(MSCC) Eileen Miller, Frank Kelly, January 18, 2017 — Midtown South Community Council Monthly Meeting for November 16, 2017

PROGRAM:

John Mudd opened the meeting with a report on Council Member Corey Johnson’s meeting on budget allocation. John said that he had asked for funding for the MTS Community Council’s homeless-app development, sidewalk repair and rooftop farming projects.

Andrea Winter commented on her experience with Urban Rooftop farming on West 39th Street, reporting that more than 500 pounds of produce was grown & donated to food pantries.

MTS Community Council’s “think tank’” which includes representatives of the Council, Community Boards 4&5, 34^th St Partnership, and the Garment District BID, and Council Member Corey Johnson’s office for homeless solutions, met for a second time. Other projects include: scaffolding regulations, street sheets, newspaper and magazine dispensers and garbage issues.

John Mudd introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Matt Borden, assistant commissioner of government affairs and external relations, NYC Dept. of Homeless Services.

He said his commitment to helping the homeless was inspired by his experience as a 5^th grade NYC public school teacher. A number of his students were living in homeless shelters and he saw the effect that it had on them. He outlined the enormity of the homeless crisis in NYC. The current statistic: 60,000 people are homeless in NYC. He mentioned some of its causes, including the loss of 150,000 rent stabilized apartments between 1994 and 2014, the dropping in 2011 of Advantage, a voucher housing subsidy program, due to NYC & NYS budgets cuts. Among the DHS’ initiatives: increasing the number of attorneys to represent tenants in housing court, and making shelter safer, with more robust resource services.

Insp. Russell Green brought up the fact that the Hotel Chandler, 12 E31st St, would soon be converted into a homeless shelter for adult families. Since June, the Mayor’s Office has been sending DHS representatives to work with the precinct. This is a 5 day a week program, 9:00am-9:30 pm, 16 DHS representatives, team up 18 police officers and 2 sergeants.

MEETING OPENS FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

Questions continued about the frustration of finding solutions for helping the homeless

The abandoned retail building at 267 West 34^th Street has become an encampment for the homeless, with garbage blocking access to the street. Inspector Green said that there had been three cleanups in the past 4 or 5 weeks, but the problem continued. He said he would exchange information with the construction team and follow up.

The holder of the deed, Vornado Realty Trust, has applied for demolition at the site.

CD scammers have returned to the area near the Empire State Building, Four or five individuals hawking CDs have been working the area, including 34^th Street and Broadway and 32^nd Street and Fifth Avenue. They offer the CD, and when a tourist takes it, they say they are the artists and demand money.

Inspector Green mentioned that holiday safety tips were available for pickup after the meeting.

Scott Stringer, manager of 14 Penn Plaza, between, 35^th St and 34^th St and 8^th Ave, thanked the police for helping curb drug use right by the building’s front door.

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: Insp. Russell Green, P.O Joseph McCadden, Community Affairs, P.O. Thomas Byrnes, MTS Community Affairs, P.O. Sean Henry, Times Square Unit, Richard Fazio, NYPD Transit District 1, Sgt. Oscar Paredes, NYPD Quality and Conditions Team

Also attending:

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

David Rios, Rick’s Cabaret and Vivid

Alfredo Marty, Blarney Stone, 410 8th Ave.

Alicia Sheppard, Molly Wee Pub, 8^th Ave

Kevin Jean Baptiste, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

Twitter account handles:  @NYPDMTS, Transit Division @NYPDTRANSIT

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