City Service & Budget

Every year the Board has a robust discussion about many of the issues that affect our District-this year was no exception. While we recognize the difficult economic environment that will exists for the 2013 budget we ask that there be no cuts to major services affecting CB5.

EXPENSE PRIORITIES:

1. Borough President's Office: Maintain the current budget and staffing levels of CB5.

2. Department of Transportation: Increased funding for traffic planning operations to reduce congestion.

3. Department of Consumer Affairs: Increase funding for inspectors to enforce cabaret laws, street vending and sidewalk cafes. 

4. Department of Environmental Protection: Increase funding to hire additional inspectors to help with noise code enforcement.

5. Police: (Traffic Control) Increase funding for additional civilian hires to free up police for traffic enforcement. 

6. Sanitation: Maintain funding for sanitation enforcement and fund additional training for inspectors, audit staff.

7. Department of Buildings: Increase funding for inspectors and technology.

8. Department of Homeless Services: Increase funding for Shelter Assistance programs, increase funds for homeless services, including but not limited to; affordable quality housing, preventive mental health services, childcare, foster care, drop-in centers, outreach programs, and improved shelter programs.

9. Department of Cultural Affairs: Maintain funding levels for program groups and small lesser known cultural institutions.

10. Department of Aging: Funding for in home care, meals on wheels.

11. Libraries: Funding to maintain the six day library week.

12. Department of Parks & Recreation: Hire a second full time exterminator or continue certification of gardeners for pest control.

13. Department of Parks & Recreation: Hire a fulltime night maintenance crew to rotate between parks.

14. Department of Health & Mental Hygiene: Increase funding for rodent control.

15. Department of Homeless Services: Increase funding for outreach to runaway teenagers.

16. Landmarks Preservation Commission: Funding for additional agency staff.

17. Fire: Improve funding for community outreach for fire prevention.

18. Fire: CPR equipment and training.

19. Police: Reinstate funding for police officers and traffic enforcement officers.

20. Fire Department: Hire additional firefighters (place majority in emergency services / Hazmat)

21. Housing Preservation & Development: Increase funding for code enforcement, litigation and loan programs.

22. Police: Increase staffing for Paid Detail and the Cabaret Task Force.

23. Department of Homeless Services: Funding for DHS police.

24. Department of Transportation: Funding for the education of use of bicycles in a safe manner and a study of the impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

25. Department of HRA and department of Mental Hygiene: Increased funding for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and all STDs.

26. HPD: HRA to filly support long term supportive housing for people with physical disabilities.

27. Libraries: Provide increased hours, diverse programming, strong collections and sufficient staff to support these functions.

CAPITAL PRIORITIES

1. Department of Transportation: Full depth resurfacing of 56^th Street between 5^th and 6^th Avenues.

2. Fire Department: Fund purchase and installation of emergency power backup generators for firehouse.

3. Education: Need an elementary and/or middle school in our district.

4. Police Department: Funds for additional cameras and camera maintenance.

5. Libraries: Maintain the existing library square footage (including the Donnell and Mid-Manhattan branches) and fiscal support for branch libraries within the District.

6. Sanitation: Funding for basket trucks.

7. Department for the Aging: Build additional senior center

8. Fire Department: Fund Additional mobile command posts.

9. Department of Environmental Protection: Fund additional land purchases as buffer to safeguard water supply.

10. Libraries: Increased funding to purchase information technology equipment, such as computer equipment.

11. Department of Transportation: Continued support for Select Bus Service (34^th Street) and expansion to other route.

12. Department of Transportation: Resurfacing of all street identified by the department in priority order.

13. Department of Education:  Fully fund school construction by studying site selection and the development of additional schools.

CONTINUING SUPPORT: CAPITAL

.. Libraries: Upgrade temperature and humidity control systems for main stacks (Central Library) and other branches.

.. Police: support for police precinct modernization.

 .. Transportation: Upgrade and/or overhaul the underground infrastructure which is a current risk for street collapses and other safety issues.

..  Fire: Support for station house upgrades.

.. Transportation: Continued support for the Plaza program (Times Square, Herald Square and 7^th Avenue) and pedestrian improvements. 

The above resolution passed with a vote of 31 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.

