Red Hook Street Car Study: Interim Reports Available

The consultants for the Red Hook Street Car Feasibility Study have released two interim reports:

Case studies of  street car systems in Portland, Seattle and Philadelphia is a detailed look at how these cities have implemented new systems into existing cities.  The section on Portland includes terrific detail including photos of how the rails were constructed, bicycle coordination issues, handicapped accessibility and graphs of ridership.

The existing conditions report is a must-read document for the level of detail it goes into regarding Red Hook.  The report covers land use, demographics, public policy affecting the neighborhood and includes a wealth of illustrations and tables.  It is a fascinating overview of the neighborhood.

The consultants have identified potential routes (which includes Columbia Street within the Waterfront) and are now working on evaluating their feasibility.  Next steps will include cost estimating and evaluating constructibility issues.  Their findings will be presented in a public meeting to be held sometime early 2011.

If you are new to this subject, please visit the DOT Street Car website here for a general overview of the Study.

Rally for Shore Power

State Senator Daniel Squadron and Councilmember Brad Lander are organizing an event which will hopefully help end the stalemate on the shore power issue.  Below is the invitation they sent out today:

Dear Neighbors,

Please join us Monday at noon for a press conference and rally in support of bringing "shore power" to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

Along with the community we have been pushing for shore power for a long time — now we are holding this "Stop Choking Brooklyn" rally because we can't wait any longer!

Switching to shore power — so that ships can hook up to the electric grid instead of idling their engines in port — would stop tons of unnecessary and life-threatening pollution, which is equal to thousands of cars idling.

The Port Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency have obtained $15 million in funding to build the necessary infrastructure. However, for shore power to become a reality, the Economic Development Corporation, which operates the cruise terminal, Carnival Cruise Lines which uses the terminal, and New York Power Authority, which delivers electricity to the terminal, need to come to a final agreement about the price of electricity.

Join us on Monday to rally for an agreement now, so the work needed to bring shore power to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal can begin and idling cruise ships stop choking Brooklyn!

---

We’re going to be holding the event on Monday. Here are the specifics:

• What: Rally to Stop Choking Brooklyn
• When: Monday, January 3rd, noon
• Where: corner of Van Brunt Street and Pioneer Street

There will be free surgical masks for everyone to wear in order to highlight just how much pollution is caused by the ships currently.

I hope you’ll join us on Monday as we rally in support of a cause that will make our community an even better place to live.

Thank you,

Councilmember Lander and Senator Squadron

Let's get out and let the powers that be know that our community really wants to see an end to pollution from idling ships.

Hearing re Alternatives to Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Our neighborhood is growing, there are more young families every year and there is enormous demand for recreational space for all ages and in all seasons.

The Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood looks forward to the completion of the park, which will become a cherished amenity.

We appreciate the challenges in getting the park built and maintaining it going forward. However, we fear that fundamental principles are being compromised by the proposal to locate private housing in the park in order to generate income for maintenance.

We oppose the development of housing and hotels in the park. We feel that the park should contain only such uses as can be utilized by all visitors. Our communities need recreation and relaxation space - the Brooklyn Bridge Park is a unique opportunity and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to identify sources of revenue that will sustain the park's ongoing operations as an alternative to the proposed housing.

Please come to the hearing tomorrow night and express opposition to housing and support for recreation in Brooklyn Bridge Park. 

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6pm – 8pm
Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street Avram Conference Center, 1st floor

Public Hearing Re Developer Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park

One of the hottest debates around concerns the dedication of land within Brooklyn Bridge Park to private development for housing and other uses in order to generate money to maintain the park.  In response to sustained opposition to such development, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. has created a Committee on Alternatives to Housing to address the matter.

There are two meetings coming up at which the public can express their opinions and offer alternatives:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6pm – 8pm
Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street Avram Conference Center, 1st floor

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 6pm – 8pm
St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street,
Founders Hall Auditorium, 1st floor

We encourage everyone in the Columbia Waterfront to weigh in on this crucial issue. The eventual outcome of this effort will influence the future of our waterfront for decades.  Let's make sure the BBPC does what is best for the city and the community of park users, and not what is expedient for financial reasons and to satisfy narrow interests.

