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

"Harms More People Than It Helps": Brooklyn Officials Angry About F Train Express | Gothamist

(Includes full text of statements from officials in support and against)

Report: Feasibility and Analysis of F Express Service in Brooklyn | MTA

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.”

Participatory Budgeting Vote Week is Coming Up!

Participatory Budgeting is back for its fifth year with a new set of proposals! This NYC Council initiative encourages its members to set aside a portion of their budget dedicated to funding proposals that are created, and voted on, by their constituents. Our representative Brad Lander was among the first four Council Members to bring this innovative process of community engagement to New York, and this year he will be joined by 27 of his peers.

Council Member Lander's office accepted proposals for PB capital projects through the fall. Since then, volunteer budget delegates have refined the proposals and had vetted them with the relevant city agencies. The 13 projects below will appear on the 2016 District 39 PB ballot, competing for $1.5 million in funds that CM Lander dedicated to the process. Any District 39 resident 14 years or older may vote for up to 5 proposals. Participants do not have to be a registered voters, they must only show proof of address.

• Create New Teen Space at Carroll Gardens Library
• Beautify Outdoor Space at Borough Park Library
• "Mobile Studios" for Artists and Orgs in Gowanus
• Retrofit 75 Auditorium Lights for Safety at PS 282
• PS 124 Dye Garden/Makerspace STEAM Enrichments 
• West Brooklyn Community HS Portable Laptop Lab
• New “Lake Mess Monster,” an aquatic weed harvester
• Year-round, freeze-resistant drinking fountains along Prospect Park Drive
• New Kensington Dog Run: Areas for Big and Small Dogs
• Curb extension & safer crossing near Carroll Park
• Pedestrian safety: Curb extension on Columbia St
• Replace painted cross-hatch with concrete on PPSW
• "Bus Clocks” on B67/B69: see when bus will arrive!

To view the full ballot with price estimates and short descriptions, visit: bradlander.nyc/2016-pbnyc-ballot

Participatory Budgeting Vote Week
March 28 - April 3
See here for the full list of voting sites

PBNYC Expo & Vote Kick Off
Tuesday, March 29th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Park Slope Library
431 6th Ave., between 8th St. and 9th St.

The Voting times at our closest locations:
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon St. (at Court St)
Monday, March 28 - Friday, April 1
10am - 5pm

Carroll Gardens Library
396 Clinton St at Union St
Saturday, April 2
10 am – 6 pm

If you're interested in volunteering to help get out the vote, or run a voting site, visit: http://bradlander.nyc/pbVolunteer.

Watch this video for more about PBNYC

An Update on the Proposed Redevelopment of the LICH site

A few days before Christmas, the Cobble Hill Association and all the elected officials who have been involved on the community’s behalf were asked to attend a meeting at City Hall because Mayor de Blasio's administration was taking a direct interest in the redevelopment process and had a new ULURP proposal to present.

The CHA agreed to participate in the meeting so we could understand the new ULURP proposal as fully as possible.  We made it clear to the administration that we were not indicating any acceptance or agreement with City Hall or Fortis as part of the process of information gathering that the meeting represented.

CHA representatives had also attended a December meeting where NYU described their plans for the new medical center to be developed on the former LICH site, regardless of what type of residential development occurs.  After this meeting, CHA and the Brooklyn Heights Association, which also attended, sent a letter to NYU outlining a number of concerns about infrastructure issues relating to the medical center.

In the pre-Christmas City Hall meeting, two members of the de Blasio administration outlined a new ULURP plan that includes a reduction in market-rate residential and affordable housing square footage, but a larger school than previously proposed.  During the meeting, CHA representatives made it clear that the plan does not fully address the community's issues with the original ULURP proposal, and that our information from the NYU meeting and the proposal of a larger school raised many infrastructure- and traffic-related issues.  The City Hall representatives asked that the CHA to develop a list of information requirements and that we attend a second meeting early in the new year.

The list of information requirements requested after the first City Hall meeting included questions relating to basic infrastructure issues, such as traffic, parking, safety, access and entrances to the medical center and school, and other subjects relating to neighborhood open spaces and environmental issues.  At the post-New Year meeting at City Hall, some information was provided and additional information promised.

CHA is continuing to pursue information gathering on all the elements of the new ULURP plan and intends to communicate its best understanding of the plan to the community at the earliest possible time.

It's Petition Delivery Time!

Let's deliver our message to Mayor de Blasio together. 

Date:  Wednesday morning, December 16th
Time:  9:15 am
Where: In front of the gates of City Hall Park, Broadway at Murray Street.
How:   4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall, R to City Hall, A/C to Chambers, or 2/3 to Park Place

Bring ID.

