MAYOR GIULIANI UPDATES PROGRESS OF ST. GEORGE AREA ACTION PLAN
-- Plan Includes Quality Of Life Improvements, Additional Anti-Crime
Efforts, Better Ferry Services, And Increased Economic Development --
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today said that the St. George Area Action Plan, a coordinated multi-agency effort by the City to improve the quality of life in the St. George area of Staten Island, has brought many improvements to the area including, lower crime, improved ferry services, cleaner parks and streets, and increased economic activity.
Today's press conference, attended by Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari, Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, and local community and business leaders, was held at Borough Hall in Staten Island.
"It's great to be here at the gateway of Staten Island to talk about the St. George Action Plan -- the City's latest effort to build upon the revitalization of one of our finest waterfronts and growing residential communities," said Mayor Giuliani. "Over the past four years, the City has been committed to improving the overall quality of life for the people of this community and already we've seen dramatic improvements -- the parks and playgrounds are cleaner and in better structural condition than they were in 1994 and overall crime is down almost 36 percent.
"In 1996 we completed the North Shore Esplanade project at a cost of $6 million making the waterfront and the Ferry Terminal area an attractive destination for commuters and tourists. Additionally, a Master Plan for the St. George Intermodal and Cultural Center is currently underway that will assist the City in developing the terminal, adjacent sites and the Staten Island Institute for Arts and Sciences. Combined with over $48 million in infrastructure improvements, the Master Plan will transform the Ferry Terminal into a unique cultural and economic center. In short time I look forward to seeing St. George build upon its recent gains to become one of the City's most dynamic communities. In the meantime, we can enjoy the fulfillment of knowing that we are making life better for the New Yorkers who work and live in Staten Island," the Mayor concluded.
"Mayor Giuliani is the best Mayor Staten Island has ever had," said Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari. "In St. George, the gateway of Staten Island, many particularly exciting improvements have been achieved -- from increased economic activity to extensive quality of life enhancements. Crime is down, our streets are cleaner and jobs are on the rise. I know that the Mayor shares my commitment to revitalizing the St. George area, and this Action Plan provides evidence of positive changes everywhere one looks in this historic district."
- The 120th Precinct has several initiatives in place to address street gangs, violent street crime and quality of life concerns in the St. George area. This includes efforts to combat crime and truancy in and around Curtis and McKee High Schools; illegal drug activity along Central Avenue; and illegal livery cars along Central Avenue, Bay Street and Victory Boulevard.
- Overall index crime year-to-date is down by 35.81 percent in the precinct encompassing the St. George Area compared to four years ago. The murder rate is down 40 percent; grand larceny auto and burglary are down 47.7 percent.
- The Economic Development Corporation (EDC), in coordination with the Staten Island Borough President's Office and the Department of Transportation (DOT), has hired the architecture and planning firm Hellmuth Obata and Kassabaum to prepare a Master Plan to improve and redevelop the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and adjacent sites. The final product will outline a priority-based list of improvements and actions the City should take to create an improved Ferry Terminal.
- In May of 1994, DOT began the design for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Ferry Terminal and continues to work on its ongoing maintenance and long-term rehabilitation. Infrastructure expenditures are estimated to be $48 million.
- In June of 1997, DOT unveiled a new shuttle van service to transport passengers to the Ferry Terminal from the Municipal Parking Lot at Hyatt Street and Central Avenue, assisting commuters who want to take advantage of the municipal lot's lower parking fees.
- The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will undertake several enforcement initiatives to significantly reduce illegal for-hire vehicles in and around the Ferry Terminal. The TLC will continue to focus on enforcement aimed at unlicensed for-hire vehicle operators and bases, as well as enforcement of violations committed by licensed vehicle operators and bases throughout Staten Island.
- The Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit (HOU), and the Staten Island-based contracted outreach provider, Project Hospitality, have developed a program to assist the homeless population at the Ferry Terminal. Through DHS's outreach efforts, the homeless population in the Ferry Terminal was reduced from 120-140 people, to less than 10 individuals on an average night.
- Since 1994, the City has taken significant steps in improving customer service in the St. George area. The new Department of Finance (DOF) payment center allows customers to pay fines and taxes such as parking tickets and environmental control board violations. And the renovation of 130 Stuyvesant Place will help reduce the backlog in the courts.
- The Staten Island borough office of the Department of Buildings (DOB) has undertaken customer service enhancements at the borough office and plans to do more. DOB will also assign a new two-person quality of life inspection team to investigate illegal conversions, and other illegal work in Staten Island.
- DOB's Staten Island office will begin accepting computer disk filing this month which will make filing applications and building plans easier, more accurate, and efficient. It will also help to reduce the enormous volume of paperwork generated by DOB customers.
- City Planning is adding two more planners to its Staten Island office to help address and expedite zoning applications.
- DOT will develop a plan to address parking congestion in the Civic Center area. Since 1994, DOT has resurfaced an estimated 6.83 lane miles of roads. An additional 6.53 lane miles will be milled and resurfaced by the end of the Fiscal Year 1999 at a capital investment of $900,000.
- The Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated 13 individual landmarks and, in 1994, designated the St. George/New Brighton Historic District, which includes 78 buildings.
- The cleanliness level of Staten Island Community Board 1 continues to improve. The scorecard (cleanliness rating) for fiscal year 1997 is 88.1 percent, an increase of 11.9 percentage points over the prior year's rating of 76.2 percent.
- As part of the Action Plan initiative, the Department of Sanitation has assigned a two-person crew in St. George to further improve conditions by cutting and removing weeds, providing basket service and cleaning "dump-out" locations. Daily basket service has been added to the St. George area and Sunday basket service has been extended year round. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) is also working with DOS to fence and clear debris from City lots. DOS is working with the NYPD to increase illegal dumping surveillance and will add two more Sanitation Police Officers in Staten Island.
- The parks and playgrounds of the St. George neighborhood in Community District 1 in Staten Island are cleaner and in better structural condition than they were four years ago. The street tree population is also greater and the number of dead trees is down.
- The cleanliness rating for parks in District 1 has gone from 79 percent acceptable in 1993 to 97 percent acceptable today. During the same time, the overall condition rating went from 63 percent acceptable to 82 percent acceptable. Over the past four years, over $9 million in capital renovation projects in Staten Island District 1 have been funded by the Mayor, the City Council, and the Borough President.
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