WHEREAS, The applicant is proposing a 6' x 12'newsstand in front of 777 7^th Avenue (between 50^th and 51^st streets); and

WHEREAS, The proposed site is somewhat congested with pedestrian traffic; and

WHEREAS, The proposed newsstand would negatively impact pedestrian traffic by creating further congestion; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five recognizes the need to support new businesses in our area: and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five recommended to the applicant that a smaller footprint (i.e. 4' x 8' newsstand) would be more appropriate for the area; and

WHEREAS, The applicant declined to accept Community Board Five's advice; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to install a newsstand in front of 777 7^th Avenue; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five urges DOT to proceed with the pedestrian count at the location at rush hour (5 PM- 6 PM) on a weekday; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in recognizing that the cost of applying for a newsstand is very high for the applicant, including the cost of hiring professionals to assist with the application, Community Board Five requests that DCA refund the application fee for applications that are denied.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 19 in favor; 13 opposed; 1 abstaining.

 Every year the Board has a robust discussion about many of the issues that affect our District-this year was no exception. While we recognize the difficult economic environment that will exists for the 2012 budget we ask that there be no cuts to major services affecting CB5.

EXPENSE PRIORITIES:

1.      Borough President's Office: Maintain the current budget and staffing levels of CB5.

2.      Department of Transportation: Increased funding for traffic planning operations to reduce congestion.

3.      Department of Consumer Affairs: Increase funding for inspectors to enforce cabaret laws, street vending and sidewalk cafes. 

4.      Department of Environmental Protection: Increase funding to hire additional inspectors to help with noise code enforcement.

5.      Police: (Traffic Control) Increase funding for additional civilian hires to free up police for traffic enforcement. 

6.      Sanitation: Maintain funding for sanitation enforcement and fund additional training for inspectors, audit staff.

7.      Department of Buildings: Increase funding for inspectors and technology.

8.      Department of Homeless Services: Increase funding for Shelter Assistance programs, increase funds for homeless services, including but not limited to; affordable quality housing, preventive mental health services, childcare, foster care, drop-in centers, outreach programs, and improved shelter programs.

9.      Department of Cultural Affairs: Maintain funding levels for program groups and small lesser known cultural institutions.

10.  Department of Aging: Funding for in home care, meals on wheels.

11.  Libraries: Funding to maintain the six day library week.

12.  Department of Parks & Recreation: Hire a second full time exterminator or continue certification of gardeners for pest control.

13.  Department of Parks & Recreation: Hire a fulltime night maintenance crew to rotate between parks.

14.  Department of Health & Mental Hygiene: Increase funding for rodent control.

15.  Department of Homeless Services: Increase funding for outreach to runaway teenagers.

16. Landmarks Preservation Commission: Funding for additional agency staff.

17. Fire: Improve funding for community outreach for fire prevention.

18. Fire: CPR equipment and training.

19. Police: Reinstate funding for police officers and traffic enforcement officers.

20. Fire Department: Hire additional firefighters (place majority in emergency services / Hazmat)

21. Housing Preservation & Development: Increase funding for code enforcement, litigation and loan programs.

22. Police: Increase staffing for Paid Detail and the Cabaret Task Force.

23. Department of Homeless Services: Funding for DHS police.

CAPITAL PRIORITIES

1. Department of Transportation: Full depth resurfacing of 56^th Street between 5^th and 6^th Avenues.

2. Fire Department: Fund purchase and installation of emergency power backup generators for firehouses.

3. Education: Need an elementary and/or middle school in our district.

4. Police Department: Funds for additional cameras and camera maintenance.

5. Libraries: Maintain the existing library square footage (including the Donnell and Mid-Manhattan branches) and fiscal support for branch libraries within the District.

6. Sanitation: Funding for basket trucks.

7. Department for the Aging: Build additional senior center

8. Fire Department: Fund Additional mobile command posts.

9. Department of Environmental Protection: Fund additional land purchases as buffer to safeguard water supply.

10. Libraries: Increased funding to purchase information technology equipment, such as computer equipment.

11. Department of Transportation: Continued support for Select Bus Service (34^th Street) and expansion to other route.

12. Department of Transportation: Resurfacing of all street identified by the department in priority order.

CONTINUING SUPPORT: CAPITAL

.. Libraries: Upgrade temperature and humidity control systems for main stacks (Central Library)

.. Police: support for police precinct modernization.

