Agency proposing new residence is assailed St. Vincent's Services is blasted for planning a building for college and high school girls in New Brighton
Friday, November 30, 2001
The agency planning to open a community residence for college and high school girls in New Brighton came under fire from about 60 residents of the area during a meeting last night in Christ Episcopal Church, New Brighton.
The meeting began with representatives of St. Vincent's Services, a Brooklyn-based foster care agency, describing its plan to operate a home...Despite the descriptions of a high-quality program in well-maintained homes, many of the residents expressed doubt, criticized the approach the agency had taken with the community, and said there already are 10 other residences in a three-mile area in their neighborhood...
Those attending the meeting criticized an October letter sent to Community Board 1, which stated the agency did not need any kind of Board approvals because they were not opening a new home, but moving the one on 116 Vanderbilt Ave., Clifton, to New Brighton.
"You called it a replacement building. You have told my Community Board you do not need their approval. This is the way you enter my community," said a man who came to the meeting.
"I assure you the Community Board will fight you every possible way we can," said Richard Xuereb, the second vice chairman of the Board.
The Board has heard residents comment on the issue but has not taken a vote on it. The Board passed a blanket resolution in March to oppose any new social service facilities on the North Shore.
Patricia Houghton, director of Mission Development, said that at the home's current location, a rented home on Vanderbilt Avenue, three people have to share each room. About a year ago, the agency purchased the land in New Brighton, she said.
"We looked for several years for a site that can accommodate a beautiful structure," she said.
But Lindy P. Crescitelli, president of the New Brighton Citizens Committee, said there was a different motive involved.
He said New Brighton residents have a history of accepting the youths once a home is opened, instead of threatening to "burn down" the structure like some do on the South Shore.
"We will not burn down social service agencies or show our anger to young people. The reason you chose the site is because other agencies have had good experiences here. So you tried to sneak another one in," he said.
Crescitelli said the agency should have consulted the community before purchasing the land.
"You purchase the land. You're telling us you don't need authorization. Yet out of the other side of the mouth, you're telling us you want to work with the community and you want us to visit," he said.
Resident Susan Fowler, who lives near the site, was the lone person to speak in favor of the site...Resident Toni Paresi charged the agency had so far failed to mention that there were both boys and girls in the Clifton home, and that a history of trouble, including calls to police, led to the move.
"You never mentioned you had boys and girls," she said.
Christopher Jones, managing director of group home services, admitted there are boys and girls in the Clifton home...Jones said police involvement has been minimal. St. Vincent's Services, a private agency founded in 1869, has a long history of providing high-quality care, he said.
There will be two to three staff members on site at all times, he said. The residents are screened through the Administration for Children's Services and the ones going to the home in New Brighton will be the brightest of the residents, who will only be able to stay if they maintain their good work and behavior, he said...Resident Diane Scrimenti, a special education teacher, said she has had numerous negative experiences with ACS screening.
"They're not always forward with us. We have troubled children all the time. Every time we're on the phone: 'Oh. ACS is involved. Sorry.' And you can't go any further," she said.
"They need a place to live, so the girls can go to college," Jones said. "We want to provide that."
Crescitelli said having so many similar residences in a single area ultimately hurts the people living in them.
"What we're trying to do is work to spread out the homes. Putting it in proximity to so many social service agencies labels them. We need the children to grow up in a new century where they're welcome everywhere."
Speaking after the meeting, Ms. Houghton said she was not sure what the timeline for construction was and said she would have to consult the agency's architects and engineers to know if all of the needed permits have been obtained.
© 2001 The Staten Island Advance.
