MANHATTAN COMMUNITY BOARD 9
STATEMENT OF NEEDS - Fiscal
Year 2009
Updated November 2009
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
The “West Harlem” neighborhoods' of Morningside Heights,
Manhattanville and Hamilton Heights comprise Community Board No. 9
Manhattan (CB9M). Our boundaries are Cathedral Parkway (110th Street)
on the South; 155th Street on the North; Manhattan/Morningside Ave/St.
Nicholas/ Bradhurst/Edgecombe Avenues on the East; and the Hudson
River on the West.
Each neighborhood is a district community; Morningside Heights in
the southern portion of the Board contains many of the area’s numerous
institutions: Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Bank Street
College of Education, Columbia University, Barnard College, Teacher's
College, Manhattan School of Music, Union Theological Seminary, Jewish
Theological Seminary, The National Council of Churches, Riverside
Church, Grotto of Notre Dame, and the St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital
Center. At the northern end of Morningside Heights are two large
housing complexes: the General Grant Public Housing Development and
the limited equity cooperative Morningside Gardens.
Manhattanville begins at roughly 123rd Street and extends
northward to 135th Street. This area includes the City College south
campus of City University of New York, the Manhattanville Housing
Development, Riverview Towers/Riverside Community Housing at 3333
Broadway, (a former Mitchell-Lama cooperative), a number of small
commercial establishments. Manhattanville is also the site of Columbia
University’s planned new Campus.
The northern most section of Community Board No. 9 is comprised of
Hamilton Heights (part of this area is designated the "Hamilton
Heights/Sugar Hill Historic District"). Hamilton Heights is home to a
substantial number of owner-occupied brownstones and, also includes
the city-owned Audubon houses and, a large number of Housing
Development Fund Cooperatives. There are very few vacant structures.
The majority of the small businesses in this area are operated by a
diverse group, including Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern, Caribbean
and Asian. Hamilton Heights is also home to the North River Pollution
Control Plant with the Riverbank State Park on its Roof.
These three neighborhoods form the Board area, each reflecting the potential and promise of the community, as well as
its corresponding problems.
HOUSING
Existing Housing Not Adequate
The existing housing stock in Community Board 9 is not
adequate to meet the needs of its current recorded
population. The US Census 2000 report states that there
were just over 43,000 units of housing in CB9, a drop from
1990 in contrast to Manhattan’s and New York City’s overall
gains. Over the last decade (1991-2001) CB9 was one of the
community districts with the smallest number of new housing
units built during this period at 195 out of a total of
94,000 new units (measured by final certificates of
occupancy) in New York City.
There are less than 40 city controlled buildings in the District in
addition to vacant lots. Many are in various stages of disrepair but
are either being rehabilitated or in preparation for major
rehabilitation. We are deeply concerned about the need for timely
rehabilitation of deteriorating and often over occupied housing
stock. As such, the Board supports the continuation of initiatives to
coordinate the necessary repairs, rehabilitation and contract
monitoring. The Neighborhood Entrepreneur Program (NEP), Neighborhood
Revitalization Program (NRP), and Anti-Abandonment Program have
potential to remedy these matters; however CB9M has reservations about
the effectiveness of these programs. The track record of the entity
chosen to oversee a site is of greatest importance, as many current
residents fear displacement in the name of renovation.
Need for the Creation of New, and Preservation of
Existing, Affordable Housing
The need for affordable housing has become a major
problem for low, medium and middle income families. A
significant portion of CD9 renter households are under
financial burden to pay rent. Technically, this includes
households who have to use 30% or more of their income
towards rent. There are concentrations of such households
where almost half the households are “rent-burdened.” CD9
also has 23% of its residents paying more than 50% of their
income in rent.
As a result of the expiration of public subsidy contracts
for affordable housing, and of rapid private development,
long-term residents of public and rent-regulated and
subsidized housing face the threat of displacement. River
View Towers and Riverside Park Community is a recent example
of a lost Mitchell Lama property with over 2,000
apartments. We encourage the City to take all steps
necessary to protect NYCHA, HPD and Mitchell-Lama properties
from privatization.
