Coming Up: 5/4 Tree Stewardship and Tonight's Open Space Forum

Volunteer for the Tree Stewardship Workshop on May 4

Join CIVITAS and Trees New York on Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (Raindate Sunday, May 5).

Meet at East 120th Street and Paladino Avenue at the entrance to the pedestrian overpass to the East River Esplanade. Learn about tree stewardship and advocacy as we mulch, weed, and clean up street tree beds on East 120th Street, Pleasant Avenue and East 119th Street.

Space is limited. 
Please RSVP to info@civitasnyc.org or 212.996.0745

Upcoming Community Events

A Public Forum on The Urgent Need For Public Open Space on Manhattan's Upper East Side

Panelists in order of their presentation: 
Holly Leicht, executive director, New Yorkers for Parks 
Fred Kent, founder and president, Project for Public Spaces 
Dan Barasch & James Ramsey, founders, The Lowline park project 
Dan Garodnick, Member, New York City Council

Co-sponsored by the Parks Committee, Community Board 8, Manhattan and New Yorkers for Parks

Thursday, April 25, 6:30 pm 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art 
Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall, ground level of the Uris Center 
Entrance at Fifth Avenue and East 81 Street

Admission will be free.

CIVITAS Intern Spotlight: Sarah Zimmerman

Sarah Zimmerman is a sophomore at Columbia University, majoring in Urban Studies, and concentrating in history and sustainable development.  She is particularly interested in the urbanization and its impact on sustainability.  

Sarah joined CIVITAS as the Columbia Communities in Action intern in spring 2013, where she has been working on a wide range of advocacy and development projects.  She has been especially involved in researching and planning new initiatives for the trees committee, along with contributions to the CIVITAS newsletter, and planning for the 2013 annual benefit. To learn more about Sarah’s work with the trees committee, and upcoming tree stewardship events, visit www.civitasnyc.org/trees.

Although she is still exploring potential career paths, Sarah hopes to pursue her professional interests in planning, architecture, and law when she graduates from Columbia in spring 2015.  In the meanwhile, she spends her free time exploring the city on foot, or hiking and backpacking outside the city. 

Earth Day Clean Heat Workshop - Monday, April 22

Air Quality, Heating Oil and Recycling Environmental Workshop on April 22

Please join CIVITAS and the NYC Clean Heat program for an educational workshop to help improve air quality in the neighborhood while understanding your heating oil conversion costs. There will also be a short informational discussion regarding the NYC Department of Sanitation Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (ABRI) and what you can do to help. Please share this important announcement with all decision makers in your building. When: Monday, April 22 at 6 pm Where: Lenox Hill Neighborhood House 331 East 70 Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) Recommended Attendees: Interested residents, co-op board members, building supers, building managers, and managing agents Registration is requested. RSVP: CIVITAS Email: info@civitasnyc.org or Phone: (212) 996-0745 Agenda: A presentation and Q&A with NYC Clean Heat representatives to help buildings burning No. 6 or No. 4 heavy heating oil understand their options for converting to cleaner fuels such as ultra-low sulfur No. 2 (ULS 2), biodiesel, and/or natural gas. In an effort to reduce the associated costs of switching from No. 6 or No. 4 to ULS 2, NYC Clean Heat will discuss how buildings near each other can be grouped together to receive a discounted oil rate from local suppliers. Speakers Include: Ken Camilleri, ICF, special consultant to New York City’s Clean Heat Program David Singer, Original Energy Michael Weisberg, M-Core Eve Martinez, NYC Department of Sanitation, Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling What to Bring: A basic assessment of your building's current boiler system. If converting to natural gas, bring your Con Edison case number from your gas service request submittal and any other information from Con Edison as a result of the submittal such as upfront costs for service. Things to Remember/Ask Yourself: Do you live in a building that burns No. 4 and No. 6 oils? Do you care about the quality of air in your neighborhood? The City of New York has issued a moratorium on No. 6 fuel oil and it is even more important that you push your apartment building to participate in clean heating oil conversion with NYC Clean Heat.

