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The Lamport Auditorium in Yeshiva University's Zysman Hall was filled with community board members and residents on Tues., Jan. 24th for the Community Board 12's first general meeting of the year.
Among the many issues discussed in the 3-hour meeting were the following.
The Red Room Lounge's license is denied
Community board members and local residents banded together to deny a resolution to grant The Red Room Lounge, known formerly as The Red Room on 10 Bennett Avenue, a liquor license.
Residents along Bennett Avenue took the opportunity to tell of their grievances with the establishment in the last four years.
"I've lived on 10 Bennett Avenue for the past 20 years," said Paul Hampton during the public session. "And the last four years have been very difficult. I find myself migrating to the kitchen during the warmer months to sleep on an air mattress because of the noise disturbances created by patrons of the lounge."
Russell Sands, another resident of Bennett Avenue, started a petition to not give the establishment a liquor license and received 72 signatures from his neighbors and friends.
"We need to express our concerns now," said Sands.
The upset with The Red Room have been evident since at least late December 2011 when, during committee meetings, local residents appeared to speak of their adverse experiences with the establishment.
Manny Ramirez, Red Room's owner, was also present, and spoke out in support of his business.
"We have been working on noise reduction," explained Ramirez in acknowledging that he and his partners have looked to address residents' concerns. "We are also not permitting DJ's to bring their own equipment into the lounge, because it creates more noise than the lounge can handle."
"We want the community and the people of Bennett Avenue to use our establishment as a forum," added Ramirez. "I am only out for the betterment of our community."
But his explanations seemed to generate little in the way of support for a liquor license. All members of the board, save for three, cast their vote against the license.
All other restaurants and lounges soliciting new or renewed liquor licenses received approvals from CB12.
New Italian restaurant faces opposition
Of concern also was the recommendation to grant a liquor license to MamaJuana owners VidaLES LLC for their proposed Italian restaurant at 10 Hillside Avenue, the former location of the controversial Rancho Jubilee Restaurant.
Economic Development Committee Chair Nicole Foster noted in the meeting that Vida LES LLC had communicated to the board that the landlords of the location adjusted their lease to mandate that the space be soundproofed.
Moreover, the owners reached out to residents at 10 Hillside Avenue and asked them to be a part of the soundproofing process which would include an engineer in order to make sure sound does not seep upwards to the apartments atop the restaurant.
Despite these efforts, the owners at VidaLES LLC found stiff resistance to their new proposed restaurant, fueled largely by a recent incident at MamaJuana in which Edwin Veloz, a young man who was a patron at the restaurant on Dyckman Street, was assaulted on Jan. 8, 2012, and has been in a coma since.
According to Lisa Veloz, the victim's sister, who spoke at the CB12 meeting, "Edwin Veloz was knocked unconscious inside MamaJuana. The bouncer picked him up and dragged him outside where they put him up against a fence.
23 year-old Edwin, a Hudson Community College student, suffered a brain hemorrhage, bruising and a stroke, lost vision in his left eye and remains in a coma.
"The doctor said it was more like he was in a car accident," noted Veloz. "He said he has never seen this much damage from one punch."
Improving vehicular and pedestrian safety
Passed was the resolution to propose that the NYC's Department of Transportation (DOT) expand measures to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety in the area bordered by 155th Street and Broadway to 158th Street and the Hudson River.
Sen. Espaillat and Councilmember Rodriguez join in
During the public session, both New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat and New York City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez spoke. Each covered a range of topics, including extending an invitation to an upcoming town hall meeting on Feb. 15 at I.S. 43.
Also discussed was the development of the Port Authority bus terminal.
"The George Washington Bridge Terminal being created is scheduled to bring 600 to 700 jobs for the community that are very much needed," said State Senator Espaillat. "We are pushing to make sure that these jobs remain local."
Both elected officials also referenced affordable housing, citing numbers that indicate that while, between 1987 and 2000, New York City has built 66,000 affordable housing units, Washington Heights has only received 100.
"We need to make the case to the mayor [that] this community has been left behind in affordable housing," said Councilmember Rodriguez, who also spoke about the joint Council committee meeting on education that he and Councilmember Robert Jackson had held in the past week. Councilmember Rodriguez again vowed to work with schools to make a comprehensive college-preparedness program that starts at Pre-K to 12th grade.
Update on handicapped accessibility transportation
Edith Prentiss, handicapped accessibility advocate, informed the audience of the headway made for more accessible taxis.
"Things are looking better for the livery cab bill," shared a smiling Prentiss. "I saw the new handicapped-accessible cabs. They just added 231 cabs coming to Washington Heights, which is great."
But she was less enthused when speaking of the 207th Street A-train station elevator, which has remained closed since the fire on Broadway on January 3rd.
"The MTA has not restored services to the elevator and no buses work on Broadway past midnight," said Prentiss. "They are suggesting that individuals take the 4 train to Fordham Road, followed by the B12 bus to Broadway, which is not acceptable."
Prentiss urged everyone to go on the MTA website and leave a comment or pick up the phone to speak directly with an MTA representative.
Word Up Bookstore signs lease
The Word Up Bookstore on 176th and Broadway has signed a lease with Vantage Properties in partnership with the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NOMAA) to remain at its present location until May. The news was announced by bookstore organizer Veronica Liu, who also urged people to sign up to volunteer.
"This is good for the entire community, so if you haven't joined in the effort please take time to volunteer," said Liu.
Liu added that for the month of February, all revenue collected by the sale of a book by a local artist or writer will go directly to the business owners whose stores burned down in the 207th Street fire earlier this month.
The next CB12 General Meeting will take place at Tues., Feb. 28th at 7:00 pm at the Isabella Geriatric Center at 515 Audubon Avenue.
For more information on CB12 and on a calendar of committee meetings, please visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb12/html/home/home.shtml.
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