Minutes from our last meeting

We had another good meeting of the 71st Street Block Association on September 23rd.  Welcome new members and thank you to all who joined us!  

Here are some notes from that meeting: 

1.  A group of us  met with Assemblywoman Rosenthal's office recently on Wed. Sept. 19th to strategize about making the block safer. (Homeless people breaking the law, drug use, noise from drunk patrons of Club 72, traffic, etc.)  In order to address these issues, Rosenthal's office  will be organizing a meeting with reps from our group, Project Reachout,  the police, Pastor Martin, and the Father from Blessed Sacrament Church.   Stringer's office will also be brought in to strategize. Rosenthal's office is also contacting other city groups (such as The Community Assistance Unit) which may provide support and solutions, such as how to successfully provide housing to homeless people.  In addition, we intend to ask the police to increase police presence on the block.  We also  discussed obtaining more security cameras for certain locations on the block.  

2.  Rat situation is getting better, but supers need to continue cleaning up and plugging up holes.  We will monitor and get the health department to come back out to inspect.  Please continue top call 311,  document what you see, and send us the info. We will share it with the health department.  Brewer's office has followed up with us to monitor the rat problem.  We value your input on whether you think the problem is improving;  residents have reported seeing fewer rats. 

3.  A new member is volunteering to organize a bulb planting in the tree wells before the first frost.  (He also offered to order free Curb-Your-Dog signs.) And we hope to  plant flowers or plants at the same time.   In particular we will target neglected tree wells which are not planted.  Let us know if you want to join us when we choose the date for planting!   

4.  Two new members came with major concerns about the dangerous situation outside McDonalds after school when teens gather.  There have been a shooting and stabbing there in the last few months.   We called Community Board 7 and Rosenthal's office and learned that people have been working on this issue and the police have begun walking by there during 3-5PM when the problems arise.   Please help us monitor if you see problems there, especially after school, between 3-5.  Let us or CB7 know when you see chaotic crowds there. 

5.  We are urging people to call 311 when they see problems on the block or lodge a complaint online:  http://www.nyc.gov/apps/311/about.htm

6.  Remember:  You can donate to the Block Association by writing a check to "Grace &St. Paul's Church".  Please write "71st Street Block Association" in the memo line. We also have a basket to accept cash donations and checks at each meeting.  We can use  funds for our upcoming tree well plantings. and other projects and expenses. 

NEXT MEETING:  Sunday October 28th at 4PM

Next Police Community Council meeting:  Monday October 22 at 7pm at the 20th percent at 120 West 82nd between Columbus and Amsterdam.  Please attend to learn about our community and to voice your concerns during the public comment part of the meeting.  Meetings are the 4th Monday  of every month at 7pm- check our blog for details.