Responses to Question of the Month

Chair's Note for December 2008 and January 2009.
We asked community members to discuss what element of public infrastructure they thought was going to be most adversely affected by new building developments in the district. Your responses reflect concerns about every element of infrastructure. Taken together, your answers underscore the need for a broader perspective about the impact of development in our community: it poses potential problems on many different fronts.
 
Some people wrote about the problem it poses for public schools, many of which are stretched too thin already. There were also concerns about how our crowded subways and limited bus system could deal with a large influence of new riders. Others expressed a concern about open space becoming increasingly rare in our district, and there were a number of other issues that people raised. All the responses brought up significant points and we are committed to addressing all of these issues—our community is too important to not do so!
 
Here are a few excerpts from some of the responses.
On school overcrowding:
 "How can we allow this behavior to continue while not making developers of new residential buildings create either schools or community services as part of the new construction?"
 
On public transportation:
 "The large influx of new residents cause trains to be dangerously overcrowded…There is little thought to overall planning and implementation."
 
On open space:
Our neighborhoods are being crowded with towering buildings (99th  Broadway) built by greedy and insensitive builders…we are being smothered.  It is time to tighten zoning from 59th St - 100+ St to REDUCE the maximum allowable building heights

Chair's Note November 2008.
We received over 400 responses for October's Question of the Month - "What are your thoughts about the DOE proposals to alleviate overcrowding in our schools?"  Each and every response reflected your passionate and thoughtful concerns.  It is clear that the proposals as originally written have deeply affected parents, children, school staff and neighbors - CB7 thanks the community members for taking the time to voice thoughts, concerns and opinions.

The community raises multiple issues.  Most importantly there is urgency to find a solution for the immediate and long-term overcrowding problems.  Specific concerns included: the effects on the public elementary schools the proposals will have; the pros and cons of relocating middle schools; the DOE's historic failure to plan for accurate class size; the lack of the developers' commitment to the community; the effects on siblings these proposals could have; long term solutions...and more.  All concerns are valid and the community must continue to come together to discuss all viable options.  The Community Board is committed to addressing this topic. please continue to check our website for updated information.

Several comments were particularly notable:

"We need long term solutions for this urgent space crisis!"

"Every child has the right to attend his or her neighborhood elementary school..."

"Allow automatic sibling enrollment..."

"... can't afford private schools ... want to send children to excellent neighborhood public schools."

"Build more schools."

"The city should not allow real estate development without thinking about building more schools in order to meet the influx of residents."

"Young children need a feeling of community that grows out of attending their local public school."

"A child who lives in the neighborhood should not be shut out of their local community school and forced to travel to another school."

"Our family moved to the neighborhood because we like the fact that the local school was strong."

"PS 199 has become overcrowded due to growth in the community and the DOE's failure to put a proper growth plan in place.'

"I feel extremely strongly that capping is not an acceptable solution to the overcrowding problem."

"Disruptions to schools and families should be minimized by minimizing the zone changes needed to resolve the overcrowding problems."

"I believe that every New Yorker, indeed every human being, deserves a high quality free education."

"The city should not allow so much new building without getting concessions from the builders for appropriate accompanying services such as schools, transit, parks, etc."

"It is extremely shortsighted of the DOE not to have build more schools to keep pace with the many new housing developments on the Upper West Side."

"Stop playing chess with our children and our community.  The DOE needs to act accordingly - build the schools.  There will always be children to fill the rooms."

We've received many e-mails regarding the two proposals by the NYC Department of Education to alleviate overcrowding in the schools.  The Community Education Council (CEC) are holding public forums and deliberating carefully about the two options.  The CEC will respond to the DOE at the end of November. Therefore our question for October is: What are your thoughts about the DOE proposals to alleviate overcrowding in our schools?

We found out that West Siders were sad to see congestion pricing go, and many would like increased enforcement to remove double-parked cars and trucks from the streets. Our neighbors are concerned about traffic caused by commercial truck deliveries, and many suggested finding a way to require that truck deliveries be made only at night. On the question of increasing or reducing available parking, however, we heard strong opinions from both sides. Below are some of the ideas we received.

Sample of Responses:

“The best way to reduce traffic congestion is to provide a more competitive service via mass transit than private transportation affords.”

“Perhaps night deliveries could be encouraged by opening up passenger car perimeter highways during late night hours to the many small trucks which deliver around the city. Currently commercial trucks of all sizes must travel through the West Side during the day to get to points south of the Upper West Side.”

“If parking is available at a fair price and situated near transit hubs like subway stations or cross-town buses, it would take the cars off the streets and increase use of public transportation.”

“I’d be interested in an express bus between 110th and Columbus Circle (maybe even to 42nd Street with a stop at Columbus Circle).”

“If there was a way to enhance parking for local residents, I would be in favor of that. (Permit parking in special areas for residents?)”

“How ‘bout moving/locating the parking garages just off the Westside Highway for fees that include Metrocards for public transportation!”

“We need all the parking we can get, especially indoors. Denying indoor garages only increases the problem of street parking.”

“Among the best ways to reduce congestion that is caused by drivers searching for street parking is to ensure there are plenty of parking garages.”

“Adding more parking will probably only encourage more driving.”

“Until we increase subway capacity, I think we should keep parking as it is.”

Chairs Note. Upper West Siders are never shy to raise their concerns and suggestions. The sampling of responses below are indeed our concerns: walking down the street and not getting mowed down by a bicycle, not stepping on dog poop, the proliferation of ATMs and the high fees and noise. Thanks so much to all those who participated and please be sure to respond to this month’s question about parking!

Sample of Responses  

“The thing most negatively affecting quality of life in the neighborhood is NOISE. The law I would enact is one which would make it illegal to begin construction – or noise from construction set up- prior to 9am.  Our building is surrounded by construction on both front and back ends which begins at 7:30am and the noise goes all day.”

“The Park Drive- is very dangerous, during hours when it is closed to vehicular traffic, because of bikes.  Pedestrians are not given the right of way and have to cross the park drive at their own risk, waiting for a break in bicycle traffic.  A law forcing bikes to obey the very same laws as cars would be helpful-resulting in bike riders having to stop at red lights along the park drive at all times (especially when the drive is closed to vehicular traffic). Right now bikers do not have to stop at red lights (when the drive is closed to cars) and drive right through them.  This makes crossing the drive on foot very perilous and gives bikers the right of way, when the right of way should be given to pedestrians.”

“Increase the penalties for not cleaning up after your dog.  Yesterday morning, there was dog pooh right in the middle of the walkway on west end avenue, and just feet away from a building awning.  The doorman was right there, and could not help but notice it, but he did not clean it up.  I do not blame him, it was disgusting, and it was not his responsibility.  But what that says is that (a) people scoff at whatever penalties there are; (b) people are getting desensitized to it.”

“I wouldn’t mind constraining ATM fees that banks charge when you do not have use of their card.  With a bank on all 4 corners of every intersection on Broadway, banks shouldn’t be allowed to charge more than $1.50.  Really it shouldn’t be more than $1.00.  Lately, chase has been charging me $3.00 for withdrawing from their ATM when I use a Citi card.”

“I would pass a law requiring people who double park for alternate parking to put their contact information on their windshield so that people who need to move before alternate parking ends can get out.”

“Enforce the new regulations requiring delivery bikes to have the name of their restaurant and delivery personnel to wear helmets.”