Please be aware that Saturday's Town Hall meeting of the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association has been moved -- it will take place at 1 PM Emanuel Church of Christ at 91st Avenue and Woodhaven Boulevard. (Did you know that Emanuel is celebrating their 135th Anniversary this year?)
Should be a very interesting meeting -- we anticipate meeting at least 2 of the candidates for Congress -- we'll be handing over a check for the money the residents of Woodhaven raised for the Woodhaven Volunteer Ambulance Corps -- we have a special guest from the School Sisters of notre Dame coming by to say hello -- and we'll discuss what we learned from the 311 fundraiser -- and we'll be announcing big plans for graffiti cleanup (and a big statement on enforcement).
Being we are on the other side of Woodhaven for a change, we hope that some of you will take the opportunity to come out to meet your friends and neighbors and be a part of the community. The WRBA is a collection of Woodhaven Residents who work to improve our community -- read about our accomplishemnts and positions by clicking here.
The WRBA continues to thrive and survive on minimal funding. We do ask our residents to try and join -- it's low cost and membership adds up to keep the organization alive. Join at the next meeting you attend, or click here to join online.
The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association is sponsoring a neighborhood Block Party on Saturday, June 23rd from 11AM to 6PM at the Picnic Grove in Forest Park, near the Seuffert Band Shell. Cold soda, hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided to members -- but EVERYONE is invited to come and enjoy an old-fashioned Block Party.
Throughout the day we will be having "workshops" for the kids on how to play some of the classic games of our youth -- including May I, Simon Sez, Ringoleavio and Skully. Somehow, we can see a few of the adults getting down on the ground to flick bottlecaps around!
And, if all goes as we expect (and hope) the kids will have one of the all-time best rides right across the street -- The Forest Park Carousel.
Around 1:30 we'll be having a small awards ceremony to honor locals residents who have contributed to the community. And throughout the day we'll have a running Woodhaven Trivia game going between tables (or groups) with a grand prize of a complete set of Woodhaven History Books (including the famous "History of Woodhaven and Ozone Park"), courtesy of the Woodhaven Historical Society.
There is no cost, this is not a fundraiser -- just come out and have fun with your friends and neighbors.
Please RSVP with a number of attendees by June 10th so we can plan accordingly -- open to all Woodhaven Residents, present and past -- as well as friends of Woodhaven -- e-mail us at info@woodhaven-nyc.org.
The residents of Woodhaven are ushering in the a season by doing a little Spring cleaning, and raising a little cash for the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps at the same time!
The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association will be holding their first ever "311 Day" on Saturday, March 31st. On that day we will ask residents to take a walk -- literally. Go outside and walk around your block. Make it two or three blocks, further if you feel ambitious. And make note of every single reportable condition you see.
Look for graffiti on the walls of private homes, or on the doors of garages. Look for potholes that need repaired, or other dangerous conditions. Look for abandoned homes or illegal conversions. Basically, make note of anything around your house that has a negative impact on our community. Write down a description and write down the precise location.
Once you get home, start calling each and every item into 311 - but please make sure you write down each complaint number and pass them along to the WRBA. In some cases, you may get passed along to a different agency (e.g., Buildings Department, or Con Ed), write down the complaint number they give you. And if you collect so many complaints that you don't have time to report them all, send them to us because we will have volunteers standing by to call them in. Our goal is to report at least 100 separate items in a single day. One hundred items in Woodhaven that need to be corrected, cleaned or repaired. As you walk or drive around this neighborhood we're sure you see plenty of things that need cleaned up or fixed. Well, it isn't going to happen if it doesn't get reported.
Once we're finished, we will follow-up on each of these items at the end of every month and publish statistics on how many of them have been addressed. This will be our way of determining how well the 311 system works for us. The city is supposed to clean up graffiti within 35 days of it being reported. We will see how well they are living up to their own standards.
So far, so good - but here is where it gets really interesting. We have a few sponsors who are supporting our efforts to clean up Woodhaven. For example, some folks are pledging to give ten cents per 311 call made. So if the residents end up reporting 100 conditions, that person would be on the hook for 10 bucks. At twenty-five cents per 311 call, they'd end up donating 25 dollars. And just like the Walk-A-Thon, you can max out at a certain amount - so you can pledge twenty-five cents per call, but specify that you don't want to give more than 15 dollars.
And all of the money that is collected, every single dollar, will be donated to the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a truly deserving organization that has been serving this community for over 45 years. In summary, we're cleaning up Woodhaven, measuring the effectiveness of 311 and holding a fundraiser for the Volunteer Ambulance Corps, all at the same time. It's a Win-Win-Win.