Can you make it?  Your presence will have an impact.  If you can be there, an email confirmation would be appreciated. Send your RSVPs to CobbleHillAssociation@gmail.com.

On Wednesday morning, City Councilman Brad Lander and State Senator Daniel Squadron will stand with Cobble Hill residents (and neighbors!) to deliver over 2017 signed petitions to City Hall.   (We actually have more than that but the number should have special significance for the Mayor.)  Our request is simple:  we want a better plan for the Long Island College Hospital site.
Bring one of the Save Cobble Hill posters or make your own, Just keep it family friendly!

THANK YOU for your efforts!  Every voice counts and is vital in our efforts to convince the de Blasio administration to listen and respond to our concerns.  We hope to see you Wednesday morning!

The Cobble Hill Community and its Representatives Reject Fortis Redevelopment Plans for LICH site

City Councilman Brad Lander, New York Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, and New York Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez announced at the Cobble Hill Association's fall community meeting that they would not support the current proposed rezoning (ULURP) plans for the former Long Island College Hospital site. "The community does not support this ULURP proposal— and neither do I," Councilman Lander told his constituents, who filled the auditorium of P.S. 29 and also spoke passionately against the Fortis plans, which feature luxury high-rise towers of at least 35 stories.  Cobble Hill Association President Laurel Burr and First Vice President Buzz Doherty also reported that, after holding nearly 20 block meetings to discuss the Fortis proposals, there was a clear consensus within the community that the redevelopment plans were unacceptable and needed to be significantly downscaled to win neighborhood approval. The CHA would like to thank our representatives for their work on behalf of Cobble Hill and our President Laurel Burr for her tireless efforts to mobilize community action on this vital issue. Please follow us on Facebook for the latest developments. 

CHA attends meeting with Councilman Brad Lander and other community organizations to discuss affordable housing

As reported on DNAinfo's website, on November 5 the Cobble Hill Association participated in a meeting organized by City Councilman Brad Lander on the subject of affordable housing as it relates to the needs of the community and the current proposals for the redevelopment of the Long Island College Hospital site. A representative of Assembly member Jo Anne Simon's office; representatives of the Carroll Gardens Association, which works to preserve and develop affordable housing; Heights & Hills, which provides support services to Brooklyn's senior citizens; the Brooklyn Heights Association; representatives of Fortis, the developer of the LICH site; and other stakeholders were also in attendance.

The meeting served to educate community groups and stakeholders in the LICH development about the many intricacies involved in building and maintaining affordable housing units within a luxury high-rise development, including income levels, senior services, apartment size, preferences for certain groups, etc. The developer is proposing affordable housing in two of the high-rise towers they are seeking to build (the tallest of which is 35 stories), one housing primarily seniors. However, the representative of Heights and Hills, which has served seniors for decades, asked a number of thoughtful questions about the senior housing component of Fortis's current proposal and it was clear that Fortis and its partner L&M Development have not made any final decisions about the exact nature of the senior housing or the other proposed affordable units.

CHA is not opposed to affordable housing in any development plan, as long as it is affordable and acceptable to the community. As Council Lander has stated: "The proposals are deeply disturbing to most neighbors, and for good reason: they are dramatically out-of-scale with the Cobble Hill community." A historic brownstone neighborhood with a 50-foot height limit will be overwhelmed by a multi-tower residential complex with heights of up to 400 feet.

On November 18, CHA will hold its fall community meeting. The time and location are TBA. In the meantime, please "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for latest developments.

Participatory Budgeting Returns

What is Participatory Budgeting? from PBP on Vimeo.

Participatory budgeting is back this year offering residents the opportunity to tell our City Council Members what we want done in our communities. Over the next few weeks Council Member Brad Lander's office will be holding meetings to seek capital project proposals that total $1.5 million. Twenty four of the city's representatives have opted in to allot funds to PB, now in it's fifth year. For more information see CM Brad Lander's participatory budgeting page here. The first PB workshop is next Wednesday (details below). You may also contact the Council Member's office directly.

PB Assembly at PS 118

Wednesday, September 30th

6:30-8:30 p.m.

211 8th St (near 4th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY

RSVP for the PS 118 Assembly here.

CHA Response to Fortis' Current Plans

Here is the complete text of the Cobble Hill Association’s response to the Fortis As-of-Right and ULURP Proposals (as they were presented on May 18, 2015). This was first presented on July 14, 2015 to local elected officials including Council Member Brad Lander, State Assemblywoman JoAnne Simon, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, Council Member Levin’s deputy chief of staff, Casey Adams, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s Brooklyn director, Dan Wiley, Brooklyn Community Board 6 and the Fortis Property Group development team. This was also handed out in printed form at the meeting held by Council Member Lander on August 6th.

