Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Urgent Action Regarding MTA Cuts!

The MTA is considering totally eliminating the B71 and restructuring the B61 -- and it's voting on the plan on Wednesday. Can you fill out this survey by Tuesday afternoon, so CoWNA can tell the MTA and local electeds what Columbia Waterfront residents think about their plan?

Friday, March 12, 2010

Say No to Hate -- Vigil on Monday, March 15

In case you haven't heard, Carroll Gardens was the scene of a terrible crime last Tuesday night. According to reports, a man was badly beaten a group of five men near the corner of Luquer St. and Hamilton Ave. His attackers shouted anti-gay slur at the victim.

CoWNA urges Columbia Waterfront residents and all Brooklynites to say no to hate.

Local leaders -- including Councilmembers Brad Lander, Sara Gonzalez, State Senator Dan Squadron, Borough President Marty Markowitz and Council Speaker Christine Quinn -- are calling for a vigil at the scene of the crime on Monday, March 15 at 8:30 p.m. We strongly encourage you to attend.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

A Little Good News on the MTA Front

According to The Chief-Leader, the civil employees' weekly (subscription only):
The three union and three rider representatives who had served as non-voting Metropolitan Transportation Authority board members have re-taken their seats after Governor Paterson failed to act on either reappointing or replacing them, triggering new terms under the law.

The Chief-Leader continues:
On March 3, Norman Brown, the legislative director of the New York State Council of Machinists, who had served on the board until last year, sat at the MTA table during a public hearing on budget cuts in Brooklyn. Andrew Albert, chairman of the NYC Transit Riders Council, sat at the board table at a similar hearing in The Bronx the same day.

"This all should have been done last July but it wasn't," Mr. Brown said of the reauthorizing of the bill, which expired Dec. 31. "I don't understand what the Governor would have gained by us not being on the board."

[...]

Gene Russianoff, the attorney for the Straphangers Campaign, said upon hearing the news last week, "Short response: Hallelujah."

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Update on Bus Cuts

The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, at the public hearing on Wednesday that we told you about, released a revised list of proposed service cuts. Unfortunately, the news is still worrying-to-bad for residents of the Columbia Waterfront District. The MTA still plans to eliminate the B71 bus and restructure the B61.

The Wednesday hearing was one of eight held last week in the five boroughs and Westchester and Nassau counties. The NY Daily News is reporting that seven of the 16 members of the MTA board didn't bother showing up to most of the hearings, and only three members attended them all. Pair this with the recent purge of of rider and worker representatives from the board, and we've got a situation on our hands.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Gonna Be a Busy Wednesday

This Wednesday -- March 3rd -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is having a public hearing about proposed service cuts and getting rid of discount student MetroCards. When? Starting 6:00 p.m. Where? The Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway. (Click on the link for directions.)

On the same day, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is hosting a Town Hall Meeting for public school parents, students and educators. The goal? To figure out how to increase parental engagement in NYC's public education system. If you're interested in this meeting, rather than the MTA hearing, come to the Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom at 209 Joralemon St.