INTRODUCTION

According to the 2000 census, 217,063 people live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, a 3.0% increase from 1990.  Prosperous economic times and a major building boom during the 1990’s has added thousands of dwelling units to the district. Today, the district continues to grow at an amazing pace. The 1999 median household income for the District was $74, 134. Based on data from the 2000 census 6.5% of the individuals in the district live below the poverty level.

There is also a large segment of the population with special needs. More than 14% of our residents are senior citizens, with a high number of frail elderly.  There is also a number of working poor living in the district. As affordable housing becomes increasingly scarce and commercial rent escalates, thus raising the prices of goods and services, members of the middle class must struggle to stretch their budgets.  The Board is also concerned about the strain caused by the influx of new residents, shoppers, and tourists on municipal service delivery. 

The following description of District 8's needs is organized by category and not in order of priority.

LAND USE

Nearly every portion of District 8 has experienced major development.  Where tenements and small commercial properties once stood, luxury apartment buildings now soar to thirty or forty floors. After a construction lull during the early to mid 1990’s, residential and commercial development again exploded on the Upper East Side in the latter part of the decade and continues into the early part of this decade.

Zoning changes enacted within the past fifteen years (e.g. R8-B for the midblocks, R10-A for the avenues and crosstown streets, elimination of the plaza bonus, tower on a base) have had a moderating effect on development. Buildings of 30-35 stories on some avenues that current zoning allows may contribute to the cumulative effect that development has on the infrastructure and related municipal services.

Community Board 8 is one of many community boards and civic groups that are on record as urging the Department of City Planning to review the Community Facility provisions of the Zoning Resolution. Community Board 8 is the only district where community facilities are entitled to a 5.1 FAR in the R8B mid-blocks. The Board is working to collect and analyze data in order to prepare an application to the Department of City Planning. This application would seek to change the current community facility in R8B areas of Community Board 8 from a 5.1 to a 4.0 FAR.

Roosevelt Island has its own development pressures and problems.  In the area known as Southtown there are two high-rise buildings with a third set for completion in early 2006.  The rehabilitation of the Octagon Building will produce two residential wings in the footprint of the original wings. Two-thirds of the parcel will be dedicated to park use.   In addition, first floor space within the Octagon Building will be available for community purposes, such as an ecology center. The residential portion of the project would include approximately 500 apartments with 20% designated as affordable housing.  

LANDMARKS

Board 8 works closely with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and community organizations on all landmark issues. We review Certificate of Appropriateness applications, designations, and related matters for individual landmarks and buildings within the six historic districts in the Board 8 area.  These are the Upper Eastside Historic District, the Carnegie Hill Historic District, the Metropolitan Museum Historic District, Treadwell Farm Historic District, Henderson Place Historic District and the Hardenburgh-Rhinelander Historic District.

Recent projects the Board has reviewed include the proposed expansion of The Whitney Museum of American Art at 945 Madison Avenue.  The Board works closely with community organizations on all landmark issues, including the reporting of violations of landmark regulations. With such a significant number of landmarked buildings in the district, Community Board 8 is concerned that an inadequate number of Commission staff is available to handle the hundreds of applications, inspections, and violations for these properties.  We continue to request funding for additional Landmarks Preservation Commission staff (FY 06 #21 308200405E). 

STREET LIFE

Liquor Licenses

After the Street Life Committee reviews liquor license applications the Board makes a recommendation to the New York State Liquor Authority. The proliferation of bars on the Upper East Side is the source of many noise and quality of life complaints. Like many other Community Boards in the five boroughs, Community Board 8 finds communicating with the New York State Liquor Authority a struggle and supports changes to the law that would make the Authority more responsive to the community.

Sidewalk Cafes

The Street Life Committee of the Board carefully reviews all plans for new enclosed and unenclosed sidewalk cafés and all applications for renewals of these consents as well as applications for small sidewalk cafés. The Board office receives a constant stream of complaints and inquiries about cafes. Sometimes complaints to the Department of Consumer Affairs result in padlock citations and fines for unlicensed operations, and on occasion, the agency has confiscated the restaurant’s illegal tables and chairs.  A restaurant must correct violations before the Board will recommend renewal of its permit.

