Thursday, May 19, 2016

Recycle Your E-Waste at P.S. 29 This Saturday

The Lower East Side Ecology Center is holding an e-waste drop off event this Sunday at P.S. 29 from 10am - 4pm. You can bring old phones, computers, batteries, light bulbs, and other defunct electronics for them to be recycled or properly disposed of through the Gowanus E-Waste Warehouse. Event details and flyer below:

E-Waste Drop Off with LES Ecology Center
Sunday, May 22nd
10:00am - 4:00pm
at P.S. 29 on Baltic Street between Henry and Clinton


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

MTA Announces Express F Service to Return in 2017

On Tuesday the MTA announced that express service is set to return to the F line in Brooklyn beginning this summer and with full implementation in 2017. Express service was cancelled in 1987, but due to a political campaign led by City Council Member David Greenfield, who represents Borough Park, it will be reinstated during rush hour.

The change will save time for many south Brooklyn commuters, but it does mean that express trains will skip Bergen Street, Carroll Street, 4th Ave - Smith Street, and 4th Ave - 9th Street. According to the MTA's ridership data (below) these are some of the most heavily used F stations in Brooklyn. Every other train will go express, and since MTA is unable to run additional trains that means a 50% service reduction at local stations.

In MTA's analysis express stop riders will save an average of 3.4 minutes on trips into Manhattan, while local stop riders will add 1.3 minutes to their trip. In exchange, the agency claims local trains will be less crowded, which may be attractive to Bergen Street riders who sometimes must let packed trains pass them by.

Our local representatives Council Member Lander, State Senator Daniel Squadron, and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon released a joint statement with other officials expressing dismay at the decision and the MTA's opaque process.

Bergen Street has an express platform on the lower level that has sat defunct for years. The $75 million renovation required to open it to the public means it will not be an option MTA considers any time soon.

2015 MTA ridership data. Express stops in red.
All The MTA's Depressing Details About F Train Express, Like 50% Less Peak Service For Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens | Gothamist
(Includes full text of statements from officials in support and against)
Report: Feasibility and Analysis of F Express Service in Brooklyn | MTA

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Citibike to Present Its CB6 Locations on Thursday

The Community Board Six Transportation & Public Safety Committee will meet on Thursday evening at 6:30pm at the P.S. 58 auditorium. Items on the agenda include:
  • Presentation and discussion with representatives of the Kings County District Attorney's Frauds Bureau and Police Department on the prevention and reporting of debit/credit card and ID theft.
  • Rescheduled update and presentation on the Department of Transportation's plans to roll-out CitiBike, the City's bike share program, to the district.
  • Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Department of Transportation on a proposal to upgrade the existing Bond Street bicycle lane in the district.
The Citibike presentation is on this month's schedule after being postponed at March's meeting. The Committee expects the company to present it's final locations after conducting community outreach about station locations beginning last summer. Last fall, the Cobble Hill Association worked with CB6 to submit feedback based on local input to Citibike and the DOT about the docks slated for our neighborhood. See the results at this Thursday's meeting.

CB6 Transportation and Public Safety Committee Meeting
Thursday, May 19 at 6:30pm
P.S. 58 Auditorium 
330 Smith Street at 1st Place

Friday, May 13, 2016

Welcome to the New Board

At the Spring General Meeting of the Cobble Hill Association Wednesday night, the following officers were elected to a two-year term, effective immediately:

Amy Breedlove, President
Michael Epstein, First Vice President
George Sanchez, Second Vice President
Charles “Chip” McEnhill, Treasurer
Leslie Cohen, Membership Secretary
Bennette Kramer, Recording Secretary
Susan Mulcahy, Corresponding Secretary

Please lend them your support and offer help where and when you are able. We, former members of your Board, will be doing the same. There will be significant challenges ahead but, as we heard from Councilman Lander, our strength is found in our active and unified community.

It has been a privilege to meet so many neighbors during my time on the board and I look forward to working closely with the new team.

With sincere congratulations from former members of the CHA board and best wishes for the new board going forward as they work to represent our community,

Laurel Burr

Friday, May 6, 2016

Spring General Meeting on Wednesday, May 11th

Come to the Cobble Hill Association Spring General Meeting this Wednesday, May 11th. Along with neighborhood updates, we will discuss developments at the Fortis site with Council Member Brad Lander, and vote in the 2016-2017 CHA Executive Board. On the agenda:
  • The current board will provide a brief update.
  • We will hold the election of new officers.
  • Council Member Brad Lander will recap How We Got to Now on the Fortis/LICH
  • Richard Bearak will provide an overview of the ULURP process.
  • Richard is the Director of Land Use for the Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams.
All are welcome. Voting is open to everyone who is current (2016) on their membership dues and a resident or business owner within the Cobble Hill Historic District.

To join or renew your membership, visit: http://nycharities.org/app/cha/ 

Cobble Hill Spring General Meeting
Wednesday, May 11th at 7:00pm
P.S. 29, 425 Henry St 
(between Baltic and Kane Streets)

“This activity is not sponsored or endorsed by the New York City Department of Education or the City of New York.”