City Island Civic Association

The meeting was brought to order at 7:40 by Bill Stanton, president. Due to the high attendance, the May minutes were read to bring all visitors up to date and were accepted as read. The treasurer reported that there is $13,832.82 in the regular account and $10,084.17 in the SONE (Save Our Natural Environment) account. The Civic Association website is www.cicivic.org for everyone to keep up on current events.

Crime Committee: Bill Stanton said that dealing with the drug problems requires more active involvement on the part of the community to help young people. We also need to know more about what the 45th precinct is doing here; they have not been informing the Island Current what is going on with arrests. The fatality on Memorial Day weekend caused mayhem, although we have had more police attention lately, since the Civic met with the 45th precinct and the Bronx Borough Commander. Bill urged City Island residents with complaints to attend the Community Council meeting at the 45th Pct. on the first Thursday of every month (starting again in Sept). We need to gather drug operation statistics, monitor response time to 911 calls, and send reference numbers to the Civic e-mail address (city.island.civic@mac.com). We should send pictures or videos of everything from a crime in progress to graffiti, trashcan fires, and anything found on the streets such as needles. It was noted that calls made to 311 and 911 are counted and reviewed in the Police Comstat Reports.

During the four hours that this accident closed down the bridge on May 30-31, there was no police officer on the island and calls did not receive attention. There were many complaints voiced about these unanswered calls and issues of noise, harassment, garbage caused by those trying to leave the Island. Other events since May 31 include the report of a fight at Lickety Split, to which the 45th took over one hour to respond. A drag-racing car headed north hit and broke a utility pole at Carroll Street.

Kenneth Kearns, district manager of Community Board 10, said that there are only 4 to 6 patrol cars per shift and that this area of the Bronx is the largest to cover. There were suggestions made that local businesses hire private security or off-duty police officers, and that City Islanders join the Auxiliary Police. It was also recommended that the Civic meet with the Chamber and representatives of the Facebook page “Taking Back Our Island” to discuss other options.

The Development Committee has been relatively inactive since the major construction projects are on hold. In answer to a complaint about empty storefronts, Barbara Dolensek pointed out that many of these are not available for sale or rent and that a City Island group last year working with the Civic put art work in several of them. Again, it was noted that many stores and residents do not clean up in front of their stores, which is against the law. There will be another clean-up day, to be discussed at the next meeting.
Traffic Committee. Paul Nani reported that the traffic cones have been put out in the firelane by the police. Since school safety officers are not available until after school is out, the precinct does not have the staff for traffic control each weekend until July and August. He suggested that an emergency plan be put in place to address issues like this (like that suggested by Senator Jeff Klein). Senator Klein and Councilman Vacca have been our biggest supporters with our issues.

Other business: The ladder company on City Island will not be closed, since the City Council voted to cover the costs in their budget. Belden Point (at the end of the island) has a maintenance agreement in place and City Planning can now proceed with project plans to improve it. The Italian-American nursing home will be built on the island, the location to be disclosed at a later date.

Bill strongly urged all residents to become involved with the Civic and other organizations to help those who volunteer. Many meetings (especially at the 45th) are not attended at all until something happens.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 pm