The next Harlem Neighborhood Block Association meeting will be Tomorrow, March 14th, at 7:00 PM at 2306 3rd Avenue (the new Salvation Army Building). We’re looking forward to an exciting evening.
Major Silvia Machado, the Corps Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army’s Manhattan Citadel Corps will give us a private tour of the new building
Our 25th Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO’s), Officers Lau and Hackeling will brief us on public safety issues in our neighborhood, answer any questions you might have, and take notes of any concerns you’d like addressed
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and/or his staff will come to answer any questions you might have about the prosecution of crime in New York
Sharase DeBouse – our District Leader – will provide a community election/primary update
Note that the day after (March 15th at 6PM) the 25th Precinct’s Community Council meeting will be held at the precinct with two NYPD Chiefs in attendance.
The next Harlem Neighborhood Block Association meeting will be Tuesday, March 14th, at 7:00 PM at 2306 3rd Avenue (the new Salvation Army Building). We’re looking forward to an exciting evening.
Major Silvia Machado, the Corps Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army’s Manhattan Citadel Corps will give us a private tour of the new building
Our 25th Precinct Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO’s), Officers Lau and Hackeling will brief us on public safety issues in our neighborhood, answer any questions you might have, and take notes of any concerns you’d like addressed
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and/or his staff will come to answer any questions you might have about the prosecution of crime in New York
Sharase DeBouse – our District Leader – will provide a community election/primary update
Note that the day after (March 15th at 6PM) the 25th Precinct’s Community Council meeting will be held at the 25th Precinct – East 119th Street between Park/Lex. Two NYPD Chiefs will also be in attendance.
HNBA was invited to a meeting earlier this week regarding updates for Marcus Garvey Park.
The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Castro. He welcomed everyone and stated that the federal package relief will ensure that the budget is fully funded for staffing, maintenance and pool program. He is working with the Assistant Commissioner and his staff to start a new initiative: a Park Enforcement Station (PEP) which exists already in other parks.
Administrator Jana La Sorte reported on that initiative with Calderon:
She is excited to work with Captain Calderon. They are meeting on March 17 in AM to review the facility where the PEP will be located,close to the pool.
The PEP will have a staff of 5 plus one Sargeant. The hours of patrol will be 8 am to 6:30 pm, 7 days a week.
The PEP will address mostly quality of life issues in the park, can issue summonses and make arrests. Will be equipped with walkie-talkies.
The PEP will also work on specific projects in the evening or night, and hours of patrol can be flexible according to seasons or needs.
Jana is working with the Central Park conservation team to address the issue of erosion on the west side of the Acropolis.
She is providing support to the group led by Melanie responsible for the dog run: they want to add an area with gravel, improve drainage and Melanie suggested a water fountain for the dogs.
The Litter Ambassadors program starts next month and Jana is recruiting volunteers. They will be paired to go around the park and offer orange garbage bags to visitors and ask them to dispose of their trash.
Jana encourages everyone to visit the park’s website for additional information about these initiatives.
The Harlem Youth Gardeners program is being launched now and offer decent pay for the jobs.
There are requests for programming in the amphitheater and schools graduations as well.
She is looking to increase volunteering in the park and will send flyers out to promote initiatives such as: Adopt a Tree, Adopt a Bench.
Robert Mc Lean, Regional Park Manager, reported working for two months with some corporate groups.
So far 29 hardwood trees have been planted, mainly oak.
There are two gardeners on staff and he is looking to have volunteers sign up.
A new garden of about 650 square feet was planted at the Drummers’ Circle.
Officers Brigante and Lau gave the 25th Precinct report
The 25th Precinct is working with the department of Homeless Services and Social Services.
There is a marked decrease of homeless people in the park.
The crime level has been related to the encampment on the stage.
A request was made to install cameras by the playgrounds and basketball court.The commissioner stated that at this time there is no funding for cameras. The budget needed is for the maintenance of the cameras.Cameras were also requested previously for the Acropolis but could not be installed because there is no access to electricity at that site.The Commissioner will follow up and report back on the cost for cameras.
Alexandra Long reported that less activity of homeless was noted in the park also.
Connie Lee also commented on the decrease of homelessness in the park
The Homeless Outreach program will continue to distribute masks and increase the number distributed from 250 to 500 week, thanks to a new sponsor for masks.
New York Company foundation has provided funding for Arts in the park.
Art installations will go up in Morningside park and murals in Marcus Garvey park, mostly semi-permanent or permanent.
the MG Park Alliance is working with multiple community groups on community engagement initiatives.
Small groups of people will be on the grounds to talk to park goers and collect information. The results will be compiled into a report and presented to sponsors as a multigroup effort for fundraising.
the Harlem Youth Gardeners program starting this spring will hire youth at $18 per hour. Madlyn Stokely reported looking forward to developing a relationship and working with Park Alliance. She voiced concerns over the number of cars parked at the entrance of the pool area. The Commissioner will look into this issue.
Rene Cuenca: The Partnership for Parks is getting ready for the summer season
It will launch at the end of March the “It’s my Park” event. Will send out information when the plans solidify,
Working with Harlem Wellness Center on Project Healing. (to address racial issues?). Steve Simon reported working on two capital projects, one is to rehabilitate the recreation center
Drug Bust in East Harlem Linked To A Yacht ‘Dope Joint’
The New York Times reported 100 years ago that a man living at 215 East 118th Street, the building with the bold red front door, below:
was dispensing drugs without a medical license.
The article goes on to note that there was a yacht moored off Harlem on the East River that served as Dope Joint.
For more on pre-WW1 America and cocaine, The Mystery of the Leaping Fish is a fascinating silent film that alludes to (and illustrates) drug use among America’s cultural elite:
Since tourism has been put on hold, Welcome to Harlem introduces a way to safely tour Harlem and learn of its significant contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.
Welcome to Harlem proudly presents the “Harlem Civil Rights Virtual,” which is a virtual walking tour that will take place in Harlem, New York, beginning at Canaan Baptist Church of Christ. Eighteen of the twenty stops will be covered during an eye-opening trail starting on 116th Street uptown to the 137th area. The remaining two stops are past 137th Street. This exciting event will span across approximately two hours while it outlines the pivotal role Harlem played during the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the fundamental sites and individuals who contributed to the cause.
Although tourism is currently non-existent, Welcome to Harlem is introducing a fun way for history lovers to learn about and engage with the neighborhood’s rich past. Harlem is a proud contributor to the Civil Rights Movement, and tourists will learn about each of the critical events that took place in the area. The Harlem Civil Rights Virtual Tour will visit the original Temple No. 7 and the Blumstein Department Store. It will also illustrate Harlem’s connection to the famous March on Washington House, and visit pertinent churches, including Mother A.M.E. Zion Church and Abyssinian Baptist Church, to name a few.
In addition, the tour highlights key individuals who helped lead the movement, including Malcolm X, A. Philip Randolph, Josephine Baker, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Roy Wilkins, W.E.B. DuBois, Walter White, Wyatt Tee Walker, James Weldon Johnson, John Carlos, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Bayard Rustin, Paul Robeson, and many others.
