NYC Parks Department Offers Grant To Non-Profits Using Green Infrastructure

The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation recently announced that up to $4M will be available for private property owners, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations that use green infrastructure to reduce or manage stormwater on private property and public sidewalks in combined sewer areas of New York City—such as building green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, right-of-way bioswales, and similar methods.

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is strongly encouraging applicants to apply online at: www.nyc.gov/dep/grantprogram, and will be hosting grant workshops for those that are interested in applying.

Brooklyn Workshop
Brooklyn- December 6, 2011, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Brooklyn Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom– 2nd Floor
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Please contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James for more information at (212) 788-7081.

ATTENTION: 35th District Lien Sale Outreach Session

The Office of Council Member Letitia James will be hosting a 35th District Lien Sale Outreach Session on Monday, July 18, 2011 at--

Benjamin Bannekar Academy
77 Clinton Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

During the sale, unpaid water, sewer, and property tax debt will be sold by the City to private collection agencies, who are likely to impose heavy interest fees. You have until August 1, 2011 to settle your debt with the City and avoid the lien sale.

The outreach session is being sponsored by the NYC Department of Finance, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, who will be available to meet one-on-one.

Please be aware that some groups— such as veterans and seniors— may be exempt from the lien sale. Those individuals who are in exempted categories should fill out an “Exemption Eligibility Checklist”. For further information, please contact (212) 788-7081.

ATTENTION: 2011 NYC Lien Sale

Let’s Talk Lien Selling:
A lien sale is when the City sells debt to a private collector (known as a lien holder) who assumes the right to collect the debt, and move to foreclosure if owner remains in arrears. In a lien, the lienholder assumes the debt, not property. The lien sale is the City’s primary enforcement tool to collect delinquent debt owed by property owners

Property Tax Debt:
You are at risk if you own— a 1-3 unit residence, a condo/co-op, a small business with 1-2 residences, or vacant land zoned for residential use
-any of the above categories with minimum $1,000 in property taxes for 3+ years
You are at risk if you own— a 4+ units
-the above category with minimum $1,000 in property taxes for 1+ years

Water/Sewer Liens:
You are at risk if you own— a Tax Class 1 property other than a single-family residence
-the above category with minimum $2,000 in debt for 1+ years
You are at risk if you own— a Tax Class 2 multi-family home, a commercial property
-the above categories with minimum $1,000 in debt for 1+ years

Emergency Repair/ Alternative Enforcement Program:
You are at risk if you own— any property other than a 1-3 family residence
-the above category with minimum $1,000 in debt for 1+ years

All 1-3 unit properties will be excluded from the lien sale with the exception of non-owner-occupied 3-unit buildings in the Alternative Enforcement Program.

Property tax liens will NOT be sold on 1-3 family homes with the Veteran or Active Military Personnel Exemption; Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption; Disabled Homeowner Exemption; or the Real Property Circuit Breaker Personal Income Tax Credit (PIT) for 2010.

Stats on At-Risk Properties:
-Total Eligible CityWide- 25, 937 (Brooklyn- 11,375)

Important Dates:
May 2- 90-Day Publication
May 3- 90-Day Mailing
June 1- 60-Day Mailing
July 1- 30-Day Mailing
July 22- 10-Day Publication & Mailing
August 1- Last Day to Pay

Customers can call 311 for questions related to the lien sale.

To be removed from the lien sale list, customers must either pay in full or enter into a payment agreement.
Department of Finance- for property and ERP/AEP debt
www.nyc.gov/liensale
For general lien sale inquiries:
(212) 504-4039
taxlien@finance.nyc.gov

Department of Environmental Protection- for water and sewer debt
www.nyc.gov/dep
(866) 622-8292
For general lien sale inquiries:
(718) 595-7000
ombuds@dep.nyc.gov

Housing Preservation and Development- for ERP/AEP debt
For general lien sale inquiries:
(212) 863-5300
taxlien@hpd.finance.gov

Lien Sale Outreach Dates:
Outreach sessions will be held in each borough from 5PM- 7PM.
Brooklyn’s session is—
July 28, 2011
Brooklyn Finance Business Center
210 Joralemon Street, 1st Floor
Please call Finance's Outreach Unit at 212-669-8745 for more information.

ATTENTION: NYC Water Board Proposes Rate Increase, Offers Improved Billing Options

There is a proposed alteration of the New York City Water Board's water and sewer rates and billing policies for FY12, which would take effect July 1, 2011.

An increase of 7.5% has been proposed. This would raise the annual water-and-sewer charge for an average single-family home from approximately $816 in FY 2011 to $877 in FY 2012, an increase of $61 per year or $5 per month. However, the FY12 proposal also includes a one-year, 2% discount for metered customers who subscribe to receive their water bills via email, and have their billed charges automatically debited from their checking accounts or paid via credit card. For customers who participate in both the paperless billing and direct debit programs, the net rate increase is reduced to 5.4%, which equates to $44 per year for the average single-family homeowner.