For background, see some of the information here.

BQE Enhancement Study Final Presentation

Please have a look at the final presentation for the BQE Enhancement Study at the EDC's website here.

Workshop 3 (the final presentation) is available as a downloadable PDF file - it includes a brief background of the project, conclusions, proposals which build one upon the other, and cost estimates.  The presentation is thorough and clear, and the cost estimates are presented in a very graphic manner which makes them very easy to absorb.

After reviewing the material, take the survey.  The more feedback, the better.  Next steps will be to find a way of making one of these plans a reality.

Final Community Workshop for BEQ Enhancement Project

The third and final community workshop for the BQE Enhancement project has been scheduled!

When: Monday, November 15th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Long Island College Hospital (LICH), Avram Conference Center, Rooms A & B, 339 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201

What: The project team will present finalized alternatives and preliminary cost estimates, and discuss next steps for the project.

More information on the project available at EDC website, including prior presentations. Hope to see you there.

Brooklyn Streetcar Feasibility Study

New York City DOT's Chris Hrones hosted the first meeting of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Study last night. The meeting was attended by representatives of various community groups in the Cobble Hill to Red Hook area, other government agencies and a number of people who have been active for years in trying to bring streetcar service to Brooklyn. Funding for the study was obtained from the federal government by our congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.

While you might think that provision of streetcar service would be the responsibility of the MTA, Hrones noted that DOT is taking the lead in addressing transportation policy on many fronts including improvements to bus service, the very noticeable expansion of bicycle lanes throughout the city as well as a host of other initiatives.

The presentation made to the group is available at the DOT website devoted to the study and also contains a brief overview of streetcars.

The question and answer period produced some interesting information:

• Although the MTA is a member of the CAC, they had no representatives at the meeting. Hrones noted that MTA operates the buses and subways but would not necessarily be the operator of streetcars. However, the MTA will be a necessary partner in the study and implementation of a streetcar system in order to coordinate services. An attendee observed that inter-agency coordination/rivalry was a critical issue and would could potentially delay or kill the project.

• The study will include a ridership demand projection based on census data, data from other cities with streetcars, bus ridership data, and information from the Ikea shuttle.

• While the study area encompasses a broad range of neighborhoods including Downtown and Vinegar hill, the primary objective is providing service to/from Red Hook. Proposed routes will always have portions in Red Hook and will extend variously to other locations in the study area such as subway stations or other destinations.

• Other cities that have installed streetcars have experienced increased economic development along the streetcar route. The feasibility study will address potential economic impact and the required coordination with agencies such as Dept of City Planning and EDC which may have programs in progress for the affected areas. Several attendees noted the importance of reliable transit for store and business owners in Red Hook. Given the large public investment required for a streetcar service there would surely follow a desire to secure the viability of this system by promoting development along the route.

You can contribute your thoughts at two Community Board meetings: CB2 Transportation Committee on 11/16 and CB6 Transportation Committee on 11/18 . There will be a public meeting early in 2011 and there will eventually be an interactive map on the DOT project website where you can record your own suggested route.

See also the timely and fascinating information at the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association website.

VISION 2020 NYC Comprehensive Waterfront Plan

City Planning has produced draft recommendations for the current round of planning for the future of our waterfront. There will be a presentation on Tuesday, October 12 at 6:00p at NYU Kimmel Center 60 Washington Square South, 10th Floor.

The draft recommendations can be viewed at the Vision 2020 website and can be downloaded from here.

Of special interest to the Columbia Waterfront community is the section on "Reach 14S" which includes recommendations on Piers 7 -12. It is gratifying to see the recommendations include references to improving environmental conditions by supporting cold ironing, but there are some real throw-aways here like 'minimizing conflict between trucks and pedestrians' and the 'waterfront interpretive center'.

