Outreach Day: Meet & Greet! Some of our Work and Traditions:
1. Pedestrian Safety: Worked with our local elected officials to improve pedestrian safety at the “bow-tie” intersection at 71st and Broadway. Thank you, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and Erica Overton. This is an ongoing project as the area continues to need traffic light adjustments, etc.
2. Scaffolding & Dumpsters: Worked to have scaffolding and dumpsters removed when they lingered too long!
3. Rats: Organized walk-throughs of our block with the head scientist from the Health Department along with Sanitation to assess the rat problem and solutions. We are grateful to Linda Rosenthal's office and Erica Overton for help in arranging this critical step.
4. We hold Spring Spruce-Ups every year to tidy the block, clean out treewells, and put fresh mulch and daffodil bulbs in.
5. Reached out to neighbors during the COVID crisis to offer help with errands and provide info on tests, vaccines, and more.
6. Homelessness: Held meetings on homelessness to find solutions to provide housing for all. We communicate with Goddard Riverside when someone is experiencing homelessness to be sure they are already reaching out to the person.
7. Open Streets: Successfully advocated to NOT allow our street to be closed to traffic daily to allow school children to play in the street. We have a senior center and senior housing on the block and want vehicles to be able to come and go easily, including for emergencies.
8. Tenant’s Rights: We provide information & resources to tenants with concerns, both in rentals and co-ops.
9. Had illegal electric neon signage removed, as it violates city code.
10. \Noise Control: Advocated along with others to close very loud nightclub which overflowed with drunken loud patrons shouting and fighting on the street in the middle of the night.
11. Regularly bring our concerns to the monthly Police Community Council Meetings, including bicycles on the sidewalks, dangerous crosswalk (bow tie intersection), and more.
12. A chance to meet and socialize with neighbors: we have had gatherings and potluck celebrations with live jazz – thank you, Pastor Martin and Grace & Saint Paul’s Church!
13. Work with our businesses who have provided food and snacks for our gatherings and meetings! Thank you, Tallulah, Oxbow, Metro and Tasty restaurants and Magnolia Cupcake!
14. We have an ongoing relationship with both churches on our block ~ we help each other!
Michael is our chief gardener!
