Transportation Hearing!

If the proposed MTA Service CUTS are allowed to go into effect
this could be the FUTURE of Bus Service on Staten Island:

Jones Woods Finally Park Land!

Monday, March 31, 2008

Kudos to the Councilmen who Saved Jones Woods

During the 1970s and 1980s, the New Brighton Citizens’ Committees Inc. requested that the huge undeveloped hillside on the north shore of Staten Island know as Jones’ Woods become parkland. Many government officials said it was a great idea but didn't do it.

Jones’ Woods has wonderful high hilltop vistas and lush wildlife offering 360 degrees of beautiful natural greenery in certain places. Even though these huge woodlands were privately owned, in this densely populated diverse community they were utilized as public green space for many decades.

In the 1990s developers began to tear down the trees in the upper portion of Jones’ Woods. Portions of the hillside began to be eroded and the SI Advance documented actual mudslides onto Alden Place beneath the new construction.

Citizens of New Brighton came out in the hundreds to say that this last largest undeveloped hillside must not fall victim to this kind of over-development. Our civic organization worked diligently to call attention to the situation, and neighbors from all over Staten Island began to join us.

Elected officials made promises of support on many occasions. However, only Councilman Jay O’Donovan actually allocated money to this environmental preservation, though not enough to complete the purchase.

But then Michael McMahon made a campaign promise to complete the acquisition of Jones’ Woods as parkland. Now over ten years after his predecessor’s initial commitment, Councilman McMahon has indeed come through big time for the residents of Staten Island.

It was not an easy acquisition, to say the least. But when it comes to something like losing this much of God’s natural beauty to bulldozers, McMahon is not the type to let obstacles stand in the way of our commitment to this borough. Thanks to our extraordinary efforts, almost 15 acres of natural wooded hillside will remain just that for generations to come and enjoy forever.

In a republic, citizens are supposed to elect representatives that serve the public well in government. In this instance, Michael McMahon is that true public servant, the kind all the voters of Staten Island are blessed to have working for them.

-Lindy P. Crescitelli, New Brighton

New York City Councilman FIRST pledged to SAVE Jones' Woods as Parkland at The New Brighton Citizens' Committees Inc.'s General Membership Meeting

(Click article to enlarge it.)

The first specific MILLION DOLLAR pledge toward Saving Jones' Woods as Park Land (SEE ABOVE) came at Our General Membership Meeting, after many well attended meetings we organized and other events this organization conducted including large well publicized Rallies, (largely documented by coverage in the News):

(Click articles to enlarge them.)

We even Organized a Lobbying Trip and Traveled to the NY State Capital in Albany to continue to raise awareness of this issue:

New Brighton Teen Shot ...

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

New Brighton teen shot

By DOUG AUER

A teenager was wounded in a New Brighton shooting last night.

During the night part of New Brighton was locked down as police searched for the assailants who shot a 16-year-old boy at around 10:10 p.m. near the intersection of Jersey Street and Benziger Avenue.

The victim -- whose name was not released -- was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton. His condition was non-life threatening, police said.

Within seconds of the gunfire ringing out, a police unit patrolling nearby discovered the teen shot in the abdomen lying in the street.

The gunman was described as a black male in his 20s wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt.

Somewhere in the backyards of the 200 block of Benziger was where the fleeing shooter and his accomplices were last seen, according to police.

Residents were told to stay in their homes as an NYPD helicopter illuminated the neighborhood and heavily armed Emergency Service Unit officers with a K-9 dog canvassed for the wanted men.

Detectives recovered shell casings on Jersey Street as city buses waited for the streets to be reopened, which occurred about two hours later.

Investigations into the shooting are ongoing and the suspects remain at large.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's CrimeStoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS.

Doug Auer covers police and fire news for the Advance. He may be reached at auer@siadvance.com.

New Brighton Citizen's Committees Inc.'s Halloween Fest!

Another FREE (no admission charged) COMMUNITY EVENT put on through and by the volunteers of this organization, with funds raised by the organization through fund-raisers, dues, & donations, and open to the entire community.

New Brighton Citizen's Committees Inc.'s Street Fest!