NAG

We're on the Radio

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:59:00 +0000

In case you missed it on WNYC this morning, I took a walk with Matthew Scheurman around Williamsburg to show the consequences of the 2005 rezoning. Crowded L-trains, new developments, and missing parks are prominently featured in the story.

Guest Post: Loft Law in the State Senate

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Guest Post by Karl Leger

Brooklyn Loft Law Needs Brooklyn Artists, Loft Dwellers' Help in NYS Senate
Loft Law Amendment Could Save 10,000 Brooklynites From Eviction: Extension Includes Current Lofts

After passing the NYS Assembly, Senate Bill S5881 is in now in "Rules", waiting to be scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor. But with legistlative slots running short it may become another victim of Albany's problems. Ultimately the NYC art and design scene will suffer: up to 10,000 artists, in Brooklyn alone, are living and working in unregulated industrial buildings and will likely face eviction should the law die in the Senate or not even make it to the floor for a vote.

Thousands have been evicted from their unregulated and unprotected lofts in the years since 1983, the year the Loft Law was enacted. Recognizing the perilous conditions artists, designer and cultural workers live under, the NY State Assembly has, this June, again passed legislation
which would update, expand and extend the original Loft Law to include current residents of loft spaces anywhere in New York City.

The Multiple Dwelling bill, better known as the Loft Law Amendment, but which
might as well be called the Brooklyn Loft Law, has been passed by the Assembly repeatedly only to die, predictably so, before arrival on the floor of the Republican controlled NYS Senate. This year, however, for the first time in decades, with a Democratic majority in the Senate the bill has had a fair chance. That was until the Senate fell into disarray.

This week, after a month of confusion and way behind schedule, the Senate will convene again to pass the most urgent bills and then likely retire for the rest of the summer. Even though in June, 2009, Senator Daniel Squadron introduced the bill in the Senate, cosponsored by Senator Tom Duane, it is now questionable that the bill "S5881" will come to a vote unless Senators are reminded of this bill's importance to their constituents.

Yet, the 10,000 or so Brooklyn loft dwellers seem blissfully ignorant of of their predicament. Many of them, artists and designers, seem focused on their work, not realizing that the temporary limbo that allows them to exist can collapse within a matter of months. Surprisingly, local organizations, such as the Brooklyn Live/Work Coalition (BLWC), a network of over 2,000 people, which were instrumental in the original formulation of the bill, are now defunct. And the local press and media is no help either. None of the local newspapers or on-line zines or blogs have picked up this story. It is certain though that they will be filled with scathing op-ed pieces
and reports of evictions once it is too late.

Without the State Senators hearing from their constituents, this law might fall between the cracks, mass evictions, as we have seen, especially in Brooklyn, in recent years, are likely. And all of New York City stands to loose.

New York Senators can be reached by phone, fax and email via the Senate's web site: http://www.nysenate.gov/ A database on the issue with links and the actual text of the bill
can be accessed here: http://loftlaw.wordpress.com

Williamsburg Walks is on for tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:19:00 +0000

This week NAG's Open Space Committee will be providing information on how to get your urban garden up and running. Stop by our table at North 7th and Bedford to learn more about that, about NAG, and about how to get involved in your community.

An idea for the 94th precinct?

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Email?

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:17:00 +0000

NEIGHBORS ALLIED FOR GOOD GROWTH
STATEMENT ON THE GROUNDBREAKING OF
THE BUSHWICK INLET SOCCER FIELD

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) welcomes Mayor Bloomberg and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe to the official groundbreaking of North Brooklyn's new soccer field. This site is a much-needed addition to our community's meager open space, and we look forward to its completion.

The Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance, along with neighborhood groups including NAG, the Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park, and the Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks and Planning, have worked long and hard to create more open space along the East River. This future facility, along with East River State Park and the reopening of McCarren Pool, are examples of what can be done when local organizations and government work together to set priorities, push through bureaucracy and create positive change.