We support the completion of the Tenant Interim Lease
(TIL) Program, as well as expansion of programs to create
more HDFC’s with more stringent guidelines to guarantee
major repairs for tenants associations before the sale of
such designated buildings, along with built-in requirements
for more thorough tenant education around purchasing and
maintaining these tenant controlled cooperatives. We
continue to encourage the early identification of HDFC’s in
jeopardy due to lack of performance and the establishment of
specific remedies to cure problems that these HDFC’s are
suffering.
CB9 is undergoing a rezoning of the northern
section of the District. It is imperative that all
opportunities for the creation of new affordable housing
units are exploited through Inclusionary Zoning and any
other City initiatives. These units must however be
affordable within the context of the incomes of the
residents of our District. We plan to continue discussions
with all pertinent city agencies and developers seeking
support for our efforts to facilitate the creation of new
affordable housing units.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Like many other communities in the city, West Harlem is changing.
Our population has grown approximately 12% between the years of 2000
and 2009. About 90% of our working residents still commute outside of
the area, which our board would like to change. Almost 22% of our
households in Community Board 9 earn $25,000 dollars or less.
Unemployment over the age of 25 mirrors the nation’s average. And we
have a high illiteracy rate in English and Spanish that effects
employment for a large percentage of our resident population.
The economic downturn has narrowed new opportunities for small
businesses in the area and services for residents. A number of shops
have closed. Nonetheless, we still believe that it is in everyone’s
best interest to support more retail businesses and professional
office spaces wherever we can in our community.
One unique characteristic is our large sidewalks and boulevards.
This distinct feature can lend itself for future street fairs,
promotional events and art installations that could attract residents,
tourists and fellow New Yorkers to our community. Now, that we have
more access to our local waterfront with new piers, we hope that
excursion boat operations and water taxi services will begin soon.
Such activity would help sustain both our budding restaurant row on
12th Avenue and established restaurants in Morningside Heights along
Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
Re-zoning will be necessary in order to realize new economic
potential in a proposed mixed-use district between Amsterdam and
Convent Avenue from 126th Street to 130th Street. An assemblage of old
manufacturing buildings could be transformed into a hub for creative
professionals, artists, high tech manufacturing and digital
communications. This would be very similar to other communities around
the country who understand that diversification is the new “future”
for urban cities. With new streetscaping in the works for more trees,
larger pedestrian sidewalks, bicycle racks, new lighting and
transportation hub along West 125th Street, from Marginal Street to
Old Broadway, West Harlem could position itself well as an attractive
community for new or displaced businesses from downtown needing a new
home. A plan to further stretch streetscaping to Morningside Avenue on
West 125th Street would complete the transformation beginning with a
refurbished triangle that is home to a Richard Hunt sculpture. And the
expansion of the 125th Street Business Improvement District to
Marginal Street would engage property owners and business owners to
work together and develop branding strategies that would attract more
customers.
Our most challenging area economically is Upper
Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue and West
145th Street. Though Upper Broadway has many small
businesses, open spaces and good transportation, the range
of retail and business services are limited. Many of these
businesses are locked into agreements with suppliers that
make it difficult to expand offerings and improve facades.
Support from the City would be welcomed to allow some
experimentation and/or enhancements. Landlords are so
concerned with acquiring rent and making mortgage payments,
that many are not financially able to be risky. A solution
could be to support “Pop Up” stores in unusual spaces to
create the room needed to determine what new product or
services would work in the northern section of West Harlem.
For Amsterdam Avenue which has less foot traffic, support to
bring more professionals – architects and lawyers, needing
office space or meeting spaces as well as after school
enrichment programs (i.e. Kaplan) could help bring some
vitality to the boulevard. Mixed with City College, some
park spaces, elementary schools and residential apartments
on the street level, this could help enliven the strip that
is also very dark at night. And 145th Street still struggles
with development plans that cannot determine what direction
it wishes to take in spite of excellent transportation and
views of the Hudson River.
