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Coverage of CB9 chaos/entertainment/misery, Fall 2015. — Brooklynian

Coverage of CB9 chaos/entertainment/misery, Fall 2015.

whynot_31
whynot_31
edited October 2015 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Community Board 9 encompasses Crown Heights south of Eastern Parkway, along with large parts of PLG: http://www.communitybrd9bklyn.org/

Longtime readers may recall that during the Spring of 2015, we discussed the chaos (conflicts? Entertainment? misery?) that occurred during their board meetings: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/45533/mtopp-v-cb9-spring-2015/p1

At the conclusion of the season, CB9 was finally able to send a request to the NYC Dept of City Planning for a study.

Since this time:
-CB9 had its summer break
-The leaders of MTOPP made court appearances in response to their arrests
-Gentrification has continued to change the economic and racial make up of the area.

Fall has now arrived and CB9 has resumed meeting. The entity now appears poised to fire its long term district manager, Pearl Miles:

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151019/crown-heights/cb9-district-manager-could-be-forced-out-over-pattern-of-misconduct

http://theqatparkside.blogspot.com/2015/10/community-board-moves-to-oust-district.html

The next meeting is scheduled for October 27th. Said meeting holds potential similar chaos, misery and entertainment....


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Comments

  • bobmarvin
    bobmarvin
    IF they fire Pearl I wonder if there'll be anyone left who knows how City gov't works? MTOPP would be very happy!
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    While I am suspect MTOPP will claim credit for Pearl's dismissal, I don't think they should get the credit or blame.

    For years, Pearl reportedly did not "sound the alarm" on CB9 failing to hold meetings and not abiding by even basic procedures.

    As a result, CB9 lost credibility with its members and it failed to give the city the things it wanted in a timely manner.

    Notably, the guise of community approval for citywide initiatives.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    The meeting will be held:

    Date: October 27th, 2015

    Time: 7:00 p.m.

    Venue: Middle School 61

    Address: 400 Empire Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11225


    http://www.communitybrd9bklyn.org/meeting/community-board-meeting-11/

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    7:20 the mtg is called to order, and the griping begins.

    The chair explains the rules for the meeting. About 300 people in attendance.

    All of the characters from last year are here.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    The chair (Demetris Lawerence) is letting people speak on the capital budget for the year.

    As one might expect, the supporters of MTOPP want part of the budget to go toward the zoning study they would like to do; It will make conclusions that won't agree with the one presently being done by DCP.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    8:00 The DOT begins a presentation on how it would like to reconfigure the intersection of Empire and Washington, as well as Empire and Remsen.

    image

    Many attendees are opposed to the changes, because they drive and feel traffic will become worse as pedestrians and bikers are given more safety.

    Said residents believe that "the community" should get to vote on whether it happens, and how it happens.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    Meanwhile, the pro-ped and bike forces want these changes and more.

    ...there is no middle ground, and there is definitely not voting.

    The DOT is informing the public what will happen, not asking for its permission.

    I am not sure why this surprises people. I often leave these meetings wondering why and how people believe we have democracy at this level.

    ....the DOT admits it is here to show the final design. The transportation committee approved it unanimously, and the approval of the larger board is sought.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    Keep up the coverage!
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    There are lots of conspiracy theories that the pedestrian islands are being built and enlarged in order to encourage residential developers to built here after the rezone.

    Hence, (in their mind) even NYC DOT (which is using federal funds) is part of the conspiracy to rid the area of poor (often "black") people in favor of new, wealthy (often younger and "white").

    ...money which they believe would be better spent either preserving the current population or something.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    The decision on whether to remove Pearl Miles as District Manager will be made in an Executive Session.

    The board members will leave and then return with a decision.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    10:20 the board has still not returned with their decision.

    I am outta here. Rachel is waiting....
  • isthatnametaken
    isthatnametaken
    She was voted out.  I wasn't there, but I'm told there was much jubilation.  
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    yup. The Q at Parkside is stating the vote was finally returned at 11 PM.

    http://theqatparkside.blogspot.com/2015/10/cb9-mtg-goes-extra-innings-district.html

    I was surprised it took them so long to return with the vote. I began to wonder if the Exec Board had recommended her dismissal, without knowing for certain that the larger board would confirm it.

    ....that would have been a disaster for the new chair, Demetrius Lawrence.

  • bobmarvin
    bobmarvin
    FWIW Ms. Miles will probably be reinstated if she sues. While an employee in a Non-Competitive title like District Manager can be terminated for no stated reason, the Executive Board of CB 9 gave numerous (IMO spurious) reasons, thus stigmatizing Miles and giving her ample basis for a lawsuit.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I suspect she will be offered another position within NYC government. It will save the city from having to pay out.

