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Hasc Center is opening a new Group Home at 2055 East 21st Street, a one family detached home. Hasac Center is an organization that serves infants, children and adults who are developmental challenged or have learning disabilities. It also offers an array of services to the families of these individuals.

I know group homes are always a tough sell to local communities and this was no exception, the entire audience was filled with people from the area surrounding the group home.

According to state law the community board can do one of three things.

You may either: (l) approve the site recommended; (2) suggest one or more alternate sites; or (3) object to the establishment of a residence at the site because to do so in your Board’s opinion, would result in such a concentration of residential facilities that the name and character of the neighborhood would be substantially altered. Please note that under state law need or over-concentration of residential facilities constitutes the only legitimate ground upon which the community can object.

I’ve never heard such ignorant and bigoted statements from a crowd ever before. One guy said children are calling it an insane asylum, others wanted background checks run on the Hasc clients, another said they had super human strength, another said they couldn’t control their sexual desires and would be sexual deviants. Then at one point a CB 15 board member heard members of that community say something to the effect of “its going to be torched anyway“. Another board member was so disgusted with the crowd that he had to leave the audience and be calmed down by a friend.

Despite the crowds resistance, Chairperson, Theresa Scavo kept the meeting running extremely smoothly. She took no crap from the crowd, kept it moving, and even took time out of the meeting to explain to the crowd how community board meetings work and what the crowd should expect.

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The Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association (MBNA) held its first meeting at P.S. 195 and was well attended by 150 to 200 people. After a brief introduction by the president Alan Ditchek he introduced Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes. Hynes welcomed the group and introduced a speaker to talk about teen online safety.

Although the Online Safety presentation was informative and interactive, you usually don’t see these kinds of speakers at local civic meetings. The presenter who usually goes to schools and talks to children was now talking to an audience where the average age was in the 50’s. People were commenting that their children are now in their 30’s. It was still a good source of information. I was glad to draw a laugh as the one guy in the back with his hand raised for having a myspace page. (Oh and next time set the laptop resolution, not the projector resolution set before you begin.)

NYPD 61 Precinct Captain Georgios Mastrokostas was there to re-introduce himself to Manhattan Beach and to briefly talk about his summer patrol plans for the community and to wish the new group good luck.

Now came the real introduction from Alan Ditchek: he thanked Ira Zalcman for dismissing him so he and others can start this new group. He then went on to talk about his qualifications to be president, commenting about how long he’s been in Manhattan beach and his memories of the area. He also said he wasn’t going to have any secret meetings, no back door decisions, no clicks, and no verbal intimidation

Afterwards P.S. 195’s principal, Arthur Forman, sang the theme song to Mr. Rogers, which I’m not going to lie was a bit creepy. He congratulated the new group for striving to maintain the beauty and character of the neighborhood.

Councilman Mike Nelson said multiple times that there were 350 people in attendance, which is not close at all to the actual number. I counted at around 155 with maybe 175 at its peak. It’s very clear that Councilman Mike Nelson is very much a part of this new group, organizing the meeting and even thanking his wife for being apart of it. He stated that he will be going to both community meetings as much as his schedule permits.

Everyone was sworn in by Councilman Mike Nelson. Members of the MBCG board include Alan Ditchek, Ron Biondo, Al Smaldone, Albert Hasson, Edmund Dweck, Michael Troupt, Vicki Klur, and Arthur Gershfeld. There are 13 total board members but I’m missing 5 because I have no idea how to spell their names.

Dozens signed up for the new group at the end of the meeting.

The Manhattan Beach Community Group had a prepared response:

The Manhattan Beach Community Group (MBCG) is your neighborhood group for the past 67 years that has been fighting to maintain the beauty and character of your neighborhood.

We want to continue to make Manhattan Beach the safest, cleanest and best neighborhood to live in.
All you have to do is mail us a check with your name and address for $25 payable to MBCG at 214 Beaumont Street.

The Greater our numbers the Greater our voice.

Links

• MBNA Press Release
• MBNA Application
• MBCG Statement

Well here are some things that were discussed at the Property Owners meeting:

• Budgets cut over at PS 277, the property owners is going to be donating $500
• There was alot of discussion about the Knapp Street development and the lack of construction fence. The deal with the fence is: when they start construction they have to put it up, they are being very closely watched.
• There was also alot of discussion about the house next to Mike and Gerard’s with their 3rd floor, that we featured on “Which on of these things doesn’t Belong“. According to the DOB, it hasn’t been signed off on yet.
• The 61st precinct community affairs Sargent gave his report about crime in the area, some speeders, some drugs, but what is interesting is that the Bantry Bar was issued 2 SLA (State Liquor Authority) summonses (what for I don’t know) Its neighbor the Beach Bar was inspected and it is a “legitimate establishment” and has no issues.

It wasn’t brought up at the meeting but after some quick research, this might be why they were summonsed. The Bantry Bar is the only bar according to the SLA website with an inactive license.