Community Board 8 believes more inspectors are needed to monitor and enforce café guidelines (FY 05 #14, 308199802E). CB8 often receives complaints about restaurants operating without a valid café license, with more tables and/or chairs than allowed by their license, or cafés operating beyond allowed hours of operation. As the average restaurateur pays between $2,000 to $16,000 a year to operate a sidewalk café, insufficient enforcement of all sidewalk cafe regulations is inequitable to those restaurants operating legally. 

The Community Board is pleased to receive copies of all sidewalk café consents issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs and including the number of tables and chairs approved. This information enables us to determine whether a restaurant is complying with its café permit.  We are pleased that the Department of Consumer Affairs requires the posting of the allowable number of tables and chairs in restaurants; however, this regulation needs stronger enforcement.

NEWSSTANDS, NEWSBOXES, PUBLIC PAY TELEPHONES AND

STREET FURNITURE

The City now regulates the placement, installation and maintenance of newsracks on City sidewalks. We will continue to monitor the enforcement of the regulations adopted in 2004 by the New York City Department of Transportation. The proliferation of newspaper vending machines, or newsboxes, is a serious problem.  On some corners as many as twenty together block the pedestrian ramps.  Newsbox design could also be improved, with a single vertical or horizontal unit serving several newspapers.  This option is used in other cities and in the Grand Central Business Improvement District and other BIDs. Community Board 8 supports the efforts of the Madison Avenue BID regarding a multiple-news rack project for the BID district.  The Board also remains very concerned about the installation of privately owned public pay telephones on our sidewalks.  Public pay telephones (PPTs) are very important to the residents and businesses of our district.  PPT issues that have yet to be resolved include the enforcement of maintenance to provide working telephones in a well maintained enclosure, the numbers and siting of PPTs, community notification, the rights of property owners, PPTs in historic districts and abutting landmarked properties, and the definition of nuisance telephones, among others.  Community Board 8 wishes to foster a strong working relationship with DoITT and hopes that DoITT sees no additional need for PPT’s in Community Board 8.

Newsstands, newsboxes, pay phones, public toilets, and bus stop shelters were all to become pieces of a Coordinated Street Furniture Franchise that has not yet been finalized.  The need to reduce unnecessary clutter on our sidewalks grows greater with every new resident moving to this district. 

HIGHWAYS AND STREETS

Community Board 8 has consistently ranked funding for street repair and maintenance high on its list of priorities, and we applaud the NYC Department of Transportation’s Manhattan Highway Maintenance Division on the  job they do managing this substantial task, especially in light of its need for an additional pothole gang, that the Board strongly supports (FY06 #9, 308200101E).  We also continue to support the construction of the full build Second Avenue Subway. We also support the MTA’s study of a Bus Rapid Transit Line on the M15 Line.

CB8 supported DOT’s pilot bus pad project (FY 04 #13, 3080107A).  As these concrete areas at bus stops, which replace the standard asphalt, reduce the wear and tear on our streets, we hope to work with DOT to find suitable locations for bus pads in our district.

Sidewalks remain a problem in our district.  Many are no longer in safe condition.  We ask the NYC Department of Transportation to make a top priority the enforcement of sidewalk repairs to ensure that all property owners maintain a safe sidewalk for all pedestrians and people with disabilities.  We also asked the NYC Department of Finance and the City Council to look for ways to ease the burden on property owners whose sidewalks exist over vaults. The cost to repair these sidewalks, actually the vault roof, can be $50,000, much more than standard sidewalk repair. In many cases, this imposes a burden on the property owner.  Because many of these sidewalks go unrepaired, pedestrians must continue to navigate unsafe sidewalks.

Community Board 8 continues to support the installation of pedestrian ramps.  Ramps are important not only for wheelchair users and the disabled, but also for senior citizens with shopping carts and parents with baby carriages.

