ATTENTION: Mulchfest 2012

MulchFest 2012 will take place on January 7th and 8th, from 10am to 2pm.

MulchFest provides New Yorkers an opportunity to bring their holiday trees to designated Citywide sites where they are ground into wood chips. The chips can be placed in tree pits and gardens. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation encourages New Yorkers to participate in this event.

The 35th District MulchFest location is Fort Greene Park. Enter Park at the intersection of Washington Park and Willoughby Avenue.

Participants are encouraged to bring bags to take advantage of the free mulch provided. Trees must be bare of ornaments.

ATTENTION: Citizen's Cmte 2012 Love Your Block Application Available

Citizens Committee is now accepting applications for their Love Your Block grant program. Love Your Block is a special partnership between Citizens Committee and the City of New York that provides a unique opportunity for city residents to transform and beautify their neighborhoods.

Love Your Block offers resident-led volunteer groups a cash grant of $500-$1,000, as well as community-building assistance, to transform a city block. The City of New York matches the grant by providing services from the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation, and Sanitation to help improve the block; such as trash collection, vacant lot cleanup, graffiti removal, dead tree removal, tree planting, providing woodchip mulch for gardening projects, repair of and installation of street signs and street lights, and traffic safety surveys.

Please note the following key dates:

· September 20, 2011 - Grant Application Workshop (Manhattan)

· November 8, 2011 – Grant Deadline

· Early-December 2011 – Grantees Announced

· Mid-December 2011 – Program Orientation

· April - June 2012 – Project Implementation

The application may be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/65081320/LYB-2012-Application

For more information, you can visit http://www.citizensnyc.org/grants.html. If you have any questions about the Love Your Block grant, do not hesitate to contact the Citizens Committee for NYC at (212) 989-0909.

Update: Property Damage and Tree Removal (Hurricane Irene)

Damage

Individuals whose property has incurred damage due to Hurricane Irene are encouraged to report any damage to 311 ASAP, or report damage online.



The City investigates reports of damage to homes or building structures caused by severe weather. This includes:



• Unstable sidewalk sheds or scaffolds

• Debris falling from a building

• Defective or cracking interior and exterior walls



Please report damage here:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/nycsevereweather/damage_form.shtml



Tree Removal

The City removes street trees and large branches that have fallen to the ground in front of houses, in parks, and in other public spaces. The City also removes trees or branches that are blocking sidewalks or streets, as well as branches that are cracked or hanging, and about to fall. Removal may be delayed during a storm if the branches are not blocking streets or sidewalks.



The City is not responsible for:

• Any non-City tree that falls on private property

• Any small non-City tree branch that falls on private property

• Any tree that is on private property



Property owners must consult with a private landscape contractor to arrange for the removal of non-City trees or tree branches. Property owners are responsible for knowing whether a tree is on their property or on the City's property. Trees can appear to be growing on your property but actually be on City property. Reference your title survey to verify property lines before removing a tree or conducting any tree work on or around trees in your front yard.



The Department of Parks and Recreation is not accepting requests for removal of standing dead trees until Tuesday, August 30. You may request forestry service action here: http://gis.nyc.gov/parks/forms/



Otherwise, you are encouraged to contact 311 with any reports, or with further questions.

ATTENTION: FGA Hosts Annual Tree Giveaway

The Fort Greene Association's next tree giveaway is March 26, 10-12.

Those interested in assisting should contact Shertease Wheeler at volunteer@greenfgch.org.

For more information contact Jed Marcus, info@greenfgch.org or (718) 643-6555

NYC Parks Department Recruiting Volunteers To Assist Storm Clean-Up

On Thursday, September 16, 2010, New York City was hit by a major storm that caused unprecedented damage to parts of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. Many of our neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and residential areas were ravaged by falling trees and debris. The NYC Parks Department is working hard to clean these areas from the storm’s aftermath, but they need help.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, in cooperation with NYC Service, is looking to recruit volunteers this weekend to help clean up following the storm. Please let us know if you are available to join us either this Saturday, October 2, or this Sunday, October 3. If you are willing to volunteer or if you have any questions, please call Larry Scott Blackmon (212) 360-3421 or emailCommunity.Outreach@parks.nyc.gov. You can also call NYC Service at (212) 788-7550, or email them at nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov.

