Notes From The CB14 Monthly Meeting

Community Board 14 held its monthly meeting last night at PS 249. The next monthly meeting will be Monday, January 13 at Edward R Murrow High School (E 17th Street between Avenue L and Chestnut Avenue), and the public is welcome to attend. Here’s what happened this month:

• District Manager Shawn Campbell made sure to remind neighbors that 1/3 of all fires occur in December and January. You can keep from becoming a statistic by checking out winter and holiday safety tips from the FDNY.

• Moe Razvi says COPO is available to families who need assistance adjusting to Obamacare and finding the right health plan. He says COPO is meeting with one family at a time, and meetings are confidential. Just call 718-434-3266 to get in touch.

• Shawn also said more B44 buses have been added to local routes, and that an Avenue L stop is being considered to help commuters get where they’re going. She says the grace period for riders not having receipts is over, though, and if you don’t have one, you’ll face a $100 fine. “So hold onto that receipt,” she says, “like it’s a hundred dollar bill.”

• Shawn says there has been great progress with changes implemented on the Flatbush Congested Corridor Project, although the road just north of Church Avenue is still a bit clogged during evening rush hour. She says the DOT is considering traffic signal timing in the area in an attempt to relieve the issue.

• The 70th Precinct will be holding a food and coat drive at through rest of year, so please bring canned goods and warm winter coats to 154 Lawrence Avenue to drop off–or, if it suits you better, check out a list of local toy, food, and clothing drives on the CB14 website.

• In addition, CB14 Secretary Joseph Dweck says he’ll be bringing food to the 70th at around 3 or 4pm this Christmas to thank officers who are working this holiday, and invites other neighbors to do the same.

• Ed Powell reminded neighbors they’re all invited to the 70th Precinct Community Council meeting and party on Wednesday, December 18 at UCP (175 Lawrence Avenue between Ocean Parkway and Seton Place). He also thanked the NYPD and public for their contributions of toys and money for kids from local shelters who will be at the party.

• Councilmember Eugene will also be holding a holiday party for kids on Saturday, December 21 from 12-3pm at PS 245 (249 E 17th Street between Beverley and Albemarle Roads). He says toy donations are welcome–just call his office at 718-287-8762.

• Local arts organization CaribBEING has applied for a permit to use 1515 Newkirk Avenue, an empty Ditmas Park lot, for screenings next March through October. The city is currently looking into ownership of the lot and considering the permit, though CB14 members at a recent meeting expressed concerns about noise and security. Once the city makes a move on the permit, CB14 will reconvene on the issue. If approved, the lot will hold about 110 seats, and show films two to three nights a week.

• Information given at a recent Community Environment meeting can help protect neighbors from undeserved fines. If your property is being used as an illegal dumping site, make sure to call 311 and document the issue with photos. If you are ticketed, says a committee member, those will serve as a solid defense.