But we must highlight the other open space commitments made during the 2005 rezoning in an agreement between the City Council and Bloomberg administration that have not yet materialized:

The funding for future phases of Bushwick Inlet Park has been reduced in the recent budget, which will delay land acquisition and business relocation;

The MTA site at 65 Commercial Street remains a parking lot;

The sludge tank on Dupont Street is far from becoming an affordable housing development;

Transmitter Park at Greenpoint Avenue, while opening temporarily, is still far from being a public amenity.

We are happy to see some progress--waterfront access at North 5th, a recently-announced feasibility study for the MTA lot, and the much-delayed opening of the Manhattan Avenue park. The Open Space Alliance deserves credit for bringing these efforts to fruition, and they have recently started holding monthly meetings update with officials and community members, and we are appreciative of this move towards transparency and dialogue. However, the lack of progress on these other major issues is dismaying.

It has been four years since the rezoning of Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Our neighborhood is changing before our eyes--there are few blocks in North Brooklyn that haven't been touched by development. We have towers now, but we are still waiting for our affordable housing, the continuation of the tenant anti-displacement program, and of course, our parks.

Williamsburg Walks needs volunteers for its last event of the year

noreply@blogger.com (Rima Shamieh, NAG summer intern) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:46:00 +0000

Volunteers needed for June 11th; this year's last Williamsburg Walks event.

The LAST event in the second annual Williamsburg Walks series is fast approaching! This Saturday, June 11th, is the last in a 6-week series of Bedford Ave. street closures known as Williamsburg Walks.

Williamsburg Walks is part of a growing city-wide movement of neighborhood street closures that are reinventing neighborhood public streets as pedestrian-friendly, community-oriented shared spaces. The series spanned a total of six Saturdays, beginning on June 6th, and is proving to be a great place for neighbors to mingle, picnic, and learn more about their neighborhood. This year, NAG and the L Magazine have teamed up to organize and sponsor the event.

This weekend's Williamsburg Walks is gearing up the be the biggest and best in the series! The event is dependent on a rotation of volunteers who are essential in making it a success. For this final event, we'll need as many volunteers as possible in order to put on an event worthy of our neighborhood. That's why we need YOU! Grab your friends or family and help out this Saturday! Water, snacks, and a free volunteer t-shirt will be provided to each volunteer. Volunteers can sign up for the Set-up shift from 11am-2pm, the Event shift from 2pm-6pm, or the Break-down shift from 7pm-9pm. For details or to sign up, please contact the Williamsburg Walks volunteer coordinator, Rima Shamieh, at karimeh.shamieh@gmail.com.

Even if you don;t volunteer, stop by Bedford Ave. this Saturday to celebrate with us!

Fourth of July Fire on Wythe and North 9th

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:02:00 +0000

In addition to the fireworks there was a large fire on Wythe and North 9th last night. The fairly strong winds blew smoke blew throughout the neighborhood. Firefighters responded quickly and had the flames under control within a short time, but it took hours to completely put the blaze out.

The site was the home of Rosenwach Tanks, where they built wood water tanks, the kind you see on roofs throughout Brooklyn. No one was injured--the fire was allegedly sparked by an illegal fireworks display early in the evening. Nearby buildings were not affected.

Some great photos by everyplace:

(You can see more here, and some video here. These are from the very early moments of the blaze--as I said, the flames were under control pretty quickly, though hotspots and sparks kept the firefighters busy for some time.)

Ironically, the fire was across the street from Engine 212, the firehouse that was closed a few years ago under much community protest. The firehouse is now the future home of the Northside Town Hall and Cultural Center, a project of the People's Firehouse and NAG.

Updates: More info on Gothamist and Brooklyn 11211.

Happy Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Scene from Williamsburg Walks today: Council Member David Yassky and NAG Board Member Ward Dennis play four square.

G Runs to Church Avenue Starting Sunday, July 5

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:16:00 +0000

And the signs are going up. Now let's pray that the G train will be more frequent!

One more note about Williamsburg Walks this week

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:05:00 +0000

At the risk of turning this into a single issue blog...

