Manhattan Beach Community Group

You may have read in the July 2nd edition of the Bay News about “chatter of the other group joining us”. It is true that several people in their group have asked about returning. They have reached the conclusion that ”two groups is a bad idea”. You only have to look at the selfish madness in the NYS Senate to see how two rival groups can be harmful and detrimental to all citizens.

While it has been difficult having people opposing us at most turns it has not stopped us in any of our efforts. It just takes longer to get things done. It has been my course of action to continue to do good work that benefits everyone in the community. One example is solar energy. I can also tell you that we have helped members of the other groups with significant problems. We have also helped neighbors that belong to neither group. The focus of MBCG is to help and not to serve personal agendas.

I have protected this group and we have maintained our membership. The members we lost to the other group have been replaced by new people who have joined us. We have not received two grants from our Councilman and State Senator. But we can replace those monies easily with some fundraising. In other words we are doing very well and have survived.

I said over a year ago when the other group was formed that they were never “kicked out” and were welcomed back. That means they are welcome to send in a membership check, if they so choose. There will be no merging of the two groups. Edmund Dweck in the Bay News article said that there are things to resolve. They are resolved. The MBCG is not going anywhere. If the other group wants to continue to hurt this community there is not much I can do to stop them. Again, we only have to look at the mess in Albany to see what happens when people act selfishly. We would be able to accomplish more if we worked together.

I and the membership of the MBCG will continue to act for the benefit of every person in Manhattan Beach. I am excited that we will be planning the MBCG 70th birthday and a Manhattan Beach commemorative book in the months ahead. I also know that our neighbors know who to turn to for help. They know who gets results. We will stay the course and help bring renewable energy, a new parking plan, an educational entitlement for our children to attend schools in our community and above all continue to help you.

READ THE ARTICLE BAY NEWS JULY 2, 2009

Link Below:

http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2009/07/02/bay_news/news/bay_news_newskcbikhy07012009.txt

Councilman Michael Nelson is hosting a Brooklyn Public Meeting to discuss Ferry Service at several locations.

The Comprehensive Citywide Ferry Study, I Imagine, will be presented.

Please attend this important meeting as many of us have several questions and concerns about how Ferry Service will impact our community.

The meeting will take place July 22 at 7 PM at Kingsborough Community College, Room U219/220.

The Dept. of Trans. has apparently dropped their proposal to extend the B74 bus from Sea Gate to Manhattan Beach. We say apparently because we and CB 15 have asked for it in writing. Again, a great job by MBCG and our Traffic Comm. to stop a potentially bad situation for this neighborhood.

We already have three bus lines, the B1, B49 and the Kingsborough Comm College Bus. The turnaround can not accomodate two MTA lines adequately. Can you imagine three?

Thanks to all our members who attended meetings and helped fight this very bad idea.

According to NYC Parks, the huge concrete planters on the meridian of Oriental Blvd will be moved soon to the Promenade of Shore Blvd. and other locations.

Thanks to all of you who have helped work on this for the past 16 months. You may remember that we, MBCG, passed a motion to move them at our March 2008 meeting. Again we’re ahead of the curve.

Happy 4th of July. Drive responsibly please.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be presenting their report concerning the Coney Island/Gravesend Project at the Community Board 15 meeting tomorrow evening:  Tuesday, June 30^th.   Although the title of the report does not include Manhattan Beach the study has DIRECT bearing on the quality of life of Manhattan Beach residents.

1.  at the last hearing DOT was preparing to add a third bus route to Oriental Boulevard for no good reason at all.

2.  DOT was suggesting NO TURNS on Coney Island Ave. at the base of the bride and making all eastbound left turns towards MB on Neptune Ave…This would create huge delays going eastbound towards MB and KCC and made little sense.  In addition the suggested bus route would also be on Neptune only making matters worse.

The Traffic Committee made alternative suggestions to DOT; however, we do not know if the department bothered to look at them.

In order to make sure our community is HEARD at this meeting, we are asking as many residents of MB to attend the meeting tomorrow evening.  NUMBERS COUNT—the reason DOT is making this presentation at CB 15 is because the MBCG had a large contingent at the last hearing and we told DOT that their plans HAD to be changed.