CIVITAS Intern Spotlight: Michael Storm

Michael Storm is a senior at the NYU College of Arts and Science, majoring in Urban Design and Architecture Studies.  In summer 2012 he attended the Summer Architecture Studio at Columbia University where he designed a neighborhood arts and community center for the residents of Central Harlem. He also recently worked on a design to reintegrate a continuous and pedestrian-friendly street grid in Stuyvesant Town.  Of course, he didn't forget the East River Waterfront! 

On a perfect day, Michael can be found drawing, or biking around New York City taking photos of interesting places and buildings.  He has been able to apply this personal passion for architectural photography as photographer for the fall 2012 and winter 2013 CIVITAS newsletters.  During his internship at CIVITAS he has also created a report on the way East Harlem has developed since the 2003 Rezoning. Initiated by CIVITAS and Community Board 11, the 2003 rezoning was the first in that area since the 1960s.  To learn more about East Harlem rezoning efforts, visit www.civitasnyc.org/east-harlem-rezoning.

Reflecting on his time at CIVITAS, Michael says: “My work at CIVITAS has really affirmed my interest in Architecture and Urban Design. I am very passionate about understanding and creating unique urban spaces that foster strong, thriving communities.”  He hopes to continue this focus on urban life when he graduates from NYU this spring. 

NYC Apartment Building Recycling Initiative

“How To” at 1192 Park Avenue 

Marcia Fowle 

The trash/recycling area on my floor at 1192 Park is just a hop, skip, and jump from my apartment. I don’t have to go outside to the sidewalk with my bundled up and separated trash. I don’t have to drive to a town dump and sort on the spot. Just a few feet from my back door are designated receptacles where I leave my family’s trash and recycling, and it is also the place where my neighbors leave theirs. 

My neighbors and I are confused. We pretty much agree on what mixed paper and cardboard is recycled, and place it into its own container. And we probably agree on non-recyclables that go into the trash-only or “everything else” container lined with a black plastic bag. But what goes into the blue recycling container lined with its distinct clear plastic bag? 

CIVITAS Directors Gorman Reilly and Marcia Fowle with William Waldren, Jr. (1192 Park Avenue Superintendent) and Eve Martinez (DSNY Outreach Specialist). 

All glass jars and jugs; that seems easy. All metals, including hangers, tin foil, and bulk metal; that’s straightforward. All beverage cartons and drink boxes, also fairly easy. But what about plastics? I see all sorts of plastics being tossed into this blue bin from yogurt and deli containers to plastic cups. 

What if my neighbors and I are putting in the wrong plastics? Is it up to our building staff to make sure that this recycling stream is in compliance with the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) rules by sorting through the bin’s contents? I think not; it’s up to each resident. It’s our waste; we should be responsible for disposing of it properly. 

The DSNY is giving us a helping hand through the Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (ABRI), and 1192 Park has signed on. In just one meeting with Outreach Specialist Eve Martinez, our building has made a giant step forward. We learned where we could make improvements in clarifying which items are recycled, especially which plastics, and have ordered new signage to be placed floor by floor in our trash/recycling areas. Each shareholder will receive DSNY’s informative static-cling decal for placement in his apartment, so when in doubt, he can refer to it easily. 

ABRI and Ms. Martinez are scheduling meetings with 1192’s staff and shareholders to discuss not only recycling but also disposal of electronic equipment and safe handling of harmful waste, such as fluorescent bulbs and batteries. In the spring, 1192 hopes to set up a clothing drop-off bin for pickup by the New York Housing Works. Visit www.nyc.gov/refashion for information about this program. 

Now, thanks to ABRI, my neighbors and I will be clear about which plastics to recycle. We used to look for the number. Was it #1 or #2, which the city used to recycle or was it #6, which the city did not? The DSNY has simplified the rules. Plastic jugs and bottles (without caps) with necks smaller than the body of the containers, no matter what the number, are to be put in the blue recycle bin – NO OTHER PLASTICS. New signage will help. 

Ask your apartment building manager and co-op president to follow 1192 Park’s lead by signing up with ARBI and learning how to waste less. 