- SMALL BUSINESS RETENTION
The Community Board conducted a series of surveys beginning in 2007.
We tracked businesses via zip codes – 10027, 10030 and 10031. Our
local business analysis found that over 80% of the businesses in our
neighborhood have fewer than 10 employees and over 50% earn less
than $1 million in annual revenue. On the retail side, these
businesses are concentrated in a few industries including food
service, beauty salons and locksmith shops. On the service side,
most of our local businesses are in the healthcare and real estate
industries.
The Community Board feels that it is important to encourage a wider
range of industries and services in the area to improve overall
quality of life. Having access to information technology is among
the most important factors for many small businesses in today’s
digital economy. For that reason, we surveyed businesses in the
area to determine their present computer and internet usage. Our
findings show that over 70% of businesses in the area use computers
in their daily operations, but only 54% have or use the internet.
Of those who do use the internet, there is an even split between
those that have DSL as compared to cable internet service. We feel
that better internet access would encourage business growth and
diversity in our community. More wifi and broadband access is
necessary so that all of our retail shops would have point of sale
registers, means to computerize their inventory and provide online
delivery service.
- ADULT EDUCATION & LITERACY
Though much deserved attention is paid to elementary and secondary
education, the Community Board understands that adult education and
literacy needs to be apart of the conversation for our community.
Community Board 9 has a large population of residents who were born
in a foreign country. Many traveled to the United States so that
their children would be able to get a good education. Nonetheless,
the family suffers if the parents are not able to navigate life in
the United States and offer the support that is necessary to help
their children. Unfortunately, for many of these individuals, they
did not receive a quality education in their native homeland and so
it’s important that we push for more literacy programs in West
Harlem. ESL programs are great for those persons who just need to
learn English, but it’s not as helpful for someone that cannot read
at all. This is directly tied to economic survival, development and
sustainability. Job preparedness demands a basic skill level. Our
Community Board has many people who are willing to work but lack the
necessary skills. Therefore we need Workforce One services in our
District to address the language and skill challenges facing our
residents. Many of our small businesses employ local residents to
help and support the community but could benefit from the small
grants from the Business Solutions programs to improve customer
service and develop specialty services.
- ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Businesses in Community Board 9 need access to more capital. A
rallying cry around the city but nonetheless it’s true. Our
businesses and cultural institutions are underfunded. Investments
for industrial parks, incubators, hubs for new media are being
discussed all over the city but not for West Harlem. Our community
needs an integrative, economic mix. Though West Harlem is home to
many educational institutions, they are self-contained economies.
Leveraging those economies to the rest of the district is most
difficult. Educational institutions are large bureaucracies that
move slowly. Infusing more capital will help alleviate some
hardships. Naturally, we have to encourage better business practices
and savings. Yet, there is a gap that needs to be filled. Community
Board 9 does not have incubators, a financial empowerment center,
micro-loan lenders, Workforce One office or industrial business
coordinator.
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
Community Board 9 is most fortunate to have the West
Harlem Piers and Park completed -- a collaborative vision by
the community that took time but was finally realized. Now,
our attention must turn to the former 135th Street Marine
Transfer Station on the Hudson and further north above 145th
Street to end of the district which is at 155th Street. The
former Marine Transfer Station will require a huge
investment for its stabilization and re-development.
Whatever vision is developed, sustainability must be at the
center. The Community Board would not like to see any luxury
housing, hotel or parking lot on the site. Several
recommendations have been researched and discussed. A mixed
use framework that would examine business, tourism and
recreational opportunities would be desired. Plans along the
waterfront above 145th Street have been studied extensively
in both the private and public sector. Construction for
improvements on the upland, are moving along. But plans for
additional fishing piers, kayak launches and pedestrian
bridge are on hold. The Community Board would like to
increase access to the waterfront and water-based
recreational opportunities for residents as much as
possible. For over fifty years, West Harlem has been cut off
from its waterfront. Therefore, we wish the City to stop
delaying the design approvals for a pedestrian bridge that
would provide handicap accessibility to local residents and
the development of plans to replace the kayak launch that
never functioned near 148th Street and a new fishing pier
nearby.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CB9M is greatly concerned by the City's attitude about Health
Services in our area. For almost a decade, despite the availability of
funds, Manhattanville Health Station has not been rehabilitated.
