(MSCC) Eileen Miller,  Frank Kelly, Sept 20, 2018 — Midtown South Community Council Monthly Meeting Minutes for September 20, 2018

 PROGRAM:

Beautification Director Eugene Sinigalliano reported 16 tree pits in the Garment District

BID will manage as well as the Hudson Yards Alliance.

John Mudd gave a progress report on Community Council’s initiatives: GoFundMe page

to provide laundry service to homeless schoolchildren has raised $3,660 of its goal

of $5,000. He noted that WCBS-TV had aired a report on the council’s effort, which includes distributing gift cards that children can use at laundromats.

John Mudd turned meeting over to Capt. Kalicovic, whose 13-year

NYPD career has included serving under current  MTS  Commanding Officer Brendan Timoney, in the 13th Precinct.

Capt. Kalicovic presented the latest crime statistics, noting that rape was up slightly whIle most other categories showed declInes. He commended  Lt. Louis Marines for his work with bars and clubs against scammers.

Capt. Kalicovic discussed the precinct’s rollout of the NYPD’s new

Neighborhood Coordination Officer (NCO) Program. He referred attendees to a flyer detailing a meet-and-greet event on Oct. 16 at Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th St. Doors open at 6p.m., meeting starts at 7.

SPEAKERS

Sharon introduced the evening’s first speaker, Sumer Elganbaihy, crime victim advocate with safehorizon.org (855-234-1042), who described the organization’s services.

John Mudd introduced Michael Hollis, urban farms dIrector of Services for the UnderServed ( SUS.org , 463 7th Ave., 17th Floor, NY, NY 10018, 212 633 6900). HIs organization oversees more than 40 growing spaces in four NYC boroughs, including eight community farms.

MEETING OPENS FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

  George Singleton, disabled Veteran vendor, thanked MTS officers for helping

get a DOT sign that had been blocking his space at 44th Street and 7th Avenue moved.

Business owner at 14 Penn Plaza thanked P.O.Joe McCadden and Sgt. Juan Bastidas for helping clean up a homeless encampment.

Neighborhood residents complained of aggressive behavior and drug use by homeless individuals who gather near LinkNYC internet kiosks on Madison Avenue between 35h and 38th Streets. P.O. Byrnes said the situation is being monitored.

MTS CC  President John Mudd, Vice President Bill Otterson, Community Service Director Sharon Jasprizza, Beautification Director Eugene Sinigalliano,  Secretary

Eileen Miller, Assistant Secretary  Frank Kelly,  

Officials in attendance :  Capt. Bekim Kalicovic and Capt. Ralph Clement, Co-Executive

Officers, MTS, P.O. Joseph McCadden and P.O. Thomas Byrnes, MTS Community Affairs

Also attending:

John Clancy, Foley’s Restaurant,  18 W. 33rd St,

David Rios, Rick’s Cabaret and Vivid

Robert Gottfried, Council Member Keith Powers’s Office

Craig Primus, Security, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave

Twitter account handles:  @NYPDMTS, Transit Division @NYPDTRANSIT

The next MTS Community Council meeting will be held on Thursday, October  18, 2018, 7:00 p.m., Wyndham New Yorker Hotel on 8th Avenue between 34th and 35th streets.