Street Tree Stewardship Workshop, May 26

Thanks to the Tree Enthusiasts who attended CIVITAS’ Street Tree Stewardship workshop at the Central Park Arsenal. We are thrilled that many attendees signed up to Adopt a Tree. Mission accomplished! We would like to thank our presenters, Morgan Monaco of MillionTreesNYC, Susan Gooberman of Trees New York and especially the Honorable Liam Kavanagh, First Deputy Commissioner, and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation for their hospitality.

We hope to see a continued growth of tree stewardship efforts citywide. Send your wish list for new tree plantings around your neighborhood, and find more information about CIVITAS Tree Stewardship initiatives on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem at www.civitasnyc.org/trees
If you would like to make a donation to CIVITAS to help fund future events, visit: www.civitasnyc.org/get-involved or let us know if you would like to become involved in CIVITAS’ tree stewardship efforts as a volunteer.

You can find more information about the topics and programs discussed last night at:

MillionTreesNYC

MillionTreesNYC Stewardship Corps
Adopt-a-Tree Program and Map

New Yorkers For Parks - Daffodil Project

Trees New York
*Upcoming Event*
East Side Street Tree Stewardship Event
Saturday, June 18, 2011
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Meet at the Southwest corner of 102nd Street and Lexington Avenue
RSVP 212-227-1887 or sam@treesny.org

To report dead or sick trees or request a new tree, contact 311...
By phone:
• Dial 311, request the Parks Department
• State the location - if possible, the street address
• Describe the state of the damaged tree
• Record a confirmation number to follow up
• Follow up on the status your request
Online:
www.bit.ly/ReportTrees

CIVITAS News & Events: May 13, 2011

CIVITAS Presents...

STREET TREE STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP
Thursday, May 26, 2011
6-8pm
On the rooftop terrace of The Arsenal, Central Park (Fifth Avenue at 64th Street)
RSVP Required: info@civitasnyc.org or 212-996-0745

Presentation by Trees New York

Learn how to report and care for sick trees, maintain healthy trees, and other resources for tree advocacy. Attend this event to tell us where you would like to see new trees planted, and sign up to “Adopt a Tree”.

Special Thanks to the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation


Community Events:

It’s My Park Day – East River Esplanade
Saturday, May 21
9am-4pm
Volunteers should enter at the East 60th Street Greenway entrance - gardens near dog run.
It’s My Park Day is an opportunity to improve parks throughout the city. Join Carl Schurz Park Conservancy, East River C.R.E.W., Inc., Upper Green Side, and Friends of the Esplanade in cleaning and painting the East River Esplanade. Volunteers are welcome to join for any length of time. For more information, visit: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2011/05/21/its-my-park-day-at-east-river-esplanade


CIVITAS discount admission for Museum of the City of New York program:
How Hugh Carey Saved the City (Who Will Save New York?)
Wednesday, June 1 at 5:30 pm
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue
Reservations required: 917-492-3395 or e-mail programs@mcny.org
$25 for priority seating, $20 for non-members. $15 when you mention CIVITAS.

In 1975 New York City stood on the brink of bankruptcy. But insolvency never came, thanks to the leadership of Governor Hugh Carey. What steps did Carey take to solve the fiscal crisis? Given the perennial budget problems in Albany, are there parallels at the state level today? Does New York State need saving?

Sam Roberts of The New York Times moderates a discussion with Stephen Berger, former executive director of the Emergency Financial Control Board under Governor Carey; Ester R. Fuchs, Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science, Columbia University; Peter Goldmark, former New York State Director of Budget under Carey; Richard Ravitch, former chairman of the New York State Urban Development Corporation; and Felix G. Rohatyn, former chairman of the Municipal Assistance Corporation of the State of New York, on the current budgetary woes of New York through the lens of the fiscal crisis of 1975.

Co-sponsored by the Citizens Budget Commission, the Fiscal Policy Institute, and the Drum Major Institute and presented as part of the ongoing Urban Forum series Power and Politics, New York Style.


Recycle-O-Rama
Sunday, June 26
9am–3pm
92nd Street Greenmarket (on First Avenue between 92nd-93rd)
Accepted recycling materials include:
Electronics (computer equipment and accessories, network devices, TV and audio-visual equipment, cell phones and telecommunication devices), paper and usual recycling. Appliances will not be accepted.
For more information, visit http://uppergreenside.org/blog/

CIVITAS News and Events: May 6, 2011

Street Tree Stewardship

On Thursday, May 26, CIVITAS presents a Street Tree Stewardship workshop. The event will take place at The Arsenal in Central Park (Fifth Avenue at 64th Street) at 6pm.
RSVP Required: info@civitasnyc.org <mailto:info@civitasnyc.org> or 212-996-0745.
Learn how to report and care for sick street trees, maintain healthy trees, and how to advocate for new trees on your block. Attend this event to tell us where you would like to see new trees planted, and sign up to “Adopt a Tree.”