Programs originally on site have dispersed with no guarantee of their
return.
Threatened cut backs in space and services at the
Sydenham Clinic and local in school sites were maintained
only through the efforts of Community and local council
members.
CB9M believes that the high incidence of rats in this
community is directly related to many illnesses, the
elimination of 3 inspectors and 2 exterminators in the
latter part of 2001, as well as massive private construction
of late without monitoring by the Dept. of Buildings as to
mandated baiting account for the very visible rodent
population explosion. Even with added Personnel the
Department of Health will not be able to keep up. We urge
that staffing for upper Manhattan be tripled. In addition
agencies with their own Pest Control units such as HPD and
Parks staffing should be increased so they can be more
responsive to complaints.
CB9M will strive to assure that the City adheres to the
Fair Share guidelines in the Charter as to the placement of
Social Service Facilities. More importantly the Board needs
the assistance of our State elected officials as well as
local elected officials due to the fact that the majority of
programs sited north of 125th Street are funded through New
York State with no local oversight or comments mandated.
The City must continue to lobby and demand from the
federal and state government’s money that will sponsor
permanent low and moderate-income housing. In the meanwhile,
day/child care, job training and placement, and permanent
housing assistance must be a top priority while these
families remain in this socially unacceptable situation. The
majority of the day/child care facilities are too expensive
for Community Board 9 residents to afford. There are
currently over 400 children on waiting lists. Funding for
free/affordable day/child care programs for pre-school age
children must be increased to address the need.
The increase in homeless families is a critical issue for
Community Board 9. In order to help these families break the
vicious cycle of poverty, it is imperative that the
appropriate agencies coordinate their services to meet the
multitude of problems confronting their clients.
The increase in ambulatory care services for prenatal
care, for addicted mothers and teenagers continues to be a
pressing need in the CB9M District.
Another shelter for battered women is urgently needed
within CB9M area. Such an institution would provide the
resources for a woman and her children to start over without
having to go into a welfare hotel or move with family
friends. Currently, we have no such facility.
WestSide Harlem has been ranked among the highest in the
incidence of lead poisoning cases in the City. Health
officials are not examining Forty percent of our children.
Mandatory screening for lead poisoning should be done at all
day care centers and elementary schools in order to correct
situations.
SENIORS
The elderly population in CB9M is increasing. During this
time of budget constraints we must not lose sight of the
special needs of our seniors, it is imperative that long range
comprehensive planning includes housing, health and mental
care, home care and senior centers. Only in this way can we
ensure continued quality of life and prevent the isolation,
which places many of our elderly at risk of poor health.
Unacceptable living conditions, poor nutrition and
inaccessible services.
The astronomical cost of health care today takes an
especially heavy toll on seniors, many of whom, while above
the Medicaid eligibility level, cannot afford large
out-of-pocket medical expenses. The Seniors Issues Committee
of CB9M strongly urges support of a National Health Bill,
that unlike the current prescription bill actually works,
which would guarantee access to community based, affordable,
quality, and health care.
A priority need of the seniors of CB9M was an additional
van for the Hamilton Grange Senior Center, which was
delivered. So that it can be effectively utilized, funding
to cover the salary of a driver must be included in the
package, which DFTA is unable to fund. Board 9 needs the
assistance of City and State Legislators to secure the
funding for vital personnel. In order to encourage the
independence of our seniors and facilitate their ability to
maintain their social networks, it is imperative that
accessible safe reliable means of transportation is made
available. The escalators at the 125th Street and
Broadway IRT line and the 145th Street 8th Avenue line
subway station are all too often not operational, making it
impossible for the frail, elderly, mother with young
children, and physically handicapped adults to use these
stations. While both escalators were allegedly reconstructed
they continue to break down on almost daily basis. It is
completely unacceptable that CB9M residents around 125th
Street should have to walk twelve blocks down to Broadway
and 116th Street to access the subway. Reliable access to
the subway is an essential needed Senior service. The job
must be done right this time and then the experience must be
replicated at 145th Street.
