Let’s dive in a little bit more and present more facts about Millennium Development / Bergen Basin Community Development Corp.
Let make this clear: We are not saying these groups are bad or have done anything wrong. However, if they are prepping to come into the community and are already here we should know everything we can about them.
In terms of funds and influence this group does not belong in Gerritsen Beach – we already have our own.
Bergen Basin Community Development Corporation Inc
Doing Business As: Millennium Development
Total Public Support 2004 – 2008
Mission Statement:
PROVIDING SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH, WHICH INCLUDE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES: CONGREGATIONAL BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES CONGRAGATIONAL WEEKENDS FOR SENIORS, EDUCATION, RECREATION SESSIONS, INFORMATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
2009 Taxes
- Total Revenue $3,664,464
- (Most of their money comes from City and State Contracts aka Program Service Revenue)
- City Council Discretionary Funding 2011: $582,639
- NY Assembly and State Senate Member Items 2009: $121,525
Officers Compensation BBCDC 2009:
Source: IRS 990 Forms
Bergen Beach Youth Organization
Mission Statement:
PROVIDING SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND SENIORS, WHICH INCLUDE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS: “YOUTH LEADERSHIP”, “OUT OF SCHOOL”, “SUMMER CAMP”, “SPORT GAMES” AND ALSO EDUCATION / RECREATION, INFORMATIONAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT FOR KIDS AND SENIORS LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF BROOKLYN, NY.
2009 Taxes
- Program Service Revenue $961,588
- Other Revenue $54,000
- Total Revenue $1,015,688
Officers Compensation BBYO 2008:
Source IRS 990 Forms
Wow $57.00 an hour for a part time job. Where do I sign up?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Thanks for all the statistics; this appears to be a growing organization – that top officials in not-for profits make a very good wage is nothing new or shocking. Were they given inappropriate special favors, political patronage, etc., are their OST programs, or other projects a sham or front for ‘for-profit’ business – that has yet to be determined but the clean up effort here seemed fine to me.
I think the point of all this is that when local community groups are bypassed in favor of handing funds to outside organizations it creates suspicion. Why would councilman Fidler, who is always at attendance at the GBPOA meetings, not mention the availability of funds to our local groups, or the clean-up actions that would be taken?
The bottom line is, and as crude as it sounds, GB organizations have the right to get in on the action when it comes to their own turf. The fact that we were slighted is a slap in the face to us Lew so what’s the deal? Is there a qualifying process, if so what is it and do any GB orgs meet the criteria? Its likely GB Cares would have been able to afford insurance, and continue to do their work and more had they had the chance.
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Lew Fidler was the very first city elected official to give money to the Vollies and was the very first elected official of any kind to give money to GB Cares. Since he's been in office the two groups combined have received over a quarter million dollars. Not to mention funds to GB Little League, Resurrection Sports or for arts programs at PS 277.
And he announced the Millenium Funding to GBPOA for their ASSISTANCE with getting GBPOA and GB Cares to open up a teen program at an undetermined location in GB.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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That's great, now someone should answer the question as to why Millenium is doing the clean-up and not GB Cares. Is the funding between the groups proportional? Maybe so – I don't know. If funds are available, it should be given to a local group to insure itself and do it's own community work. Maybe this is a misunderstanding but we're asking for help to help ourselves otherwise the circumstances look suspicious.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I THINK THE AMBULANCE WAS THE DONATION THAT CAME IN AS ONE OF THE FIRST THAT WAS DONATED BY SENATOR GOLDEN. THAT AMBULANCE IS ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD.
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A few days before the GBPOA meeting, I was contacted by one of Lew Fidler's assistants advising me that the Councilman was going to match the 2009/10 GBCares funds of $ 20K or more and the GBVFD $ 12K. He also was going to contribute $ 7,500 towards a youth program, and wanted John Douglas, Pres. of GBCares and myself, to contact Paul Curiale at Millennium to discuss a teen program.
I don't make decisions that affect each of the property owners in the beach without doing some research and discussing it with the GB Board of Directors and officers–which I did on Thursday, last. I was wary of Millennium because of the millions of dollars of political monies they receive.
GBPOA recently held the first "Open Mic" night for the youth of our community. As previously reported, 4 groups were formed from among the youth of Gerritsen Beach. It was a successful event, directed by residents and business owners, George & Patty Smyth. Another is scheduled for September.
There are those in the beach, who may not realize that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Open your eyes to the number of neighborhoods in Brooklyn alone where eminent domain has been used to take property and hand it over to developers. The property owners association is not a "non-profit organization" able to accept money from any federal, state or city representative without jeopardizing the "private ownership" of it's beach.
