ Manhattan Ave)
Light refreshments served.  For more info, contact 212-865-3451.

Ecuadorian Parade
When: Sunday, May 15th, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Central Park West, from W. 96th to W 110th Streets

19th Annual Ethnic Festival (Sponsored by Union Settlement)
When: Saturday, May 21st, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Where: E. 104th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
Raffle prizes, children's games, clowns, live music, spoken word, youth dance groups, international foods, flea markets and more! Vendors call 212-828-6052 to reserve a spot.

Ecuadorian Festival
When: Sunday, May 22nd, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Where: W. 107th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

To have a local event featured in our Upcoming Events section, please send an email to newsfrommelissa at gmail.com<mailto:newsfrommelissa at gmail.com> with the information.  Event info sent to other addresses may not be published in the newsletter.

This is only a selection of local events.  Additional events in our district can be found at http://www.eastharlempreservation.org/docs/events.htm (El Barrio/East Harlem) and http://www.columbusamsterdambid.org/events (the West Side).

Also, please see the following Community Boards' calendars for information on board and committee meetings dealing with local issues:


 *   Community Board 11<http://www.cb11m.org/event> (El Barrio/East Harlem)
 *   Community Board 7<http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb7/html/calendar/calendar_monthly.shtml> (Upper West Side)
 *   Community Board 1<http://www.bronxmall.com/commboards/monthcalendar1.html> (Bronx)


Getting Involved

District 8 Youth Council

The Youth Council provides a wonderful opportunity for the community's youth (ages 13 and up) to take part in local politics in their surrounding community. Young people become involved with local entities that handle youth related issues such as; the Youth & Education Committee meetings of Community Board 11 so as they can see the importance of local politics both to the Community and to themselves. The youth are currently working on a video project to compete in the New York Civil Liberties Union "Freedom of Expression: What is the Change You Believe In?" contest.  The District 8 Youth Council meets on Tuesdays and Thursday from 5pm - 6pm weekly. For more information contact Elsie Encarnacion at 212-828-9800.

The Youth Violence Task Force


Unfortunately, we are experiencing a rise in violence in the El Barrio/East Harlem community, particularly among our youth.  Melissa has created the East Harlem/ El Barrio Youth Violence Task Force in response to the increase in violence among youth. The task force has been meeting for over a month and we hope you all will join in and be a part of this movement going forward. Only through working together will this issue be at the forefront of our community's priorities. Below is some information on our task force.  If you are interested in being on our listserv, please send an e-mail to eencarnacion at council.nyc.gov and you will be added immediately.  To read more about the Task Force visit http://wp.me/pJ9TG-qb.



Anti-Displacement Task Force

The Task Force is a body comprised of Community Based Organization (CBOs), tenants, activists, advocates and elected officials who collectively work, as a community, to confront ruthless landlords, investors, and developers that are attempting to displace members of our community. Their work brings visibility to the housing crisis through community forums, marches, rallies and other initiatives. I am right behind their efforts to empower tenants and community members by providing information and a local support network. To inquire about the next meeting call Joey Pressley at 212-828-9800.

Harlem African Burial Ground Task Force


Harlem African Burial Ground Task Force is a group of concerned citizens who have united to help the Elmendorf Reformed Church (ERC) to restore and memorialize its historically and culturally significant colonial African Burial ground at 1st Avenue, between 126th and 127th Streets. ERC was established in 1660. In 1665, the First Church of Harlem, also known as the Dutch Reformed Church of Harlem (ERC), erected a church building at the corner of First Avenue and 127th Street, and a quarter acre of land connected with the church was set aside and became known as the "Negro Burying Ground" (hereafter called the African Burial Ground).   To learn more, or join and help, please contact: Deborah Gibson at (212) 534-5856 or dig1214 at aim.com<mailto:dig1214 at aim.com>.

District 8 Immigrant Service Network

This initiative was born out of a desire to support each other as service providers and advocates working with the immigrant community in District 8. The network is open to organizations interested in collaborating and sharing information relating to programming and services, and in discussing issues of immigrant rights, the political environment, and the challenges facing the immigrant community in the district.  For more info, please contact Rachel Frey at 212-828-9800 or rfrey at council.nyc.gov<mailto:rfrey at council.nyc.gov>.


District Office Information

105 East 116th Street
New York NY, 10029

Office Hours

Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Note that Constituent Walk-In Days fall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am to 6:00pm, as well as Saturdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm.  No appointment is necessary.

West Side & Bronx Office Hours

Both West Side and Bronx Office Hours are currently on hiatus as we seek new spaces that we hope will be more convenient and accessible for our constituents.  We will keep you updated through the e-newsletter.  For the time being, constituents are always welcome to call our District Office for services (212-828-9800) or of course come in person during Constituent Walk-In Days (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at 105 East 116th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues).  Thank you for your patience!


PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THESE OFFICE HOURS!

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