This Saturday Williamsburg Walks will celebrate Independence Day with street and board games, a barbecue, and more! Come out for volleyball, table tennis, frisbee, or any other (safe, non-disruptive) street game you want to bring. We will also provide tables and chairs perfect for your favorite board game. Just bring games and something for the Southside CSA's barbecue for a great neighborhood Fourth of July Celebration!

If you want to organize a tournament for your favorite game contact Gregor at williamsburgwalks@gmail.com for more information.

We also need volunteers to make the event a success. If you're in town this Saturday, help make a difference in your neighborhood by helping us set up or break down the event this weekend or next weekend. Water, snacks, and a free t-shirt will be provided. Email our volunteer coordinator Rima for more information at karimeh.shamieh@gmail.com.

Special Independence Day Williamsburg Walks, Plus Some Media Love

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Read the articles that include mentions about Williamsburg Walks in the New York Times and the NY Post.

Play in the Street with Williamsburg Walks on the Fourth of July

Williamsburg's Bedford Avenue, from North 4th Street to North 9th Street, will be open to pedestrians on July 4th from noon to sunset, as part of a special Independence day Williamsburg Walks.

This Saturday, July 4th, Williamsburg Walks will offer several opportunities to enjoy the holiday weekend and play street games on five car-free city blocks. Come out for volleyball, soccer, and table tennis, or bring your own games as we will be providing tables, chairs, and plenty of street space.

Come to enjoy:

Art from the Williamsburg Gallery Association;
Family-oriented fitness classes by the Greenpoint YMCA;
An old fashioned picnic by the Southside Community-Supported Agriculture;
Free yoga classes by Yogalilly with the Classical Yoga Lifestyle Institute
The "civic block" where visitors will learn how to get involved in organizations that contribute to making the neighborhood a better place;
Numerous unique dinning and shopping experiences.

Williamsburg Walks, initiated by community members and organized this year by Neighbors Allied for Good Growth and The L Magazine, is a temporary pedestrianization of Bedford Avenue intended to create open space and promote community in North Brooklyn.

Williamsburg Walks is held on Saturdays from started on June 6th and will end on July 11th. This year the event has hosted thousands of residents and visitors who enjoyed a car-free Bedford Avenue. More information is at williamsburgwalks.org.

Williamsburg Walks is Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:03:00 +0000

Join us on Bedford tomorrow for Williamsburg Walks. Programming and more information are on the Williamsburg Walks website.

We got a nice shout out from Fox 5's morning program today

Eat REALLY Local

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:14:00 +0000

If you need some fresh veggies midweek and don't want to go to the city for the Union Square Greenmarket, but you can't wait for Saturday's McCarren Park Greenmarket, head over to the Automotive High School Farm Stand! The students have been nurturing their garden all year and now the neighborhood can enjoy the harvest--all the money goes to support the garden, the cooking club, and a farm trip for the students. The stand is open Wednesdays from 4–7, in front of the school, on Bedford between North 12th and Lorimer.

Right now they have hydrangea bouquets, garlic scapes, lavender flowers, lots of herbs, and rhubarb. Coming soon: tomatoes, cukes, flowers, onions, potatoes and much much more.

Photo courtesy Jenny Kessler

NAG Supports Updated Kent Avenue Redesign

noreply@blogger.com (Lacey) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:00:00 +0000

NAG's Transportation Working Group advocates for safer streets and better/safer transit options in North Brooklyn. The Department of Transportation recently presented its updated redesign plan for Kent Avenue to Community Board 1 (view the presentation here.) The Transportation Working Group responded with the following letter to Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn, expressing our support for the plan and making recommendations for improving pedestrian safety, prioritizing the future Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, and minimizing the potential impacts of a truck traffic reroute.

To volunteer with the NAG Transportation Working Group, please contact transportation@nag-brooklyn.org

Dear Commissioner Sadik-Kahn:

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is a community-based advocacy organization serving North Brooklyn. On behalf of the residents of this neighborhood, we want to thank the Department of Transportation for your efforts to resolve the issues surrounding the redesign of Kent Avenue and let you know that we strongly support the new design.

