(MSCC) Eileen Miller, Assistant Secretary  Frank Kelly, April 18, 2019

March 21, 2019 Midtown South Community Council Monthly Meeting Minutes 

PROGRAM:
John Mudd began the meeting by welcoming those in attendance and urged those signing in to make their email addresses clear and readable. John asked for comments on the social media content: how has the Council helped you, why do attend and tell us a success story in relation to the Council.
John continued gave updates on  Community Council’s initiatives: Josephine Ishmon,Dir of Youth, Education and Human Rights Is going to meet with Acacia to talk about workshops for homeless families. Tutoring program with Judy Gross is a success. ‘Sacred shelter – 13 stories of homeless and healing” book party is scheduled for April 30, 6:00pm-8:00pm, location to be announced. The Council has a study in the works on hotel development in MTS Midtown Community Court is joining the urban farms initiativeGoFundMe page to provide laundry service to homeless schoolchildren has raised $3,760 of its goal of $5,000 and helped127 families. NYCHA has offered space for washing machines and Council is working on configuration. Homeless and Housing committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month, at 9:30am at Urban Pathways, 575 8th Ave, 16th fl, NY,NY 10018. 
John introduced Inspector Timoney who  gave an update on  crime statistics- overall crime down 15%  for the 28-day period.  The death of a 4 month old boy whose body was found in the Hotel Pennsylvania,401 Seventh Ave, on  Dec. 15 has been ruled a homicide. Inspector Timoney warned about gift card scams triggered by Twitter posts.Victims have lost as much as $60,000 by responding via phone-just hang up the phone.NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force and Postal police worked with Macy’s to uncover a scheme involving charge cards sent in the mail that never reached the intended recipients. In what the inspector described as a USPS “inside job,”  the cards were then used to make purchases.
SPEAKERS:Jonathan Furlong, Dir of Organizing, Housing Conservation Coordinators, 777 Tenth Ave., NY,NY 10019, jfurlong@hcc-nyc.org , discussed his organization’s efforts to strengthen tenant protections in New York City and extend them to other communities in the state. HCC has nine attorneys who help prepare tenants to appear in housing court, and also does tenant organizing. Mr. Furlong noted that city rent laws expire June 15, and HCC and the West Side Neighborhood Alliance are working with other supporters of tenant rights to educate renters and lobby for stronger protections.
Gus Ipsen, Legislative aide for NYS Assembly Member, Linda Rosenthal, NYC office-230 West 72nd St, Suite 2F, NY.NY 10023, 212 873 6368, ipseng@nyassembly.gov,discussed Assembly Member Rosenthal’s efforts to ensure that the multiple-dwelllng laws enacted to rein in Airbnb are enforced. Noting that half of the company’s listings are In violation of laws prohibiting stays of under 30 days without the leaseholder being present, he said enforcement is hampered by the fact that Airbnb’s online postings do not specify actual addresses. He said that neighbors who witness such short-term rentals can help by calling 311.
Also attending:David Rios, Rick’s Cabaret and VividGus Ipsen, NYS Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal Office Alfredo Marty, Blarney Stone,  410 8th AveScott Stringer, 14 Penn PlazaKevin JeanBaptiste, Manhattan D.A. Office
Twitter account handles:  @NYPDMTS, Transit Division @NYPDTRANSIT
 The next MTS Community Council meeting will be held  on Thursday, April 18, 2019, 7:00 p.m., Wyndham New  Yorker Hotel on 8th Avenue between 34th and 35th streets.

President John Mudd, Vice President Bill Otterson,  Secretary. Eileen Miller, Assistant Secretary  Frank Kelly, Marni Halesa, 

Officials in attendance:Deputy Inspector Brendan Timoney, commanding officer, MTS; Det Thomas Byrnes, Community Affairs; P.O. Brian Kelly , MTS Crime Prevention, P.O. Oscar Alvarez, Transit District 1; NYPD Det Paul Federico, P.C.O