Given the generally somnolent nature of piers 7 - 12 and the relative 'thinness' of the industrial buffer between the waterfront and the very lively adjacent communities, it is desirable to press for a far more accessible waterfront. Such access could include better links to Governor's Island and Manhattan via ferry and water taxi, spaces for small businesses, and use of the large areas for events.

You can make your opinion known to City Planning on line here.

Brooklyn Greenway Community Planning Workshop

Next week the Brooklyn Greenway Inititative hosts their second community planning workshop concerning the section of the Greenway in the Columbia Waterfront and Redhook. Please attend and help make this important project a reality. This workshop will build upon the results of the first session held earlier this year.

Date: October 14, 2010
Time: 6:30p - 8:30p
Location: Red Hook Recreation Center, 155 Bay Street
RSVP: brooklynwaterfrontgreenway@dot.nyc.gov and specify the Red Hook workshop

SEWER RECONSTRUCTION WORK ON VAN BRUNT AT PRESIDENT

We received this update (somewhat belatedly) about the seemingly never-ending Columbia Street reconstruction project:

WORK HOURS: Monday thru Saturday 7:00am to 5:30pm

Beginning September 13, 2010 and continuing for approximately 6 weeks the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) will begin reconstruction of a sewer chamber at the intersection of on Van Brunt and President Street. Residents are advised that there will be some noise and vibration associated with this operation. Vibration monitors will be placed at various locations through the project during this phase of work.

The DDC is committed to maintaining a work site that is safe and clean. However, dust, noise and heavy equipment are intrusive but common elements of construction and we ask for your patience during the project. Please be advised of the following traffic/community impacts:

Traffic/Community Impacts:

• Parking will be restricted in/around the work zone.
• NO PARKING signs will be installed.
• Driveway access may be restricted for a limited amount of time.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained at all time.

We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for your patience while we rebuild Brooklyn's infrastructure.

If you have any questions or concerns or would like to learn more about the project, please call Carol Nurse, the Community Construction Liaison at (718) 875-3981 or visit the NYCDDC web site at www.nyc.gov/buildnyc. During non-constructions hours, please contact New York City Government Services and Information Hotline at 311.

Proposed 2-Family on Union Street Requires Variance

Please note that a public hearing on the proposed variance is scheduled for Thursday, August 26 at 6:00p.

Discussion and formulation of a recommendation on an application submitted to the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA Cal. No. 134-10-BZ) on behalf of Passiv House Xperimental LLC to allow the construction of a four-story, approximately 4,570 square foot two-family residence within an M1-1 manufacturing district, pursuant to Section 72-21 of the Zoning Resolution, at 107 Union Street (Block 335, Lot 42) between Columbia and Van Brunt Streets.

Location:

Cobble Hill Community Meeting Room
250 Baltic Street
(between Court/Clinton Sts)
Brooklyn NY 11201

PortSide New York Hosts the Gazela Tall Ship

PortSide New York wraps up their summer season with a rare visit by a 130 year old wooden tall ship from Philadelphia scheduled to arrive 8/18. Come to Pier 11 to see the ship and other events hosted by PortSide.

Info on PortSide's programs and the Gazela is here.

Dollar Vans Debate Continues

The Brooklyn Paper advances the discussion of dollar vans -- which may replace the B71, as I previously mentioned -- with dueling editorials from David Yassky and John Samuelsen.

Yassky, the the former City Council member and now head of the Taxi and Limousine Commission, takes a pro-dollar van view:

The commuter vans that have served parts of Brooklyn and Queens over the years inspired the plan’s foundation, but there are several important differences, among them the fact that the vans will pick up and drop off riders at fixed stops, rather than roaming freely as the vans now often do. The vans will also be required to carry adequate insurance and be driven by specially certified drivers, also in contrast with troublesome unlicensed vans.

At the center of the decision to create this plan is the fact that the MTA’s service cuts have left us with two choices: do nothing, or take action to provide assistance to thousands of New Yorkers. Mayor Bloomberg has made it abundantly clear that doing nothing is simply not an option, so we are taking action.