CitiBike is Coming Soon and Seeks Feedback on Station Locations

After a rocky first year CitiBike is now expanding its service area. New docking stations have already opened up in Long Island City with more slated to arrive in Bed Stuy later this month. This phase of expansion will also include Community Board Six, covering all of Cobble Hill. This can't come too soon for some of our more transit deprived neighbors in Red Hook and Gowanus. The company is currently gathering local feedback on the new stations' proposed locations.

On June 11 CitiBike held a public planning workshop at PS 58, where it unveiled the CB6 proposed station map available here. Brad Lander has joined the DOT to solicit community feedback on these dock locations through an online form available here. Use the form to tell CitiBike which location in your sector is best, and which ones just won't work.

Once they receive the community's comments CitiBike will prepare its final location proposals with the DOT, and present them to Community Board 6. The bike share says stations will be open by the end of 2017. Yearly memberships have increased to $149 per year, but to promote the expansion customers will save $25 by signing up before the end of August.

LICH Meeting Recap

Thank you to all who came out to the first meeting with our elected officials and the LICH Developer, Fortis. While the meeting was organized by our local elected officials, the CHA turned out over 200 people with door to door flyer efforts. The CHA presented a strong community consensus document which outlined the major, as well as very specific, areas of concern. A video of the meeting will be posted on YouTube and made available here. We have requested that future meetings occur after the Labor Day holiday, which our elected officials are now working on.

More coverage of Thursday night's meeting:
VIDEO: Pros & cons for LICH site hi-rises aired in Cobble Hill 
- Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Controversial Conversion of Cobble Hill Hospital Chugs Along 

- Curbed NY

'Out-of-Scale' LICH Towers Will Overburden Neighborhood, Locals Warn 

- DNAinfo

Cobble Hill Locals Not Happy with Proposed High-Rise Condo Towers 

- Habitat Magazine

Announcing an Important Public Meeting for the LICH Development Site

Thursday, August 6 from 6:30 to 8:30pm

at the Brooklyn Montessori School

at 185 Court Street (at Bergen Street)

This meeting will include a brief presentation of the options put forth by Fortis, followed by opportunities for community feedback and discussion. All are invited to attend.

The Cobble Hill Association would like to extend our special thanks to Council Members Brad Lander and Steve Levin, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Assembly Woman Jo Ann Simon, and Congress Woman Nydia Velézquez for all their hard work in decveloping htis process, and also to the Fortis Property Group for their commitment to work with the community.
- - - -
Here is Friday's press release:

July 24, 2015: NYC Council Member Brad Lander, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, NYS Senator Daniel Squadron, NYS Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, NYC Council Member Stephen Levin, Brooklyn Community Board 6, and the Cobble Hill Association issued the following statement regarding the future of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) Site:

“Local elected officials, Community Board 6, and the Cobble Hill Association are working together to involve the community in the future of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) site.

Fortis Property Group, LLC was selected to purchase the LICH campus through an RFP process managed by the State University of New York, after it decided to close LICH. This process was staunchly opposed by elected officials and community organizations.

To date, Fortis has indicated that two options exist for the redevelopment of the core LICH site: (a) an “as-of-right” option, which does not require discretionary public approvals, which would include about 400 market-rate units, and (b) a rezoning or “ULURP” option, which would roughly double the number of residential units and include affordable housing units, space for a public school, increased park space and more small retail opportunities. A rezoning would require review by the Community Board, Borough President, and City Planning Commission, and approval by the City Council.

Both of the proposed options present development that is dramatically out-of-scale with the adjacent Cobble Hill Historic District, which has a height limit of 50 feet (in each case, the tallest building Fortis proposes would be over 40 stories). In either scenario, NYU Langone will also build an approximately 108,000 sq. ft. health center at the corner of Atlantic and Hicks.

We will continue to work together to ensure all of the community’s options are explored. This working group will help organize public dialogue about the options. It is not a decision-making body, and will not recommend that Fortis pursue a particular option. Rather it will organize forums where residents, businesses, and stakeholders (including the Brooklyn Heights Association and Atlantic Avenue BID, both of whom represent areas adjacent to the LICH site) can learn more about the various options, weigh in on Fortis’ potential development options, propose alternatives, and provide community feedback. All stakeholders (elected officials, the community board, community organizations, individuals, etc.) will ultimately make their own decisions about Fortis’ proposals.

