 The Sixth Sense |
Greetings!
We're transitioning our former monthly Community Board mailing to an electronic newsletter format for a few reasons. First, using this medium we can make good on our New Year's resolution to act in a more environmentally responsible way by reducing our carbon footprint. Second, disseminating information to our communities is one of the unique responsibilities of the Community Board, and this method allows us to reach even more people than ever before. Lastly, since the City Administration has announced another round of cuts to our district office budget we're taking a closer look at how we do business in an effort to optimize our scarce resources without compromising the high quality of service our community expects from us.
Please enjoy this premiere edition and do let us know what kind of information you would like to see in future editions.
Wishing you a happy, prosperous, and sustainable New Year!
P.S. If you like what you see here, please use the link at the bottom of the page to forward this email along to a friend or two. There are over 104,000 residents of our district. We'd love it if they would all sign up! |
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Giving Credit Where It's Due  The concept for a newsletter and, indeed, the title "The Sixth Sense" are by no means original. From 1985 through 1988, with guidance from then-District Manager Robert Acito (right, taken April 1992), while under the tenures of Selma Abramowitz, Louise Finney and Jerry Armer, former CB6 Chairpersons, a hard copy version of the newsletter, "The Sixth Sense" was produced by the incredibly talented team of Bob, Selma (editor) and Beverly Gross (design). This seasonal publication spotlighted the many types of issues that came before the community board as a way of introducing, inviting and engaging the public in its ongoing work.
Sadly, Robert Acito passed away on January 25, 1993. The Carroll Park parkhouse was named for Bob, and a meditative bench was dedicated to Prospect Park in his memory. He was succeeded on February 11, 1993 by then-Assistant District Manager Craig Hammerman who became the youngest District Manager citywide. January 8, 2010 will be Craig's 20th anniversary working for CB6.
This newsletter is dedicated to all the Bob's, Selma's, Louise's, Jerry's and Beverly's - all of the extraordinary CB6 alumni - people who cared enough to get active, stay involved, and make a difference for the sake of their community. |
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Renewed for the New Year! 
Here's a chance to start off your New Year on the right foot. Or footprint! Whether it's clothes you've been meaning to get rid of, your holiday tree, or that old electronic device that was just upgraded to a new one, here's a chance to do the right thing with your waste.
Mulchfest 2010: Saturday & Sunday, January 9 & 10, 10am to 2pm; Chipping Sites in district include Cobble Hill Park (Clinton St. & Verandah Pl.) and Prospect Park (Prospect Park West & 3rd St.) Drop-off Locations in district include Coffey Park (Dwight St. & Verona Pl.) and Red Hook Farm/Added Value (Columbia & Halleck Sts.);
Please participate, and help spread the word! |
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Muni-Meters Coming to Park Slope  The Department of Transportation has announced that over the weekend of January 9-10, 2010 they will be completing the installation of muni-meters in select portions of Park Slope. Over 40 new muni-meters will replace more than 240 single space meters currently in use. They will be installed primarily along 5th Avenue between Sackett and 3rd Streets, and on 7th Avenue between Lincoln Place and 6th Streets.
These new muni-meters will retain the parking rates currently in effect in this PARK Smart pilot area. Since May 2009, DOT and our community have been experimenting with variable parking rates as one way of addressing vehicular congestion that is endemic to the area. When the meters are in effect Monday through Saturday, the rate will continue to be $1.50/hour during the peak demand hours of 12pm to 4pm and $0.75/hour all other times.
The removal of the single space parking meters will also free up valuable sidewalk space for pedestrians, create new opportunities for the installa-tion of more racks for bicycle parking, and additional curbside vehicular parking capacity through variable spacing. |
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Improved B61 Bus Route to Start in January 2010  For too many years, riders from our Red Hook and Columbia Street Waterfront neighborhoods have complained about the unreliable service on the B61 bus line, which runs between Red Hook, Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens. The current bus line is 9.7 miles long, and is often subject to severe delays as it passes through a heavily congested Downtown Brooklyn.
Beginning in January 2010, New York City Transit has announced that they will be splitting the B61 bus line into two lines - a new B61 which will run between IKEA Red Hook and Downtown Brooklyn, and a new B62 line which will run between Downtown Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens. It is expected that this service change will improve the efficiency and convenience of the B61 bus line for our local riders. |
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Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc. (Federal EIN 04-3780020) was established in 2003 to support the work of Brooklyn Community Board 6 in improving the quality of life in the district. Friends seeks to provide planning, advocacy, research and administrative resources to supplement the limited capacities and budget of the Community Board, thus enabling it to properly carry out its City Charter mandated tasks of evaluating the needs and advocating on behalf of its communities.
Friends of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are welcome and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. |
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For the Next Meeting |
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All posted Community Board meetings (general, committee, informational, etc.) are open to the public and we encourage you to attend; however, participation may be limited depending on the agenda. Contact the district office if further clarification is needed. |
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In this space each month we'll feature an answer to a frequently posed question about municipal government, our community, or whatever is on our readers' minds.
Got a question?
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Who's Who at CB6
CB6 2010 Officers:
● Richard Bashner,
Chairperson
● Ray Lohier,
First Vice Chairperson
● Nica Lalli,
Second Vice Chairperson
● David Reiss,
Treasurer
● Elly Spicer,
Secretary
CB6 Chairs:
● Ben Atkins,
Housing, Co-Chair
● Richard Bashner,
Executive, Budget
● James Bernard,
Youth Services, Co-Chair
● Peter Fleming,
Land Use
● Joanne Foulke,
Transportation, Co-Chair
● Mark Kolman,
Human Services
● Daniel Kummer,
Permits & Licenses ● Nica Lalli,
Parks/Recreation/Cultural Affairs
● Betty Lester,
Housing, Co-Chair
● Robert Levine,
Landmarks
● Ray Lohier,
Public Safety
● Rick Luftglass,
Economic Development, Co-Chair
● Thomas Miskel,
Transportation, Co-Chair ● Greg O'Connell,
Waterfront Development
● David Reiss,
Economic Development, Co-Chair
● David Reiss,
Finance/Personnel & Law
● Suzanne Turet,
Education
● Derrick C. Vito,
Youth Services, Co-Chair
● Bob Zuckerman,
Environmental Protection
District Office Staff:
● Craig Hammerman,
District Manager
● Leroy P. Branch, Jr.
Assistant District Manager
● Liza Santiago,
Office Manager
● Helena Miskel,
Office Volunteer
Newsletter Production:
● Craig Hammerman,
Editor | |
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