On Roosevelt Island, residents have requested that Main Street be repaved.  We will work with the appropriate City and State agencies, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, and the Island residents to evaluate Main Street and develop a timetable for completion of this needed work.  The Board also supports for the reconstruction of the Roosevelt Island Bridge. (FY06 #20, 308200517C), and funding for the full reconstruction of the Roosevelt Island Seawall (FY06 #4, 308200507C) which has been breached in several locations.

TRAFFIC

We encourage the Department of Transportation to improve bike lanes throughout the city so that messengers, delivery people and others riders may travel safely through the city streets.

Community Board 8 supports stronger enforcement of drivers running red lights and stop signs, reckless and unlicensed commercial and recreational bicyclists, bicyclists on sidewalks  and bus lane violators. We urge the issuance of summonses for horn honking as this is one of the major noise complaints received by the Community Board 8 office. Traffic enforcement, especially at peak travel times, remains one of Community Board 8’s highest priorities.  In particular, we are concerned about the following conditions:

1) The Queensborough Bridge area.  Over 30,000 more cars and trucks per day exit the Bridge than in 1998. They often travel at high speeds, creating a danger for pedestrians and other vehicles.  Congestion, gridlock, and air pollution are all ongoing problems. Unnecessary horn honking creates intolerable noise for nearby residents. Community Board 8 continues to work with our elected officials, the Police and the DOT Commissioner regarding these concerns.  We strongly urge the Mayor and the Police Commissioner to fund and permanently assign traffic enforcement agents to the area (FY06 #21, 308200405E).

2) Problem nightclubs and bars. The 19th Precinct's special detail, "Operation Last Call", targets unruly bars and clubs, the problem is serious enough to merit further nighttime enforcement.  We urge the Police Department to continue assigning enforcement agents to Operation Last Call especially on Thursday-Saturday nights.

3) Public safety. We are pleased that the Administration is directing more police attention to traffic-related violations -- i.e. running red lights, double-parking and blocking the crosswalk (“blocking the box”).  However, more needs to be done. The Board supports strict enforcement of all traffic laws.

Community Board 8 supports the Red-Light Camera Program, which photographs drivers in the act of running red lights. There are currently three cameras in District 8.  We have encouraged the Department of Transportation to install others, but authorizing legislation must be adopted. The agency has requested expanding the program to 100 cameras but the request was not supported.  We will continue to work with City and State officials on this important matter.

4) Traffic control at intersections. Many intersections in our district are difficult for pedestrians to navigate safely. Intersections such as East 96th Street and First Avenue, East 96th Street at the FDR Drive, East 71st, 72nd and 73rd Streets at York Avenue, intersections around the Queensboro Bridge and Greater Bridgemarket Area, and intersections along the East 86th Street corridor all present safety problems.  A particularly bad intersection in the Board 8 area is 79th Street and York Avenue where express buses, group taxi lines and Illegal vans converge near the entrance to the FDR Drive.  This intersection has an unusually high incidence of traffic accidents involving both property and human loss. Hundreds of elementary school children from P.S. 158 and hundreds of elderly individuals use this intersection several times a day. Community Board 8 has recommended a four-way red light (Barnes Dance) at this intersection and increased enforcement.  

Community Board 8 has requested traffic control agents at: East 79th Street and East End Avenue; near the entrances and exits to the FDR Drive on York Avenue at East 62nd and 63rd Street; and at the Queensboro Bridge exit ramps at East 61st Street and East 63rd Street between First and Second Avenues.  We continue to oppose service cuts in traffic control and enforcement, especially with the many construction projects including reconstruction of the Queensboro Bridge in Contract 6 and the reconfiguration of entrances and exits from the FDR Drive.

Furthermore, we have requested additional traffic engineering staff be hired by DOT to address problem intersections, and the agency has agreed additional staff is necessary.  We look forward to working with agency staff to alleviate safety problems at difficult intersections.

The installation and maintenance of street and parking signs, lampposts (FY 06 #24 308199907C), traffic signals, and other traffic devices is of paramount importance to Community Board 8. Over the years we have supported increasing the amount of funding available for producing new signage, especially for the production of signs specific to the needs of certain blocks, and for the bucket trucks and personnel to install them (FY03 CS1, 3089703A). Due to cuts to the NYC Department of Transportation’s budget, the number of crews available to install or change signs has been drastically reduced, resulting in long waiting periods for the installation of signs, and occasional confusion regarding the rules in effect at a given location. Community Board 8’s Transportation Committee regularly considers requests from local businesses and residents for changes in parking signage.  Changes recommended by the Board often address traffic congestion and/or public safety concerns on particular blocks.

