Message from Councilman Mark Gjonaj
Community Board 10
Public Hearing, Mar. 7th
BRONX TIMES R 50 EPORTER, MARCH13-19, 2020 BTR
COUNCILMAN MARK GJONAJ
Community Board 10
will hold a Public Hearing
on two matters on
Thursday, March 19, 7
p.m., at the Villa Barone
Manor, 737 Throggs Neck
Expressway:
1. New York City Board
of Standards and Appeals
application #2019-171-BZ.
This application seeks
a Special Permit pursuant
to Zoning Resolution 73-211
to permit the operation of an
Automotive Service Station
(UG16B) with an accessory
convenience store contrary to
Zoning Resolution 32-10, C2-2/
R6 and M1-1 zoning districts,
at 1610 Eastchester Road aka
1490 Williamsbridge Road,
Block 4081, Lot 4, Borough of
the Bronx.
2. Department of City
Planning ULURP # N200216
ECX, Department of Consumer
Affairs # 13417-2019-
ASWC, Enclosed Sidewalk
Café Renewal for George’s
Restaurant, 3000 Buhre
Avenue, 10461, 11 tables, 44
chairs
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
The charm of the low-density
community comes with
price tags affecting quality of
life. Despite an increased populous
annual cutback to law
enforcement and legislative
changes forces our communities
to pay a price.
Recent legislations fostering
nuisance behaviors and
petty crimes have raised concerns
in many low-density
communities. The formula determining
area-specifi c police
presence is safeguarded like a
cherished corporate secret. In
this current reactive before
proactive climate only a dramatic
surge in violent crime
will increase police presence
in the low-density communities.
Residents of the low-density
communities are extremely
grateful that their streets are
largely devoid of violent criminal
behaviors. However, this
is not ample reason for the
desertion that negatively affects
a community’s right to
a proper quality of life. Nuisance
issues, although problematic,
rightfully take a back
seat to serious criminal activity.
However, nuisance issues
need to be addressed. When
ignored nuisance behaviors
will likely develop into more
serious issues. Dramatic population
increases absent of
expansions to law enforcement
services intensify problems
that distress communities.
The fi ne quality of life in
the low-density community is
nearing a state of endangerment.
‘More Police, Less Crime’
is our battle cry response to
the simplistic rhetorical statement
‘More 911 Calls, More
Police’. This response is based
upon evidence contained in
a February 2018, study conducted
by Princeton University
and supported by the U.S,
Department of Justice and National
Organization of Black
Law Enforcement. The study
indicates that crime reductions
are strongly related to
more police presence, not aggressive
policing. The study
showed increased police presence
brought signifi cant declines
in petty crimes (now
known in NYC as nuisance
issues), property crimes, auto
thefts, robbery, and murder.
In addition, increased police
presence in one area is likely
to reduce crime in surrounding
areas. According to researcher
Steven Mello, “The
results highlight that fi scal
support to local governments
for crime prevention may offer
large returns, especially
during bad macroeconomic
times.” The aforementioned
statement indicates federal
and state subsidies for our local
law enforcement agencies
to increase police presence
could reap major dividends
for our communities by reducing
crime and alleviating
irksome quality of life issues.
Simply stated, municipal investments
in law enforcement
are common sense choices.
Reference: Mello, Steven,
More COPS, Less Crime
(February 13, 2018). Available
at SSRN: https://ssrn.
com/abstract=2812701 or
http://dx.doi .org/10.2139/
ssrn.2812701
Community Footnotes
Please bring all real estate
solicitations to our Wednesday,
March 18 meeting. The
battle to attain Cease and Desist
status for the Spencer Estate
footprint and the entirety
of Community Board 10 continues
onward.
Report all tree root related
sidewalk damages and abandoned
tree stumps to 311. Documentation
is needed to get
action.
Our friends at CB 10 remind
us that the NYC Department
of Sanitation has expanded
their curbside electronics collection
to include the entirety
of Bronx CB 10. Curbside electronics
collection takes place
Monday –Friday. Please call
311 to schedule pickup.