The Meeting:  Community Board 15 at Kingsborough Community College

                      Faculty Dining Room

                      7:00 PM

Judy Baron for the Traffic Committee

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Check it out and sign up and follow us!!

http://twitter.com/mbcg

MAY 2009 MInutes

Approval of Minutes: The meeting was called to order at 8:08 PM by 1^st Vice-President Bunny Fleischer. The minutes of the April 22, 2009 meeting were approved as written.

Police Report:  Sergeant Doyle and Police Liaison Cy Schoenfeld

• There were one robbery, two burglaries, one grand larceny and one graffiti arrest in MB in the past 28 day period.   Thirty-five criminal summonses were issued in the park after hours.
• One sergeant and 5 police officers will be assigned to MB from Memorial Day on.  The same plan as last year will be enforced for Cut Day.  The police are allowed to enforce truancy laws for children ages 6-17 years.
• Weekend on-street parking is prohibited as of May 15.
• The next Police Council meeting will be held on June 10 at the Bainbridge Center, 3093 Ocean Ave.

President’s Report:  Ira Zalcman

• The next meeting of the MBCG will be on Wed., June 17 at 8:00 pm at PS 195.  At that time, the members of the nominating committee will be announced.
• Congratulations to our own Marilyn Chernin for her award last week at the Highway Democratic Club dinner.  She received this award for her community work.
• Congratulations are also extended to Steve Cymbrowitz and his wife for their receipt of the Man and Woman of the Year Awards as well as to Carole Moore, Principal of Mark Twain Jr. High, for her receipt of the Educator of the Year Award.
• Thank you to Steve Cymbrowitz for granting us $5000 for 2009-10 to beautify MB.  We should decide on how we would like to use this money and will spend it once we receive it.
• There will be no gifted kindergarten program in P.S. 195 this year.  If the school is open to the entire district, then there will be fewer slots for MB children.  If there is no gifted program then there will be more seats available for MB children.
• Thank you to Theresa Scavo and to the many people who attended the meeting with National Grid on May 11 and the meeting with MTA on May 18.  We were the only group in attendance and we made our opinions very clear.  Judy Baron did a great job in keeping another bus line out of our community.  She will report on this as well as about the work with National Grid later on in the meeting.
• Mayoral control of our schools has failed the children of MB.  Contact your NYS Assemblyman and State Senator to complain as the law is set to expire in June 2009.
• The problem of many cars and delivery trucks parking near P.S. 195 has again arisen.

• We have received our certificate for Directors and Officers Insurance and will now explore all the possibilities for our liability policy which is due on August 1. 
• A motion regarding indemnity for MBCG officers, directors, and members was made as follows:  “MBCG Officers, Directors, and members of the MBCG working on behalf of the MBCG shall be indemnified and held harmless by the MBCG for any and all claims, losses, damages, and liability including reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses, asserted by any person or entity for whatever reason that may arise out of the performance or non-performance of their duties and responsibilities on behalf of the MBCG.”  Discussion of the motion ensued, including the suggestion that the indemnification be expanded to include others, and that it be reworded.  The motion was tabled.
• The MBCG will be 70 years old in 18 months.  Stanley Kaplan will chair a special comm. To publish a book. Please contact me if you want to get involved. Stanley Kaplan discussed his plans to publish a book about the history of the neighborhood and the MBCG.  A dinner dance to celebrate our 70^th birthday will take place at the membership meeting in December, 2010.  At that time, we will also present 5 Lifetime Achievement Awards.  Get your dancing shoes ready!
• The solar project is alive and well.  We continue to work on this, and more information will be provided at future meetings.  Thank you to Susan Klapper for all her green work.  We will be pursuing a green MB from light bulbs to the sun to windmills. 
• Thanks to all who gave up time and attended all the extra meetings that were held this month.
• A motion was made to give $250 to KCC in support of the Authors’ Series.  The motion was changed to give this money in support of the summer Concert Series.  The motion passed.

