GRRC President Paul Kerzner asked the City Council…
By Tom Nicholson
The president and staff of the Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation, testifying at the City Council 2005 budget hearing last Thursday, asked for money to fund several community service activities.
GRRC President Paul Kerzner asked the City Council to allocate funds for the group’s tree-planting program set to begin this spring. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Nydia Rodriguez (D-Brooklyn) announced that GRRC would receive a grant to provide thousands of trees for planting in Ridgewood. Kerzner said additional funds could expand the program and the trees would reduce air pollution and help combat asthma in the community.
GRRC Executive Director Angela Mirabile asked the City Council to continue funding for community consultant contracts through Housing Preservation and Development.
As the only housing consultant in the Community Board 5 area, GRRC offers a cost-free service to help people in the community locate affordable housing, a service Mirabile said is in greater demand because of rising rent prices and the needs of many elderly and non-English-speaking residents.
Mirabile also asked the City Council to provide Ridgewood with more building inspectors, saying more than 700 complaints were made to CB 5 last year from residents who had some problem with their homes.
“There are many more serious complaints that have fallen by the wayside and we need attention paid to them to prevent deteriorated and unsafe conditions in our local housing stock,” Mirabile said.
Peggy O’Kane, community liaison specialist, testified that there was a need in the Community Board 5 area for more senior housing.
“As chair of Community Board 5 Housing Committee, I can tell you that it is our policy. There is a great need for scenario housing,” O’Kane said. “Seniors are losing their apartments as houses are sold and they cannot find new housing they can afford.”
Kezner also asked the Council to provide funding for the group’s anti-graffiti campaign, which has been in operation since 1992 and has cleaned 2,422 sites.
Reach Reporter Tom Nicholson by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