Community Board 8 is pleased that the New York City Council has begun to authorize licenses for commuter vans that had been operating illegally and without adequate insurance or inspections.  Only when these vans are properly regulated to ensure safe operation should any consideration be given to their use as an alternative mode of transportation.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Large numbers of residents, daily workers and visitors contribute to traffic congestion, noise, pollution, and crowded streets and sidewalks. With only one subway line traveling the East Side, public transit continues to be overwhelmed. The MTA/NYC Transit must work with commuters and the Board to address service issues such as punctuality, bus bunching and dwell times.

The implementation of articulated buses results in the de facto reduction in service due to the decreased number of buses from four to three during peak periods, from five to four during non-peak hours, the increased dwell time, and time between buses.

Community Board 8 continues to suffer from the inadequacy of having only one subway line and absolutely must have a full Second Avenue Subway built.  The Lexington Avenue IRT subway carries hundreds of thousands of commuters each day and is more than 110% over capacity at rush hour. With the completion of the East Side Access project an additional 19,000 riders are expected during rush hour on the Lexington Avenue IRT at the Grand Central Terminal.  We are grateful to our elected officials who have lobbied for this desperately needed subway expansion, and we urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to move forward on this issue as quickly as possible. 

We look forward to the completion of station renovations at the 77th Street and 86th Street IRT stations, but continue to request additional personnel for station maintenance.  Rainy day flooding caused by clogged drains is a frequent occurrence at all stations.  Passengers are forced to walk in water to get to and from the trains.

We oppose any cuts to north-south service, which has faced continuing, severe cuts over the past several years.  In particular, we call on NYC Transit to restore service on the M31, M79, M66, M30, M86, M15 and the X90-92. We urge the restoration of everyday service on the M30 and increased frequency on the M31 route. 

The large number of express buses that travel daily through our city streets belching fumes and barreling through red lights on their way to midtown continues to be of great concern.  The Board recommends no new or renewed franchises until the Department of City Planning completes its study of express bus policy.

The Board continues to urge the MTA/NYC Transit and the Department of Transportation to phase out diesel buses and replace both the private and public transit fleets with natural gas-powered vehicles and efficient cleaner burning hybrids.  We are pleased that natural gas buses will be eligible for funding under the State Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.

THE FORMER 60TH STREET HELIPORT

Community Board 8 has developed a 197-a plan for the site.  By creating a park at the former heliport site, the city will bring much needed open space to our community. The New York State Department of Transportation is using the site during the rehabilitation of the FDR Drive, from East 53rd to East 63rd Streets. The work on the Drive is expected to last until April 2007.

HOUSING

New York has often led the nation in responding to housing needs and concerns.   In 1864 the New York Council of Hygiene of the Citizens Association mounted a campaign to raise housing standards, while in 1901 New York State passed the Tenement House Law, the legislative basis for addressing the lack of light, air and space in tenements.  In 1920, rent regulations laws were introduced in response to New York’s scarcity of housing.  Today, with a citywide rental vacancy rate of less 3%, the New York area housing market continues to be defined as operating under a housing emergency. 

Community District 8 is home to over 124,000 households.  The rental vacancy rate is 4%.  More than 15% of CB 8 residents pay rent in excess of 50% of their income.  The median monthly contract rent is $1,300.00. The district encompasses a wide range of housing forms from condominiums and cooperatives to market rate and rent regulated housing.  Regulated housing includes rent stabilization, Mitchell-Lama, public housing, and rent control. 

The Housing Committee advises and assists residents with district wide housing issues; proactively effects city housing policy to better address housing concerns in the district as a whole; and raises the level of discourse to ensure that the housing needs of residents figure prominently in the planning of our community.  Community Board Eight’s Housing committee has focused on issues such as rent control/rent stabilization, senior/elderly housing concerns/issues, middle classes and Mitchell-Lama housing; cooperatives, condominiums and public housing. 

