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Letter to the MTA

Greenpoint-Williamsburg organization Neighbors Allied for Good Growth has recently formed a Transportation Working Group to address transportation issues in North Brooklyn. One of this group's goals is to advocate for improved transit access. The group drafted the following testimony, which was submitted at yesterday's MTA public hearing in Brooklyn on fare hikes and service changes.

If you want to join the transportation group, email transportation@nag-brooklyn.org. The next meeting is February 12th at 7pm.

Excerpt from the letter:

We firmly believe that the following must be addressed, particularly as they affect the neighborhoods of Greenpoint-Williamsburg:

Our local subway options provide insufficient service for our neighborhood's growing population;
The proposal to cut B39 and B48 bus service is unfair to local residents who depend on ADA accessible public transit; and,
The difference between funds available and funds necessary to achieve these goals must be allocated by the State Legislature and Governor to the MTA.

Full letter after the jump...

Douglas Sussman
Director, MTA Community Affairs
347 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Re: Written Comments to the MTA's Proposed Fare and Service Changes

Dear Mr. Sussman:

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is a volunteer-based community planning and environmental justice organization that has been performing grassroots organizing, advocacy and outreach/education to the North Brooklyn waterfront community of Greenpoint-Williamsburg since 1994. NAG advocates with and for the residents who live and work in our community, serving as a voice for the issues directly affecting our neighborhood.

We firmly believe that the following must be addressed, particularly as they affect the neighborhoods of Greenpoint-Williamsburg:

Our local subway options provide insufficient service for our neighborhood's growing population;
The proposal to cut B39 and B48 bus service is unfair to local residents who depend on ADA accessible public transit; and,
The difference between funds available and funds necessary to achieve these goals must be allocated by the State Legislature and Governor to the MTA.
Subway Service

North Brooklyn's population has increased dramatically in recent years. As a result, local subways have experienced a significant increase in ridership; most notably ridership on the L has increased over forty-six percent in the last 10 years. The resulting congestion and overcrowding has become problematic. In the morning rush hour it is commonplace to wait for three trains to pass Bedford Avenue before there is space to board. As a result, many residents ride the L train east of Williamsburg during rush hour in order to pick up the Manhattan-bound train at a less-congested subway station.

The fate of the G train is particularly important. The growing populations of Greenpoint-Williamsburg and other neighborhoods, such as Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, depend on this neglected line. The G is no longer an underutilized line— in fact, crowding during morning rush hours leads to long and inconsistent headways between trains (particularly in the northbound direction). The frequency of G service fails to accommodate this section of Brooklyn's burgeoning population, particularly at middays, in evenings, and at night. The G also has fewer cars than any other subway line (shortened from six cars in 2001). Besides leading to more running for the train on long platforms, the shortened train raises issues of security to riders who wait at the end of the platform, particularly at night.

The MTA promised better G service along with the last fare increase, and subsequently abandoned that promise. Decreasing the already poor service of the G train will be devastating to the communities that depend on it. We implore the MTA to increase, rather than decrease, the line's frequency and, for the sake of room and safety, add additional cars to each train.

Bus Service

The B39 bus provides local service from Williamsburg Bridge Plaza to the Lower East side. Albeit a short trip, the bus affords residents of South Williamsburg a necessary method of transportation across the East River. Given proposals to significantly decrease service on the J/M/Z subway lines, this will notably affect access to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge. Because Manhattan J/M/Z stations are not ADA accessible, the elderly and handicapped residents of South Williamsburg depend upon the B39 as their only public transport option to Manhattan. This cut would have a particularly negative impact on these residents, and we request that the MTA strongly reconsider.

In addition, we condemn the MTA's plan to cut night and weekend service on the B48 bus, which links Greenpoint-Williamsburg with neighborhoods to the south. This bus serves as an essential connector to the G, L, and J/M/Z subway lines for elderly residents living in Far East Greenpoint, most of whom have no train options within reasonable walking distance. We strongly discourage you from cutting this much-needed service.

Mind the Budget Gap

While we recognize that unpopular decisions have to be made in order to address the MTA's current deficit, we also want to stress that the MTA has an obligation to the citizenry of New York City. Our communities depend on public transportation. We strongly discourage you from curtailing the services that are so fundamental to our communities, our economies, and our way of life.

We also strongly urge the Governor and legislature to close the budget gap with a significant contribution to the operating and capital program, as that is where accountability for the state of the MTA ultimately lies. Poor fiscal stewardship under the Pataki administration led the MTA to pay for its capital budget with non-bond debt— essentially paying the mortgage with a credit card. This irresponsible behavior has come to an end, but we need to step up to the plate by fully funding the MTA now.

If you have any questions, or would like to contact NAG concerning additional comments, please contact the NAG office at (718) 384-2248 or email NAG's Transportation Working Group at transportation@nag-brooklyn.org. Thank you very much.

Briefly noted

Meeting to help strategize for Engine 212 capital campaign Tuesday Feb 3 (NAG/PFI)

Youth court starts in 94th Precinct (Greenpoint Gazette)

Recounting the CB1 meeting where dozens stood up for deposed Transportation Committee Chair Teresa Toro (The Roving Storm)

CB1 application process open until Feb 13 (Brooklyn BP)

Let's Build a Better Greenpoint/Williamsburg Together

Our new President called on ordinary Americans yesterday to work together to get this country back on track. In that spirit, NAG is inviting you to help build the future of a better Greenpoint/Williamsburg.

NAG is on the move with our 2009 Organizing Agenda. Join our working groups at one of these upcoming meetings.

