From DNAinfo:

“American Sign Language interpreters and tablets with video-based interpreting will be provided to officers in the East Village, Jackson Heights and northwestern Staten Island as part of the program…

“This has been a long-standing issue. It’s been a long road to even get to this point,” Antony Gemmell with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest told DNAinfo New York….

Several DHH people have sued the NYPD in recent years.

If an interpreter is not available, police will be able access an interpreter service through a video program on their tablet…”

The mayor has admitted that we will not solve homelessness in NYC for many years. Homelessness in parks is here to stay – for a while. How do we make that current reality work as best we can? How do we keep parks safe and working for everyone to enjoy in this period and not pit people against one another – especially against already marginalized and vulnerable groups?

The reality is that the homeless use our parks as…home. All hours. And there aren’t enough PEP officers or police patrols to change that fact.

One issue that comes up repeatedly is the need for functional bathrooms for park users. For the homeless it becomes even more important. Desperate people will use the park as a bathroom if there isn’t another viable option.

We think that we need our Park bathrooms to be accessible 24/7  with security personnel there at all times and a maintenance crew that can be summoned quickly if needed.

The United Nations recognizes the right to sanitation. How will NYC, our ‘progressive’ city, meet that ‘right’. How do we help people who have no home and/or no safe shelter maintain their dignity?

And …having public bathrooms that are clean and working for all New Yorkers and park visitors is kind of a good idea anyway.

From The Lo-Down:

“An affordable housing lottery opened this morning for 99 senior apartments at 175 Delancey Street, part of the Essex Crossing project.

All of the apartments, located on site 6 of the large mixed-use development, are one-bedroom units. At least one applicant must be 55 years of age or older. There are various income bands for the apartments, ranging from no income up to 90% of Area Median Income (AMI). Monthly rent will be set from $396-$1254. The largest block of apartments (75 units) are available to households earning between $21,066-$43,500/year.”

Shadows of genocide and racism.

From the NYTimes: “The Ramapough vs The World”

“….for the Ramapoughs, a group of indigenous people native to the highlands around Mahwah, N.J., life has often been a series of excruciating struggles over rights and resources. The tribe has an embattled history marked by colonial occupation, environmental degradation, discrimination, and clashes with politicians and real estate developers. Over the years, they have been left greatly diminished, a proud tribe working to stave off eradication and invisibility.

But the Ramapoughs have experienced something of an awakening in recent months. After a developer proposed an oil pipeline that would run through their native land — and potentially threaten the region’s water supply — the tribe began a wave of protests that has drawn together its dwindling members. They were galvanized further by the election of President Trump, whom they see as an enemy to the environment and indigenous life at large — and an old foe of the tribe in particular. Now this small and beleaguered community is preparing for battle with forces both local and national. For Mr. Perry, the stakes are nothing short of the existence of the Ramapoughs.”

Here’s what we can do: go to the Coalition Against Pilgrim Pipeline website. A number of petitions are there. Sign. Send. Fight.

Noted on the Lo-Down:

“The Daily News explores some of the better food offerings along the J Line, near the Bowery Station. Roni-Sue’s Chocolates, across from Sara D. Roosevelt Park, earns high marks for a spring special, truffles with strawberry and rhubarb.”

Eating along the J line: Bruleed Peeps…are must-try treats near this Bowery train stop

Chocolate goddess

City chocoholics likely already know Rhonda Kave, the Roni-Sue of Roni-Sue’s Chocolates. Since she started making sweets professionally 10 years ago — after decades of doing it as a hobby — she’s made a name for confections, truffles, toffees, lollipops and other sweets with a sense of humor and well-sourced ingredients.

From an intrepid gardener:

“Don’t know how many of you have noticed, but those squeaky wheel sounds coming from the garden

after dark will not be fixed with an oil can.  

That is our own native spring peepers….there are several quite tuneful sopranos … They seem to be

mostly located in or around the plant filled pond across from Bob’s ‘greenhouse’ area.  Ah what a delight

it is…..they seemed to be thriving in the [area] that has lots of plant material growing in the pond.  

So, if you want some male peepers ….singing from your pond, add some plant material.  Warm wet

spring nights are their favorites.”

What do you think?

Freemans Restaurant (at the end of Freeman Alley), 191 Chrystie St. 1R, is asking to stay open and serve alcohol until 2am: Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

There will be an opportunity for in -person public comment at the CB3 meeting on:

Thursday, April 13th, 2017 at 6:30pm

Thelma Burdick Community Room

10 Stanton Street(corner of Bowery)

Or you can email (by Wednesday) your comments to the Community Board 3 Office:

Susan Stetzer <sstetzer@cb3manhattan.org>  

Job Expo Meeting

@

10 Stanton Street

Come learn about

JOB OPENINGS WITH

PUBLIC HOTEL

115 Chrystie Street

Hospitality

Front of House/Back of House

Bellman

Front Desk Agents

Housekeeping

Administration

Construction & Engineer

Please join us if interested in job opportunities

From

“LES Employment Network”

Tuesday

April 11, 2017

6 P.M.

Large Community Room