In response to the increasing number of seniors and
disabled persons in our community it is imperative that
immediate attention be given to facilitating access to
public places, affordable housing and other needed senior
services.
YOUTH
The youth of our diverse community is primarily African-American, Hispanic and Latino.
Many of their families require public assistance and have limited access to basic services such as hospital, education, libraries, etc. As the population has grown, services have remained at the same level or in some strategically impacted areas, it has been drastically reduced.
There are almost no programs that will accommodate school-age youth when schools are closed during the school year,
with the exception of the Beacon School. Working parents, at-risk of losing their employment
as they struggle to find child care programs and UPTOWN summer activity programs. These must be provided WITHIN our community. In addition. these opportunities must be made available for disabled children. The lack of a full Summer Youth Employment Program which as recently as 2001 employed 42,000 youngsters was reduced in the summer of 2005 to 11,500 citywide, which is devastating and only slightly increased in 2006. The City should work with State and Federal Law makers to restore
all cuts on an annual basis, and not subject to last minute negotiations.
We support the efforts of Region 10 in providing students opportunities to learn Work Force skills: typing, computer skills and being able to think critically, calculate, spell accurately and have good reading comprehension. School District 6 students have an additional education barrier to overcome: language. We support their efforts to foster the options of education strategies that will provide effective acquisition of English (WITHOUT restricting usage of their
native languages), basic to being able to compete in the general Workforce.
While we are concerned about the lack of employment opportunity for our youth, we are more intensely concerned about their lack of employable skills. In the "selected' five Manhattan High Schools, the graduation rate barely out pointed the drop-out rate and the stay-in-school percentage. We must improve the quality of available effective education strategies so that the dropout rate is reduced and the graduation rate increased.
To improve the quality-of -life for our community youth, we require:
- Programs that provided counseling, academic tutoring for remediation enhancement: access to college scholarships;
- Job training, career planning, and computer classes;
- "Safe Corridors" while traveling to and from school;
- Family supports services that encourage the continuity of the family unit.
Despite these needs, many of our young people continue to reach out, stay in school, join available youth programs and hope for a better future. They must be supported.
We encourage and actively support youth participation in the decision making process at the Community Board. We WELCOME youth as equal partners on the Board and especially on the Youth Services Planning Committee.
POLICE
We had until recently been pleased to a point with efforts of the Department with the Upper Manhattan Initiative which includes the 30th Precinct. However recently that coverage had dropped and while crime numbers are down, by comparison to ten years ago,
drugs remain a major problem. Many of the dealers have moved inside and taken over multiple apartments making under cover arrests more difficult. Increasingly,
gang activity has flourished. In a briefing by the Harlem Drug Task Force in 2001, Board 9 learned that 60% of the identified
gang members lived in the Manhattanville and Grant Houses developments. The problem is
still present although more localized in various focal points in the community.
As the only local employers are these criminals, CB9M urges full utilization of the Trespass Affidavit Program on every block to combat this situation.
The Board urges an increase in both Precinct Uniformed personnel with concerns that the Initiative in the adjoining 28th Precinct will drive Drug Dealing into the 26th Precinct at our Eastern Border.
More manpower is needed for the Housing Police to facilitate sweeps so that Officers from the 26th and 30th Precincts can remain on the street as a visible presence. Civilian Personnel have returned due to CB9's efforts to bring staffing to pre-1994 levels.
We urge the Department to maintain these levels.
SANITATION
While the drastic Sanitation cutbacks of the mid 1990's
have been somewhat restored, problems with trash collection
can negatively impact the quality of life in our community.
