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Veronica Liu of Word Up Bookstore urged members of the community to consider buying shares in the bookstore, as it is organizing into a “Community Supported Bookstore”.
Story and photos by Sherry Mazzocchi
Community Board 12’s last meeting of the year proved a typical encounter, in the best sense. Agenda items large and small were vetted, including a heartfelt goodbye to a valued employee and an invitation to buy shares in a local bookstore.
Above all, on display this past Thurs., Dec. 15th at the Isabella Geriatric Center were the earnest efforts of a group of over 40 people committed to discourse on their community.
Even New York State Assemblymember Denny Farrell marveled at the process.
“It’s nice to stay here and listen to the debate. They’re much better than the ones we have in the state assembly,” he said.
CB 12 members agreed to disagree on a resolution supporting Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) reform. In an effort to make police more accountable for their actions, the resolution called on NYPD officers to live in communities they police. It also said the New York Police Department (NYPD) needs more training in cultural competency.
The resolution was written in support the family of John Collado, who was shot and killed by an undercover police officer this summer.
While a plainclothes officer was struggling to arrest a suspect, Collado intervened in the street arrest. After he was killed, Collado’s family said he didn’t know the plainclothes officer was a policeman and he was only trying to protect a friend. The family sought the support of CB12.
The resolution was also drafted to support Councilmember Ydanis Rodríguez. He was arrested and has claimed mistreatment resulting in bruises at the hands of police when the NYPD forcibly removed Occupy Wall Street protestors from Zuccotti Park in November.
Last month, CB12’s executive committee passed several resolutions, including this one on CCRB, in an emergency session. The other resolutions, which involved state liquor licenses, were time-sensitive matters, while the Civilian Complaint Review board resolution was not.
Still, when it came up for a vote by the full board Thursday, several members objected.
Steve Simon said it should go to committee first before coming up for a vote. After much debate, the board voted 18 -13 to table the resolution and send it to the public safety committee for review.
Raybblin Vargas said that she voted to table the resolution because she wanted to clarify some of the language regarding the CCRB and get more of the community involved before putting it before City Council.
"But in January, we are going to make it stronger, and [about] how we are going to empower the CCRB," she said.
Simon said his objections to the resolution were basically procedural. Approving it before a committee fully examined the resolution was inappropriate, he said, because it deserves more thought than just a simple yes vote.
“There are elements of this resolution which I do support. But I need to know more about it and I’m asked to support a piece of legislation that I don’t know anything about and not being given any background about it,” he said.
Simon also said it was insensitive to pass a resolution right after a police officer died in the line of duty. Brooklyn officer Peter Figoski was shot and killed Monday while interrupting a burglary in process. Suspects in the shooting were later arrested.
“I understand that some police officers have acted dishonorably,” said Simon, “but this is not the way to have the board take action.”
But Harlan Pruden, who introduced the resolution, disagreed. The resolution is not an attack on the police department, just a way to make the make them accountable, he argued.
“People are being raped by off-duty police officers,” Pruden said. “When is it going to be the right time?”
During the public part of the meeting, Veronica Lui of Word Up urged the community to purchase shares of the popular bookstore located at 176th Street and Broadway. In conjunction with the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA), Word Up is negotiating a permanent lease.
To pay rent, they are organizing into a Community Supported Bookstore.
The idea is modeled after Community Supported Agriculture, where supporters give money to farmers before the growing season to buy seeds. As crops are harvested, supporters receive produce on a weekly basis.
“But instead of tomatoes, we will provide you with books,” she said.
Many present supported Liu with whistles and cheers.
Moreover, what was soundly agreed upon on Thursday night was the board members’ regret at losing staff member Frances Escano. Due to Mayor Bloomberg’s directives that all city agencies cut their budgets by two percent, Escano’s position was eliminated.
“This is loss of talent and ability,” CB12 Chair Pamela Palanque-North said, handing her a bouquet of flowers. “We will dearly miss you.”
Escano said she was still looking for a new position.
Palanque-North offered, “You can always come back and be a board member. Just sayin’…”
To hear from Raybblin Vargas on her concerns regarding the CCRB resolution before CB12, please visit http://tinyurl.com/ckytvrg.
To hear Veronica Liu explain how Word Up is looking to stay put, please visit http://tinyurl.com/c27ufrb.
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