During last Wednesday’s Manhattan Beach Community Group meeting, Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo urged residents to attend the March 3 hearing on MTA service cuts. The all-important hearing is being used by MTA commissioners to judge opposition to their plans, so a light showing from certain neighborhoods could be interpreted as a sign of community approval.
Don’t let that happen! Attend the hearing even if you don’t plan to speak. Let them know that striking out the B4 service along Emmons Avenue will suffocate businesses and leave Plumb Beach residents and several senior homes without service. And let them know, too, that you believe these plans are ill-conceived and rely on faulty data.
To give a little more oomph, you’ll see in the video above that Scavo believes eliminating the student metrocard will lead to increased crime rates. She says struggling students are “going to be stealing the money to get to where they are going, or they’re going to be jumping the turnstiles. They are not going to put their hand in their pocket rather than going and buying sneakers or their cell phone to pay to get on a train or a bus.”
I’m not sure if I totally buy the increased crime argument, but asking families to pay nearly $100 a month for their kids to get to school for their supposedly free education is ludicrous. It will certainly lead to increased drop-out rates and further hurt New York City’s education standings.
It’s stealing opportunity from an entire generation of low-income students and their families.
Our meeting this Wednesday night, Feb. 24, 8 PM at PS 195 will have a special NYC Finance speaker. Hear why your property assessments may be unfair and what you can do about it. All are welcome.
When: Tonight, February 24 @ 8:00 p.m. Where: P.S. 195, 131 Irwin Street in Manhattan Beach. Contact: (718) 200-1845
Residents, get ready for another Belt Parkway boondoggle!
During Manhattan Beach Community Group’s January 27 meeting, Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo explained the three projects occurring simultaneously in our area. We’ve already written about these projects, and nothing has changed, but it’s worth watching the video to see Scavo’s frustration with the plans as well MBCG member’s shocked reactions. The projects (and links to our coverage) are:
The Manhattan Beach Community Group is featuring Principal Forman of P.S. 195 who will speak about changes in the Department of Education and other issues at tonight’s meeting.
Principal Forman is expected to talk about the effects of budget cuts at area schools, and may also talk about last night’s decision to close 19 city schools. If you have young children, this may be a good opportunity to pick the mind of an education insider.
When: Tonight, January 27 @ 8:00 p.m. Where: P.S. 195, 131 Irwin Street in Manhattan Beach. Contact: (718) 200-1845
The Manhattan Beach Community Group shot off a warning to members about an emerging crime wave. According to police reports in the past week at least three vehicles were broken into and the valuables stolen. The items taken included a GPS unit, a laptop, and cash. While police speculate the perpetrator could be someone with a drug problem, it could be anyone.
Listen up residents! It’s time to be aware. Don’t leave valuables in your car. Put it out of sight or bring it home with you. Keep an eye out and pay attention to your surroundings, but remember you’re not Batman! If you see something or someone doing something suspicious, dial 911 and wait for help!
The Manhattan Beach Community Group posted on its website last week that con-artists posing as Keyspan Energy (a.k.a. National Grid) workers are making the rounds once more.
Several times over the past few years, reports have emerged of “workers” knocking on neighbors’ doors and asking private information or to come into the house. According to MBCG, “Their hustle includes threats of fines if they can not inspect your furnace, etc.”
MBCG and Sheepshead Bites reminds you not to let strangers into your home. Always ask for identification, and even then don’t be afraid to call Keyspan/National Grid and ask for verification before allowing them in or giving them information. Tell your children the same, and call 911 if you have any doubts.
Contact National Grid at (718) 643-4050 if you have any questions.
Since Manhattan Beach’s private security force issued an S.O.S. letter two weeks ago, little has changed by today’s deadline and Beachside Patrol is still imperiled.
“I would like to tell you that we had an overwhelming response and Beachside Patrol is back on, but the response has not been what we were looking for,” said Ted Kleynerman, a patrol director.
A letter was sent December 7 to those who subscribe to the service, and later to the larger community, informing people that Beachside Patrol doesn’t have the financial resources necessary to continue operations. Directors said only about 25 percent of households were contributing and the support was not widespread enough. Only about 200 households pay the $400 annual fee.
Around noon today, a BMW zooming down Oriental Boulevard towards West End Avenue lost control, vaulted over the median, and plowed into the park fence on Hastings Street, said Flori Kostoff of the Manhattan Beach Community Group.
According to Kostoff, the car had several passengers, one of whom was taken to the hospital. His condition is unknown. The others were arrested.
Kostoff was dispatched to take photos for the group as part of their ongoing campaign for stronger enforcement of traffic laws on Oriental Boulevard. When she arrived, she said she heard one passenger ask the police if it would take long because he needed to get to an exam. She also said none of them copped to being the driver of the car. The owner was charged with excessive speeding, but he said he was not behind the wheel.
The car left skid marks in the street, damaged a fence, and rendered a bench useless. Kostoff says it could be up to two years for the bench to be replaced, as thats how long it has taken for other benches in the area that were damaged in automobile accidents.
This is an ongoing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
Despite numerous complaints and pleas from local leadership, a two year battle to remove concrete planters in Manhattan Beach has culminated in a dismissive letter from the Brooklyn chief of the Parks Department.
Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo received a letter from Parks Department Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel claiming that neighbor’s worries were exaggerated and that the concrete planters pose no risk at all. Scavo read the letter at last week’s Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association meeting.
“I understand the issues you raise concerning traffic crossing over the boulevard from both directions,” wrote Spiegel. “The Park Avenue Malls, near Union Square, are lushly planted with high shrubs in containers, much like those on Oriental Boulevard, but still allow for the safe flow of traffic,” he added.
The changes to Coney Island Avenue intersections as proposed by DOT
Local leaders are looking for ways to put the brakes on what they say are dangerous and complicated changes around the Coney Island Avenue Belt Parkway overpass being proposed following a Department of Transportation study.
The changes proposed for Coney Island Avenue between Guider Avenue and Neptune Avenue are as follows:
Southbound cars on Coney Island Avenue will no longer be able to make a left turn on Guider Avenue, and instead will have to go to Neptune Avenue.
On the northbound side of Coney Island Avenue, parking will be eliminated altogether between Neptune Avenue and Guider Avenue.
Also on the northbound side: a left turn lane will be implemented for the westbound Belt Parkway entrance; a no-turn lane for those continuing on Coney Island Avenue; and a lane for those accessing Belt Parkway East, taking drivers past the car wash.
But the plans have sparked anger from civic group leaders and Community Board 15 for overlooking simple solutions and instead embracing complicated changes that are dangerous to drivers and threaten businesses.
The 