This is especially true north of West 125th Street. .
This is in part due to the population 20% higher
(including undocumented) than reflected in the 2000 Census.
The staffing does not reflect the actual tonnage of garbage
handled by Community Board 9· Sanitation Crews. Pick-ups
along the Commercial Strips of Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue (W
135th – W 155th Streets), and 125th Street cannot keep up
with utilization. We urge the City to increase staffing to
facilitate three pick-ups in these locations a day.
For lots and trouble locations we need the Clean Team
Restored. Recycling figures have greatly improved since 1997
however the Public Schools and City owned buildings or
agencies are the greatest violators. The Office of the Mayor
must reach out to local agencies to follow the rules.
We need, if not increased then, consistent Sanitation
Enforcement in our Area. Board 9 has recommended Flex Shifts
to reflect or findings that the majority of violations occur
in the afternoon when Enforcement Officers are finished
their Tour. Super block structures require special attention
for health reasons the health and integrity of our community
MUST be a top priority.
FIRE
CB9M strongly request that fire Marshals be located in Manhattan to respond effectively arid quickly to arson inspections. Community Board 9
also request that all the ambulances covering our area be upgraded or replaced.
CB9M requests the restoration of the five-man team to the
engine companies. The deficiencies in our area are not limited
to manpower alone. Community Board 9 requests the timely
restoration of our Engine Company 69 and Ladder 28, which
burned down in 2007. Also, that Ladder 23 and 30 must
receive a hurst tool, air bags and chain saw: and Ladder 28
must receive air bags. There is also a need for the Red Cap
Program in upper Manhattan. A long-term goal is to have
resident sprinklers for all multiple dwellings. CB9M also
requests the timely restoration of our much needed Fire House.
Although our request for a Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention Unit has not been funded, we strongly recommend the creation of such a Unit in Manhattan. Because of the constantly growing population in the area, there will be many children that need and would benefit from the resources that this unit can provide.
PARKS
CB9M is blessed with extraordinary park resources. Over 100 acres
of our district are parkland. The need for safe, well maintained parks
and open spaces is a high priority for this Board and much work
remains to be done to see that our parkland receives the care and
resources it deserves. All our residents including our youngsters (29%
of our residents) and our seniors (12% of residents and ever
increasing) deserve the very best opportunities for recreational use
and passive enjoyment of our parks. Park properties, facilities,
programs and maintenance in our district deserve the same level of
investment, programming and maintenance as those of more affluent
districts in the city.
Healthy parks encourage a healthy lifestyle and we prioritize the
creation of new recreational programs and facilities in our parks.
Except for Riverbank State Park, the rest of the parks and playgrounds
in our district have too few recreational activities or sponsors. At
the same time there are a number of park structures that remain unused
or underutilized that could house gardening and healthy living
programs, these include a facility on Amsterdam Ave. at 135th Street
and the Croton Aqueduct Gatehouse on Amsterdam Ave. at 119th Street.
Such programs would not only promote health but would have the added
benefit of promoting intergenerational and intercultural activity in
our diverse community. Team youth sports programs in our parks also
need to be expanded. Providing our youth with the facilities and the
staff to engage them in these team sports would afford them an
opportunity to develop skills in team cooperation and problem solving;
thus raising their self-esteem. Recreation supervisors and more park
rangers are needed to engage children in urban laboratories and teach
environmental values, urban gardening and training in horticulture.
Since there are so few day care centers and many or our schools are
poorly equipped, our parks must be programmed to provide alternatives,
which can stimulate career opportunities for our older youth.
Our district is also in dire need of increased and more effective
park maintenance. During the summer weekends our parks have arguably
the highest usage per acre in the city yet are chronically under
resourced leading to recurring complaints from residents about trash
strewn parks and the destruction of landscapes. The under funding of
park maintenance would not be tolerated in other districts and we will
not tolerate it in ours.