We appreciate your listening to community suggestions in response to the implementation of the first redesign. We also appreciate your commitment to safe cycling and future realization of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, which will be an asset to our community. We are particularly excited about increased connectivity between Bedford and Kent Avenues and increased safety for cyclists via the floating lanes. We are also pleased to see that the new plan restores loading zones for our local businesses.

However, we still have a few concerns that we would like to address. The foremost of these is pedestrian safety. As you know, Kent Avenue is quickly changing from an industrial to a residential street. In addition, the East River State Park, particularly with its increased programming in the summer months, regularly draws large crowds including families. We need more attention to this increase in pedestrian traffic immediately -- many intersections, such as N. 8th (at the entrance to the park), N. 4th, and N. 14th, would almost certainly qualify for traffic lights now. The community simply cannot wait for another lengthy study -- the danger is already there. We also urge that the final design narrow the crossing distance on Kent for pedestrians as much as possible.

In addition, we request that the DOT replace only the number of parking spaces that will be available upon completion of the greenway, and look into placing planters within the buffer as a preview of the greenway's landscaping.

Finally, as you are aware, there is much concern in the neighborhood about the truck traffic that will be rerouted to Wythe Avenue and North 11th Street. We encourage you to implement traffic calming measures, such as stop signs, traffic lights, neckdowns and/or road diets on these streets, and to maintain open communication with the community during and after the plan's implementation to assess the implications of this rerouting.

We thank you again for your attention to this issue and we look forward to a dialogue with you as this project moves forward.

Sincerely,
Lacey Tauber, Kevin Vincent, Michael Freedman-Schnapp, and Alexandra Sweet
NAG Transportation Working Group

image via Gowanus Lounge

Sign the Pool Petition to Keep McCarren McCarren!

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:50:00 +0000

As you may have read, there is a plan going around the Parks Department to sell the naming rights to several New York Park facilities, including McCarren Pool. While the Parks Department keeps saying that the plan is only in the preliminary stages and that McCarren may or may not end up on the "For Sale" list, local pro-pool activist group Poolaid is getting ahead of the game and collecting signatures against the renaming of McCarren Pool. (Poolaid was created by myself and by NAG co-chair Michael Freedman-Schnapp, along with Beka Economopoulos and others).

You can sign the petition online here, or at the NAG table at Williamsburg Walks--on the Nortwest corner or North 7th and Bedford. Below is the Poolaid statement regarding selling the naming rights.

STATEMENT AGAINST
THE RENAMING OF MCCARREN POOL

In 1809 the Parks Department named McCarren Park after Patrick Henry McCarren, a local politician responsible for many of the parks and green spaces in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. In 2009, the centennial year of McCarren’s death, the Parks Department wants take that name back by selling the naming rights to McCarren Pool.

It’s a terrible idea. Here’s why.

• North Brooklyn has fought for years to get MCCARREN pool reopened. We didn’t fight to for the right to swim in AT&T pool, AmEx pool, or any pool but McCarren Pool.

• McCarren Pool is already paid for, by taxpayers. The pool was built with taxpayer money and is being renovated with taxpayer money. The corporation would be contributing nothing to our community, but gaining great benefits. Other things in other parks, like Wollman Rink, are named for their *benefactors*, for those who donated the money for the facility. McCarren is already named for its benefactor, Patrick Henry McCarren.

• McCarren Pool is famous because of our local promoters, our local bands, and our citizens. It was longtime residents like Jelly NYC and bands like TV on the Radio who made McCarren into a premier destination, written up in national magazines, not some multinational corporation.

• Patrick Henry McCarren is an important part of local history. He is responsible for many of the parks we have today, and for the building of the WIlliamsburg Bridge. He also had ties to the sugar industry and the Havemeyer family, who owned Domino Sugar. Greenpoint and Williamsburg are undergoing extraordinary changes—every day, physically, we see our history going away. Patrick Henry McCarren, with his connections to local landmarks and local history, should be used as a teaching tool, not be erased from the pool that bears his name.