• The Bantry Bar does not appear to have a valid liquor license it is inactive and expired
  • (New York State Liquor Authority / Bantry Bar).
• The Beach Bar which has a valid and active license.
  • (New York State Liquor Authority / Beach Bar)
• Jims Marine Inn has a valid and active license
  • (New York State Liquor Authority / Jims Marine Inn)
• Tamaqua has a valid and active license
  • (New York State Liquor Authority / Tamaqua)
• Dockside has a valid and active license
  • (New York State Liquor Authority / Dockside Cafe)

Although the formation of the Manhattan Beach Civic Group was not discussed during the Manhattan Beach Community Group’s meeting, it was allude to by the President Ira Zalcman, of the community group by saying: “We are the main game in town, we are strong, we will do well. ”

I spoke with Ira Zalcman briefly about the formation of this new group, and he makes it very clear that the new civic group is for development and zoning changes while his group is for maintaining the beauty and character of Manhattan Beach. While Ira expects that this second rival group might agree and disagree with his group on some various community issues, he ultimately believes that whatever happens, that its for the betterment of the community as a whole.

Ira also clarified the recent news on the community’s group on not accepting renters. That was done after the lawsuit, to put everyone on a level playing field with votes, and to make sure another lawsuit would not happen.

It seems now that the goals of both groups are going to be concentrating on increasing membership. The 40 year old Manhattan Beach Community Group certainly has a head start, with 400 Households (about 800-1000 members).

The Manhattan Beach Civic Groups first public meeting will be April 7th @ P.S. 195 in the auditorium.

Until April…

Manhattan Beach now has two community groups. The new group is called the Manhattan Beach Civic Group, which will be headed by the Vice Chairman of Community Board 15, Dr. Alan Ditchek. The existing group is the Manhattan Beach Community Group, which is headed by Ira Zalcman.

When we last heard from Manhattan Beach, the Manhattan Beach Community Group stopped accepting renters and only counted a single house as one member. Before that, this group voted out Dr. Ron Biondo, the former president of the Manhattan Beach Community Group. Following his loss Dr. Biondo sued to challenge the election, which may or may not have been dropped.

Since the election there has been rumblings of starting a new group, but never anything official until now.  The Manhattan Beach Civic group has sent out mailers and there are flyers circulating announcing their first official meeting for April 7th in the P.S. 195 auditorium.

Communities that have more than one group usually work together but these groups will obviously not be working together on all issues. They will most likely have completely conflicting agendas. The Civic Group will be focusing on starting new developments and changing zoning to allow larger homes and developments. The existing Community Group has always been focused on maintaining the existing zoning and keeping development in check.

The Manhattan Beach Civic Group having an “open membership,” allowing anyone to join, could be bad for the Manhattan Beach Community Group, which might find that their rival group has more members sooner than later.

The Manhattan Beach Community Group will be having a meeting Wednesday March 19th at Kingsborough, if you’re from Manhattan Beach or want to check it out, come down.

On Friday April 4th 2008 from 12pm to 1pm at the Gerritsen Beach branch library Marty Golden is hosting a Constituent Outreach where you can “Let the senator know how you feel about issues facing the State and our neighborhood”.

At the March Property Owners meeting, Lew Fidler showed the designs for Phase II (bathroom) for Seba Avenue Park

It will have a Mens and Womans bathroom, that would be locked at dusk, and it will have a maintainance room.

The Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach meeting was interesting. There was a lot of talk about what the Golden Gate could or could not become and the new Brigham Street Park. The community also met the 61st precinct’s new captain, Georgios Mastrokostas.

If you do not already know, the Golden Gate (3867 Shore Pky) has a new owner who recently reached out to the local community groups via the borough president’s office to find out what they would like to see on the very large Golden Gate property. Some ideas were thrown around at the meeting including a supermarket, mini/strip mall, a 55 and older residential community, and a newer hotel.

At the meeting it was discussed that since building new hotels in Brooklyn is the new thing and with hotels to triple by 2010, replacing the Golden Gate with a newer hotel is the likely choice. It is obvious that our part of Brooklyn does not have any decent hotels and if you pair that with the aging airport hotels there is nothing in Brooklyn unless you go to Bay Ridge or downtown. After much debate the general consensus at the meeting was to put a new modern hotel with a community accessible banquet/catering hall and rooms that “you would want to put your out of town family in”. The community group is still asking for more suggestions.

Even with the owner working with local community groups, it is very obvious that he does not have to reach out to the community at all and can basically build whatever makes the most financial sense with some zoning limitations.

Other than the Golden Gate the group also discussed the status of Brigham Street Park and that they will be having a public hearing on the project some time in April. You can follow the project here: sbpbcivic.org/brighampark

Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo started off the Board’s March 2007 meeting with guns blazing. In a report regarding the Board’s budget, Scavo called the lack of funding of park, specifically Brigham Street Park, “ludicrous.”

We are a community comprised of many parks.”, said Scavo. “Our number one priority is the money for Brigham Park. It is time for the Parks Department to get adequate funds.”…

Read More @ sbpbcivic.org

This is the meeting in its entirety. Try to enjoy.

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