To that end, the Housing Committee periodically holds town hall forums and features housing professionals principally from Community District 8.  The well attended forums have examined a variety of housing subjects including: the tax and legislative issues of cooperatives/condominiums impacting shareholders/owners; New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal’s Housing Amendments; New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board; women and housing discrimination, rent control/rent stabilization; and inclusionary zoning and affordable housing. 

PUBLIC SAFETY

Community Board 8 maintains a close working relationship with the 19th Precinct, the Central Park Precinct, and the 114th Precinct, which serves Roosevelt Island from Queens.  We commend the officers of the NY Police Department for the amazing work they have done to reduce crime, catch criminals, and confiscate weapons and contraband.  We look forward to continued success in these areas.

We remain concerned that because uniformed personnel are being moved to specialized units, there is a reduction in the number of uniformed personnel assigned to the precincts. The on-going development on Roosevelt Island has produced greater vehicular traffic and variety of public safety concerns. Community Board 8 feels there is a need for an NYPD substation on Roosevelt Island. Additionally, we support the restoration of funding for the civilian employees for administrative and clerical positions (FY06 #6, 308199702E) lost due to City budget cuts.  A full corps of uniformed personnel will continue the historic reductions in crime.  We look forward to working with the Police Department towards restoring the precincts to their full compliment of officers.

As previously noted, Community Board 8 is also concerned about quality of life problems. Bicycling, rollerblading and scooters on the sidewalks and in our parks is more than an annoyance to pedestrians.  Reckless cyclists and rollerbladers endanger pedestrians, particularly the elderly and children.  We appreciate the 19th Precinct’s efforts to resolve this problem through outreach and enforcement and look forward to the efforts of the Central Park Precinct to address this problem in Central Park. 

We encourage the NYPD to pay special attention to all traffic violations, whether committed by bicyclists or drivers, as mentioned in this Statement under “Traffic”.

The 19th Precinct has responded to the community's complaints about disruptive bars.  A special detail - Operation Last Call - patrols the area where the most troublesome bars are located.  Operation MARCH (Multi-Agency Response to Community Hotspots) involves the NY Police and Fire Departments, the NYC Departments of Buildings, Environmental Protection, and Health, and the NY State Liquor Authority in targeting underage drinking, health, building and fire code violations, and noise complaints. Most nightlife establishments are operated responsibly. Community Board 8 fully supports the 19th Precinct’s efforts to crack down on community nuisances.

Community Board 8 supports full funding for all fire and emergency medical services in our district and citywide.  We are particularly concerned about the loss of fire marshals in recent years, and we have requested the restoration offunding for these personnel (FY06 #13, 308200603E).

PARKS AND RECREATION

The population density of Community Board 8 makes our parks and greenery a precious commodity.  Though our district is adjacent to Central Park, open space is scarce.  Only 43 acres of parks and open space, most of which are unusable, are available to the 217,063 District 8 residents living on Manhattan Island, a per capita ratio of 1 acre for every 4627 residents.

We continue to review and comment on renovations to Central Park, and we appreciate our working relationship with the Central Park Conservancy.  Over the past two years, Community Board 8 has reviewed proposals for the redesign of Tramway Plaza, Judge Samuel Seabury Park, John Jay Park, Carl Schurz Park, and the renovation of Heckscher Playground in Central Park.  There is an urgent need for the rehabilitation of the East Meadow. Former Commissioner Stern had verbally committed to this rehabilitation, which has been estimated to cost up to  $2M.  Community Board 8 strongly supports this rehabilitation and looks forward to working with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the Conservancy, and the community on this plan (FY 06 #20, 308200204A).

Currently, the level of DPR personnel for parks maintenance and recreational programs is inadequate for serving the needs of this district.  Agency officials have cited the need to at least double and preferably triple maintenance personnel.  We therefore retain as a high priority our request for additional personnel for maintenance, recreation, and tree pruning in Manhattan (FY06 #18 308200604E).