ATTENTION: Regarding Property Damage Related To 9/16 Storm

If you've experienced property damage due to the tornado, you may be able to be reimbursed for the money you spent repairing your property.

There is an available claims application: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/bla/property-damage-loss.pdf

It needs to be filed and sent to Comptroller Liu’s office within 90 days of September 16, 2010. It can be sent to—

Comptroller John Liu
Municipal Building
One Centre Street, Room 1225
New York, NY 10007
Tel. (212) 669-3500
Fax. (212) 669-2707

ATTENTION: Community Notice Regarding Storm

September 17, 2010

Community Notice Regarding Recent Storm
An update regarding last night's severe weather storm, and the specific issue of fallen trees, structural damage, and power outages throughout a number of Brooklyn neighborhoods--

Con Edison, DSNY, FDNY, MTA, NYPD, OEM, and the Parks Department are working to restore power outages and remove downed trees and debris throughout the city. To assist with coordination, OEM deployed Citywide Incident Coordinators (CICs) to certain locations in Brooklyn.

Affected residents should call 311 to report any damage to their homes or businesses sustained from last night's storm. In order to qualify for disaster relief assistance, New York City must estimate the storm's total effect on city residents and employees. Residents should be prepared to answer questions about the extent of their property damage. Residents, if possible, should take photographs any damage prior to debris removal or repair. OEM will continue to monitor the damage from last night’s storm; the agency has opened the City’s Emergency Operations Center. OEM responders are located in the hardest hit areas and there is a command post set up to coordinate field activities. OEM is also working with the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Management Office to assess the damage. The Weather Service will survey the damage to confirm whether a tornado occurred.

Council Member James would like to stress the importance or reporting the building damage and downed trees. This information will be collected and used to determine eligibility for FEMA disaster declarations.

Lastly, Council Member James asks that residents continue to take the following steps wherever necessary:

-Report health and safety emergencies to 911.
-Report structural and tree damage to 311 (including trees blocking streets and roadways).
-Report power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75-ConEd.
-If you have been displaced due to the storm, contact the American Red Cross in Greater New York at (877) 733-2767.

Additionally, Alternate Side Parking regulations are suspended Citywide on Friday, September 17. And, as always, constituents may reach out to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (718) 260-9191 to assist them in any matter related to the storm.

[Photograph by Benjamin Pasteur]

Things We May Have Neglected To Mention

NYC Department of Education Tries to Close 19 Schools, Gets Sued, Fails

The Teachers Union and the NAACP filed a lawsuit on February 1st in an attempt to stop the DOE's 19 school closings (none of the proposed closings were in the 35th district). On March 26th, a Manhattan judge sided with parents, advocates, and leaders, by voiding the City's decision to close the schools, citing a failure to follow proper processes.

Progressive Caucus

What happens when a dozen progressive City Council members get together? This.

Free Trees In Clinton Hill

Green Fort Greene & Clinton Hill and the FAB Alliance are giving away 200 free trees on Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18. Make your way to the Putnam Triangle in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (Fulton St and Grand Ave) and leave with a tree to plant on your private property. Planting a tree contributes to neighborhood beautification, lowers air pollution, slows street traffic, and is a fun springtime activity for kids, school classes, church groups, families and friends. Any questions- contact tree@greenfgch.org.

Immigration Application Assistance

The Crown Heights Community Mediation Center is offering free immigration assistance to eligible individuals to complete the application forms. If you are eligible to apply for citizenship, you will be scheduled to meet with a trained volunteer to fill out the N-400/N-600 forms and receive information about the additional requirements to complete your application.
The dates are:
April 7- 9:30am- 12:30pm
April 29- 4pm- 8pm

May 15- 10am - 3pm