In addition to the general 7.5% increase and the 2% discount for meter-billed customers who participate in the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) direct debit and paperless billing programs, the Board is considering the following changes:

(1) Installment payment agreement terms will be revised to include options for no down payment, a repayment period of up to ten years, and new default provisions;
(2) Customers subject to a denial of access proceeding currently receive all three required notices by both first-class and certified mail. The Board proposes to change the delivery of the first required notice, which has no concurrent financial impact on the customer, to first-class mail only; the final two required notices will continue to be sent by both first-class and certified mail;
(3) The maximum fixture flow-rates to qualify for a reduced water rate pursuant to the Board’s Comprehensive Water Reuse program will be conformed to recent changes to the NYC Plumbing Code;
(4) For registered participants in the lead and copper monitoring program, a new credit of $25 will be applied to a customer’s water bill upon successful completion of a lead and copper monitoring test.

In accordance with the Public Authorities Law, the Water Board will hold public hearings in each borough of the City on the proposed FY 2012 rates and charges for water and sewer service--

Brooklyn
Public School 102
211 72nd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Wednesday
May 4, 2011
7:00 P.M.

Please call the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (212) 788-7081 if you have any further questions, or would like to testify at the public hearing.

CM James Extends Congratulations To Emily Lloyd On Accepting Prospect Park Alliance Position

Council Member Letitia James is pleased to extend her congratulations Emily Lloyd who has accepted the positions of President of Prospect Park Alliance and Administrator of Prospect Park.

Ms. Lloyd has previously worked as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Commissioner of the Department of Sanitation, and the Executive Vice President at Columbia University.

Ms. Lloyd's years of public service make her an oustanding choice for this position, following the departure of much-loved Tupper Thomas.

ATTENTION: CM Vann Hosts Water Bill Help Night; 12/8; 6PM: Boys and Girls HS

Council Member Al Vann is sponsoring a Water Bill Help Night

Join Council Member Vann, Coalition for the Improvement of Bed-Stuy (CIBS) and the NYC-DEP to get help with your NYC water bill.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
6PM- 8:30PM
WHERE: Boys and Girls High School
1700 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11213
(btwn Schenectady Avenue and Utica Avenue)


At the event you can:
· Discuss your water bill one on one with a DEP Customer Service Representative.
· Learn about other payment options.
· Learn about the Water Debt Assistance Program:
-Customers who meet the eligibility criteria can defer their unpaid water and sewer bill until the property is sold.
· Sign up for the direct debit program:
-Customers who enroll in the direct debit program will receive a 2% discount on their bill.
· Learn about Automated Meter Reading (AMR).

If you require additional information, please contact DEP at 718-595-7000 or visit DEP's website at nyc.gov/dep.

ATTENTION: DEP Upgrading to Automated Meter Reading System

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is automating its water meter reading capabilities to increase billing accuracy and provide customers with the tools they need to better manage their water usage.

The Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system is connected to individual water meters that send daily readings. This new AMR technology will send accurate readings to a computerized billing system up to four times a day and will largely eliminate the need for estimated bills. Since it is an automated system, AMR eliminates the need for meter reading personnel to visit customer properties.

DEP is also providing AMR-installed customers with an online system that lets property owners view and manage their consumption on a daily basis. This application will be made available to residents of each borough on a rolling basis (in Brooklyn by 8/9). By the first week of September, the systems will be installed Citywide. They should be completely functional by January 1, 2011 at the latest.

Once AMR has been installed on a property, the customer will be able go online to register and view their consumption. This new tool will help customers manage their water consumption, including detection of any irregular patterns that could indicate a leek or other problem. Customers may also sign-up for email alerts, and online payments. Customers will receive a 2% credit on each upcoming bill for additionally paying bills online through automated debits.

DEP contractors continue to provide door-to-door installations of the AMR transmitters at no cost and will also be replacing some old water meters. DEP should also be contacted for adjustments to long-standing estimated accounts; the agency will only provide price adjustments for the past 24 months.

Non-payment of water bills over an extended period of time may lead to water liens (with the exception of excluded groups- SCHE, DHE).

Please give our office a call at (212) 788-7081 if you have any further questions. We have much knowledge.

BK Boro President Markowitz Presents 9th Annual Assembly of the Fed. of BK Block Assns. 4/22; BK Boro Hall; 5:30PM

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz invites you to the Ninth Annual Assembly of the Federation of Brooklyn Block Associations at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Thursday, April 22nd from 5:30pm- 8:30pm.

Keynote Speaker

Caswell F. Hollaway (Commisioner, New York City Department of Environment Protection)

Presentations
Assistance for Community Building Projects (Citizens Committee for NYC)

Postal Service and Solutions for Residents (United States Postal Service)

Volunteer Services and Skills Exchange (TimeBanks, Department for the Aging)

Census 2010 (U.S Census Bureau & Brooklyn Borough Presidents Office)

Workshop
Social Security Online Pension Services (Social Security Administration)

This is a chance for you to talk with agencies, organizations and company representatives about issues and concerns facing our blocks and communities.

Please RSVP 718-802-4042 by April 14th, 2010

State Senator Eric Adams and CM Letitia James Present Outreach Session For Those In Danger of Liens Sale; 4/13; PS 316; 5PM

State Senator Eric Adams and Council Member Letitia James present...

a special community outreach program for individuals behind on their water or sewer taxes.

"On Tuesday, April 13, we have arranged for representatives from both the Department of Finance and the Department of Environmental Protection to come to our district to enable you to make arrangements to begin
a payment plan. Representatives of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will be present
with information on low-cost loans."

The information is as follows:

LIEN SALE HELP SESSION
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
PS 316– Elijah G. Stroud School
750 Classon Avenue
(between Sterling Place and Park Place)
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM