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Posts under ‘Lew Fidler’

Lew Fidler Sends Out Budget Survey

May 4th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
29 comments

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Lew Fidler has sent out a budget survey to his entire area. He is looking for you opinion on what he should do this budget season. Here is his letter

If you don’t feel like printing it and mailing it: Click here to take our unofficial the survey

Dear Neighbor,
I hope that you, your family and friends are all enjoying the Spring. After
what seemed to be a harsh winter, we could all use a bit of nice weather.
At City Hall, we are entering another season that would appear to be
“harsh” this year: budget season.
For the past several years, the City budget has actually taken advantage
of a better economy by “rolling” billions of tax dollars forward and by
creating a large “rainy day” fund. Those days are behind us, unfortunately, and
the economic disaster that we recently experienced has increased our City deficit
by over a billion dollars.
Up in Albany, where budget rules are less strict than they are here, the
situation is much worse. By the time you receive this survey, the State may have
passed a new budget. (It was due on April 1st.) It is increasingly likely that the
deficits in Albany will be passed on to the City.
Even though we can count on our local state legislators to fight to insure that
New York City does not bear an unfair share of state reductions in areas like
education, health care, youth and senior services, one result is absolutely
inevitable: the afore-mentioned City budget deficit will grow significantly larger.
We are faced with abysmal choices…so this budget survey will ask some
pretty depressing questions. Each of the choices in the questions is something
that has actually been mentioned as a final result of this budget process….and I
think it is fair to say that one or more of these things may well happen.
I also know that many of us are financially stressed. That’s why I voted
against raising property taxes last year. The property tax, the only tax that the
City Council has actual control over, affects everyone, owners and renters alike.
Can we afford to raise this tax in this economic climate?
I look forward to hearing your opinion. As I have in past years, I promise
that I will read and respond to every survey that I receive….and we receive
a lot of them. Your opinion helps shape the priorities that I fight for at City Hall.
And I can make you one other promise. I will be in there fighting to
preserve critical City services, services that we need in our neighborhoods,
and fighting to keep our City as affordable as possible.
Please return your survey as soon as possible!

Sincerely,
Lew Fidler, Council Member

Whitney Avenue to Become Veterans Way on Memorial Day

Apr 26th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
3 comments

Thanks to a helpful push by the VFW and City Leaders – Whitney Avenue at Burnett street will now recognize veterans with a street naming.

Councilman Lew Fidler who has introduced the street naming legislation said. “It is fitting that we honor the fine men and women who have served our country and I am proud to have introduced this legislation at the City Council. Veterans’ contributions are immeasurable and this dedication is a small token of our appreciation.”

The ceremony for the street naming will be held during the annual Memorial Day parade, and will take place on Mon, May 31 at 10:00 a.m.

There is one snag, there is a general rule that the city only hangs one sign for these street namings. At a very minimum there will be a sign at Burnett and Whitney, on the corner. The Councilman has asked for an exception to the one sign rule and is trying to get signs on the corners of Whitney/Stuart and Whitney/ Gerritsen.

Anthony Weiner: Green Streets Money Exists

Apr 12th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
18 comments

Although Anthony Weiner talked heavily about Health Care and Immigration reform at the last property owners meeting it’s a little out of our scope and we won’t touch on those larger topics. You can watch the whole video here. However there are some topics which you need to know about!

The Green Streets money still exists! After the crash and burn death of the project, we were under the assumption that Anthony Weiner allocated the money elsewhere or NYC DOT stole allocated it elsewhere, but no we were wrong! Here’s the deal.

The Green Streets money was allocated toward Gerritsen Beach through our federal gas tax dollars through our congressman. DOT did try to steal use it for other purposes but the congressman took it off the table until Gerritsen Beach can find a use for it.

Councilman Lew Fidler asked a very direct question about the federal warrant guideline that DOT uses to continuously deny requests for a traffic signal at Channel Avenue.

Congressman Weiner did say that the issue with DOT it isn’t a money issue but an issue of DOT of understanding some streets don’t cross and pedestrians still need to be protected. The federal warrant is only a guideline however it is used by transportation commissioners around the country as the end all say all document. It basically says there needs to be a certain amount of traffic on streets that intersect to qualify for a signal. For us – the outgoing Channel Avenue traffic would have to be just as heavy as and the north and sound bound Gerritsen Avenue traffic.

Lew offered up the idea that he and all the other elected officials get together with the congressman and DOT to offer up some of the money to use for a traffic signal.

Although Congressman Weiner jokingly implied that our chances are slim unless we want to do anything with a bike lane he did say YES!

There may be hope yet for a traffic signal at Channel Avenue. A 40 year battle may be coming to an end.

Gerritsen Beach Property Owners Meeting Roundup

Apr 8th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
3 comments

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Last night was the Gerritsen Beach Property Owners Association Meeting and it promised to be interesting because Congressman Anthony Weiner was going to come by. People started to pack the meeting early and by the beginning of the meeting there was a decent large crowd.

On top of the community residents that were in attendance there were some board members of  GBCares present, Donna Davis of the Community Gardens, Paster Nebrasky of St. James.

GBPOA Roundup

  • Donna Davis of the Community Gardens is always looking for volunteers especially children to help maintain and plant new flowers.
  • The Belt Parkway is going to erode away. We need to get on Anthony Weiner to get that fixed.
  • The Buildings Department is Holding their NO-PENALTY RETAINING WALL INSPECTION PROGRAM
  • GBCares is going to be meeting with Parks soon, and pushing the community for membership. “Although their ability is hampered hopefully they will be figure out how to get around the challenges they face.”

61st Precinct Roundup

Basically KEEP YOUR CAR DOORS LOCKED. DON’T KEEP VALUABLES INSIDE YOUR CAR People are stealing things!

Also if you see a suspicious person call 911 and let the cops figure it out.


Lew Fidler

  • Praised the 61st and 63rd for their continued response to Seba Avenue Park. The precincts will be keeping up patrols in the park. Councilman Fidler added that  “I’m not looking to have to have everyone son arrested” “I don’t coddle people that destroy our neighborhoods property”.
  • Gerritsen and Whitney will be named Veterans Memorial Way, hopefully on memorial day.
  • Please fill out and return Lew Fidlers Budget Survey that will be in your mailbox soon.

Anthony Weiner

To be fair to Congressman Weiner, because he doesn’t come by all that often, we will be posting about his visit later today.

Fidler on Crime Stats: “too good to be true.”

Feb 13th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
6 comments

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Maybe taking cue from the HEATED and long debates going on here at GerritsenBeach.net, Lew Fidler our city councilman is echoing calls for hearings to investigate alligations of misconduct, even asking for a audit by the comptroller’s office.

“People can misinterpret or misuse statistics all the time,” City Councilmember Lew Fidler told Courier Life. “It just strikes me that the crime statistics we hear are too good to be true.”

Lew Fidler Wants To Arrest Your Kids.

Feb 4th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
18 comments

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Ladies and gentlemen and boys and girls of Gerritsen Beach,

All of theSeba Avenue Park vandalism has touched a nerve with our community and especially our councilman who is responsible for the funding to build our park.

On Monday, there was a major meeting convined at Lew Fidler request at his office with: Brooklyn South, the 61st and 63rd Precinct’s, the GB Property Owners and GBCares. During that meeting battle plans were drawn up discussed on what kind of enforcement by the police would be taken.

In short, there will be arrests with possible jail sentences, and criminal court summonses for anyone caught in the park after dusk, vandalizing, dealing, etc. More importantly, the police may be bringing in kids for interrogations, to lead to an arrest for the fires, vandalism, etc.

Here is what was read at the last property owners meeting a letter from Lew Fidler:

On Monday, together with your President, John Douglas as President of GB Cares, and with representatives of all our elected officials (Assemblyman Maisel, Senator Golden,. Congressman Weiner), and our Community Board (Terri Scavo) I convened a meeting with the NYPD Both the 61st and 63rd Precincts were represented by their Commanding officers, DI Cangiarella and Captain Mastrokostas. Brooklyn South was represented by Lt. Jimmy Woods. The Parks Department was represented by both outgoing Parks District Manager Alex Mezzatesta, and incoming District Manager Larry Major.

We made it crystal clear to the police officials present that the culture that allows vandalism to this community’s packs must be changed, and changed measurably before
more of our tax dollars are poured into improving our park. Clearly, the mere fact that we had asked for this meeting rattled a few cages. Both precincts reported stepped up efforts and patrols along Gerritsen, including the issuance of 4 summonses by the 63rd for people being in the park when they shouldn’t have been. George confirmed this, having spoken to two of the youngsters who got the summonses.

I indicated that the proof will be in the pudding…that we as a community expect results. And let me be clear; by results I mean arrests and possible jail sentences…. or a long term period when there is no vandalism. No park benches destroyed. No fires in our skate packs. No arson in the weeds. No bus shelters being smashed in for sport.