CIVITAS has been responsible for planting street trees on East 86th Street, and other locations on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem. We have also reported more than one hundred dead or injured street trees and empty tree pits for urgent attention to the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Find more information and event updates at: http://civitasnyc.org/live/trees/ <http://civitasnyc.org/live/trees/>


Newsrack Box Enforcement
Please take a minute to sign the electronic petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/newsracks/ <http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/newsracks/> and spread the word by forwarding this link. CIVITAS has been working for several years to clean up the plastic and metal newsrack boxes cluttering the sidewalks in our neighborhood. We are pleased to report that as a result of CIVITAS and partnering efforts, the A1 News boxes, which were long neglected and did not contain newspapers for over two years, have been removed. More boxes that are broken, vandalized, or filled with garbage, still clutter NYC streets, and the current law does not require sufficient maintenance. You can learn more about the Newsrack Box Enforcement initiative and view recent press at http://civitasnyc.org/newsrack-enforcement/ <http://civitasnyc.org/newsrack-enforcement/>


Community Events:

It’s My Park Day – East River Esplanade
Saturday, May 21
9am-4pm
Volunteers should enter at the East 60th Street Greenway entrance - gardens near dog run.
It’s My Park Day is an opportunity to improve parks throughout the city. Join Carl Schurz Park Conservancy, East River C.R.E.W., Inc., Upper Green Side, and Friends of the Esplanade in cleaning and painting the East River Esplanade. Volunteers are welcome to join for any length of time. For more information, visit: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2011/05/21/its-my-park-day-at-east-river-esplanade <http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2011/05/21/its-my-park-day-at-east-river-esplanade>


Recycle-O-Rama
Sunday, June 26
9am–3pm
92nd Street Greenmarket (on First Avenue between 92nd-93rd)
Accepted recycling materials include:
Electronics (computer equipment and accessories, network devices, TV and audio-visual equipment, cell phones and telecommunication devices), paper and usual recycling. Appliances will not be accepted.
For more information, visit http://uppergreenside.org/blog/ <http://uppergreenside.org/blog/>

Community Forum & Presentation on April 27

You are invited to a Community Presentation & Forum
The results are in!

In Winter 2011, CIVITAS and the NYU Wagner School administered a Community Engagement Survey to take stock of community views on neighborhood concerns and future needs of the Upper East Side and East Harlem.

We hope you will participate in the Community Presentation & Forum when we present the survey results addressing the following areas: Transportation, Land Use, Streetscape, and Environmental Quality

Wednesday, April 27, 2011
6-8pm
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue (103rd street entrance)

RSVP required:
info@civitasnyc.org or 212-996-0745

For more information and project updates, visit: www.civitasnyc.org/publicneedssurvey <http://www.civitasnyc.org/publicneedssurvey>

Recent News Coverage on CIVITAS' Newsrack Initiative

CIVITAS speaks out against lax enforcement of vandalized and abandoned newsrack boxes and urges NYC Council to schedule an oversight hearing to address this issue. You can sign the petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/newsracks and find recent media coverage at:

Our Town East Side
DNAinfo.com
WPIX11 News Video

Plan to attend and show your support at CIVITAS’ upcoming presentation on newsrack enforcement at the Community Board 8 Transportation Committee meeting:

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 6:30pm
New York Blood Center, Conference Room 1
310 East 67th Street, (Between First and Second Avenues)
New York, NY 10065

CIVITAS' Select Bus Survey Results and Recommendations

March 21, 2011

Jay Walder
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Metropolitan Transit Authority
347 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017-3739

Dear Mr. Walder,

CIVITAS has been a strong supporter of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plans on First and Second Avenue and has been an active member of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) since 2009. We saw as a sign of progress the October 2010 launch of the Select Bus Service (SBS) line and its promise to improve travel times along the corridor from 125th Street to South Ferry, a route that is underserved by efficient transit.

Throughout the planning process, led by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and partner New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), CIVITAS has been impressed by the efficient implementation of the new bus line, and opportunities for community input at CAC meetings, and public open houses. Since its October 2010 launch, the highly anticipated SBS has been met with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism charged by new procedures such as off-board ticketing, proof of payment receipts, three bus entrances, and a designated bus lane with camera enforcement.

In order to gauge the success and shortfalls of SBS’ first few months, CIVITAS conducted a survey from November 1, 2010 to January 3, 2011 focusing on rider experience in the areas of ticketing, boarding, traffic flow, and overall efficiency. We received 262 responses from riders throughout the First and Second Avenue corridor.

Although CIVITAS’ Select Bus Rider Survey revealed an overall—62%—positive response to SBS, particularly due to the noticeable decrease in travel time, the public response includes a list of complaints and concerns that must be addressed. These fall into the following seven categories:

• MTA Outreach/Education
• Off-Board Ticket Machines
• Bus Stops
• Bus Ride/Design
• Bus Lanes
• Paper Receipts
• Customer Service

While some of these items may pertain to larger issues such as infrastructure and technology, there are short-term and manageable concerns that would significantly improve the public impression of SBS if properly addressed. The Raw Data attachment includes survey statistics from over 250 responders and the Summary attachment highlights comments most frequently addressed within the survey. For immediate improvement we would like to make three recommendations.