Thanks to the fi ne stewards
of our community at CB 10 the
Al Ranieri tribute signage
at Stadium and Ampere avenues
has been replaced. Once
again, CB10 came through for
our community.
Con Edison
Smart Meters (gas and
electric) are coming soon.
Aclara Smart Grid Solutions
is Con Ed’s installation contractor.
Discussion with Con
Edison and Aclara representatives
suggest installations
in the Spencer Estate footprint
would begin mid- June.
Call Aclara (800) 686-4207 in
May to schedule. If opposed to
smart meter installations call
Con Edison (800) 576-2005 to
discuss possible options.
Traffi c Devices
The installations of traffi
c devices in and around our
community seem troublesome
to many area residents.
These devices have dualistic
properties functioning as
mechanisms for public safety
while cost effectively generating
revenues for NYC. In
past years, two hit and run
fatalities occurred near Mc-
Donough Place and Bruckner
Boulevard. On Friday March 6
citizens’ app reported a pedestrian
struck by a motor vehicle
at Country Club Road and
Bruckner Boulevard. Multiple
fatalities and serious injuries
to pedestrians have occurred
on the busy commercial corridor
of East Tremont Avenue.
Recently a woman was struck
and killed by a vehicle in the
vicinity of Sampson and East
Tremont avenues.
Remember: The value of
life is determined by our actions
in life… Political leaders
to gauge a community’s
strength use the attendances
at local civic association
meetings. Large turnouts by
community residents show
elected offi cials that we have
the fortitude and resolve
needed to confront adversity.
The initial 2020 meeting
of the Spencer Estate
Civic Association is Wednesday,
March 18, 7:30 p.m., at
Knights of Columbus (corner
of Ampere and Research avenues).
Our keynote speaker is
valued friend, Councilman
Mark Gjonaj. Any area homeowner
or renter interested
in membership to the all inclusive
Spencer Estate Civic
Association in box George
Havranek on Facebook or
send-email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com
‘Inclusion brings solutions.’
I am concerned, as I know much
of our community is also, about the
potential development of a substance
abuse treatment center at recently-sold
2500 Williamsbridge Road. Although
these rumors are still unconfi rmed,
our community nonetheless remains
vigilant. The safety and quality-of-life
problems that would be presented by
such a clinic are obvious. With nearby
hubs of community and local business,
a house of worship and residential developments,
there could not be a worse
location for a substance abuse treatment
clinic.
We ask for more transparency from
the new owner of 2500 Williamsbridge
Road on their intentions with the property.
Ordinary developments with negligible
consequence to the community
do not require transparency and engagement
between the property and
the community, but this may be no
such case. If the owner of 2500 Williamsbridge
does indeed have intentions
to construct a substance abuse
clinic, it would only be right that it be
disclosed to the public for debate and
discussion on the matter.
However, such a development requires
an application to NYS Offi ce of
Addiction Services and Support (OASAS),
within the Offi ce of Government
Affairs and Federal Policy. In the event
that the owner does attempt to apply
for development approval, we also call
upon OASAS to deny this application
on the basis of its negative community
impact. We hope that New York State
will defer to community judgment in
this matter, recognizing that we as residents
of the area have a better grasp of
the issue and all of its particularities
and implications than any other interested
parties.
Members of the community, join us
in solidarity as hope to get the owner
of 2500 Williamsbridge Road to engage
with the public and inform us of their
intentions for the property. Transparency
and full disclosure with issues
that can have tremendous consequence
to a community is essential.
As always, questions and concerns
can be directed toward my district offi
ce at either (718) 931-1721 or at MGjonaj@
council.nyc.gov. OASAS can be
addressed in protest of development
approval at (518) 473-3460 or at communications@
oasas.ny.gov.
link
/dx.doi
link
link
link
link
/ssrn
link
/ssrn
/dx.doi
/gmail.com
/council.nyc.gov
/oasas.ny.gov