• Greenpoint and Williamsburg have already gotten a raw deal from Parks. We haven’t gotten the parks we were promised in the rezoning. The waterfront is still fenced off. It is wrong to sell the open space we do have, that we fought for, to a corporation.

Please sign and forward the petition to keep McCarren named McCarren.
You don't need to live here to sign it.

Williamsburg Walks on June 20th - CANCELED

noreply@blogger.com (Grégor) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Feel free to be singing in the rain, but there won't be any walking in the rain. Due to the particularly bad weather forecast for tomorrow, we are forced to cancel the Williamsburg Walks.

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:54:00 +0000

"Um, Peter? This computer can't open a PDF... and it doesn't seem to have Word or Excel, either."

NAG can guide you through the process of securing Section 8 housing, write a grant for the local town hall building, or forge collaborations with politicians, academics, and local residents, but when it comes to wireless routers, upgrading operating systems, or increasing RAM, we need help!

*Sigh* If only there was a gallant computer-literate NAGer out there somewhere! Someone who just gets all this computer stuff and can whip us into shape in a mere afternoon (or less)! You know the type we're talking about: those guys who get together with their computer friends over a beer to geek it up about Linux or the latest wireless gadgets, and who gave up the mouse ages ago in favor of the command window. It wouldn't take much for a computer fella (or gal) to fix us up, good as new, so then maybe the tripping hazard which is our wired internet connection could be retired.

In all seriousness, the NAG office could use some help updating its computer and internet resources. The good news is that we don't expect it to take a lot of time or energy on your part. What we really need is someone out there who knows his/her way around a motherboard enough to help us figure out how to do some pretty routine things, such as:

Convert to a wireless router and help choose and install wireless cards, as needed
Update an old computer to a later Windows operating system
Install more memory, etc in said old computer, as needed
Perform routine maintenance

Let us know! Call the office at 718-384-2248 or email info -at- nag-brooklyn -dot- org

-Rima

Weekend Stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Williamsburg Walks NAG and the L magazine bring you week two of the Bedford ped-fest, where we close off the street to vehicular traffic and invite the community to make the most of it. Come and lounge at the cafe-style tables, check out what local organizations are up to--you can even take home a kitten! This week is extra high energy because it coincides with the L's Northside Festival, a four-day extravaganza of music and art. (John Vanderslice is tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburgh!)

Crest Fest The annual art show at Crest Hardware on Metropolitan has expanded this year with more food, bands, and the usual installations of hardware-themed art throughout the store. It's free--all proceeds from sales of food, etc., will go to benefit Macri Park. Saturday at noon, goes all day.

Mini-Golf in Bushwick This is just extremely rad.

noreply@blogger.com (mikki) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Local heroes El Puente, in concert with a coalition of other organizations and Councilmember Robert Jackson, are rallying to preserve anti-dropout funding in the city budget. We all benefit from keeping kids in school. Here is what El Puente does with their funding:

El Puente is a community-based youth and community development
organization that serves over 1,200 youth ages 6-21 and their
families from primarily the most at-risk communities in North Brooklyn. Serving students from
over 75 Brooklyn schools (including its own NYC public HS, the El Puente Academy for Peace
and Justice) from all 12 Brooklyn school districts that span 13 City Council Districts (33, 34, 35,
36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47 & 48), El Puente successfully engages youth in a
comprehensive, holistic membership-driven program. Our nationally recognized model includes
1-on-1 mentoring, academic support services, college/vocational prep, pre-professional arts
training, health/wellness support & civic engagement opportunities. Family support includes
immigration counseling, social service referrals and adult GED/ESL classes.

DATE: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
TIME: 2:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Meet at El Puente 211 S. 4th Street, Williamsburg
We will travel by subway to join hundreds of students & families to rally on the steps of City Hall.