Samuelsen, the newly elected president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, takes a negative view:

The Bloomberg scheme would create an unsafe, unregulated shadow transit system, undermining New York City Transit and the MTA. It’s a tremendous mistake and an affront to every transit worker in the city. Most important, it’s clearly against the will of the people: every rider wants a clean, air-conditioned city bus rather than a seat in an unregulated dollar van.

[...]

The “dollar van” doesn’t accommodate the disabled who use wheelchairs or have the ability to “kneel” to make it easier for a senior citizen to climb on board. A “dollar van” will not pick up an elderly person with a cane, because these operators make money by moving fast, and these passengers take up time and, from their point of view, waste money.

Dollar vans to replace the B71?

Gary Buiso of The Brooklyn Paper reports that the Taxi and Limousine Commission--now headed by former Brooklyn City Councilmember David Yassky--has approved a plan to turn the former B71 route into a dollar-van route.

As best I can tell, this doesn't mean we'll actually have dollar vans running up and down Union Street. The TLC just approved the concept. No dollar-van operator has actually said he or she will take the route.

Writes Buiso:

The Taxi and Limousine Commission quietly approved the privatization initiative that will allow livery vans to operate along bus routes eliminated by the cash-strapped state agency — including the B71 route that once journeyed from Columbia Street through tony Carroll Gardens and Park Slope on its way to Crown Heights.

[...]

Under the plan, the vans will only be allowed to pick up passengers at specified locations — but drop-offs can be at locations negotiated by the driver and commuter.

Some neighborhood activists are dubious about this proposal:

“Oh my god, it’s insane!” said Maria Pagano, president of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association. “You’ll have guys dive-bombing in and out on Union Street between school buses.”

Roy Sloane, president of the Cobble Hill Association, added that the “public-private partnership” leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

“The government should be providing essential services that don’t necessarily make a profit,” he said. “The government and this administration seems to be keen on privatizing all the services that [they] used to provide.”

What do you think?

"Explosions" in Columbia Waterfront

Did you hear the loud explosion-like sounds in the neighborhood yesterday? Deputy Inspector Kenneth Corey, from the 76th Precinct, emailed an explanation (h/t Craig Hammerman, CB6):

During the past several hours, several "booming" noises have been heard throughout Carroll Gardens and parts of Red Hook. We have heard them here in the station house as well. Obviously, this has concerned many residents of the area, as 911 and the precinct switchboard quickly became inundated with callers reporting explosions, fireworks and gunshots. We have been informed that the booming noises are caused by the electrical transformers, something to do with the heat and the demand for power. We have surveyed the precinct along with the Fire Department. None of the transformers or manholes have actually "exploded," or gone on fire, and there are no reports of power outages within the precinct, and the noises heard are definitely not caused by gunshots or fireworks.

We will continue to respond to all calls for service. At this time, there is no cause for alarm. This is an issue with the Con-Ed transformers, and not a criminal or other sinister act.

Your Input Needed for BQE Enhancement Workshop

Now's the time to Fix the Ditch. CoWNA encourages all Columbia Waterfronters to attend the community workshop on the BQE Enhancement Project that the NYC Economic Development Corporation is holding next Tuesday. If you want something that's more than cosmetic, it's essential that the engineers and designers hear from the community.

When: Tuesday, July 20

Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Long Island College Hospital

Here's some info on the last workshop. Make sure you com on Tuesday -- and please help spread the word.