All agreed that a cooperative short must be launched with the community and the police. NYPD agreed to send Community Affairs officers to the schools, and to GB’s faternal organizations like the Knights and the Cort Club to get the message out and to increase presence. All agreed to cooperate in that effort

As always, time will tell. Results will or will not speak for themselves. I do have the assurance from Chief Fox that if this doesn’t work and more needs to be done, it will be
done. I remind each and ecery one of you: whether or not you personally use this park or not, it IS your tax money.

I think Gerritsen Beach is entitled to a first class park for use by and for the Gerritsen Beach community For the past 8 years, I have dedicated time and resources to get this accomplished. I know that together we can make this happen.

The Gerritsen Beach Property Owners, took the position of  ”in no way are you going to arrest our kids”. Which was sorta echoed by the police at the meeting who said something to the effect of “Gerritsen Beach is a tight knit community and there is no way they are going to give up there own”. (I don’t know if I should be proud or embarrassed by that statement.)

The position that the GBPOA is taking is the right one, and they are taking action instead of sitting back. They are going to spread the word that the shenagians at the park are no longer tolerated and to at least warn our kids. At the same time, they are organizing kids events at Kiddie Beach, and talking with local businesses to arrange other kids nights, to “start getting them off the streets”.

Lew Fidler is also in the right. It’s his job responsibility to make sure the police are doing their jobs in his communities and to make sure the money he is brining in to build Seba Park isn’t going to literally “burn up“. The threat of arrest’s, if they happen, are also just. That park has had a bad year, and when you couple that with bus shelters – those two are our community’s major quality of life issues and it’s been that way for years and it needs to end.

Spread the word, use the park as it’s intended, and don’t be in there at night.

Swings May Be Coming to Seba Avenue Park

Jan 19th, 2010
by GerritsenBeach.net.
5 comments

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In what may be the best example of the Squeakiest Wheel Getting the Oil, we may be getting as many as 16 swings at Seba Avenue Park.

At the most recent property owners meeting, Councilman Lew Fidler presented the NYC Parks Design team responsible for the future expansion of Seba Avenue Park. The team outlined their expansion plans. Although The community was impressed with their plans, they responded with their desire for swings. After all it’s been a main request at the park for some time now.

As it turns out, that after the Property Owners meeting Lew Fidler spoke with the Parks Design team requesting them to add swings. He asked them to add as many as 16 swings. When we asked the Councilman’s office if this was too good to be true they saidif the councilman is on it it will get done.

Councilman Lew Fidler Called out by NY Daily News

Nov 10th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
26 comments

In Sundays daily news there was an editorial calling out Councilman Re-Elect Lew Fidler demanding he return $88,500 received.

Councilman Fidler as the editorial describes, received this money after using 41 pages of: GerritsenBeach.net, Sheepsheadbites.com and Bay News articles about the election. Councilman Fidler won the election He won by 60 percent, 17,101 votes to 4,201.

Brooklyn Councilman Lew Fidler owes taxpayers $88,500. He needs to pay up, and he needs to pay up now.

Fidler is guilty of abusing New York’s system of public funding for political campaigns. Candidates who abide by spending and donations caps are entitled to tap the treasury for public monies in amounts that are set by generous formulas. Candidates who have little opposition are expected to forgo – or to limit – hitting up the public.

That includes Fidler.

A Democrat in a heavily Democratic district, Fidler raised $80,000 in private donations for his reelection campaign. His opponent was a little-known Republican whose war chest totaled roughly $2,000.

Regardless, Fidler submitted to the Campaign Finance Board a four-page letter with 41 pages of attachments arguing that he needed the $88,500 in public money for his contest. The board wrote him the check.

Predictably, Fidler’s claim that he faced a potentially strong rival was bogus. He won by 60 percentage points, 17,101 votes to 4,201.

Questioned by this newspaper when he applied for public funding, Fidler said, “If it turns out that I don’t need it, I’ll return it.”

Well, Lew, you didn’t need it, so make good on your promise to the tune of the full $88,500.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/11/08/2009-11-08_fidler_on_the_hook_its_time_for_greedy_brooklyn_pol_to_return_unused_public_fund.html#ixzz0WUM1qaJB

What do you think?

DOT Nixes Bike Lane. Changes to Gerritsen Avenue Will be Implemented Immediately

Nov 6th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
18 comments

The Department of Transportation, has for months been planning on implementing a new traffic pattern on Gerritsen Avenue.

The plan is this: one lane north and south from Avenue W to Nostrand Avenue, effectivly all of Gerritsen Avenue would be one lane. The plan would also include installing bike lanes, making the lanes narrower, and a pedestrian island between Chinar and the New Stores.

DOT was briefly delayed when Councilman Lew Fidler requested a meeting on October 16th for community input. At that meeting it was discussed on how bad of an idea bike lanes would be. DOT’s response was tough luck this is how we are doing it.