Our Transporation working group is meeting Thursday Jan 22nd at 7pm at Teddy's backroom to talk about starting a road safety campaign for bikers and drivers and how to fight the proposed cuts in local subway and bus service.
Jan 22, 7pm, 96 Berry Street between N. 8th and N. 9th. Streets

Our Quality-of-Life/Community Character group is also meeting Thursday Jan 22nd at 7pm at the NAG office to review the results of their trash survey and to plan out the North Brooklyn Story Project.
Jan 22, 7pm, 101 Kent Ave at N. 8th Street

Our Open Space group is meeting in early February (the meeting for Jan 27th is being rescheduled) to create a campaign to advocate for opening more waterfront parks.
Contact Emily Gallagher at emily.e.gallagher@gmail.com or call the office at 718-384-2248 to get involved

Our Affordable Housing group is meeting early February to plan out a major event: a housing workshop that will work with all segments of the community on a variety of issues.
Contact Wilneida Negron at wilneida@gmail.com or call the office at 718-384-2248 to get involved

More information about the working groups is available here.


Building a New "Town Hall" Community Center

If you are interested in helping us raise the almost $2 million needed to renovate the Engine 212 building into a new community center, join us Tuesday, February 3rd 6pm at Union Pool.
Feb 3, 6pm, 484 Union Ave at Meeker Ave

Various Announcements

COMMUNITY STUFF:

The next CB1 meeting is Jan 13, 6:30 pm
Swinging 60's Senior Citizens Center, 211 Ainslie Street
A hot topic will be the status of Teresa Toro, who was until recently the indefatigable head of the Transportation Committee, and was asked to step down last month during the bike lane controversy. We at NAG respect Teresa's hard work and efforts to keep the community informed about board activity, and hope this is resolved quickly.

The next 94th precinct meeting is Jan 20, 7:3 pm
Capital One bank, 807 Manhattan Ave--enter around the corner on Calyer (where the ATMs are) and the meeting is in the basement.
These meetings are informative if you want to see who has the police's ear and who doesn't--if you don't show up, they won't know your concerns. Great to go if you want to talk about bike enforcement, nightlife issues, etc.


HELP PEOPLE:

Do you have photos or videos from election night in Williamsburg?
The website 11/04/08 is collecting them, and they also want to hear your experiences. Please take the time to go help them out--the truth helps everyone.

Did you witness an accident on NYE?
A young woman was injured in a hit and run near Lorimer and Van Eyck after exiting a cab at 7:30 am. She has head trauma and broken bones--was found on the sidewalk in a puddle of blood without her purse. If you saw or know anything, please contact jackierodigital@gmail.com




FUN STUFF:

First Fridays Gallery Night in Williamsburg, Jan 9
(listings are from Artcards, visit artcards.cc for more)

"Adolescent Rage: Closed Caption Comics" at Cinders Gallery
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Havemeyer street, 103, store#2, 7-10pm

Bernard Williams "Nighty-Nite" at Slate Gallery
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Wythe avenue, 136, 6-10pm

"New York Academy of Art: 2nd Biennial Alumni Exhibition" at Figureworks
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, N 6th street, 168, 6-9pm

Issa Nyaphaga "Barakuda" at Art Break
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Grand street, 195, floor 2, 6-10pm

Jana Flynn, Hilary Pecis, Ego Sensation, Michael Yaniro, Zach Ziemann "Unnatural History" at Live With Animals
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Kent avenue, 210, 7-11pm

Jenny Morgan "Abrasions " at Like The Spice
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Roebling street, 224, 6:30-10pm

Jude Norris "Gratitude Code Root Mural" at HQ
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Grand street, 236, 7-10pm

Carri Skoczek "Attitudes of Magnitude" at Ch'i
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Grand street, 293, 6-9pm

Emily Newman at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Union avenue, 438, 7-9pm

"Seen | Unseen" at NURTUREart Gallery
Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Grand street, 910, 7-9pm

"From the Streets of Brooklyn" at Ad Hoc Art
Brooklyn, Bushwick, Bogart street, 49, buzzer 22, unit 1G, 7-11pm



3rd Ward Moviehouse & Handmade Music Night is Jan. 11, 8 pm
195 Morgan Ave
This month it's music videos. Three bands, Excepter, Ana Lola Roman and Top Step, will play their videos and then perform.
www.3rdward.com/moviehouse.

Youth Court Starting

The 94th Precinct and Center for Court Innovation are starting a youth court in Greenpoint. This is a great youth development program where teenagers act as judges, juries, and advocates for real offenses committed by young people.

More information about youth courts

At Least Someone's Enjoying the State Park

Metro went to the East River State Park yesterday, and despite that it was in the 30s, found disappointed people who wanted to use the park.

But at least the park wasn't empty:

State Park Officially Closed

Even after a solomonic offer by Assm. Lentol to keep the park open without staffing, and even after steady usage during the month of December, the East River State Park is closed until April 1. This is the only state park in the city to close for the winter because of the budget crisis--most other parks throughout the state are only having reduced programs or reducing the number of facilities open. Now our only open waterfront park is Grand Ferry Park.

At the root of this is a lack of creativity and open minds by State Parks to solutions to this problem. Does this park need two or three staff on site at all times to be open? Most would say no, but apparently this is the only way that State Parks knows how to run a park (which apparently includes keeping dogs out and closing before the posted hours).

If you care about parks issues like this, join our Parks/Waterfront organizing group at a working meeting Jan 27th.