.. Transportation: Upgrade and/or overhaul the underground infrastructure which is a current risk for street collapses and other safety issues.

..  Fire: Support for station house upgrades.

.. Transportation: Continued support for the Plaza program (Times Square, Herald Square and 7^th Avenue) and pedestrian improvements. 

The above resolution was passed with a vote of 37 in favor, 0 opposed,  1 abstention.

Police Department

Safety is a priority for our City.  Modernization and maintenance of city precinct offices is paramount.  Within our District, funding for the 10th precinct must be made a primary concern.  Overall, and clearly, a long-term capital improvement strategy with regard to the 10th Precinct's station house is necessary.  In light of our collective past experiences, our investment in our police force's ability to communicate, especially during crisis, is mission critical.

We again request that staffing levels of the police be increased.  The 2007 budget does not reflect needed growth in both civilian and uniformed staff.  We are pleased, however, that the Traffic Management Initiative will add additional traffic agents.

Fire Department

A long-term capital strategy is required to renovate firehouses and replace equipment according to need.  In addition, in our District, we need a second Hazmat Unit, emergency power backup generators for firehouses and a mobile command post for use in emergencies.  Upgrades for all technology related support is required, including but not limited to: the repeater system for high-rise communications, a laptop command board program and improved communication, and smoke detector, battery distribution programs and community awareness programs.  We agree with increased enforcement efforts in conjunction with the ECB.  We applaud the acceleration of the hiring of new fire fighters.

Department of Cultural Affairs

Cultural institutions are vital to sustaining and supporting life and tourism in our City.  These institutions supply an economic engine that encourages other business and supports ancillary services in every neighborhood. With that comes a responsibility to support the cultural component to our City.  Since you noted in your budget the increase in tourism and the vitality of the city, CB5 urges you to provide additional funding for program groups, cultural institutions and agency staffing especially mid-sized, non-CIG.  We are disappointed in reductions in subsidies.

Libraries

Generally, while we appreciate budget pressures, we are dismayed at the lack of commitment to extending the hours of the libraries, and lack of funding for the long-term capital and technology plan.

The needs of the Donnell Library Center and Mid Manhattan libraries are vital.  To sustain these facilities, long term funding is needed.

Department of Parks and Recreation

CB5 houses several of the City's parks.  While we have made great progress in partnership with the City in this area, more is needed.  Duffy Square and Union Square master plans require funding.  Employees, maintenance resources and a long-term physical plant strategy are required in order to maintain these vibrant resources for our citizens and the people who visit this City.

Department of Homeless Services

CB5 requests full funding for shelter assistance for the City's homeless population.  The City must make an investment in residential facilities for the homeless as well as single-family units for adults.  We believe reductions in support for adult shelters are going in the wrong direction.

Department of Housing and Preservation Development

CB5 requests expanded funding for rental assistance programs.  We encourage third party transfer program expansion to allow not for profit and private sector affordable housing as one method of reducing the expense of providing services to the homeless.  We advocate full funding for code enforcement, anti-abandonment, loan programs and narcotics control.

Department of Transportation

As our City continues its exponential growth, transportation issues are exploding and this is why more support is needed here.  A pedestrian crossing plan is critical for Times Square.  Additional staff is required in the enforcement and engineering areas.  An appropriate long-term technology strategy is also required.

Department of Buildings

CB5 acknowledges past funding for computer initiatives and we encourage the continued implementation of technology to efficiently administer the City's physical plant.

Department of Environmental Protection

CB5 requests that funds for the purchase of land around reservoirs be provided in order to protect the City's supply of drinking water, and that staff inspectors be maintained at the current level.

Department of Aging

CB5 continues to request support of capital funding for the renovations, accessibility, expansions and enhancements to all facilities to support the aging. 

Human Resources Administration

CB5 appreciates the City's support for the development of additional domestic violence programs.  Unfortunately, this growing social issue continues to require immediate action.

Conclusion

We urge you to increase the annual operating expense budget for the City's Community Boards.  New York's Community Boards serve a vital role in improving the quality of life in our city.  For many, the Community Board is the first point of contact as they begin to navigate the often over-whelming maze of city agencies, and for some, it is the last place to turn for help in solving a problem.