Rodents continue to be a problem in Community Board 8 Parks.  The agency would like to conduct cyclical extermination and develop a plan to address the consistently infested parks.  Though DPR officials expect to accomplish this with the three exterminators, we continue our support for increased funding for rodent extermination in Central Park and other parks. (FY06 #8, 308199602E).

The Board is on record as supporting strong, consistent enforcement of city leash and litter laws in all of our parks.  While we recognize the need for dog owners to exercise their pets, we encourage people to do so in the designated dog runs. Unleashed dogs pose a risk to people, other animals, and the peaceful enjoyment of our parks. In addition, neighborhood groups have worked hard, at great expense, to beautify the parks for the surrounding community.  Dogs running loose damage the landscape.  Community Board 8 approves of the enforcement effort undertaken by the DPR since March 1999, and we support continued enforcement by PEP and Police officers of all leash and litter laws in our parks and playgrounds.

We have consistently requested additional personnel for the enforcement of park rules and regulations (FY06 #23, 308199407E).  At least two Park Enforcement Patrol officers are needed in Community Board 8.  They are an essential component for safe parks.  Though the DPR supports this request, no additional funds have been allocated.

Community Board 8 continues to support the complete renovation of the bathhouse at John Jay Park (FY06 #21 308200514A).  As the bathhouse is the only indoor Parks Department facility in Community Board 8, it must be quickly repaired.  Rehabilitation work is also needed on the walkways and stairwells along John Finley Walk, which runs from East 81st Street to East 90th Street over the FDR Drive (FY06 # 11 308200512C). The NYC DOT must prepare contract documents to accomplish this work in a timely manner. 

Though a fire in June 1999 razed the fireboat house in the East River at 90th Street, the Board continues to work towards restoration of the pier for community use. We remain concerned about the impact on Carl Schurz Park of ferry service operating from the fireboat pier, currently to Yankee Stadium and LaGuardia Airport, and additional proposed commuter service to Wall Street. The Board continues to request funding for the complete restoration of the full length of the pier at East 90th Street and the East River (FY06 #8, 308200003A).

East River Ferry Work Group

The Economic Development Corporation, in coordination with NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, will be constructing or upgrading the ferry landing at East 90th Street. This project is a follow-up to the East River Ferry Initiative, a City effort begun in 1995 to examine strategies for developing a ferry corridor along the East River.

Community Board 8 has requested that only minimum upland infrastructure be installed. No concession stands, no rest rooms, no outsize signage, minimum lighting and sound intrusions. EDC has agreed that there will be no buses at any site and no drop off by cabs and cars.

SENIORS AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Goldwater and Coler Hospitals on Roosevelt Island, which are specialized long-term care facilities, are the only Health and Hospitals Corporation facilities in Community Board 8.  The district is also served by several world-renowned private hospitals: Lenox Hill; New York Presbyterian Weill-Cornell Medical Center; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat; The Hospital for Special Surgery; and Rockefeller University Hospital.

Community Board 8 supports both public and private sector efforts to provide assistance to the large and diverse homeless population in our community.  In counting the homeless, the many families who are doubled up in public housing projects must be included. A top capital priority is increased funding for permanent housing for homeless individuals and families. We are strongly in favor of continued support for homeless services (FY 06 #3, 308199403C).

In the private non-profit sector, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House runs a therapeutic day program called "Our Place" for mentally impaired homeless adults and a mental health outreach team, which provides street outreach and social services.  In addition, Lenox Hill operates the formerly city-run Park Avenue Women's Shelter. Community Board 8 continues to strongly support this contract (FY 06 #12 308200510C).

The Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS), a coalition of churches, synagogues, associations and individuals dedicated to the needs of homeless people on the Upper East Side, sponsors several programs in our community.  These include a 70 bed single room occupancy residence at 211 East 81st Street and a men's shelter at St. Francis de Sales.  NCS encourages religious institutions to participate in a partnership program of overnight shelters.  Each day different institutions offer lunch, soup kitchens and dinner programs.  NCS helps with the coordination of the programs and with the recruitment of volunteers. NCS also operates a multi-service center on East 77th Street that provides services to homeless persons still on the streets.

