January 2022

Larry Jayson, President presided over the zoom meeting with 13 participants
Peter Gomori, Treasurer
Jannette Katz Gomori, Secretary

Tom Bauer, Director of Operations at the Ocean Parkway Community Development Corporation began our meeting with a discussion of the various services his organization provides for our community. Formed as a neighborhood preservation entity, the organization assists in such activities as forming merchant associations, access programs for building and home repair and counseling people in obtaining mortgage and rent assistance. Tom alerted us to the upcoming end of eviction moratorium that could place many of our residents in jeopardy.

A question was asked about an abandoned building on Ocean Parkway and Ave. C. (335 Ocean Parkway). Tom looked into the ACRIS database and advised us that a mortgage was paid off and that the real estate tax payments were current. There is a disclosure of the current owner and we (ANA) will try to contact him and inquire as to efforts to repair the property.

(Community Officer Smiarowski, at the last minute was not able to attend and will attend the next meeting to be held in March).

The meeting was opened up to questions and comments about issues in the community.

Theft from mailboxes is still a problem. It is a citywide problem. A specific building was mentioned where a tenant was caught on camera and a police report was filed with the 66th precinct.

Concerns about the Self Help office at 419 Church Ave. were again raised. The grocery store next door continues to store boxes in front of the storefront. The owner was been approached by Larry and if the problem continues the Sanitation department will be notified and the grocery store owner could be issued a fine. We also will contact Self Help to ask if they will return to open their office and provide services. (Follow up – SelfHelp was contacted and they confirmed that they are not coming back. Their new location is 626 Sheepshead Bay Road (718 646 7500).)

A question on reviving the composting program was raised. It was mentioned that one problem is the attraction of rodents to the compost bins. It was mentioned that the East 4th Street Garden is currently closed for the winter and is not accepting compost donations. Another participant mentioned that there is a compost drop-off on Albemarle and McDonald that takes place on Saturday during the day. A suggestion was made that as the weather gets nicer, a petition campaign be started to request that the Sanitation department revive the compost program in the neighborhood.

The ongoing issue of graffiti was again discussed. Councilwoman Shahana Hanif was instrumental in arranging for ACE to paint over the graffiti on the Rite Aid building. Graffiti has become a city wide problem and we need a greater effort in catching the perpetrators to try to stop it.

The issue of the use of motor bikes on sidewalks and bike paths was again raised. We all agree that we need better enforcement to encourage motorbikes to use the streets and not the sidewalks.

The next ANA meeting will take place on Zoom in mid-March 2022. The date will be determined, and the Zoom link will be sent via email or placed on the Facebook ANA website: anabk.org/fb

Suggested speakers for the next meeting include Commanding Officer of Police Precinct 66.

Respectfully submitted

Jannette Katz Gomori