SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Source: SalFalko/Flickr

A couple of years ago, we reported on the death of a young Midwood student who was tragically killed by a drunk driver. Thanks to the efforts of the Kings County District Attorney, Charles J. Hynes, that drunk driver will be behind bars for a very long time, according to a press release.

Anel Kolenovic, 25, was convicted of manslaughter in the second degree, operating a motor vehicle while impaired, and assault in the second degree, after killing another driver as he sped drunk down Ocean Avenue in November of 2010:

On November 29, 2010, Kolenovic was speeding down Ocean Avenue and ran a red light at Avenue N, in Midwood, where he hit Moshe Berkowitz’s car, killing Berkowitz. Two passengers in Kolenovic’s car were injured.  Kolenovic was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

Kolenovic faces a maximum of five to fifteen years when he is sentenced on March 18.

Source: satyadasa via flickr

Progress continues on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) seven-year renovation plan of the Belt Parkway’s seven bridges and overpasses, as the Fresh Creek Basin Bridge opened to westbound traffic, according to a press release.

As we’ve previously reported, construction along the Belt Parkway has caused heavy traffic problems, so the opening of the Fresh Creek Basin Bridge should help the thousands of cars that run along the highway flow. DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan seems to thinks so.

“Each day our Belt Parkway bridges come alive, carrying 150,000 cars and connecting commuters and commerce across the city and the region,” she announced in the press release.

The bridges and overpasses were built over a half century ago, forcing the impetus for revitalization and repair:

As with the other six Belt Parkway bridges, the total replacement of the Fresh Creek Basin Bridge and its approach roadways will provide the necessary upgrades to bring the structure into compliance with current State and Federal standards. This includes wider travel lanes, safety shoulders, median barriers, improved elevation of the roadway around curves and realignment for improving sight distances and drainage enhancements. This project replaces the original Fresh Creek Basin Bridge, which, along with the other Belt Parkway bridges, was constructed more than 70 years ago and has reached the end of its useful life.

Traffic chaos on Ocean Avenue and Avenue M.

Recently, Mayor Bloomberg delivered his final “State of the City” address, which ended up serving as a cheery look back on all the accomplishments of the mayor’s career. The New York Times described it as “an unabashed and relentless tribute to his own municipal stewardship.” The Times thought it would be fitting to gather personal responses from readers on the “state of their blocks” to see if Bloomberg’s optimistic description of the city matched their own experiences.

While the results hardly matched the sunny picture Bloomberg painted, many were optimistic over the changes brought to Fort Greene, Washington Heights and Oakland Gardens in Queens. Closer to our area, Times reader “David” painted a grimmer picture, describing his block in Midwood in a harsh light:

Avenue L between Ocean Avenue and East 19th Street, Midwood, Brooklyn
The state of my block is unfortunately terrible. Since the peak of the market that brought me here in 2006 from Manhattan, the quality of life on this block in Brooklyn has only declined. Ocean Avenue is a raceway with little to no regard to the speed limit, or red lights; I have witnessed countless accidents. Avenue L is one of the few east/west two-way streets from Ocean Parkway, and therefore a thoroughfare of endless honking, radio blasting, and again little regard for the color and meaning of the traffic lights; only double-parked cars seem to slow down some. Real or ill-gotten handicapped placards show in every car window that disregards alternate-side parking rules, to ensure that the street is never cleaned properly, without threat of receiving a ticket; likewise, parking by a hydrant. Trash accumulates on the street and sidewalks, never to be cleaned by property owners, or the city. Graffiti is ever increasing despite the city program to curb it, as are illegally placed posters and handbills, the rules seemingly ignored and unenforced. Children over the age of 16 and adults careen on bicycles down the sidewalk without warning, especially at night, unseen until the last moment. Those sidewalks are never shoveled by most property owners when snow and ice make it treacherous to walk. That honking, it never ends, it seems obligatory, people honk to say “hi!” – David

I live nearby David’s haunts and I can personally vouch for every gripe he’s got. The sidewalks are littered with trash, dog crap and broken glass. The streets are filled with aggressive drivers, car accidents are a common occurrence, and honking is a major (and extremely annoying) problem — not to mention faulty car alarms getting set off during all hours of the night.

What’s the state of your block? Has it evolved for better or worse during Bloomberg’s reign and what do you attribute the problems to? We’d love to hear your feedback.

Source: Jaszek Photography via Flickr

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), seniors account for 38 percent of pedestrian fatalities, yet represent only 12 percent of the population. The reasons for this discrepancy, they say, are the lack of “complete streets.”

What are complete streets, you ask? Well, according to the National Complete Streets Coalition, “complete streets are designed and operated so they work for all users—pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.”

Essentially, they are the sort of streets that are neatly organized with sensible traffic flow, clear traffic signs and wide walking spaces that compliment bike lanes so pedestrians and bikers aren’t getting in each other’s way.

An example of a “complete street.” Source: smartgrowthamerica.org

New Yorkers can sense when they aren’t on a “complete street.” Incomplete streets are the sort of narrow sidewalks that barely accommodate two-way foot traffic, have winding twists and no clear intersections that promote safe crossing. According to the DOT, the lack of complete streets present a real issue for seniors:

A recent report by AARP showed that 40% of adults over 50 reported inadequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods, and 50% reported they cannot cross streets safety. The report also revealed that many people would walk, bicycle or ride the bus if these conditions were improved.  Challenges that frequently affect people’s mobility as they age include declining vision, reduced physical fitness and flexibility, decreased ability to focus attention and increased reaction time.