Your Weekly Public Services News Roundup

TRANSPORTATION

Crain’s: MTA eyes more fare hikes and fees

Daily News: MTA eyes up 90-trip limit on unlimited monthly MetroCards, 21-ride limit on weekly cards

Daily News: MTA unveiling fare hike plan, but the crunch is just on straphangers buying single-rides

NY1: MTA Holds Hearing on Subway Booth Closures

UTILITIES

WSJ: New York Water Data is Online

GENERAL MEETING July 22, 210

Please join us for our summer general meeting of the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association membership. Items on the Agenda include:

• Guest speaker from the DDC reporting on the final phase of the Columbia Street Reconstruction Project
• Update on BQE Enhancement Study (Remember workshop is on 7/20!)
• Report on the DEP Gowanus Facilities Upgrade work on Degraw Street
• Committee reports
  

Date: 22 July 2010
Time: 6:45p
Location: 29 Tiffany Place Community Room (more chairs this time).

People's Hearing on the B71 Bus

Join the Straphangers Campaign and former B71 riders for a People's Hearing on how the loss of the B71 bus has affected our neighborhoods. This event will take place just before the MTA's public hearing on station booth closures.

When: Tuesday, July 13

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Where: Cooper Union

Your Weekly Public Services News Roundup

EDUCATION

Daily News: NYC Education Department central office hired 70% more employees since 2003 amid school budget cuts

PUBLIC SAFETY

Brooklyn Papers: Columburgia

TRANSPORTATION

Brooklyn Paper (Gene Russianoff op-ed): With the MTA, there’s plenty of blame to go around

Brooklyn Paper (Jay Walder op-ed): The MTA is doing better

New York: Subway on the Street

WNYC: NYPD: No Tickets for Parking in Poorly Marked Former Bus Stops

UTILITIES

NYT: At Con Ed Nerve Center, Keeping the Lights On

Enjoy the Fireworks ... But Not Here

Disappointing news from the 76th Precinct:

As many of you are aware, the Macy's fireworks display, which is traditionally launched from barges in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan, will be relocated this year to the Hudson River, between Manhattan and New Jersey. Unfortunately, this means that we will not enjoy the spectacular view from the Brooklyn waterfront that we have in years past. It is unlikely that we will be able to see any of the fireworks from the piers off Columbia Street or from the Valentino Pier this year, as they will be obscured by the Manhattan Skyline. If you have come to the waterfront in years past to enjoy the show, we encourage you to make alternative plans this year.

(H/t Craig Hammerman, CB6)

Improved Safety at Pier 6 Entrance

Ellen Whelan-Wuest, the soon-to-be-departing director of Senator Daniel Squadron's Brooklyn office, sends word of some good news:

After extensive conversations with the New York City Department of Transportation about the lack of safe crossings and traffic controls at the new Pier 6 entrance of Brooklyn Bridge Park on Atlantic Avenue, Senator Squadron received word from DOT today that they have heard his and our constituents' cries for improved safety. DOT outline the following steps they are taking to make these intersections safer for all Park visitors and pedestrians:

• "Stop Here on Red" sign on Atlantic Avenue at the eastbound approach to the on-ramp, to communicate to drivers that they do not have a free left turn when the light ahead is red and the pedestrian indication across the ramp is WALK.
• "Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians" sign on Atlantic Avenue at the westbound approach to the on-ramp, to emphasize to drivers that they must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
• Conducting a traffic study to determine if further signal or regulation changes that will reduce vehicle-pedestrian conflicts at this location are feasible. Additional recommendations will be share publicly in near future.
• Evaluating medium term opportunities for more significant reconfigurations to the street network around Pier 6 that will assist with bicycle and pedestrian park access, including the intersection of Columbia Street and Atlantic Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue west of Columbia Street.

We wanted to make sure that everyone knows right away about DOT's response to advocacy from Senator Squadron and members of the community. Senator Squadron will, of course, continue his work to improve pedestrian safety around Pier 6 and in the community. If you have any questions or concerns, please to not hesitate to contact me.

Senator Squadron's Brooklyn office, where you can still catch Ellen for a short while longer, is reachable at (718) 802-3818.