For the safety of our residents our parks need to be better lit and
patrolled. While Morningside Park is due to get enhanced perimeter
lighting, that project has taken more than five years to implement and
has yet to be realized. Similar projects on an expedited schedule are
a priority for St. Nicholas and Upper Riverside parks. The level of
Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) presence in our district is inadequate
and certainly does not match the level afforded to more affluent parks
in the borough. We need to see this discrepancy erased.
Parks built on rocky terrain flank our district. Access to and
through them is often difficult. It is made more so by the crumbling
and dangerous condition of many park stairways including the stairs to
St. Clair Place in Riverside Park (closed for years but with the
potential to afford easier access to the waterfront), the stairs at
122nd Street and 113th Street in Morningside Park (both heavily used
by pedestrian commuters) and in St. Nicholas Park at 134rd Street and
140th Street on the upper path. Access too much of Upper Riverside
Park from points east is also severely limited. New pedestrian access
routes over the railroad tracks are required as well as the completion
of the renovation of the existing crossing at 148th Street.
Park Benches are crucial to the passive enjoyment of our parks by
young and old alike. In the summer months many of our residents spend
long summer evenings socializing on our park benches. The parks are
literally their front yards. However the number of benches in certain
locations is woefully inadequate to the need. This is especially true
along the eastern edge of Morningside and St. Nicholas Parks. There is
also a need for additional benches within both of these parks.
Our district offers many opportunities for the planting of
additional street trees. Unfortunately, even with the city’s million
tree initiative these potential sites (which are more fully outlined
in our budget requests for FY2011) have not been planted. We look
forward to trees going into these sites in the next planting season.
Our districts park and recreational needs are acute and we look
forward to having them addressed thoroughly and promptly.
EDUCATION/LIBRARIES
Elementary schools in Community Board rank among the bottom ten
percent in reading and mathematics. A contributing factor to this
condition is the lack of adequate facilities. At P.S. 192 the
restoration of classroom space through the installation of portable
partitions in the gymnasium is not satisfactory.
Board 9 wants to emphasize that the request for a public high
school in our area is not new. We strongly believe that by having our
children attend a school in our area, as sense of community
involvement and pride will grow. The staggering dropout rate among
African American and Latino children is not acceptable and must no
longer be tolerated. We recommend that a needs assessment be conducted
and followed by a plan which will address the needs of the high school
population in Community Board 9. The Board strongly supports the
funding of capital priorities determined and proposed by the local
school district.
The mis-education of our youth and the deplorable illiteracy for
many of our adults keeps the cycle of poverty, deprivation and pain
intact. The cuts to the literacy programs are most unfortunate and
must be restored. The basic educational infrastructure for youth
continues to exist but at a level that undermines the future economic
well-being of the community. All the schools in the Community Board
ranked in the bottom 25% in reading and mathematics in the latest
citywide test results with 66% below grade level.
The City's libraries are also a vital tool for education,
advancement and cultural enrichment. At Board 9's George Bruce and
Hamilton Grange and Columbia branch libraries there has been a
continual decrease in book circulation and services. The means must be
found to increase or maintain hours of operation and fill vacant
personnel positions. Forty-five percent of all books borrowed form our
branches are not returned. The New York Public Library must find the
resources to restore all non-returned books in order to serve our
pubic better and to develop a better tracking system in order to
reduce these losses. It is also imperative that more modem technical
equipment, such as new computers, be allocated to our libraries.
Programs such as English as a Second Language, CLASP Adults Literacy
and citizenship prep should be established in our libraries. We also
want to assure that each branch has a Children's Librarian.
ENVIRONMENT
The need an increase of inspector personnel to assure good quality
drinking water is a vital need in our community. We are pleased that
the Department of Environmental Protection has shared our concern and
hope that it will continue its demonstrated support when additional
funds become available.
The staffing has to be maintained at the mandated levels at the
Sewage Treatment Plant. Board 9 strongly requests the assistance of
our elected officials to prevent DEP's plans for the removal of air
quality monitors. The failure of the back up generators during the
August 2003 Northeast Blackout almost led to disaster. Board 9 calls
for an expedited delivery of the new equipment as well as coordinated
training of the staff during emergencies.
