Board 6 Eyes Participatory Planning
Residents in City Council Member Karen Koslowitz’s district will vote on how to spend $1 million in discretionary funds that she secured, an aide told Community Board 6 during its meeting in Kew Gardens, Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Christina Prince, Koslowitz’s director of community affairs, stated the lawmaker is bringing participatory budgeting to Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Richmond Hill for the first time. The process gives residents at least 16 years old and living in the district the power to vote for capital projects they want funded.
Prince made a presentation to get residents engaged in the process, explain how it works and suggest ways to get involved.
The goals of the process are to open up government, expand civic engagement, develop new community leaders, build community and make public spending more equitable, Prince said.
Capital projects fund brick and mortar, infrastructure projects in a community, it was noted. Koslowitz has allocated one million out of five million she receives each year in discretionary funds, Prince stated
“The Council member … has decided to give a million dollars of her capital funding, to the community and she’s going to let you decide and you pick and vote on how to spend that one million dollars,” Prince said. “(It’s) a really exciting new process that the Council member has brought to the district.”
There will be eight information sessions around the district to engage residents in the process, and explain how it works, Prince said.
One neighborhood assembly has already been held, with the remaining to continue through the fall; delegate metings are then organized and will go until February, followed by project expos in the spring and a community vote on which projects to fund, held March through April, she said.
Prince encouraged residents to get involved by volunteering, coming to an assembly, serving as a budget delegate and voting on final projects. Anyone at least 14 years old that lives, works, owns a business, attends school, or has a child that attends school in the district can be a budget delegate, Prince noted.
“It’s an exciting program,” Community Board 6 Chairperson Joseph Hennessy said. “And it gives citizens the chance to vote to see where the money is going.”
Meeting the new captain
Capt. Judith Harrison, commanding officer of the 112th Precinct, introduced herself to Board 6 and spoke about prevalent crimes in the area.
Harrison has 17 years of service to the city on the job as an NYPD officer, and was promoted to captain in January 2013, she stated.
Property crimes make up the majority of crimes in the area, according to Harrison.
“We don’t have a lot of the violent crimes here,” she said. “Grand larcenies are the biggest issue. Things like that we can prevent. A lot of what I’m seeing is property crimes.”
“It’s a crime of opportunity,” Harrison added.
“I look forward to servicing you. I’m here to serve you,” she said. “I’m looking forward to working with you all, and working for you all.”
Concerts in the area
Board 5 Chairperson Joseph Hennessy said that “the community board does not approve or schedule concerts,” held at Forest Hills Stadium. Two more will be held there before the season closes, he said.
He advised that Mayor Bill de Blasio has not engaged Board 6, as some have, in discussions about the planning or scheduling of concerts at the stadium.
Hennessy said this summer he asked for and was granted a pass to observe a Lil’ Wayne and Drake concert and “left after 10 or 15 minutes because the lyrics were not appropriate.”
“We advised, when we first heard who was performing, our opposition,” he added.
“We had some complaints about the concert,” Koslowitz said. “I dont think that this area is good for Drake or Lil’ Wayne.”
Both Hennessy and Koslowitz praised Harrison for keeping the neighborhood safe, maintaining order and limiting any inconveniencies to residents during the summer concerts.
Board elections
All Board 6 officers were renominated and reelected to their current positions. They include Chairperson Hennessy, First Vice Chairperson Gail Gordon, Second Vice Chairperson Steven Goldberg, Vice Chairperson and Secretary Naomi Altman, Vice Chairperson and Finance Committee Chairperson Gregory Carlson, Vice Chairperson and Land Use Committee Chairperson Norman Leibowitz and Vice Chairperson and Scoping Committee Chairperson Lynn Shulman.
The next Community Board 6 meeting will held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 80-02 Kew Gardens Rd. in Suite 202.