Over the next 2-3 months, the working group will organize several open, public meetings where Fortis will present their proposals and consider feedback, as well as several smaller meetings with stakeholders to drill-down on specific issues including: urban design, parks/open space, retail/commercial, the health care facility, the potential public school, potential affordable housing, and traffic/parking/transit and other infrastructure concerns.

A public meeting will take place the evening of Thursday August 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Brooklyn Montessori School at 185 Court Street, at Bergen Street, in Cobble Hill. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the options put forth by Fortis, followed by opportunities for community feedback and discussion. All are welcome to attend."

What is ULURP?

One week from today, join the Cobble Hill Association for an important discussion about ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure). It is a key component of possible scenarios Fortis would like to see happen in Cobble Hill as they further their development plans for the former LICH property. Join the meeting to learn more and be able to make better informed decisions about the future of Cobble Hill.

LICH Development Survey

Last night, the Cobble Hill Association held its Spring General meeting to discuss our development guidelines for pending development at the former Long Island College Hospital site. The developers, Fortis, also joined and made their first proposal to the community by showing an as of right option and a rezoning (ULURP) option. Read summaries of the meeting at the links below.
DNAinfo - Soaring Towers Enrage Neighbors
Star Revue - Cobble Hill to Change Forever
BK Paper - Towers in Cobble Hill
Gothamist - Cobble Hill Locals Declare War
Curbed - LICH's hated residential conversion

Please read those for background, but also please offer us your final comments on the Association's own development guidelines. While they were very well received by the 100+ community members in attendance last night, we want to offer more time for people who could not attend to still weigh in.

Cobble Hill Skyscrapers?

Please join us for our Spring General Meeting this Monday, May 18th at 7:30pm.  The evening will be chock full of neighborhood updates, refreshments from Ted & Honey, a few words from our local 76th precinct police captain, and a deep spotlight on imminent development and construction at LICH.

We've also received word that Fortis, the developers who now own LICH properties, will be on hand to present some early ideas and begin a fruitful community discussion.  As-of right development scenarios could legally bring 40 story towers to our neighborhood's low rise feel. Rezoning ideas already being floated could double the amount of square footage built and change the configurations of our area's beloved children's parks along Henry Street.

It is vitally important for the neighborhood to come to the meeting, hear the ideas, and be an active part of the conversation to ensure whatever gets built is a clear benefit to the community.

LICH Development Updates & more

Be sure to come to the Spring General Meeting - Monday, May 18th @ 7:30pm - for Cobble Hill neighborhood updates, including a focused discussion on guidelines for development on the former site of Long Island College Hospital.

Reminder: Vote for a safer Hicks Street

Make sure you've got next week's voting times and dates on your calendar as Participatory Budgeting is right around the bend. This is your chance to decide how $1.5 million will be spent in the 39th District Council and a great way to ensure a long planned, much-needed safety improvement on Hicks Street comes to fruition.

It would continue upon past efforts in which we worked with the Councilman and Department of Transportation to install painted curb extensions on Hicks as part of a traffic calming treatment. Those changes have increased safety but are not yet permanent. We hope to see that paint turn to concrete and need your vote to make it happen.

Four Safer Intersections on Hicks Street
$300,000
Augment an existing project to make painted curb extensions permanent with concrete, at four high-crash intersections: Kane, Sackett, Union, and Summit Streets. Improve pedestrian & traffic safety.
Location: Hicks St b/w Kane & Summit Sts (Cobble Hill & Carroll Gardens)

Expo and Vote Kick-Off
Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 – 8:30 pm339 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY
Those in attendance will be able to cast their ballot at the event.

Local Voting Location

Tuesday, April 14th – Thursday, April 16

8 am – 7 pm
@ Brad Lander's District Office
456 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, between 9th and 10th Sts

Saturday April 18
10 am – 6 pm
Carroll Gardens Library, 396 Clinton St at Union St

Sunday April 19
10 am – 6 pm
Carroll Park House, Smith St between President and Carroll Sts

Even if you are not a registered voter you can vote in the PB elections. You need either an ID, a utility bill, or some other documentation stating your address.

Councilman Brad Lander & members of the CHA stand in a painted curb extension on Hicks Street

Vote for a Safer Hicks Street during Participatory Budgeting

The Participatory Budgeting process gives New Yorkers the power to decide how to spend tax dollars in our neighborhoods. Over the past three years, thousands of have given ideas, researched needs, developed proposals, and come out to vote. This year 24 different Council Members have opted in to the program. Local Councilman Brad Lander was an early supporter of this process and already funded 22 projects throughout the 39th Council district. This year, he is increasing his commitment from $1 million dollars to $1.5 million dollars. 