For the DOT, the need to proliferate the city with “complete streets” will become a pressing issue within the next decade as 2025 the population of older adults will double, likely leading to an increase of pedestrian accidents. Because of this, they are advocating community involvement and awareness in “complete street” policies and planning. Here is some relevant information:

Attend a DOT forum or workshop about transportation or neighborhood planning.  Visit our event calendar or view upcoming events on Facebook. Participate in your community board’s transportation committee. (Find your community board).

Check out resources like the National Complete Streets Coalition, the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at NYU.

The Department of Transportation is suspending alternate side parking this Friday, February 8, due to preparations for the predicted winter storm.

Payment at all parking meters will still be enforced citywide, so feed those machines.

Source: wallyg via flickr

Tolls for bridge crossings have long been the scourge of mankind ever since hideous trolls and ogres started collecting them in medieval times. Since heroic knights can’t protect us from the MTA, we have to rely on petitions like the one started by Dominic Cenatiempo.

Centaiempo, a resident of Staten Island, is hoping to rally 500,000 outraged motorists to join him in his full opposition to the proposed $2 hike on the Verrazano Bridge.

The $2 increase, set for March, would bring the total cost of crossing the bridge to $15, hammering commuters traversing from Staten Island into Brooklyn. Cenatiempo voiced his outrage on Change.org:

People are suffering financially especially everyday commuters who travel just to go to work. Small businesses are suffering financially from being crushed left and right. This had led them to enforce pay cuts, layoffs, and some to close their doors for good. We the people say ”ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” we have had it up to here with the Bullshit !!!!!

Are you also incensed with the toll increases? Feel free to sign Cenatiempo’s petition, which is still about 498,000 short of its goal.

State Senator Marty Golden. Photo by Erica Sherman

Last year, State Senator Marty Golden introduced a bill that would stiffen penalties for hit and run and drivers. The bill passed in the Senate but failed to gain traction in the Assembly. Golden and a group of other local politicians have not given up and have reintroduced the bill, according to a press release.

The bill would change the crime of a fatal hit and run from a Class D felony to a Class C felony, which ups the prison time to a maximum of 15 years. It also would eliminate a loophole, which allowed drunk drivers to escape the penalties they deserve:

Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol can actually receive less of a punishment if they flee the scene of an accident.  For example, in the case of a first-time offender, a driver who wrongfully flees the scene of an accident where a personal injury has occurred can only be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of only 1 year in jail.  However, if the driver remains at the scene and is found to be intoxicated or impaired by drugs, he or she can be immediately charged with a Class E felony which carries a maximum penalty of four years of imprisonment. Therefore, the incentive for a drunk or impaired driver to flee the scene of a hit and run accident is greater.

Golden expressed hope that the legislation would improve safety on the roads and save lives:

I thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation which has the potential to decrease the number of incidents where motorists just keep going after hitting a pedestrian.  In my district and throughout the State, families have been destroyed by such a disregard for human life.  I believe that there are instances where, if the driver stopped at the scene and called for help, the victim may have had a chance to survive.  This legislation will make our roads safer and save lives, and this year, this bill should become law.

We wrote back in July about State Senator David Storobin’s attempts to get the city to revisit the issue of the Islamic mosque and community center at 2812 Voorhies Avenue, hoping they’d squash the project. Some time between then and now, the mayor’s office wrote back to Storobin, but his answer must have been unsatisfactory to the local pol: Storobin sent another letter, again pushing the issue.

Storobin’s original letter focused largely on building and zoning issues related to the project, but closed with a suggestion that the mosque’s backers, the Muslim American Society, has ties to radical organizations.

A request for a copy of Bloomberg’s letter to Storobin did not receive a response, but something in it must have made Storobin ditch all that language about zoning, and focus solely on those alleged ties and the “well-being of my constituents.”

Check it out below:

Storobin’s Second Letter to Bloomberg Urges City To Revisit Voorhies Mosque Issue

It’s not even two hours since doors opened, and hundreds of people have already flocked to the new Marshalls at 1623 Avenue Y for the grand opening.

We’ve received several e-mails already from passers-by stunned at the long lines, as residents look for deals and giveaways for the clothing store’s opening celebration.

Reader Elaine L. sent in these photos, which show the line wrapping around the building, up East 17th Street, as security keeps watch and slowly let people in. Management, meanwhile, appears to be distributing raffle tickets to the crowd.

The celebration continues until 10:00 p.m.

Are you planning a visit to Marshalls today for the grand opening?

View the photos, as well as the lowdown from reader PayPaul.

For you budget-conscious fashionistas out there who’ve been e-mailing us – over and over and over again – about the opening of the new Marshalls on Avenue Y and East 17th Street, well, your day has come. The business will celebrate its grand opening this Thursday, August 23, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The public relations team informs us that there will be giveaways, gift card prizes “and more.”

The 27,336-square-foot location at 1623 Avenue Y has been under construction since September. Many in the area worried that the location would cause a parking and traffic nightmare, but Sheepshead Bites confirmed in December that the location will have a rooftop parking lot that will help ease that burden.

Sheepshead Bites was the first to report that Marshalls would come to the neighborhood, after four businesses on the property shuttered in early 2011: Golden Touch Car Wash, Gulf gas station, KR & S Auto Service and the fruit and vegetable market on East 16th Street.