Your Weekly Public Services News Roundup

EDUCATION

WSJ: Forced to Hire From Within, Principals Balk

NYT: Last Day of ‘Rubber Rooms’ for Suspended Teachers

PUBLIC SAFETY

Brooklyn Eagle: Safety Steps for Park’s Pier 6

TRANSPORTATION

Daily News: The great train robbery: These pols slashed transit funds then blamed the MTA

Brooklyn Paper: MTA service cuts make it a Monday from hell

NYT: As M.T.A. Cuts Bus Service, a Look at Who Rides Where

Crain’s: MTA to borrow $600 million amid budget woes

Brooklyn Eagle: Futile Rally Against Bus Cuts

Daily News: MTA blows millions on real estate management

Daily News: MTA won't raise fares early but will hike Metrocard, commuter train tickets in January 2011

UTILITIES

Daily News: Union Radio Ad Slams National Grid, Con Ed on Wages

2nd BQE Enhancement Workshop

The NYC Economic Development Corp. has just announced the next design workshop for the BQE Enhancement Project. Come see the initial design concepts, offer feedback and help us craft a plan to 'fix the ditch'.

When: 6:30-8:30p Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Where: Long Island College Hospital (LICH), Avram Conference Center, Rooms A & B 339 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201

Please RSVP to BQE@nycedc.com

More information about the project available here on the NYCEDC website.

If you haven't already, have a look at the initial presentation or the summary of the 1st workshop.

Explore BlueSpace this Summer with PortSide New York

PortSide New York brings a full line up of programs to the Brooklyn waterfront. Centered around their historic ship the Mary Whalen in the Red Hook container port, the programs include tours of the ship, movies and music on the deck and more. Visit their website here for lots more information.

Also, please support their important efforts by attending their fundraiser on July 3rd.

Your Weekly Public Services News Roundup

EDUCATION

Journal News: Is the state lottery fulfilling its promise to support education?

WSJ: Regents Diploma in New York May Become More Difficult to Attain

PUBLIC SAFETY

Village Voice: NYPD Tapes 4: The WhistleBlower, Adrian Schoolcraft

TRANSPORTATION

NYT: Students Rally to Support Free Rides to School

NYT: Study Scours New York Subway, Finding Rats Remain Wily

Help Find Spots for Bike Racks

Instead of this:

And this:

We need more of these:

Agree? Then come out this Saturday and help CoWNA find good spots for bike racks in the Columbia Waterfront District! And bring your smartphones, because Daniel Latorre, who started FixCity, will train you to use his app identify potential bike rack locations and submit requests to the DOT. After the training, we'll spread out across the neighborhood and see what we can find.

When: Saturday, June 19

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Where: Corner of Union and Columbia

We'll also be joined by some good folks from Transportation Alternative's Brooklyn Volunteer Committee.

See you Saturday!

Your Weekly Public Services News Update

EDUCATION

NYT: New York City Principals Plan for Cuts

Daily News: Bloomberg blames teacher layoffs being ‘up in the air once again’ on $600M cut from Washington

WSJ: School Lunches on Chopping Block

PUBLIC SAFETY

Village Voice: NYPD Tapes 3: A Detective Comes Forward About Downgraded Sexual Assaults

SANITATION

SILive: N.Y. joins 22 other states with e-waste laws

TRANSPORTATION

NYT: Why Doesn’t New York City Have More Ferries?

Post: Judge orders MTA to reopen station agent booths

Your Weekly Public Services News Roundup

EDUCATION

Times: New York State Votes to Expand Charter Schools

City Room: A School Grieves for Its Beloved Cook

Times: Mayor to Cancel Teachers’ Raises, Averting Layoffs

TRANSPORTATION

Post: MTA secret service cuts slam bus riders with long waits and overcrowded lines

WNYC: MTA Pilots New Smart Cards

Times: 8,000 M.T.A. Employees Made $100,000 Last Year

2^nd Ave. Sagas: A salary too high or simply too many employees?