The Cobble Hill Association hopes some of that money comes to our area to fund a much needed street safety improvement to Hicks Streets. It would continue upon past efforts in which we worked with the Councilman and Department of Transportation to install painted curb extensions on Hicks as part of a traffic calming treatment. Those changes have increased safety but are not yet permanent. We hope to see that paint turn to concrete and need your vote to make it happen. 

Please see the project summary and voting calendar below. With your help, Cobble Hill & Carroll Gardens can give Hicks Street the safety treatment it needs.

Four Safer Intersections on Hicks Street
$300,000
Augment an existing project to make painted curb extensions permanent with concrete, at four high-crash intersections: Kane, Sackett, Union, and Summit Streets. Improve pedestrian & traffic safety.
Location: Hicks St b/w Kane & Summit Sts (Cobble Hill & Carroll Gardens)

Expo and Vote Kick-Off
Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 – 8:30 pm339 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY
Those in attendance will be able to cast their ballot at the event.

Local Voting Location

Tuesday, April 14th – Thursday, April 16

8 am – 7 pm
@ Brad Lander's District Office
456 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, between 9th and 10th Sts

Saturday April 18
10 am – 6 pm
Carroll Gardens Library, 396 Clinton St at Union St

Sunday April 19
10 am – 6 pm
Carroll Park House, Smith St between President and Carroll Sts

Even if you are not a registered voter you can vote in the PB elections. You need either an ID, a utility bill, or some other documentation stating your address.

Councilman Brad Lander & members of the CHA stand in a painted curb extension on Hicks Street

Atlantic Avenue deserves access to Governor's Island

Governor's Island has become a unique attraction that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors with park space, art, food, and more. Wonderfully it sits just a few hundred yards award from Brooklyn. However accessing it is difficult. From Brooklyn, you can only get to Governors Island on weekends, and only in the summer.

Last week local Councilman Brad Lander sent out a petition hoping to fix that. It is of particular concern now because of Mayor de Blasio's recent announcement to expand NYC’s ferry service in his State of the City. It is a bold step forward in transportation options for the city however it did not include a Brooklyn-to-Governors-Island link...yet.

If you think Brooklyn deserves equal access to Governors Island, take a moment to sign Councilman Lander's petition.

Update from January's 76th Precinct Community Council Meeting

Last week the 76th precinct held its first meeting of 2015. Though controversial issues have thrust NYPD into the headlines recently, the vast majority of the agency's fine work goes under-reported and under-appreciated.  Thankfully, the packed room of attendees - including State Senator Daniel Squadron, Councilman Brad Lander, and representatives from both Councilman Carlos Menchaca and Assemblyman Felix Ortiz - made it clear the our community greatly appreciates the work of Captain Justin Lenz and his officers putting themselves in harm's way for our safety.

Recapping 2014 included many positive highlights within the 76th precinct including
- Crime is down by 1.6% when compared to 2013. (633 crimes in '14 vs. 643 in '13)
- The 76th had had the 5th lowest overall crime across precinct's city
- There was a 19% drop in robberies in the 76th precinct. (85 such crimes in 2014 vs 105 in 2013.)
- There were 5 local shootings in 2014 (including 1 homicide in Red Hook, where the community offered tremendous support and tips to detectives)
- The category accounting for the biggest share of local crime was grand larceny. This includes identity theft, fraudulent checks, scam emails etc. Without these incidents, the 76th would have had 150 less crimes.
- There were just 6 transit crimes in the Transit District 30 area.
- Public Housing areas saw reduced crime as well: 91 in Red Hook houses and just 40 in the Gowanus houses.
- Vision Zero focus key for Captain Lenz.  Both vehicle collisions and pedestrian injuries were down 10% when compared to 2013. Also more officers were trained to do speed enforcement and that meant there was 122% increase in speeding citations (288 in 2014). Capt Lenz also noted a 36% increases in failure to yield infractions, and overall more enforcement of bike lane blocking and double parking.
- What was especially interesting was hearing him say "I took away officers discretion to NOT get involved." They can use their judgement whether or not to issue the ticket but he said he wanted them to always get involved when they saw a potential hazard and so there were plenty more double parked cars that officers simply cleared away without stopping to write tickets.
- The precinct will only be getting 6 new officers from the newest class of recruits.
- This year will have 50 school crossing guards (over 47 last year).

Next month's community council meeting will again be at 7:30pm, February 3rd at the precinct.