To learn more about ABRI, contact CIVITAS at (212) 996-0745 or visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/recycling/abri.shtml

To read the complete spring 2013 issue of CIVITAS News, visit http://civitasnyc.org/civitas-newsletters/

April 22nd Air Quality/Environmental Meeting

Air Quality, Heating Oil and Recycling Environmental Workshop on April 22

Please join CIVITAS and the NYC Clean Heat program for an educational workshop to help improve air quality in the neighborhood while understanding your heating oil conversion costs. There will also be a short informational discussion regarding the NYC Department of Sanitation Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (ABRI) and what you can do to help. Please share this important announcement with all decision makers in your building. When: Monday, April 22 at 6 pm Where: Lenox Hill Neighborhood House 331 East 70 Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) Recommended Attendees: Interested residents, co-op board members, building supers, building managers, and managing agents Registration is requested. RSVP: CIVITAS Email: info@civitasnyc.org or Phone: (212) 996-0745 Agenda: A presentation and Q&A with NYC Clean Heat representatives to help buildings burning No. 6 or No. 4 heavy heating oil understand their options for converting to cleaner fuels such as ultra-low sulfur No. 2 (ULS 2), biodiesel, and/or natural gas. In an effort to reduce the associated costs of switching from No. 6 or No. 4 to ULS 2, NYC Clean Heat will discuss how buildings near each other can be grouped together to receive a discounted oil rate from local suppliers. We look forward to seeing you there! What to Bring: A basic assessment of your building's current boiler system. If converting to natural gas, bring your Con Edison case number from your gas service request submittal and any other information from Con Edison as a result of the submittal such as upfront costs for service. Things to Remember/Ask Yourself: Do you live in a building that burns No. 4 and No. 6 oils? Do you care about the quality of air in your neighborhood? The City of New York has issued a moratorium on No. 6 fuel oil and it is even more important that you push your apartment building to participate in clean heating oil conversion with NYC Clean Heat.

Upcoming Events: Air Quality, Recycling and Trees

Air Quality, Heating Oil and Recycling Environmental Workshop on April 22

Join CIVITAS and the NYC Clean Heat program for an educational workshop to help improve air quality in the neighborhood. There will also be a short informational discussion regarding the Apartment Building Recycling Initiative (ABRI) and what you can do to help.

Monday, April 22 at 6 pm
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House
331 East 70 Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Registration is requested.
RSVP to CIVITAS at (212) 996-0745 or info@civitasnyc.org.

Tree Stewardship Workshop on May 4

Join CIVITAS and Trees New York on Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (Raindate Sunday, May 5).

Meet at East 120th Street and Paladino Avenue at the entrance to the pedestrian overpass to the East River Esplanade. Learn about tree stewardship and advocacy as we mulch, weed, and clean up street tree beds on East 120th Street, Pleasant Avenue and East 119th Street.

Space is limited.
RSVP to CIVITAS at (212) 996-0745 or info@civitasnyc.org.

Harlem Earth Day Environmental Justice Panel

CIVITAS Executive Director, Hunter Armstrong, will be participating in the Harlem Earth Day Environmental Justice: How Our External Environment Influences Our Internal Environment panel discussion. Co-panelists include: Donnel Baird, Founder, BlocPower; Tony Hillery, Founder, Harlem Grown; Peggy Shephard, Environmental Activist, We Act.

Harlem Earth Day
Environmental Justice Panel
Wednesday, April 10 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM
MIST (My Image Studios)
46 West 116 Street (between Lenox Avenue and 5th Avenue)

The event is free though space is limited.
Register here: www.harlemearthday2013.eventbrite.com

Save The Date

On May 14, CIVITAS Executive Director Hunter Armstrong will speak at House of the Redeemer on East 95 Street (Fifth and Park Avenue). A NYC landmark, the House of the Redeemer was designed by acclaimed architect Grosvenor Atterbury and constructed for the Fabbri family between 1914-1916.

Upcoming Community Events

A Public Forum on The Urgent Need For Public Open Space on Manhattan's Upper East Side

Panelists in order of their presentation: 
Holly Leicht, executive director, New Yorkers for Parks 
Fred Kent, founder and president, Project for Public Spaces 
Dan Barasch & James Ramsey, founders, The Lowline park project 
Dan Garodnick, Member, New York City Council

Co-sponsored by the Parks Committee, Community Board 8, Manhattan and New Yorkers for Parks

Thursday, April 25, 6:30 pm 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art 
Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall, ground level of the Uris Center 
Entrance at Fifth Avenue and East 81 Street

Admission will be free.