1. Consistent Publication of SBS Stop Locations

CIVITAS commends the MTA and DOT for the public outreach that took place prior to the implementation of the new system and especially staff orientations at bus stops within the early months proved to be beneficial. There is a lack of consistency, however, regarding the exact stop locations along the SBS route. This can be found in publications such as the M15 bus schedule pamphlet, (“MTA/New York City Transit Manhattan Bus Schedules." Mta.info. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/bus/mhtnsch.htm), the Bus Rapid Transit webpage, (“Bus Rapid Transit - First and Second Avenues." NYC.gov. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. http://www.nyc.gov/html/brt/html/current/first_ave.shtml), and the Select Bus Service Newsletter (+selectbusservice First Avenue/Second Avenue. Newsletter 2/Fall 2010. Print). It is crucial for riders, local to NYC or visiting tourists, to have these maps readily available at each stop, online, and on buses in order to plan ahead and anticipate the connections to other transit lines. Similarly, updates to the Second Avenue bus route due to subway construction should be prominently featured.

2. Improved Maintenance and Additional Machines

The MetroCard machines are frequently inoperable, whether due to technical problems or lack of paper receipts. This creates a backup at congested bus stops and increases the risk of passenger fines. We recommend that MTA increase inspection frequency, and set up a direct and efficient method for customers to report locations of broken machines. The current method for reporting broken machines by calling MTA’s customer service number, 718-330-1234, is time-consuming and confusing. Furthermore, installing additional machines at congested stops such as 14^th, 34^th, and 79^th Streets would speed the boarding process and reduce crowding around working machines.

3. Better Cross-Town Bus Connections

CIVITAS has been a strong supporter of the limited nature of the SBS stop locations and has advocated for roughly 10-blocks separating each express stop. There are stops, however, where the distance between an SBS and local bus, or a cross-town bus should be reexamined. This is apparent throughout the corridor where riders must cross a major cross-town intersection to transfer buses, a situation that is unsafe for riders of all ages, and especially those who are less mobile. This is evident at the 25^th, 88^th, 97^th and 100^th Street stops, which are two or more blocks from the 23^rd, 86^th, and 96^th Street cross-town buses respectively.

We urge MTA and DOT to reevaluate the stop locations that are placed blocks away from the cross-town connection.

Although a significant number of survey comments addressed the lack of a stop at the 72^nd Street cross-town bus connection, CIVITAS feels strongly that an additional stop would deter from the efficient and established route. This discussion should be reconsidered, however, with the future completion of the 72^nd Street Second Avenue subway stop.

The Select Bus Rider Survey revealed complaints about the SBS experience that have longer-term solutions relating to the established SBS infrastructure. We recognize that paper receipts are central to the off-board payment and three-door boarding opportunities of the SBS model, but they create excessive litter and are easily misplaced. CIVITAS supports the implementation of a universal MetroCard that will electronically store off-board purchases and transfer information. We hope MTA will continue to utilize technology to streamline payments and boarding procedures.

We thank you for your continuing efforts to engage the community in order to better serve riders and East Side transit. Our objective is for this information to be useful as MTA moves forward in improving the Select Bus Service on First and Second Avenue and implementing new SBS routes throughout New York City.

Sincerely,

Hunter F. Armstrong
Executive Director

Tali Cantor
Associate Director

Hon. Carolyn Maloney, US Congresswoman
Hon. Christine C. Quinn, NYC Council Speaker
Hon. Scott M. Stringer, Manhattan Borough President
Hon. Liz Krueger, NYS Senator
Hon. Jose M. Serrano, NYS Senator
Hon. Jonathan L. Bing, NYS Assembly Member
Hon. Micah Z. Kellner, NYS Assembly Member
Hon. Daniel R. Garodnick, NYC Council Member
Hon. Jessica S. Lappin, NYC Council Member
Hon. Melissa Mark-Viverito, NYC Council Member
Robert Marino, Director, MTA NYCT Government & Community Relations
Ted Orosz, Director, MTA NYCT Long Range Bus Planning
Kate Mikuliak, NYCDOT BRT Outreach Coordinator
Manhattan Community Board 8
Manhattan Community Board 11

Summary of Comments & Raw Data

Upcoming Upper Green Side Events: Electronic Recycling and It's My Park Day

Saturday, April 30th: Recycle-O-Rama – Spring Edition
82nd Street Greenmarket (between First and York), 9 am – 3 pm. Electronics recycling. Paper shredding. All usual recyclables.

Saturday, May 21st: It’s My Park Day
From 10 am – 4 pm Join Upper Green Side in cleaning the segment of the East River Esplanade south of 96th Street: Scraping and painting railing, cleaning plantings, getting rid of graffiti. Come for an hour. Be there the whole day.

Sunday, June 26th: Recycle-O-Rama – Summer Edition
92nd Street Greenmarket (on First between 92nd-93rd), 9 am – 3 pm More electronics recycling. Paper shredding. All usual recyclables.

For more information on these events, visit www.uppergreenside.org