Increased mental health services, more substance abuse treatment facilities, and more specialized settings for homeless persons with AIDS have been identified as local and citywide needs.  As a result, the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health and the Doe Fund manage facilities for homeless persons with mental illness and homeless persons with AIDS, respectively.

Community Board 8 recognizes the very important need for maintaining and expanding home care and mental health services for our senior citizens (FY06, #4 308199704E). We have requested that the NYC Department for the Aging continue its support for the "Caring Neighbor", a program sponsored by Lenox Hill Neighborhood House that offers personal care for the frail elderly.  We urge that city and state funding be continued for home-delivered Meals on Wheels and Senior Center Congregate Care meal programs; as well as for senior transportation services in the Community Board 8 area including a new handicap accessible van for the East Side Council on the Aging (FY06 #10 308200511C).  There is also a serious need for adult day care in this district (FY06 #11, 308200001E).  The Board supports the Safe Corridor Program, a joint effort of the Department for the Aging and the Police Department.

We are on record as supporting public education programs and seminars regarding AIDS, HIV prevention, and the prevention of teen pregnancy.

LIBRARIES

For more than a century, the New York Public Library has provided quality service to all New Yorkers. The branch libraries are an important public resource for local residents, especially senior citizens and students.  Community Board 8 supports funding that would enable local branches – 67th Street, Webster, Yorkville, 96th Street and Roosevelt Island – to offer six-day service (FY06 #10 308200602E). Community Board 8 also supports the funding for the expansion of the Roosevelt Island branch of the New York Public Library (FY 06 #9 30820601C) and the renovation of the Carnegie Branch Library (FY 06 #6 308206601C).

We are distressed that each year communities are required to defend library services from the budget chopping block.  We urge the Mayor and the City Council to maintain funding for the operating costs, and to increase funding for building infrastructure, technological improvements and for sorely needed library materials, particularly increased funding for books, periodicals, and other information resources in all our branch libraries; funding the system-wide replacement of Checkpoint Booktheft Detection System, to be phased in over five years in all branches and central units, costing $1.2M system-wide (FY06 #10 308200006A); and creation of a centralized facility for universal book return operations, branch maintenance shops, branch security, and shipping at a cost of $4.7M system-wide.

As sources of information have evolved, the Library has kept pace, offering one of the only free points of access to the internet in New York City.  Community Board 8 believes that all New Yorkers should have free and equal opportunities to use electronic resources.  We therefore support funding for computer and telecommunication services so that the branch libraries will be fully equipped. 

Community Board 8 continues to advocate for barrier-free access at all our branch libraries.  We believe that the major beneficiaries of this service, senior citizens and disabled, are entitled to use this essential public resource.    

Design and implementation of system-wide signage and graphics is also needed (FY06 #10, 308200001A).  We believe that air conditioning is a vital service that must be extended to all of our branch libraries.

All of these services will suffer tremendously without the librarians who are leaving the system in droves because their salaries are not competitive.  We urge the Mayor, the City Council, and the New York Public Library to fund adequate, competitive salary increases for city librarians including specialized children’s librarians.

YOUTH AND EDUCATION

Community Board 8 is in full support of plans to build a school at the former site of PS 151 at First Avenue & 91st Street and looks forward to working with the Department of Education and the selected developer on this important project.

Community Board 8 is concerned that funding for youth programs in our community remains inadequate given the need (FY06, #3 3081997E).  We are consistently dismayed by budget cuts that target youth services.

The need for these programs is very clear.  While some children on the Upper East Side enjoy the benefits of private schools, many others rely on after-school programs and weekend sports activities run by non-profit agencies.  A longstanding concern of Community Board 8 has been the lack of recognition on the part of the City and the State of the number of programs that serve large numbers of non-resident youth.  This has resulted in a small allocation of community share funds to the district.

Community Board 8 supports the restoration of funding for student tuition subsidies for the City University of New York.  As home to Hunter College, we recognize the importance of CUNY to both students and the city. The renovation of Thomas Hunter Hall would only enhance Hunter College (FY 06 # 19 308200202C).                              