Seems now DOT has changed their mind. The new design, is without the bike lane and narrows the roadway by 11 feet through the installation of a painted median, reducing lanes to one lane in each direction, with left turn bays at key intersections.

At the Avenue U/Gerritsen Avenue intersection, a planted pedestrian refuge island will be built on the south leg of the intersection and the northbound left turn will be banned due to very low left turn volumes. The elimination of this left turn will improve the flow of traffic through the intersection and improve safety f or the pedestrians crossing the west leg of Avenue U by eliminating the pedestrian & vehicle turning conflicts.

In addition, left turn bays will be installed on the west leg of Gerritsen Avenue and southbound Avenue U to separate the left turns from the thorough traffic, The left turn study at this intersection was denied on March 10,2009. DOT can reevaluate the need for the southbound left turn signal after the new roadway configuration has been implemented. In addition DOT will increase the length of the left turn bay at the southbound approach to Avenue U to alleviate the issue raised concerning access for the Fire House. This will ensure that the left turning vehicles will not block the through moving lane

DOT will begin implementation of this project beginning next week.

Lew Fidler Re-Elected to City Council District 46

Nov 4th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
6 comments

According to the results, Fidler received 79.2 percent of the vote after 17,101 constituents voted for him. Berardelli received 19.5 percent, or 4,201 votes. Liberal challenger Dereck Sacerdote received the remaining one percent, which amounted to 282 votes or 1.3%.

Fidler told Courier Life that “the results are “dramatic and gratifying” — especially since the results were ten percent better than they were four years ago.” adding “I’d like to think that [the results] are a validation of the work I’ve done,” he said. “It’s nice to know that it’s being noticed.”

NYC District 46: Debate to be Hosted by SheepsheadBites.com and GerritsenBeach.net!

Oct 26th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
12 comments

New_York_City_Hall

Sheepshead Bites and  GerritsenBeach.net are producing the first debate hosted by local bloggers in New York City. We’ve drawn together the three candidates running for the 46th City Council District, including the sitting councilman, Assistant Majority Leader Lew Fidler. The 45-minute debate will be taped tomorrow afternoon, and then streamed on both sites on Thursday.

The debate promises to be lively, as the two leading candidates - Lew Fidler and Republican opponent Gene Berardelli – have been trading barbs in the comments section of Sheepshead Bites and GerritsenBeach.net. They have discussed such issues as campaign financing, term limits, and discretionary funds, with the arguments getting very heated. They have at times labeled each other arrogant, questioned each other’s honesty, and Fidler has called Berardelli’s charges anti-semitic (here, here, and here). Meanwhile, Libertarian Party candidate Derek Sacerdote has been waging a grassroots campaign, including going door-to-door in several areas of the district.

George Broadhead will serve as moderator of the debate. A self-described “old Brooklynite,” Broadhead signed on with strong recommendations from community leaders as a fair, independent, and objective member of the neighborhood with high integrity. He currently serves as President of the Gerritsen Beach Property Owners Association, Post Commander of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 107, and Commander of the Kings County Council of the VFW. A former U.S. Marine, Broadhead was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action after serving in Korea. He has also written for several publications, and was the Western Manager of Newhouse Newspapers.

We’re very proud to be the first local bloggers to independently host a City Council debate. Sheepshead Bites was founded on the idea of sparking discussion in our community and engaging it’s jaded members. We’re happy to have the opportunity to continue bridging the online-offline divide, inform our neighbors, and kindle a desire to participate.

In that spirit, we’re inviting all of our readers to submit debate questions for consideration. You can add them to the comments section below, or send them privately by e-mail.

Seba Avenue Park Expansion to Force Out Larry Veling Scoreboard

Oct 23rd, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
92 comments

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[Soil Sample Truck – October 23rd 2009)

With the future extension of Seba Avenue Park with Phase II (Comfort Station) and what GerritsenBeach.net will call Phase III (sprinklers) the Larry Veling scoreboard based at the Little League Field will be forced to be moved.

Moved where is the question the Little League and the Parks Department will have to hash out (hopefully with a signed letter). The GB Little League needs to make sure that complete removal is not an option, otherwise we at GerritsenBeach.net predict everyone in GB will declare Jihad on the parks department.

After contacting Councilman Lew Fidlers office who is a driving force behind Seba Avenue Park. They say removal of the scoreboard is not an option just moved to a location away from the construction. Adding that their office will work with parks to make sure everything goes smoothly.

After speaking with members of the Little League (nameless for FEAR of retaliation from another GB group) relocating the scoreboard in right field is the general consensus right now -  of course – after construction begins.