Complaint about air pollution and noise are handled by DEP with a
staff of nine Inspectors citywide in the evenings and weekends that is
entirely too small. This especially true since they are expected to
respond also to calls from 311 about late night or illegal
construction. It often takes months to arrange an inspection for noise
or fume complaints that can entirely disrupt a neighborhood. DEP must
have its inspection forces increased significantly, especially in
light of our North River Pollution Control Plant.
Flooding of catch basins in CB9M is a constant problem along, St.
Nicholas and Morningside Drive; it is commonplace to see "mini lakes".
This has become an intolerable situation that must be addressed
immediately as in light of West Nile Virus concerns it creates a
health hazard and makes it especially difficult our senior citizens to
"navigate" the cross walk.
TRANSPORTATION
The City has recognized the fact that deferred maintenance often
results in higher costs than yearly upkeep with so much roadway
improvement scheduled and deferred, it is necessary the Mayor's
Traffic Construction Coordinating Council (MTCCC) to monitor this
activity closely to ensure a minimum amount of traffic congestion
negative impact on the small businesses and residents in our area. For
our community, the availability of convenient and reliable mass
transportation is a requirement. Most of our workers have low paying
jobs and cannot afford alternative forms of commutation; they need
subways and buses that deliver them to their place of employment on
time. The failure of the MTA to increase services that correspond with
the 15% growth in mass transit utilization causes delays that make our
residents travel more difficult.
CB9M has been able to maintain (M18, M4, M5 & M104 or extend (M60)
service, however the lack of additional buses on a regular basis is
causing buses to by pass bus stops southbound to expedite schedule
adjustments for lower Manhattan leaving our community stranded. CB9M
is also in the need for bus pads along the route of Amsterdam Avenue
and 153rd Street as well as a Bus Shelter. Reconstruction
efforts both within and without our Board area has placed undue strain
on other of our arteries. For instance, the work on Columbus Avenue
for the Frederick Douglass Circle to our south has resulted increased
heavy truck traffic on Broadway; and the rebuilding of the 155th
Street entrance/exits to the Miller Highway [Westside Highway] has
significantly increased usage of Amsterdam Avenue and the 125th Street
Corridor. Additionally, the junction of Broadway and 125th Street has
become heavily congested; given the many differing objects of the
drivers entering the intersection, it has become increasingly
hazardous. During peak period, traffic enforcement is required for
this area.
There is a desperate need for adequate need for parking facilities.
Board 9 successfully coordinated with Sanitation to change street
sweeping signage reducing lost parking time. One branch of the
Department of Transportation removed over 90 spaces for HPD of which
to this date only 50 are used without the knowledge or input of either
CB9 or the Manhattan Borough Commissioner.
Board 9 recommends that a method of coordination be created so
that all changes are routed through the Manhattan Borough
Commissioners Office, with subsequent input from the Board before
implementation.
The conditions of our road surfaces north of West 135th street
require reconstruction, NOT RESURFACING, on Amsterdam Avenue, St.
Nicholas Avenue, as well as Broadway.
197A PLAN
As early as the 1980's, this Board recognized the need to identify
comprehensive and integrative approaches to improve the quality of
life in CB9M.
After modifications to the original Plan, City Council adopted
CB9’s 197A Plan in December 2007. In 2009, the Department of
City Planning undertook the West Harlem Rezoning Project. This Project
is key to the implementation of goals and objectives articulated in
the 197-A Plan, specifically the creation and maintenance of
affordable housing, support of Economic Development, and the
preservation of neighborhood character. Not withstanding, there are
many other goals and objectives to be met.
We are aware of the budgetary restrictions affecting all phases of
government funding. We want to do our part in conserving these
resources and utilizing them in a way that will be beneficial to all
in the community.
Working together does make a difference!
Patricia Jones
Chair