Transportation Nation: Obama Administration Hasn't Endorsed the Transit Aid Bill

Streetsblog: AFL-CIO Flexing Its Muscle for Senate Transit Operating Aid Bill

Lane Closures on Hicks Street

Says the NYC DOT:

Hicks Street Rail Painting

On or about June 9, 2010, the New York City Department of Transportation Division of Bridges will commence protective coating operations on Hicks Street, from Congress to Summit Streets, both eastbound and westbound. The existing protective coating will be cleaned and/or removed. A new, epoxy-zinc protective coating system will be applied to all metal railings. This work will be performed in two-block intervals, beginning at Congress Street. Work activity, lasting approximately six days in each area, will be done on the eastbound and westbound sides of Hicks Street simultaneously.

The upshot?

Westbound Traffic on Hicks Street (toward Hamilton Ave):

Work hours are 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday

The parking lane will be closed. There will be no parking anytime in the area where work is performed. Cars in violation will be towed. Advanced warning signs will be posted.

Eastbound Traffic on Hicks Street (toward Atlantic Ave):

Work hours are 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday

The left travel lane will be closed during work hours. The parking lane will not be affected during the phase of work.

(h/t Craig Hammerman, CB6)

Your Weekly Public Services News Roundup

EDUCATION

NYT: On Reading Test, Mixed Results Under Bloomberg

Post: Kindergarten shuffle sets off scuffle

Post: Cuts to take bite out of teachers, lunches

Times: More Scrutiny for Charter Schools in Debate Over Expansion

Post: Charter scores soar

TRANSPORTATION

Daily News: Beer distributor Phoenix Beverages infuriates Red Hook residents with noisy delivery route

Crain’s: Much of MTA’s $500M overtime tab ‘can’t be justified’

Daily News: Unnecessary high-grade fuel contract for MTA derails taxpayer dollars

amNY: Security funds for subway cameras held up in limbo

Times: M.T.A.’s Budget Ills Are Worse Thank Accounts of Spitting

amNY: New MetroCard pilot starts next week

NY1: MTA Finalizes Hudson Yards Deal

Our Representatives Tell American Stevedoring: Move the Salt Pile

Councilmember Brad Lander's office sent CoWNA a copy of a letter to American Stevedoring, the operators of the Red Hook Piers and one of the companies behind the massive salt pile near Columbia and Kane Sts. The message: Covering the salt isn't enough; it's time to move the pile. The letter is signed by Councilmembers Lander and Stephen Levin, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, and State Senators Daniel Squadron and Velmanette Montgomery. Here it is:

May 12, 2010

Sal Catucci, C.E.O.

American Stevedoring, Inc

70 Hamilton Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11231-1305

Dear Mr. Catucci:

We are writing to urge that you address the large nuisance presented by the extremely large salt pile located close to the street on Columbia, between Kane & Degraw Streets. It is clear that operations are currently active and the tarp which covers the salt frequently comes off due to wind.

The salt pile has been a source of frustration for the residents of the Columbia Street Waterfront neighborhood for many months. Operations occur very close to your neighbors' homes across Columbia Street, and have led to complaints about salt caking on windshields, accumulating in gardens, and making it irritating to breathe.

Though we appreciated ASI’s efforts to meet with the community in February, communication has been intermittent at best. When operations began anew in the early spring, no warning or notice was given to our offices or members of the community. The salt pile grew significantly, and it was not until days later, after trucks had gone and salt was no longer being added that we heard anything from ASI.

While we appreciate your efforts to address the problem through “salt pile management,” we have come to believe as the result of persistent issues that the location itself is a problem. We ask that you move the pile to a different location within the port which is not so close to people’s homes. In addition, we ask that you agree to a lower height for the pile, which has now grown to be a large, nearly 5-story structure and therefore substantially alters the relationship of the port to its neighbors.

We hope to remain supportive of operations at the port in the coming years. We ask that you respect the community’s needs, move the salt to a more internal location on the pier, and keep it at a reasonable height. We look forward to discussing this matter with you.

Brad Lander

Councilmember, 39th District

Stephen Levin

Councilmember, 33rd District

Daniel Squadron

State Senator, 25th District

Joan Millman

Assemblywoman, 52 District

Velmanette Montgomery

State Senator, 18 District