Budget cuts, fought on a seemingly yearly basis, can result in tuition hikes, as well as the loss of faculty, resources and services, such as library and computer lab hours.

The Board also recognizes the importance of providing adequate day care and after school facilities for our children.  There are many Community Board 8 residents, especially single working parents, who need affordable day care and after school programs, but whose income slightly surpasses eligibility requirements.  Additional programs, perhaps

with a sliding scale fee, would be helpful.  We continue to request increased funding for childcare and after-school programs, including infant care (FY06 #3, 308199708E).

An important issue yet to be adequately addressed is the need for programs to prevent abuse and neglect (FY06 #12, 308199707E).

ENVIRONMENT AND SANITATION

Community Board 8 is responsive to residents’ concerns about sanitation and the environment.  The cleanliness of our streets and neighborhoods is of great importance to our community and is related to successful business operations, to our well-being, and to the quality of life.  In an integrated approach to a cleaner community, we support frequent sanitation inspections and efforts to consistently maintain presentable clean-swept sidewalks and streets (FY06 #24, 308200103E).

Community Board 8 is actively involved and deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of the Marine Transfer Station (MTS) on 91st Street.  Residents remember when the MTS was formerly in use and recall the odors, noise, vermin and sanitation trucks lined up from 91st Street to 86th Street. Since the time that the MTS was last in operation the population of the area has expanded; especially significant has been the increase in the number of children. 

The current proposed site of the MTS bisects Asphalt Green, a New York City Park. Asphalt Green services thousands of residents per year, and is a space for school children all over the city to participate in school athletics (many thousands of asthma afflicted children use this facility). There is also a day camp in the summer. When the MTS was previously in operation, it created an offensive environment for the campers.

The Marine Transfer Station is adjacent to three parks including Carl Schurz, Asphalt Green and Dekovats and sits across from a NYC Landmark – Gracie Mansion.  Community Board 8 seeks to preserve this valuable parkland.

A thorough environmental impact study for this expansion is necessary in order to assess the impact the MTS will have on the surrounding community.   Community Board 8 also looks to the Department of Sanitation to provide data comparing current methods of solid waste disposal and the proposed plans in terms of environmental impact and cost effectiveness.  Community Board 8 hopes to be involved in the planning and implementation of any Department of Sanitation initiatives.

The increase in noise complaints is a major quality of life issue for Community Board 8.  Noise - such as from roof top machinery, traffic (particularly unnecessary and illegal horn honking), and noisy nightlife establishments are a large problem. Technology to measure the frequency, decibel levels of noise and vibrations, as well as the cumulative effect of noise sources, should be employed.  The Board encourages the review and update of the city’s noise code.  Part of this effort must also include increased funding to restore personnel for enforcement of air and noise codes (FY06 #16, 308199504E). 

Issues of air and water remain high priorities.  Vehicles, both public and private, contribute to the degradation of our air quality.  Alternative fuels should be used in public transportation vehicles.  Community Board 8 has been concerned about hospital and medical waste disposal, especially along the York Avenue corridor.

The Board feels the prevention of pollution in the first instance in the Catskill Delaware watershed is a better solution for maintaining our drinking water quality. DEP plans to allocate $1.5B over 10 years, including $780M for the Croton Filtration Plant and $319M for other uses, including septic work, land, remediation, etc., in relation to the Watershed agreement.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Business Improvement Districts

Community Board 8 works with the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District and the East Midtown Association on a range of issues.

Street Vendors

Illegal street vendors are an enormous problem throughout District 8. The Board routinely receives complaints about unlicensed peddlers and those operating on restricted streets – particularly 77th Street from Cherokee Place to Park Avenue which is also an ambulance route.

Community Board 8 is concerned about the sale of counterfeit merchandise and the negative effect these vendors have on local stores who pay taxes.

Community Board 8 urges the city to reinstate the Vendor Review Panel and establish a dedicated enforcement group specializing in vendor enforcement. It is our belief that stronger enforcement is the solution and we are concerned about the difficulty of enforcing street vendor laws and the burdens it places on the NYPD.