Residents Concerns Over “Traffic Calming” Bike Lanes Dismissed by DOT

Oct 19th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
19 comments

DOT August 2009 Gerritsen Avenue

Councilman Lew Fidler recently held a meeting held to have the community input their voices into what would be the new Gerritsen Avenue north of avenue U.

The DOT plan includes installing bike lanes, making the lanes narrower, and of course a single lane (north and south) with a wide median ending at Nostrand Avenue. This has all designed to slow down traffic for good reason too, the average speed on Gerritsen Avenue according to their published reports is 40-50MPH.

With all of the elected officials and community leaders in the room the main concern at the meeting was the addition of bike lanes. Everyone agreed that they were a bad idea. The meeting argued against them citing amongst other things that no one would use them, and safety concerns because Cars, Trucks, and Buses would be sharing a lane along with the bikes. They even suggested Stewart and Burnett streets as viable alternates for bike lanes.. Commissioner Palmieri informed the group that the bike lanes would remain, as proposed, effectively brushing the room off. Since that is the way that they were designated in the “master plan”, designed approximately 10 years ago. Councilman Fidler said that this is unacceptable, and urged Borough Commissioner Palmieri to speak with NYC DOT Commissioner Sadik-Khan, stating that this could be revised cooperatively or through legislation that he would introduce as early as next week, if necessary.

It should be noted that these changes were scheduled to have already been installed. However, Councilman Fidler insisted that no work be done until the community was able to review the proposal.

Here are some notes sent in by Councilman Lew Fidlers office of the concerns of the people in attendance.
(more…)

Lew Fidler Receives $63,000 from NYCity based on Blog and Media Coverage

Oct 9th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
4 comments

Our councilman Lew Fidler(up for reelection), has received an additional $63,091 in public funds to fend off republican challenger Gene Beredelli, based on coverage by Gerritsenbeach.net, Sheepsheadbites.com and other media.

In Councilman Fidlers letter to the NYC Campaign Finance Board, he requested via a “Statement of Need” matching funds from the city. This worked out to be $63,091

In the letter, Lew cited Gerritsenbeach.net and SheepsheadBites as additional coverage. So we here at GerritsenBeach.net wish to say you’re welcome!

So here’s how this whole thing played out:

IN order to qualify for (6-to-1) matching funds from the City, a Cit Council candidate must (1) collect $5000 in matchable funds and (2) collect donations from 75 people who reside in the district.

Only the first $175 donated by each person is matchable. And donations can only be accepted from individuals, not businesses or corporate entities.

There is also a spending limit if you receive matching funds. Something like $160,000, approximately.

In Lew Fidler’s case, additional rules apply because he is an incumbent. Since Beredelli hasn’t spent more than 25% of his spending limit, Lew was capped at 25% of the matching funds he would normally be eligible to receive. In his case, that amounted to a little over 20K

However, the rules say that Lew could submit a statement of need showing that he is in a competitive election and would then qualify for fulling matching funds. So Lew’s campaign submitted a 4-page letter making the case that the race is competitive, citing (1) that Beredelli has been receiving coverage in the local press and in blogs, attaching 40 some pages of evidence and (2) that Beredelli has been endorsed by the Kings County Republican Party, an organization with more than 250 members.

That letter is why Lew’s campaign received an additional 63K.

Seba Avenue Skate Park Phase II Now Includes a Water Park…

Oct 6th, 2009
by GerritsenBeach.net.
44 comments

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Seba Avenue Park as it is now is the Skatepark, the general use asphalt field, and the tot playground. However, the park is not complete there are plans for a “Phase II” which was mainly a comfort station (bathrooms). Phase II and the comfort station was always part of the design and funding from the begining.

Recently, Lew Fidlers office held a meeting with GBCares and the Property Owners to discuss Phase II. (GB Little League and the RCSMP could not attend)

Here are the details of the comfort station

The comfort station building will be open year round.

It will be in 3 sections- as you face it- men on the left, Parks area (office, mechanicals and storage) in the middle and women on the right. Mens’ section will have one stall and 2 urinals. Women’s section will have 2 stalls.

There will be a Parks staff person on site, and the building will be open only when staff is present. Restroom areas will have self-closing door, exterior will be lit. Skylights will be over restrooms, but not over the Parks area (to discourage break-in).

There will be two drinking fountains on the Gerritsen Ave side of the building. Construction to start in November and run for 9 months.

Surprisingly! Phase II now includes a water park. I have no idea where this came from and have very little details. I’m assuming sprinklers.

The water park, should begin in Spring ’10 and run for about a year.

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