New York City | GerritsenBeach.net

Sewage on the Hudson

By GerritsenBeach.net, on July 22nd, 2011%

Oh the irony! Oh the humanity! After all those years of Gerritsen Beach & Kiddie Beach jokes about getting filled with human waste, now we are clean, and the Hudson has all the crap!

Above is a typical bad day in Brooklyn after an illegal release of sewage from an undisclosed treatment plant…yes, those are Coney Island Whitefish!

Safe and Legal Bicycle Riding

By GerritsenBeach.net, on July 22nd, 2011%

Operation Safe Cycle In late 2010, New York City cyclists began receiving summonses for failure to stop at red lights, reckless operation of a bicycle, and other offenses. The operation has made it’s way from the more dense park slope to our streets.

Avoid an expensive summons follow these laws.

Bicycles are defined as vehicles under the New York State law. Cyclists have all the rights and are subject to all of the duties and regulations applicable to drivers of motor vehicles.

Cyclists in New York City must

Ride on the street, not on the sidewalks (unless rider is age 12 or younger and the bicycle’s wheels are less than 26 inches in diameter).
Ride with traffic, not against it.
Obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings. Cyclists must come to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs. Cyclists are required by law to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians, motor vehicles or other cyclists.
Use marked bike lanes or paths when available, except when making turns or when it is unsafe to do so, etc. If the road is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to travel safely side by side, cyclists have the right to ride in the middle of the travel lane. Bicycling is permitted on all main and local streets throughout the City even when no designated route exists.
Not ride on expressways, drives, highways, interstate routes and thruways unless authorized by signs.
Not wear more than one earphone attached to an aud io device (e.g. radio, ipod, walkman)
Use the following safety and visibility equipment:
- White headlight and red taillight must be used from dusk to dawn
- Bell or horn (not whistle)
- Working brakes
- Reflective tires or reflectors
- Helmets must be worn by children age 13 or younger, and helmets are strongly recommended for all others.
Have at least one hand on handle bars
NOT carrying more passengers than a bicycle is designed for.
NOT have a motor assisted bicycle

Download a complete listing of New York City bicycle rules:
English

DOT Repaired Gain and Hyman Courts

By GerritsenBeach.net, on July 12th, 2011%

The DOT repaired Gain and Hyman at Seba Avenues today. Which is a confirmation of the city ownership and responsibility of the courts.

Who knows if this was brought on by media pressure. However, The DOT did originally walk away and say a violation would be in the mail to the homeowner, until GerritsenBeach.net and PIX stepped in.

We are very much glad this was repaired. Please report any other dangerous road conditions by calling 311.

WPIX: DOT To Residents: ‘Fix Your Own Streets And Sidewalks’

By GerritsenBeach.net, on July 8th, 2011%

Story here

NYC DOT to Old Section: Pay Up!

By GerritsenBeach.net, on July 7th, 2011%

Gain Ct and Seba Avenue - In Disrepair

Recently, a resident of the Old Section called 311 to report street damage and a pothole on Gain Ct and Seba Avenue but instead was hit for a sidewalk violation. The circumstances surrounding this story are going to blow your mind.

It’s a known fact that the Old Section has no traditional sidewalks, in fact it’s a running joke. However, you may not know that – every entrance – to each court is in severe disrepair. Many are crumbling, some have huge gaps between the street and the curb, and most are sloped in such a way that every car “bottoms out” when entering.

Severe disrepair

When a DOT crew came out to repair the street damage at Gain and Seba the homeowner was horrified when they were told that the street is considered a COMMUNITY DRIVEWAY and that they would have to pay for the repair. The crew was so bold as to suggest to the homeowner should get everyone on the block to help pay for the repair. They left without repairing the damage.

The street at Gain Ct and Seba and most courts is approximately 18 feet wide, the homeowner is being told they have to pay for the 9 feet of Gain Ct and the opposite connected homeowner would have to pay for the other 9 feet.

This is very bad news, there are approximately 60 of these streets in the old section , which means that there are 120 homeowners that may be forced to pay for street repair.

Hyman Ct and Seba Ave - Disrepair over and over again all over the beach

Block Party? Did You Apply 90 Days Ago!?

By GerritsenBeach.net, on June 17th, 2011%

Planning a summertime block party? New city rules require that permit submissions be filed at least 90 days prior to the event. That means individuals and groups hosting July 4th weekend festivals, events, and block parties would of had to submit applications no later than the first couple days of April.

Online Application Submission Deadlines:

Block Party – 90 days prior to event date
Street Festival – December 31 of the year preceding the year of the event. (only applicable to apply are events held in the previous year)
Single Block Festival – 90 days prior to event date
Clean Up – 60 days prior to event date
Mobile Unit – 30 days prior to event date
Religious Ceremony – 60 days prior to event date
Farmers Market – December 31 of the year preceding the year of the event
Special Event – 14 days prior to event date

To apply for a permit, go to the Street Activity Permit Office page and create an account using your e-mail address. The city asks that everyone E-apply for a permit. However if you are unable to apply online, you can submit an application in person on the 2nd floor of 100 Gold Street in Manhattan.

For more information, visit the Street Activity Permit Office website here.

Sources:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/cecm/html/office/office.shtml

http://cb3bedstuy.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/SAPO-new-process.pdf

Anthony Weiner

By GerritsenBeach.net, on June 7th, 2011%

We don’t usually post political news but Anthony Weiner represents our neighborhood and we should have a discussion about this.

What are your thoughts or even non thoughts? Above is the full video of the press conference (without any talking head political commentary).

