THE WEST SIDE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CHELSEA, HUDSON YARDS & HELL'S KITCHEN
Survey: Improvement on BRC Block, But Concerns Remain BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC Since the Bowery Residents’ Committee (BRC) opened its 12-story vertical campus in 2011, relations between the residential and outpatient shelter/treatment facility and its neighbors have been contentious — but a just-released survey links recent efforts to improvements on the block. Last October, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) assigned peace officers to patrol W. 25th St. (btw. Sixth & Seventh Aves.). They are trained in security measures but do not carry weapons. After two NYPD officers were fatally shot Continued on page 2
Rezoning Plan to Build Housing Could Deconstruct Local Efforts BY ZACH WILLIAMS The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) held a March 25 “public scoping meeting,” to consider what matters should be covered in an Environment Impact Statement — a preliminary step to enact Mayor Bill de Blasio’s citywide rezoning proposal, known as “Zoning for Quality and Affordability.” Concerned that such changes would drastically overhaul regulations on the height, size and shape of new residential developments, more than 100 people attended the “public scoping meeting” to comment. Critics — including members of Community Board 4 Continued on page 4
Face Yourself See page 21.
Photo by Zach Williams
Aidan Collins, 10, stepped into the role of point man for the proposal to renovate the library at PS3 — item #6 on your Participatory Budgeting ballot.
Projects Vie at Participatory Budgeting Expo BY ZACH WILLIAMS With election time fast approaching, residents of Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen gathered at a March 24 Expo to present beautification, repair and upgrade projects set to appear on the Participatory Budgeting ballot. Seventeen projects will vie for support in voting to be held from April 11-19, with the top vote-getters receiving funding until the cumulative amount reaches the $1 million allocated by Councilmember Corey Johnson’s office. There was no clear front-runner among the proposals seen at the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library (40 W. 20th St.) — but certain advantages and strategies were apparent at the event, which attracted about 100 potential voters. This is the first time District 3 has taken part in the process since Participatory Budgeting was established in 2011, as an option of how to spend discretionary funding distributed from the city’s capital budget (Johnson’s office was given approximately $5 million). Current City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was one of the four who opted in during that first year. Currently, 24 districts are taking part. Matt Green, a legislative aide to Councilmember Johnson who also serves
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as the office’s Participatory Budget Director, told Chelsea Now that the jump happened in part because the process has become “more institutionalized, with more resources and staff.” Johnson told Expo attendees that he hopes several thousand people will participate in voting, which is open to anyone who lives Council District 3 and is at least 14 years old. “I don’t have all the answers and I shouldn’t be the only person in charge of determining what is important and what needs to be funded,” said Johnson. “This is democratizing the budget process.” There was no shortage of ideas in response. Parks, schools, streets, libraries, bus stops and composting received attention in the process. Two proposals set their sites on the most private of public spaces: bathrooms. Different approaches to campaigning at the event included touting streetscape innovations, the involvement of young people in proposals and even a bit of candy to entice prospective voters to one display. One proposal seemed to benefit when its delegate was unable to attend the meeting. Ten-year-old Aidan Collins
Continued on page 12 VOLUME 07, ISSUE 09 | MARCH 26 - APRIL 08, 2015