While Millennium was trimming the weeds along Gerritsen Avenue–a job that used to be done solely by volunteers with GBCares (the monies GBCares accepted as a non-profit, were used for equipment, gas, and all of the projects they engaged in, like the GBCares Games, etc.–no one got paid for the work or managing), I spoke with the Millennium supervisor.
He told me, that people with permits to use the ball fields, would drive down Gerritsen Avenue and would call the Parks Dept., 311, and others, to complain they could not see any ball fields. That was because the weeds were not trimmed, and from a car on the avenue, they did not see the flat surface fields.
The job was well-done, but no better than used to be done regularly by GBCares. They even reached the 2 swing "Tot Park" at Seba Avenue and cleaned and trimmed it for the first time in months.
For those who don't know what "Gung Ho" means, it means work together, and it was first used by Col. Carlsen of the U.S. Marine Corps. For anyone interested in preserving our community, join with me in the "Gung Ho" program. Volunteers willing to give some time (even if it is only 10 or 20 minutes) to bettering our community–without giving it away for a few of your own tax dollars.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Apparently, Millenium was aksed to help by the Parks Dept. and was NOT paid a nickel for doing so. i guess they could ahve said "no", and left the weeds there.
Why not just say "thank you" andmove on.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Anonymous,
No one is disputing what you said.
I had said that YES they were asked by the Parks Manager. I did not allude that they were paid or needed to get paid. Nor did I allude that they should have said NO to helping parks.
As far as I know Parks was in need of assistance and Bergen came through for Parks.
I'm wondering why GBCares was not asked.
I'm sure I'll be corrected if I've wrong but I thought in other posting it was mentioned how GB did not have the proper insurance and the Parks Depart did not want GB doing anything or assisting without proper insurance. Also if my eyes were seeing clearly the Mil group were using there own equipment to do the clean up not the Parks Depart, which was another issue I seem to recall.
Why can't we just take what was done, say thank you and move on and see how it can be improved next time
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You have the wrong facts on all counts.
Parks never requested GBCares to carry insurance. It was an internal decision by GBCares to get insurance.
Millennium Group was not using their own equipment, they were using parks equipment.
I'm not saying they didn't do a good job or that it looks bad. I'm saying there is something larger that needs to be looked at here. Like why do we have an external organization coming in when we have our own.
Just out of curiosity, why do so many people post on here under the guise of "Anonymous?" I am a huge huge HUGE fan of the first amendment, but it carries the burden of responsibility. Commenting on a website with the banner of "Anonymous" is just playing T-Ball.
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Its difficult to determine how our local representatives are distributings funds and much more difficult to determine whether or not that distribution is fair. Until someone with some math skills wants to flex, were basically just saying "thanks for the trim, but please remember this is our community." Oh, and "Lew please don't short change us."
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Very nice work on the tax and paperwork research. I'd like to know what website you can research non profits at I know of a few others I'd like to check out.
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Thank you for that information George, keep doing what you're doing. As to eminent domain, NY has about the worst record of any state in the Union for abuse of the new law[ Kelo vs New London]. Now govt. takes your property, not for a Verrazano Bridge or new Highway, but to give to chosen developers. Ask your politicians what they are doing to protect your property, so far not much.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Ray, you're my ambassador of quawn, man.
(90's movie reference, it's a good thing.)
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It will be very difficult to reply to this without the haze of prejudice "appearing" around it. I say "appearing" because if there is ever criticism, the cry of "hatred" is always the weak man's argument.
The recent (and by recent I mean over the last 10 or 12 years) usage of the parkland in Gerritsern Beach by large groups of outsiders is well known. On any given weekend in the summer the Softball and Soccer fields are deluged by an assortment of Camps/Association/Sports Leagues, etc. This is not an issue. The land is public and all should be welcome as long as they respect the residents of the neighborhood. Clean up after yourself, be courteous – simple enough.
However, (and this is where I will be painted an anti-Semite, or racist) the groups that tend to use the parks are usually linked by a particular race or faith or what have you. These groups have a history of bulldozing their way over the indigenous people in a given area. Look at Bensonhurst, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay. None of these areas resembles the Brooklyn we knew a decade ago.
Now ask yourself, why would a community group from OUTSIDE the community be so eager to come into Gerritsen Beach without the locals support and advertise themselves as "PROVIDING SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH, WHICH INCLUDE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES: CONGREGATIONAL BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES CONGRAGATIONAL WEEKENDS FOR SENIORS, EDUCATION, RECREATION SESSIONS, INFORMATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK?" What portion of the Southern Part of Brooklyn do they have in mind? Are they going to setup neighborhood activities for the locals or more likely, will they be the foot in the door that allows a flood of outsiders to change the fabric of this neighborhood?
Many people have moved into Gerritsen Beach and integrated, but I fear this is the next in a series of steps already taken to undermine the way this community has developed over the last 90 years.
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