We need sponsors, and we need people to hit the streets and report the issues that plague us. If you are interested in either, email us at info@woodhaven-nyc.org or call us at 718-296-3735. You can make a difference. Get involved with the WRBA and we'll show you how.
The residents of Woodhaven are coming together to buy a baseball team. At the most recent meeting of the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association donations were asked for to sponsor a team in WORKS Little League in the name of the WRBA. Sponsoring a team costs $400 and the residents contributed mightily on Saturday, donating over $200 bringing the total collected thus far to nearly $280.
Sponsorship is very important to the league and each sponsor means that another dozen or so kids will get the chance to play. WORKS Little League was formerly known as Rich-Haven Little League and many of the boys and girls who grew up in Woodhaven during the later 50's, 60's and 70's remember playing games up in Forest Park. The name of the league may have changed, but the commitment to bringing fun and teaching sportsmanship to children is as strong as ever.
The WRBA intends to have fun with their sponsorship, arranging for a parade watching party on Jamaica Avenue on April 14th. We also intend to gather together as a group and root for our team a few times this season. It should be a fun time -- something that is good for the community to experience together.
If you are interested in being part of this, in helping us sponsor a team, bring your donation to our next Town Hall meeting, Saturday March 17th at 1 PM at the Woodhaven Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue). We've rounded second and we're heading towards third base -- so even a dollar or two will go a long way in helping us reach home plate. If you can't make the meeting, you can mail a donation to the WRBA at 84-20 Jamaica Avenue (or drop it through our mail slot the next time you pass by).
Many thanks to all of the residents who have chipped in thus far -- we look forward to hanging out with our fellow owners and rooting our team on. Together.
Here are some pictures of a guy committing a crime. A nuisance crime, one that contributes to the problem of dirty streets. And sometimes it may be indicative of another issue -- those who live in (or rent) illegally converted apartments will often look for other places to dump their garbage so as not to attract attention. We recently got reports of a van pulling up and dumping household garbage by the Forest Park Co-Ops.
For most of us, the rules are simple. You place your garbage it in a bag, you tie up that bag, and you put it out in front of your house the night before your scheduled pickup. Your OWN house.
Here's someone that doesn't play by those rules. Basically, we were out taking pictures of recently erected No Parking Signs on 96th Street near 89th Avenue when we saw a guy drop a black bag of garbage on top of a pile of clear garbage bags outside of PS 306. It was done very casually, without much concern that anyone was watching.
It was done with the confidence of someone who has done this before.
Later, when we got home, we went back and looked at the first picture we took:
And we zoomed in on the guy walking down the street in the background -- and there he is, carrying a large garbage bag in his left hand and a smaller bag in his right hand. Please take note of the pile of clear garbage bags that he's going to be passing soon.
Now take a look at this guy -- the large garbage bag has been dropped (you can see it on the pile) and he's switched the small bag to his other hand.
Here's his bag -- mixed in with the rest of PS 306's garbage. Someone else has added a black garbage bag to the pile.
We've heard complaints from residents of 96th Street that the school leaves their garbage out constantly -- it's a source of irritation to the residents on the block and will be addressed. The way it is piled around the hydrant is also a concern.
But we've also heard that other people -- such as this dolt -- use the constant presence of garbage at the location as an invition to add to the mess.
If the folks on this street were wondering who was adding to this unsightly mess -- look no further. Here's your man.
Note: This creep's face has been blurred for this post -- the pictures we pass along to DSNY will not be blurred. We don't know if DSNY will be able to fine this guy based on this evidence -- but if you live in the area and know this guy -- tell him that what he's been doing is completely unacceptable.
This is just one of the issues the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association works on -- if you live in this community, you can be part of the solution by becoming a member. Our next Woodhaven Town Hall meeting is this Saturday, February 18th, 1 PM at the Woodhaven Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue). We hope to see you there.
UPDATE: The result of illegal dumping -- a nasty mess in the street. This jerk dumped his garbage on the weekend -- this was the scene on Monday.
Late last year, while most of us were preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families, the Rosario family in Woodhaven was preparing to bury their beloved Carlos, who was murdered on November 20th at his tire shop in Brooklyn. Two months have gone by without an arrest, but the Rosario family wants to make sure that Carlos' murder is not forgotten and that the case receives the full attention that it deserves.
After reaching out to the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association, Carlos' daughter Ismelda agreed to come down to the next monthly Town Hall meeting to tell us about her dad and the efforts underway to make sure justice prevails. Here is a clip of that meeting:
We will be in communication with our elected officials and our representatives in the NYPD to make sure that everything is being done to capture the person who took this good man from his family. We will also reach out to the mayor's office to see if we can expedite the process of doubling the reward money from 12 to 24K.