Committee Reports

KCC:  Oliver Klapper for Dr. Saul “Billy” Katz

• Commencement will be held on June 12.  Speakers will be Dr. Jill Biden (wife of VP Joe Biden) and Mayor Bloomberg.
• The 5^th annual fundraiser, The Seaside Splash Luau, will be held on Thurs., June 18.
• The first concert of the summer series will be held on Sun. evening, July 5.  This will be the Concert of America, with Ray Wheeler and the KCC Orchestra Band.
• KCC runs 4 food banks to help out students in need.  Contributions of canned or boxed food are welcome. There are a significant number of students that can use help.

Traffic:  Judy Baron and Susan Klapper

• Thanks to all who attended the meeting with the MTA and who made their feelings known.
• The committee was concerned about the Coney Island/Gravesend Sustainable Development Transportation Study, which was a 7 year study.  One proposal was to extend the B74 bus which now runs from Sea Gate to Stillwell Avenue into MB to take students to KCC.
• The study proposed traffic changes on C.I. Avenue and Guider Ave.  The only left turn would be on Neptune Ave for eastbound (left) turns.  We wanted a green arrow for left turns.  It turns out that there is a school on E. 14^th and Emmons.
• The next meeting of the Traffic Committee will be on June 30.  Contact Judy Baron with any concerns.
• The question of the removal of the bus stop on Hastings and Oriental was raised at a meeting at the CB office with the MTA.  The MTA did not request such a removal.  The removal was done unprofessionally, leaving protruding metal and the bus stop pad still there, with the yellow line still visible. This removal places a great burden on riders in the neighborhood.  At this meeting, the zebra stripes were also discussed.  The MTA agreed that they were unsafe for bus drivers as well, and stated that they were never in favor of their existence.  Bus idling and improper bus activities were also discussed.

CB 15:  Theresa Scavo, Chairperson

• National Grid is changing the gas lines and replacing 6” gas mains.  They are working from West End Ave. to Irwin St. at this time, involving 3 feet of curb.  In 2-3 months, all of Shore Blvd will be replaced.
• The bulk-head job on Shore Blvd is incomplete, as there are trees, grass, and benches missing.

• An update of the DOT meeting was provided.  There will be a CB15 meeting on June 15 at which the final confirmation will be made that the B74 bus will not be extended.  Neither will there be any

light changes or turn changes.  The Hastings St. bus stop will be restored.

• We do not have inclusionary (affordable) housing in CB 15. 
• On June 10 at noon there will be a rally at City Hall to protest cuts in community board budgets.

Announcements

The Menorah Home has an adult day care center that provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, breakfast, lunch and snacks for 40 people from 8:30-1:30.  A 16-bed hospice residence with family rooms is under construction.

The 25^th Annual Gathering and Exhibit of the Holocaust Memorial Committee will be held on Sunday, June 14 at noon at the Holocaust Memorial Park, Shore Blvd and Emmons Avenue at Sheepshead Bay.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 PM

Next meeting of the Manhattan Beach Community Group Board of Directors

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 8:00 pm at PS 195

MANHATTAN BEACH COMMUNITY GROUP TRAFFIC COMMITTEE

MEMO

As reported to the Board of Directors at the MBCG meeting on May 20, a meeting
was held with the MTA on May 18th.  The meeting, chaired by Community Board
Chairperson, Theresa Scavo, concerned the restoration of the bus stop on
Oriental Boulevard and Hastings Street. The MTA along with members of the
Community Board Transportation Committee and members of the MBCG discussed the
disappearance of this bus stop–how it disappeared—and its restoration prior
to the summer beach season. 

It is fair to say that, at times, City government works at a snails pace. 
However, this is not the case in this instance.  We are pleased to inform you
that the bus stop has been restored. 

Many thanks to all who participated, wrote letters (badgered the MTA, in one
instance)attended the meeting and gave us the support we needed in order to
provide for the safety of beach-goers as well as MB residents.  Special thanks
to Theresa Scavo who never gave up on this project and who worked with our
President in order to accomplish this goal.

Judy Baron for the Traffic Committee