    In this situation, the city seems legally responsible for not only the actions of its employee (Ms Miles) but also that of its "volunteers" (CB members).
  • bobmarvin
    bobmarvin
    There's no central source that can offer such a job, but I don't doubt that PM has enough contacts to find another City position if she's so inclined. OTOH she might want to retire [assuming she's in the pension system–only permanent competitive employees are REQUIRED to join NYCERS and many do not do so, but I don't think Pearl would have been so short-sighted–she's too smart].
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited October 2015
    The vote count was as follows:
    32 yes
    7 no
    3 abstained

    A search committee comprised of 7 board members was formed.

    I am not worried about Pearl in the slightest. I hope her next job provides her a setting in which she is not yelled at and subject to incompetence.

    In turn, I think she will become a polite and happy person.

    Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

    BTW, here's the DOT plan:  
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015

    Better yet, here is a summary of the plan:

    http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151110/crown-heights/city-proposes-2-pedestrian-plazas-at-empire-blvd-as-part-of-safety-plan

    The next mtg is scheduled for Nov 18th.


  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111

    Better yet, here is a summary of the plan:

    http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151110/crown-heights/city-proposes-2-pedestrian-plazas-at-empire-blvd-as-part-of-safety-plan

    The next mtg is scheduled for Nov 18th.


    There has been chatter on Tim's blog that there is some citizen opposition to this plan. I don't understand why.

    Whoever goes to the meetings, have fun! I have a prior engagement. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015
    There are lots of conspiracy theories that the pedestrian islands are being built and enlarged in order to encourage residential developers to built here after the rezone.

    Hence, (in their mind) even NYC DOT (which is using federal funds) is part of the conspiracy to rid the area of poor (often "black") people in favor of new, wealthy (often younger and "white").

    ...money which they believe would be better spent either preserving the current population or something.



    @mugofmead111 -

    Like the Jerry Springer show, it gets repetitive after a while.



  • BrooklynAve
    BrooklynAve
    Does the entire board need to approve the DOT plans in order for them to be implemented? That would be horrible as I believe there are many nay Sayers and it could result in these safety improvements not happening.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Legally, DOT does not need the approval of CB9 to implement the plans.  However, they like to do things with the "blessing" of the community boards.

    Also, I believe a majority of the board members are in favor of the DOT plan.   It is merely the non-voting (yet very vocal) attendees that are opposed.   

    If the board chair knows how to run a meeting, he will get a sense of whether it will pass before he allows the measure to be voted on.

    My sense is that the DOT/city would prefer to implement something in a situation where a board "has not rendered a vote" OVER a situation in which the local board voted against the action.  
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015
    Supporters of the DOT plan have created a petition.  
  • BrooklynAve
    BrooklynAve
    As per streets blog:

    http://www.streetsblog.org/2015/11/16/this-week-sixth-ave-protected-bike-lane-empire-blvd-plazas/

    Update: This meeting has been postponed until December 16. In Brooklyn, the CB 9 transportation committee will again take up a street reconstruction project that will add public space and make it safer to walk at two intersections on Empire Boulevard: at East New York Avenue, Remsen Avenue, and Utica Avenue; and at Franklin Avenue and Washington Avenue. From 2009 to 2013 there were 490 injuries at the two locations combined — an average of one injury every three days — including 29 serious injuries. The CB 9 transportation committee has supported the plan, but the full board tabled a vote when some board members and residents complained the redesign would interfere with their personal driving habits.

    Community board votes are supposed to be advisory, but DOT rarely moves forward with a safety project over a board’s objection. It’s crucial that CB 9 and DOT hear from people who want a safer Empire Boulevard.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015

    As a result of the court cases now being dismissed, supporters of the pedestrian island and bike lanes should likely expect chaos on Dec 16th, similar to that I expect to occur at the board meeting that will be held tonight

    Community Board Meeting 

    November 24th, 2015 @ 7:00pm

    Middle School 61 400 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11225t.   


    ....the leaders of MTOPP have just been informed that their cases were dismissed.

    What a mess.   

    Photo below

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015





    1 Expect chaos_Page_1
    1 Expect chaos_Page_2
  • pragmaticguy
    pragmaticguy
    She must have been awfully angry, too many typos or maybe she just can't spell.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015

    I have stopped trying to accurately determine her mood.

    But will state that the Mayor's attempt to relax zoning requirements in order to increase supply and thus create affordable units, is not getting the support sought from Community Boards across the city.

    ...I do not know why he did not anticipate this backlash.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited November 2015

    Meanwhile:

    "Mayor Bill de Blasio downplayed the role of the city's community boards, which have overwhelmingly rejected his citywide rezoning proposals, saying Monday their opinions merely advisory as he pushes forward with the controversial plan."



  • pragmaticguy
    pragmaticguy
    As I said in a previous post, the best way to preserve the existing housing is for current tenants to stop taking buyouts. As for new construction, I don't understand the problem she has as usually more affordable housing is created in the larger buildings than destroyed. Of course, I don't know how the stabilization laws affect the new apartments so this may be a factor.
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