As residents of Woodhaven, we need to do all that we can to stick together -- to stand by each other -- to back each other up when needed. This goes for everything -- from street changes, to noise issues, or issues with gangs and/or illegally converted houses -- to situations as serious as this.
Share this blog post. If you have friends and family in Brooklyn, especially anywhere near Bushwick, send this to them. Ask them to share it. Help us spread the word. Carlos Rosario was a resident of Woodhaven, he was one of ours. Stand by his family and help prevent this case from being forgotten.
By a near unanimous vote, Community Board 9 tabled the votes on two proposed street changes that will greatly impact Woodhaven. This was done in the wake of an announcement by DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Maura McCarthy that there will be a public forum on these changes on Wednesday, February 1st at 7 PM at St. Elizabeth's -- 84th and Atlantic Avenue in the lower church (side entrance in the back of the church parking lot).
We need a strong turnout at this meeting -- this is our opportunity to demonstrate how these changes are going to impact our lives. At the CB9 meeting the other night, several residents gave voice to the community's complaints about these street changes. And one resident from Ozone Park stood up to complain how the change on 84th Street would impact her access to friends and family in Woodhaven -- it would force her to drive 16 blocks out of her way. That's absurd.
And for what reason? So a few extra residents can get into the Boston Market / CVS parking lot. Absurd.
Recently, we've heard that this is being done in the interests of the businesses of Liberty Avenue. Well, first of all, 87th Street already crosses Atlantic from Woodhaven and carries you deep into Ozone Park (as far South at 101st Avenue) where you can easily access Liberty Avenue.
And there's more --
77th Street already runs from Atlantic to Liberty.
80th Street already runs from Atlantic to Liberty.
So, they want to add yet another way to access Liberty Avenue, this time at 84th Street? And what will you find when you get to 84th Street?
A graveyard.
This is absurd.
So, in order to open up a THIRD street of traffic to Liberty Avenue -- they're cutting off a very valuable access point to Woodhaven. This reasoning does not hold water.
The response from the Woodhaven community has been heated, to put it mildly. And the response to the proposed change to 89th Avenue is no better. As local residents learn of this change they are coming forward with tales of how this is going to inconvenience their daily lives.
One resident, who lives on 89th Avenue just off Woodhaven (PS 60) relates that he now gets home from work by driving down Woodhaven, making a right on 91st Avenue, a left on 96th, a left on 89th, straight across Woodhaven to his home. Check out what he has to do now --
He has to make a right on 91st Avenue, a left on 96th, go all the way down to Jamaica Avenue, cross Woodhaven and make a left into the service road (which is a difficult turn and adds to the congestion at that intersection) and go up until he can make a right on 89th.
Absurd.
The only way these changes will happen is if we let it happen -- and so, we are asking residents to step forward. We are going to be handing out flyers this weekend -- if you can spend an hour walking a few blocks,going house to house, putting flyers on gates, etc. then please e-mail us at info@woodhaven-nyc.org.
And please try to attend the public forum on these changes on Wednesday, February 1st at 7 PM at St. Elizabeth's -- 84th and Atlantic Avenue in the lower church (side entrance in the back of the church parking lot).
These changes will also be discussed at the Woodhaven Town Hall meeting on Saturday, January 21st at 1 PM at the Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue) where we will also discuss rezoning.
A pair of street changes that wiull impact Woodhaven will be voted upon by Community Board 9 on Tuesday. Although the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association was invited to a meeting to discuss one of these changes a year ago, were were not advised or approached since then. We were also advised that residents would be polled or surveyed about their opinions on this change, but as far as we know that never happened. If any Woodhaven residents' received a survey about any of these changes, please drop us a line.
UPDATE: The vote will take place Tuesday, January 10 - the meeting begins at 7:45 and will be held at The Punjabi Palace 91-52 Lefferts Boulevard in Richmond Hill. If you object to this plan, you can help by coming to the meeting, signing up and speaking for 3 minutes. You can also help us by dropping a polite e-mail to Community Board 9 at communitybd9@nyc.rr.com or by calling (718) 286-2686.
UPDATE 2:
UPDATE #3
Assemblyman Mike Miller has sent a letter and spoke to CB9 about postponing the vote --
84th Street
It is proposed to change 84th Street, from One-Way North Bound to One-Way South Bound from Liberty to Atlantic Avenues. Although this change occurs beyond the boundaries of Woodhaven (on the other side of Atlantic Avenue) it will eliminate one of the main Northbound entry points into Woodhaven. Once this change goes into place, only Woodhaven Boulevard and 76th Street will be left as Northbound roads that cross Atlantic.