For more info, contact Theresa Doherty tdoherty@elpuente.us

Save Your Community Board -- Rally Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Lacey) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Your community board needs you! While it's true that the city's CB system is flawed, it is still one of the best and most effective routes available for community activists like ourselves to interact with City government. Mayor Bloomberg has proposed cutting $35,000/year from the boards' already-meager $200,000/year budget, which covers all employees, office expenses, etc. This will mean layoffs of essential staff, and will dramatically affect boards' ability to function effectively.

As anyone who has attended a community board meeting knows, boards are charged with a wide range of tasks - from providing constituent services, to reviewing City plans and proposals. They also have a City Charter mandate to undertake comprehensive planning for their districts; however, most boards lack the technical expertise and the finances necessary to do this. Community boards need MORE support from the City to function effectively, not less.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, along with the other 4 BPs and all 59 community boards, will rally tomorrow at 11am at City Hall to urge the City Council to fully restore community board funding for the coming fiscal year. Join them and let the Council know that you support your community board!

Williamsburg Walks!

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:40:00 +0000

Williamsburg Walks had a successful kick-off yesterday! The NAG and Town Hall tables couldn't hold a candle to puppies and pottery demonstrations (see below), but still a great time was had by all!

See you the next 5 Saturdays- the event is every Saturday until July 11.

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures from June 6:

Walking Down Division Street

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:45:00 +0000

I had the chance to talk to a friend's urban photography class at the Greenpoint YMCA's PS 16 Afterschool last week and had a lot of fun. I spoke to the kids about how neighborhoods change, then we took a walk around Division Street to see how different areas of the neighborhood had been impacted by the urban renewal program the City did in the 1940s & 50s to build highways and housing projects.

A photo comparing the urban renewal area north of Division to the older buildings south of Division:

A photo of the Williamsburgh branch of the Public Library that was cantilevered over the BQE.

Cristian helped me take these photos of stores on Lee Ave:

-Michael

Williamsburg Walks is Back Tomorrow, Saturday June 6

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:59:00 +0000

The event runs noon to sunset, Bedford Avenue, N4th to N9th Streets.

And we've got the schedule of programming up. Learn about local food from the Southside CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture), view art presented by the Williamsburg Gallery Association, acoustic music presented by the L Magazine, or exercise with your kids in a streetside class presented by the Greenpoint Y!

More information is at www.williamsburgwalks.org. Also see the article in today's Metro.

We could still use a few volunteers, especially in the late afternoon, so contact williamsburgwalks@gmail.com if you want to help.

June 4: Brooklyn Day & Rent Party at Teddy's Bar & Grill

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:01:00 +0000

Thursday, June 4th, from 7pm on, celebrate Brooklyn Day at Teddy's (N8th & Berry Street), with a night of all Brooklyn music, hosted by D.J. "d", Borough President Marty Markowitz, and special guests, including legendary Brooklyn recording artist, "Set-It-Off" Strafe, spinning his own mixes, Councilman David Yassky and other borough celebs.

It is also Teddy's monthly Rent Party, where raffle sales benefit, 50 % to the winner, for their rent, and 50% to the Town Hall building around the corner. Raffle tickets sell for $2 each, or 3 for $5.00.

June 4: Safer Streets for Walking, Biking, and Driving

noreply@blogger.com (mike) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Join us at the Diamond Bar (43 Franklin Street), Thursday June 4 at 7:30pm to write letters to the city and elected officials asking to improve proposed plans for Kent Avenue and the Pulaski Bridge.

At the last Community Board Transportation meeting, we heard updates from the DOT about the Kent Avenue redesign, and the new design plan for the Pulaski Bridge. You can download the Kent presentation here, which essentially involves making traffic one way, with a "floating" 2-way bike lane, separated from traffic by a buffer and parked cars/turning lane. The Pulaski plans are not available online yet, but basically involve some striping and signage to encourage a safer interaction between pedestrians and cyclists on the pathway.

We want to support the general impetus behind both plans, but we have a few specific improvements we want. More immediate attention is needed to safe walking and crossing Kent Avenue and the Pulaski Bridge needs a study that will ultimately lead to more space for walking and biking long-term.

Contact transportation@nag-brooklyn.org to let us know if you're coming.