From the December 2011 Civic News article, “Ten Years Ago in the Slope (…and 20 and 30, Too), December 2011.” Return to main article.
January-February 2002
President’s Perspective
We all recognize that this year is different from any other. We have all been touched by the events of September 11th, and it is no surprise that we could be expected to be more understanding and generous to each other. This new spirit of generosity has been demonstrated by the tremendous success of the Civic Council’s Annual Toy Drive and the wonderful Holiday Concert, which we co-sponsored this year.
Each year the Civic Council, in conjunction with the Cub Scout Pack at Old First Church, decorates the collection boxes for new toys to be donated to various local charitable organizations. This year our own Trustee Mort Fleischer, who coordinated the effort, expanded the locations to include Back to the Land Natural Food and Johnny Mack’s Restaurant. This little bit of genius, together with the higher level of generosity in the community, caused the boxes to fill and fill and fill. Several hundred toys were donated at Johnny Mack’s in memory of Capt. Vincent Brunton of Ladder Company 105. And, the manager of Back to the Land could barely empty its box fast enough so that there was space for more donations. Numerous vans loaded with donations were distributed to CHIPS, Park Slope Neighborhood Family Center and former Senator Marty Markowitz’s annual party for low-income families. Thanks, also, to Tom Keough, the Cub Scout Leader at Old First, who is doing an outstanding job of giving very young kids the valuable lesson of being good citizens.
Speaking of CHIPS (the soup kitchen at 200 Fourth Avenue), those of us who had the pleasure of dropping off toys the day of their holiday party got a firsthand look at how Sister Mary and her volunteers have transformed this once humble soup kitchen into a formidable, professional operation. That day a group of volunteer cooking students from New York Technical College and their instructors were working away: the aromas from the kitchen were extraordinary, as were the donations from the Tech community to affect this holiday gift to the CHIPS community.
Ethan Schlesser, director of the Brooklyn Youth Vocal Ensemble, solicited the Civic Council and the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce to be the sponsors of the Jtn.qle Bell Ja.Irlboree, a free concert at Old First Church on December 16th. This was a no-lose situation for the Civic Council, particularly as the Toy Drive was the beneficiary that afternoon of hundreds of donated toys. But just as important, the community was treated to the talented choirs from the Berkeley Carroll School, the P.S. 321 chorus, and the Brooklyn Youth Vocal Ensemble. Also performing were the dance troupes from Spoke the Hub and Children Helping Children. This concert was one of those unique events which brings people together from public and private schools in a collaborative spirit and has the potential for being an annual event we can all look forward to.
We have left 2001. I look back to the successful activities the Civic Council has been a part of. And, I wish to thank the Trustees who have been generous with their time and dedication, the Merchants who have stepped up to help when asked, and the members of the community who have carried on the Park Slope tradition of civic involvement. There remains much to look forward to and I encourage everyone to continue their good work.
February-March 2002
President’s Perspective
This year the Parks Department is targeted for a 10% budget cut and there will be no seasonal workers hired to maintain the ballfields or playgrounds. Cultural institutions are looking at a 15% budget cut across the board. The Park Slope Volunteer Ambulance Corps has managed to survive but it must raise $40,000 to pay for the insurance alone.
These are the kinds of gloomy facts that you notice when you become involved in civic affairs. Nonetheless, we have had downturns in the economy before and we know that we will work harder (and donate more) to help these causes get through and beyond their problems. What is more difficult to accept is that the bad economic news comes at a time when the political and judicial systems operating in Brooklyn are an absolute embarrassment. Each week has brought news of questionable, if not disgraceful, conduct from downtown Brooklyn which is impossible to ignore any longer.
First we learn that the District Attorney has created a community liaison position costing taxpayers upwards of $100,000 to benefit a political friend. Moments later we see the despicable scene of a Supreme Court judge being indicted for an alleged $100,000 bribe incident (and I hear rumors of more of this to come). Now, the ten year cycle of redistricting shenanigans is getting in gear along with the charade of public hearings in which the public will have no more bearing on the pre-ordained, backroom decision making process. Finally, the State Senate seat vacated by Marty Markowitz’s elevation to Borough President (one bit of good news) is being filled by an almost invisible “special” election in which it was hardly worth the trouble to vote (and I never thought I would ever think this about an election).
Park Slope will rally around our charitable and cultural institutions and the Park will pull through (although let us hope we are not revisited by 1970’s style decay) and the upcoming fundraiser for the Volunteer Ambulance Corps will no doubt be well attended (this is a subtle encouragement to attend). What we must think about and be equally vigilant towards is rooting out the overt corrupt practices as well as the less obvious, self-serving undemocratic practices which have crept into the fabric of our system.
Certain changes are obviously necessary, such as:
- a complete revamping of the judicial selection process;
- accountability from elected officials must be demanded;
- civic groups and concerned citizens must lobby for far reaching reforms.
If we do not it will only be more of an embarrassment.
March-April 2002
President’s Perspective
It is time for the Civic Council to accept a well deserved “pat on the hack.” Through the hard work of its Trustees — a most complete effort — (1) a successful public forum was held to tackle the issues of garbage, litter and graffiti, and (2) an important set of improvements related to the traffic nightmare that is Bartel Pritchard Square have been obtained.
At our CleanStreets Project forum held on March 7th at the Old First Church over one hundred concerned citizens came to participate in a thoughtful and productive discussion: suggestions and ideas were offered in a most poignant way as to how we, as the Park Slope community, can make progress in the growing problem of overflowing garbage cans, the unsightly plastic flyer boxes, the ever present scourge of graffiti and general litter conditions along Seventh Avenue and immediate environs. The quality of the questions and the expertise of the panelists (including Dept. of Sanitation Boro Supervisor Charles Herst, CB6 Manager Craig Hammerman, Park Slope Chamber of Commerce (our forum co-sponsor) President Fonda Sara, and all our local elected officials indicated a high degree of possibility in making the necessary progress on the various CleanStreets Project agendas. This public meeting met Websters delineation of “a service rendered in the public interest.”
Within two days of the forum, the corner of Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street (believe it or not, all four corners) were suddenly graffiti, litter, and garbage free: one merchant (Key Food) and two residents have provided the community with an absolute model of what’s doable!!!
The Bartel Pritchard traffic problem (the dangerous pedestrian crossings at all the corners) has been improved, based on changes which are being implemented by DOT (NYC Dept. of Transportation). With the threat of a full throttle street demonstration in February, DOT promised a review of the Bartel Pritchard traffic patterns. According to the press release from Borough President Marty Markowitz as we go to press, “dedicated pedestrian crossings” — allowing a full 30 second right of way to cross the three intersections which have existent traffic lights — will be the norm beginning March 25th. This is an improvement over the frightening situation in which vehicles merged into pedestrian crossings while people were trying to cross.
The traffic improvements are valuable changes, and our Trustee Barbara Barran deserves much credit for her lengthy pursuit of this issue. Still, there are many of us who continue to insist that a traffic light be installed at the 15th Street intersection, to make crossing this dangerous intersection possible.
The expression “many shoulders make for easy lifting” is amply demonstrated by the successes which the Civic Council has recently had when it has gotten behind an issue. The individual trustees who have publicized these events, sent press releases, lobbied our elected officials and prepared this newsletter all deserve credit.
Keep up the good work.