Parks Blocks GB Little League Path

By GerritsenBeach.net, on April 20th, 2011%

Despite promises from Councilman Fidler, the Parks department was indeed allowed to encroach on the Gerritsen Beach Little League, blocking their walkway.

Parks recently “completed” the walkway, gate, guardrail mess (above) blocking normal pedestrian, stroller, dog walking, traffic while giving ATV’s easy access.

It appears that it’s a parks department gate and not necessarily a community access gate. If that is true then we are going to need a parks department employee to unlock this gate whenever necessary.

None of this makes any sense, the area is now 100% closed all the time instead of 100% open all the time. There used to be a small opening all the time through the guardrail (maybe 3 feet) then a huge concrete block to block any ATV’s from driving in. Now it’s closed 100% of the time. But now we have a 10+ foot gate that will be open when parks feels like it.

No where in previous meetings was a new path discussed, suggested, nor was anything presented to the community.

Original Plans Showed no Path - Encroaching the Little League

Keep GB Forever Graffiti Free – Register Your Building

By GerritsenBeach.net, on April 19th, 2011%

Graffiti Attack back in February

If you want a graffiti-busting van to come cleanup your area, you can call 311 or fill out a Forever Graffiti Free form. Typically, a cleaning crew will show up within about 35 days after the City is notified there’s a problem, and either repaint or power wash away the graffiti.

If you want to do it yourself, the Mayors office will provide supplies and paints for community-based and volunteer groups to plan and execute their own cleanup projects.

You can request graffiti removal from:

A building you own – call 311
A building you do not own – call 311
A New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property – call 311
The outside of a public school
An outdoor mailbox
A highway
A non-toll bridge
A toll bridge within New York City
A toll bridge to New Jersey
A park

Graffiti Cleanup Request or Complaint:

New York City accepts reports of graffiti, provides assistance with graffiti removal, and accepts tips about graffiti crimes.

If the graffiti is on a private building, the City sends a “Notice of Intent to Remove Graffiti” and a “Forever Graffiti Free” form to the owner. If you are a building owner who has received these documents, you can:

Remove the graffiti yourself, and then call 311 to tell the City about the removal within 35 days. The City may inspect the property beginning 50 days after the notice. If the graffiti is still there, the City will remove it.
Call 311 to tell the City that you want to leave the graffiti on the building within 35 days of receiving the notice.
Complete the “Forever Graffiti Free” form if you want to give the City permission to remove graffiti from your property any time graffiti is reported on it. This means that the City will not send you a “Notice of Intent to Remove Graffiti” when graffiti is reported on your property in the future.
Call 311 to request a 15-day extension if you want more time to make a decision about how you want to respond to the City’s notification about graffiti on your property.

If you are a building owner, you can also download and complete a “Forever Graffiti Free” form even if no graffiti is present on your building.

City police officers respond to reports of graffiti done within the past seven days or repeatedly at the same location. You can ask the responding officers to issue a police report for insurance or other purposes. If you want a police report, you must identify yourself and be available to meet the responding officers. This service does not result in removal of the graffiti.

The City provides free paint and supplies to civic organizations that want to remove graffiti in their neighborhood.

The City also accepts tips about graffiti crimes. If the information you provide leads to an arrest for graffiti or vandalism, you may receive a reward of up to $500.

Guardrail Gone – Will it be Replaced?

By GerritsenBeach.net, on April 14th, 2011%

The Seba Avenue Comfort Station path is well under way and if you have not noticed the contractors recently removed a substantial length of the guardrail and a community access gate. According to Senator Goldens Town Hall, Parks does not know when the guardrail or the community access gate will be replaced.

This is concerning as it could cause many new problems and rehash many old problems with Cars, Quads, Dirtbikes, Etc as there is nothing to anything or any one from doing anything malicious back there.

Gas Rolling in at Comfort Station

By GerritsenBeach.net, on March 30th, 2011%

Just want to share some more pictures of the path at Seba avenue park’s comfort station.

Obviously you can tell they ripped up the existing walkway to (hopefully) lay down a new one.

National Grid has been working on installing gas to the location as well.

Seba Avenue Comfort Station: Path to Success

By GerritsenBeach.net, on March 29th, 2011%

Interesting….Parks has laid out a new path from the main walkway to the Seba Avenue Comfort Station. It looks like the comfort station is almost done.

Parks Upgrades Hole to Sinkhole – Broken Pipe to Blame

By GerritsenBeach.net, on March 23rd, 2011%

Parks was on site the other day at the Giant Hole Inside PS 277 Playground site and has determine that this is not a hole but a sinkhole caused by a broken pipe.

According to a parks spokesperson they have gone in with the camera probe and found a broken pipe, possibly a sewer pipe, that will need to be repaired before the hole can be filled.

“It is not a simple case of filling a pot hole, and will take some time”. They will have to open up the street and repair if that is the cause which will take time. Therefore, in response to the community’s concerns, they will put a temporary plywood cover on the hole itself in addition to the barricades currently around it.

Updated with better pictures.

WPIX: Dangerous Hole at Playground

By GerritsenBeach.net, on March 22nd, 2011%

Giant Hole Inside PS 277 Playground

By GerritsenBeach.net, on March 21st, 2011%

There is a giant hole right in the main pathway of Dr. Johns (PS 277) playground next to PS 277. The hole became evident weeks ago after the snow melted. A simple barricade was erected around it to keep the toddlers away. It’s been weeks since the barricade and now the hole seems to be growing and everyone is wondering when this will be repaired.