Community Board #4 Bushwick-- March 21, 2007

This was my first time attending a community Board meeting in New York City and it was a very positive introduction . The Bushwick Community Board meets in the Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center, a community housing meeting space at 195 Linden St. and the corner of Wilson. When I walked in at 5:50, kids were playing, food was being served, and the room was filling up with a wide range of Bushwick community members. I was lucky to run into two students from make the Road By Walking who were attending the meeting as part of a program run by the Municipal Arts Society of New York, in which they are trained to provide multimedia projection images such as maps and charts to accompany each presentation during the meeting. I sat down with this group, including their teacher Micaela Birmingham, and soon enough my student Jose Melendez showed up. This made for a nice Bushwick Campus community contingent. With round tables, instead of rows, and food for everyone, the entire meeting had a comfortable, even family style feel.

The three main items of business on the agenda were each unique and interesting in and of themselves. First, a representative from the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Council came to present designs for a new mixed income housing project, funded by Assemblyman Vito Lopez's nonprofit development group. The project will have over 50% of its units available for people making 30%, 40%, and 60% of Bushwick's median income. These units will be largely funded through the state's section 8 voucher program. This project will also be LEED certified and designed for increased energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and minimal impact. Some community concerns raised were: parking, preference for Bushwick residents, garden space, and community meeting space, but in the end everyone voted unanimously to approve.

The second item on the agenda was a presentation from the parent coordinator and a student from Bushwick School for Social Justice. The BSSJ parent committee's primary concern is a lack of night time street lighting to ensure the safety of night school students. Hence, the parents have proposed for the city to erect additional street lamps around the front of the school and the parent coordinator has made the necessary requests with the city DoT. The DoT is conducting its study and in the meantime, the school is seeking approval from the community board. The only concern raised was that the lights should be set up so as not to shine into neighbors' houses.

The final official item on the agenda was a presentation form the Brooklyn Public Library staff on electronic media services available to all members. A very enthusiastic coordinator from the library explained the vast array of free media and internet services to a largely receptive audience.

The remaining time of this meeting included a review of new and old minutes, roll call, and announcements. The announcements were diverse and very informative for all those who have a stake in the community. Being at the meeting provided me a perspective largely unseen in the Bushwick Community, namely that we have outstanding leaders and many local residents who care deeply and are deeply involved in local development and issues of community well-being. Overall, I left feeling very encouraged and excited about building the bridges between the NYHS civics class and the community board.