Here is the current map of Atlantic -- notice how 84th crosses Atlantic. From there , once you make a quick turn on to 85th Street (at 89th Avenue) you can continue all the way through Woodhaven, across Jamaica Avenue all the way up to Park Lane South.
Let's look at the proposed change -- the convenient access path into Woodhaven is eliminated. Residents and shoppers will have to go blocks east or west to get into Woodhaven. How will this impact emergency services? How will this impact Engine 293 when they are returning from a run on the other side of Atlantic? We don't know -- and if there was a study done that asked these questions, the WRBA was never made aware of their results.
89th Avenue
This change may be less controversial. Then again, as we first heard about it yesterday, perhaps we haven't thought it all the way through. Again, if residents in the area were polled or surveyed, please let us know.
Currently, 89th Avenue from Woodhaven Boulevard to 97th Street is 2-way. On the other side of the boulevard, 89th Avenue is one way westbound.
It is proposed to turn 89th Avenue from Woodhaven Boulevard to 97th Street into a 1-way street, eastbound. If you live on 97th Street near the Avenue, it means you need to drive up to 91st Avenue (two-way) to get to Woodhaven Boulevard.
Our one concern is that 89th Avenue used to be a straight ride through Woodhaven from 98th to 85th. In fact, it was identified as one of Woodhaven's PRIMARY ROADS by the DSNY in the aftermath of last winter's blizzards.
Overall, though, that 2nd change doesn't strike us as too bad. 89th Avenue off of Woodhaven is narrow.
But, again, we have to ask what kind of notification they gave the community -- what kind of feedback did they try and get?
It's not as if the WRBA is hard to get in touch with -- we have phones, fax machines, email -- we're on Facebook, Twitter --
And so, the WRBA joins the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation and the Woodhaven Business Improvement District in opposing thse changes and will respectfully ask the Community Board to table these votes until the community can be better involved in the discussion leading up to a vote.
The Woodhaven Residents Block Association will host a presentation by the NYC Department of City Planning on Saturday, January 21st at 1 PM. The meeting will be held at the Woodhaven Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue).
The new zoning laws will determine the size and shape of Woodhaven in the very near future. The question is -- do you want Woodhaven to expand housing, to expand development in the resedential areas. The current proposal seeks to discourage development -- to avoid furthering the overcrowding that has resulted in limited parking, more noise and traffic, more garbage and a depletion of services. Schools are already complaining of overcrowded classes -- the city has been looking to cut down on services such as transit and firefighting.
Think of how much worse these problems will be with apartment houses, or extra-large housing popping up all over the place.
This is your best chance to learn about this proposal -- and show support for it to protect your investment in this community. If you won't speak up to protect your investment, to protect your family, to protect your family -- what exactly will you speak up for?
Saturday, January 21st at 1 PM is your chance to speak up.
The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association is helping the residents of Woodhaven prepare for the upcoming winter by hosting a presentation by the American Red Cross entitled "Ready New York." This 45 minute emergency preparedness presentation teaches residents how to create a plan, build a supply kit, as well as keep loved ones safe and informed during times of disaster. Participants will receive an interactive CD Rom that can be used to create a customized evacuation plan and other tools that will help any family get prepared. Also included are various brochures from the American Red Cross and the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
"Last winter we were hit by a massive blizzard right after Christmas and many of our residents were stuck in their homes for almost a week," said WRBA President Ed Wendell. "We want to make sure that if that happens again, we're all better prepared for it." The meeting will take place at 1 PM on Saturday, December 17th at the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue).
The WRBA will also continue signing up residents at part of their Block Captain program, which signs up local residents to be part of a communications network in the event of an emergency. The WRBA reports that they currently have close to 40% of Woodhaven covered. "In the wake of Hurricane Irene, we were able to quickly put together a comprehensive report of damage in our community," Wendell said. "This winter, when we get hit with snow, we'll be able to report directly to the Department of Sanitation and tell them which streets need plowing. We feel that an orderly, organized approach such as this will help us get better service."
The WRBA was formed in 1972. Its stated purpose at the time remains its mission today: to foster "an interest in civic, social and political affairs." The WRBA advocates on behalf of the residents of Woodhaven, promotes neighborhood spirit by bringing together residents and local leaders, and seeks to engage all in the betterment of our community.
In addition to the upcoming winter, the WRBA will also discuss recent efforts to make changes to the laws regarding illegal signs and give an update on efforts to build a coalition to seek landmark status for the Forest Park Carousel. We will also discuss the recent arrest of 2 graffiti vandals, arrests that were the direct result of information passed along to the NYPD by the Woodhaven Residents' Block Association.
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