Join us to Launch NAG's 2009 Organizing Agenda

Working Meeting
This Thursday, December 4th at 7pm

Holy Ghost Ukranian Church Basement
160 North 5th Street (between Driggs and Bedford)

We will implement this agenda starting with a working meeting the evening of December 4, 2008. At this meeting we will break into four issue groups (affordable housing, open space/waterfront, transportation, and quality of life/community character) each of which will identify the aspects of the issues they want to work on. These issue groups will report back at a general meeting in February/March about their progress in beginning a campaign.

More information about the 2009 Organizing Agenda

Transportation Meeting Monday, Nov 24th

It seems like having a Town Hall Meeting is the thing to do these days! Come and tell your elected officials what your transportation needs are on Monday, Nov 24th, then join NAG to take action on Thu, Dec 4th for our follow up to our meeting last month (details TBA shortly).

Pollution Under East Greenpoint Meeting Wednesday Nov 12

For those unaware of the Meeker Ave solvent plume and live or work in the eastern edge of Greenpoint east of McGolrick Park, this meeting would definitely be of interest to you. Note that this is a different issue than the underground Exxon oil spill.

The NY State Dept of Environmental Conservation and the NY State Dept of Health are holding an "availability session" regarding the Meeker Ave. Contaminant Plumes. For more information regarding the Meeker Ave. Contaminant Plumes visit the NCA website. To download the DEC/DOH fact sheet regarding the Meeker Ave. Contaminant Plumes and the upcoming "availability session" click here (PDF). To view and contribute to an interactive online map detailing the Meeker Ave. Contaminant Plumes visit HabitatMap.

Where:
St. Cecilia's School
1 Monitor St., Brooklyn, NY (MAP)

When:
Wednesday, November 12th from 2:00pm - 5:00pm & 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Why:
"Representatives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will be on hand to answer questions about the site and the recent investigation results, and to provide one-on-one meetings to discuss an individual property owner's sampling results. Those living in the vicinity of the Meeker Avenue Plume Trackdown site are encouraged to attend."

The Newtown Creek Alliance is calling on the State to "take immediate action to protect human health and clean up the Meeker Ave. plumes" and is asking for them to quickly establish a testing and mitigation program.

Open Space Alliance Community Committee Meeting Nov 3

For those of you that are more locally-inclined than nationally and will be twiddling your thumbs on election eve, the much-anticipated "community committee" meeting of the Open Space Alliance will be held this coming Monday, Nov 3rd at 6:30pm at the Brooklyn Brewery (North 11th and Wythe Ave).

OSA is improving our existing parks and helping to develop new parks in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. We accomplish this by raising funds, linking community volunteers, and working in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

We are very excited to announce this meeting to form the Community Committee for the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn! The purpose of this meeting is to formally introduce OSA to all interested community organizations and residents, and to hear your feedback about how to improve our parks through our partnership with the NYC Parks Department.

The meeting will be hosted by representatives from the GWAPP and NAG Boards. Tupper Thomas from the Prospect Park Alliance will provide insight from the 25 years of their Community Committee's operation. Steve Hindy will answer questions on behalf of the OSA Board. A beer reception will follow for the community to meet the rest of the Board Members of OSA.

More information is available at OSA's website.

Reminder: Contextual Rezoning of Greenpoint & Williamsburg Info Meeting Tonight and Tomorrow

The proposal covers approximately 175 blocks in Greenpoint and central Williamsburg. The Rezoning is meant to prevent new out-of-scale development by establishing height limits and to create opportunities for affordable housing through the inclusionary housing program.

There will be two meetings where Department of City Planning staff will present the zoning proposal and answer questions from the public.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 6:30 pm, held at Swinging 60's Senior Center--211 Ainslie Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211 (corner of Manhattan Avenue, Williamsburg).

Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 6:30pm, held at the Capital One Bank's downstairs meeting room (Greenpoint-Savings Bank Building)-- 807 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11222 (please use the Calyer Street side entrance, between Manhattan Avenue & Lorimer Street, Greenpoint).

Thank You

Thanks to the 100+ people who came to the town hall meeting Thursday! The event was made into a small miracle of civic dialogue because there was so much listening and patience--which is a rare thing these days.

We heard from Executive Director Peter Gillespie about the history of NAG and then testimony from several people about problems they have been experiencing with bike safety, with construction and quality-of-life, with transportation, and with affordable housing. Then we broke into small groups tasked with answering the question: "What three issues do you want to work with NAG on over the next year?" Then the groups reported back, and we finished with enough time to make it home or to a bar to watch the VP debate.

Here's what a couple people said to me after the meeting:

"It was pretty great listening to all of the residents in our group talk about their concerns for the neighborhood. In fact, it was empowering."

"I haven't seen a meeting get that range of age groups in a room since a Make the Road New York meeting."

Next steps
We hope to report back with an organizing agenda based on the dialogue shortly after the November election. We will follow up with a working meeting to get this initiative going.

Also if you have any photos, send them our way--our email is in the sidebar.

Coverage in the blogs
Williamsburg is Dead
Brooklyn 11211
Under the BQE


A special thanks to:

• Our new organizers--Allison, Alison, Wilneida, Gregor, Alexandra, and Emily--who got everyone to the event who got everyone to the event by tirelessly promoting it.
  
• Holy Ghost Ukranian Church for hosting the meeting and Ed Bartosiewicz who arranged for the space.
• Teddy's Bar & Grill for donating the sound system and Union Beer Distributors for printing the banner gratis.
  
• Our partners in the affordable housing collaborative who participated in the meeting-- David Pagan from Los Sures, Del and Doug Teague from the People's Firehouse.
• Our friends Dewey Thompson and Trina McKeever from GWAPP and Mike Hoffman from Newtown Barge Park Pals.
• The Greenline, the Greenpoint Reformed Church and all our blogger pals for helping to promote the event.
• And of course, our great board and hard-working staff (Peter, Michelle, and Ryan) who made sure the event ran smoothly.
  

Photos by Alexandra Sweet

Save October 2 for NAG's Town Hall Organizing Meeting

Our neighborhood is facing major challenges.

The L Train is crowded, the G never comes. We need more open space. We need more affordable housing. We need to keep our neighborhood unique.


You can be part of the solution. Join our chorus of old and new neighborhood voices at


NAG's Town Hall Organizing Meeting
Thursday, October 2, 2008, 7:00p

Holy Ghost Hall
160 N 5th Street (between Bedford and Driggs)

Photo Credit: Ken Stein (Top)