Third Avenue safety and housing lead Community Board 7’s September meeting

After a summer hiatus, Community Board 7 reconvened to welcome new board members, take public comments, vote on a land-use proposal and hear from elected officials.

During public comment, many neighbors called for immediate action to address safety issues on Third Avenue after NYU Langone nurse Jiayi Zheng was killed in a hit-and-run near the hospital on Aug. 29. They called on community members to attend a walk with elected officials starting at Martin Luther Playground at Second Avenue and 55th Street to visit a memorial near the site of the crash. Originally scheduled for Sept. 27, the walk has been pushed to Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. because of weather.

John Santoro, a local activist, called for the proposed St. Rocco’s housing development to be 100% affordable housing. Other residents agreed and pointed to a petition for more affordable housing that they said has 300 signatures. Council Member Alexa Avilés said more opportunities for public comment will become available.

Residents living near Bear Burgers Backyard on 24th Street and Fifth Avenue complained about late-night noise. Liz Popodopolous called it an “outdoor nightclub that goes past midnight almost every night.” Chris Brennan said the business had also installed bright lights that flash into his apartment. Complaints have been filed with the NYPD.

Steve Stern, creator of the “Sunset Park Stink” Instagram account, said the city needs to clean the trash pile near 41st Street and Sixth Avenue inside Sunset Park more often to reduce the smell and presence of rats.

Glen Tupper spoke out against a proposed bike lane near McDonald Avenue in Windsor Terrace. Amy Holderness agreed and said DOT is “bypassing any community input.” The proposal will be discussed in more detail at the Oct. 1 Transportation Committee meeting.

Comments from elected officials

Council Member Avilés said her office is working to fix safety issues on Third Avenue and called attention to the new federal “public charge” rule, which took effect Sept. 18 and could result in some immigrants who use means-tested public benefits such as Medicaid or SNAP being denied a green card or certain visas. She encouraged residents who may be affected to call her office or other organizations for more information before making decisions about public benefits. Avilés also announced resolutions to stand in solidarity with Puerto Rico.

Brooklyn Borough Manager of the Office of Mass Engagement Chi Anunwa mentioned the mayor’s recent announcements of the “Vision Zero Reimagined” pedestrian safety plan, the “Talk to Tenants” organizing effort and the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Worker Power. She asked neighbors concerned about traffic-intersection safety or the conditions of their building to reach out to the Office of Mass Engagement and emphasized that they do not have to be citizens to do so.

Committee reports

Committee members discussed proposed bylaw changes that would replace the Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms position with a community engagement officer for Windsor Terrace, require the chairperson to consult with other board leadership before making major decisions, create a hiring subcommittee, speed up the process for amending bylaws, require the board to approve statements before board members can speak publicly on the board’s official position, and formalize the process for board members to attend virtually.

Board members offered changes to the amendments and will vote on the finalized amendments at the next general meeting.

The board is on track to hire a new district manager. Three applicants will be called for in-person interviews, and one is expected to receive an offer by early October.

Since the last general board meeting, the board received 33 new or renewed liquor-license applications and two cannabis applications. It has received no outdoor-dining applications since the May board meeting.

After a heated debate, the board voted to approve the rezoning proposal at 364 Coney Island Avenue with extensive conditions calling for more affordable housing, fewer one-bedroom units and more three-bedroom units.

The Land Use/Landmarks Committee will meet on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. for a public hearing on zoning changes for a proposed mixed-use development at 783 Fourth Avenue, also known as the St. Rocco’s rezoning.

Toward the end of the meeting, in honor of the Sunset Post’s first anniversary, Community Board 7 presented the publication with an award recognizing its contribution to creating a publication that “informs, connects and encourages participation” in the Sunset Park community. All three authors of this article accepted the recognition. Charles Velasquez-Witosky spoke briefly to thank the community board and the broader community for their support over the past year.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, the Transportation Committee will hold its regular meeting, featuring presentations from DOT on the Owl’s Head viaduct rehabilitation project and the proposed bike lane on McDonald Avenue.

Next month’s general board meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the CB7 office, 4201 Fourth Avenue (43rd Street entrance).