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Ross Frommer, Deputy Vice President for Government and Community Affairs and Associate Dean at Columbia University Medical Center, presented this year’s Dyckman Institute Scholarship recipients during Community Board 12’s General Meeting this past Tues., Nov. 22nd. The four students this year were senior Christopher Davidson, junior Jason Tejada, sophomore Aury Garcia, and freshman Karina Montenegro. The four students, all residents from Washington Heights and Inwood, are able to attend Columbia University through the scholarship.
The following is a summary of the items that came up at the monthly Community Board 12 General Meeting at the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center Myrna Daniels Auditorium on Tues. Nov. 22nd.
CB12 passes resolution in support of reduction of street cleaning
Members of Community Board 12 followed the lead of the Health and Environment and Traffic and Transportation committees passing a resolution requesting that the Sanitation Department reduce street cleaning by one day a week throughout Community District 12.
According to the resolution, Local Law 30 of 2011 allows community boards to request that the Department of Sanitation reduce the frequency of street cleaning by one day each week in districts where street cleaning is scheduled for more than one day each week on each side of the street and where the district achieves average street cleanliness acceptability.
Despite some opposition by community members who argued that asking the City to cut back on sanitation for the neighborhood was outrageous, the resolution received strong support from City Councilmember Robert Jackson, who presented a letter in support to the board.
“If we ask the City to cut back these services it’s very unlikely that we will ever get them back,” said CB12member James Berlin in opposition.
However, the resolution was passed, it calls on the Department of Sanitation to reduce the frequency of street cleaning by one day each week throughout Washington Heights and Inwood.
As a form of compromise, the resolution asks that the Department of Sanitation consult with CB12 on any changes in the local planned routes. In addition, CB12 is asking that the Department of Sanitation increase sweeping of commercial streets, the frequency of trash basket collections and increase the number of litter baskets throughout the district once the new schedule is implemented.
CB12 passes resolution in support of the “Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act”
Members of CB12 voted to support a resolution calling on Mayor R. Bloomberg to enact the “Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act,” a bill which has been recently been presented at City Council Hearings, and if passed, could raise the living standards for many New Yorkers across the City.
According to the resolution, CB12 strongly supports the idea that City subsidies should be used to create good jobs. “We urge the City Council and the Mayor to enact the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act,” read the resolution.
The proposed legislation would raise the living standards for thousands of New Yorkers by requiring that all workers that work in a City-subsidized development project, whether they are employed by the developer, by tenants, or by on-site service contractors, be paid a “living wage” of $10 per hour with health benefits, or $11.50 per hour without health benefits, indexing the wage to inflation.
CB12 Supports 10 liquor licenses, rejects 6
Following the lead of its Economic Development Committee, CB12 gave the thumbs up for liquor license applications from Taqueria Santa Clara, Cafeteria Billar Cibao II, El Guanaco Restaurant y Pupuseria, Tu Sabor Latino Restaurant, Junior Tacos, El Capri Restaurant, La Minita Restaurant, Sweet Praise Bistro, Parada Maimon, and El Nuevo Gigante Supermarket corp.
Six establishments did not receive support from the board for new or renewal alcohol or wine licenses. Azera Lounge and Grill, Ethan Amano, Vin-tich, Café NYC Tapas Bar Serie 1, JBD Billiards, and Rincon Cibaeno Restaurant.
Since CB12 is an advisory body, these resolutions serve only as recommendations to the State Liquor Authority, which makes the final determination.
CB12 passes resolution in support of the restoration of the Grotto in Fort Tryon Park’s Alpine Garden
A long uncared-for natural grotto hidden within the foliage and rock formations of the Alpine Garden in Ft. Tryon Park is soon getting a face-lift.
The Alpine Garden grotto is a stone cavern with a collecting pool and cascading waters over stone outcroppings, located east to the Cloisters and west of the lawn along Broadway near Dongan Place. The Grotto is an original fixture of the landmarked park.
As part of the planned improvements, the cascading water will flow into a planted marsh area to minimize potential hazards. So far, $120,000 has been allocated by the Peter J. Sharp Foundation for landscaping fountain engineering work and repairs to the adjacent stone staircases.
According to the resolution, the Department of Parks and Recreation has already laid out the foundation for the work. Members of CB12 voted to pass the resolution also urging the Public Design and Landmarks Preservation commission to approve the plan.
The next CB12 General Meeting will be held on Thurs. Dec 15th at 7 p.m. at the Isabella Geriatric Center located at 515 Audubon Avenue on the corner of West 190th Street.
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