State Sen. Dilan’s liaison Michael Olmeda appeals for a full Census count in Bushwick, which he believes has a population of around 200,000. — Photos by Aaron Short

There are no four-leaf clovers or shiny pots of gold inside the Hope Gardens Community Center, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a monthly Community Board 4 meeting. Let’s get right to it.

6:35 PM: Chairwoman Julie Dent calls the meeting to order and hands the mic to Michael Olmeda, a liaison for State Senator Martin Dilan, to give a presentation about the 2010 New York Census. Dilan is the Chairperson of the Complete Count Committee in the New York Senate.  He is not here tonight, despite receiving top billing in everyone’s CB4 newsletter.

Olmeda gives a brief, stat-heavy report. The response rate for filling out the Census is 67 percent nationally and 63 percent statewide. Compare that with 43 percent in Bushwick, which supposedly has a population of 125,000, and that means a lot of lost resources. Olmeda thinks there are over 200,000 people in Bushwick and that the community could be losing $213 million in resources because of the undercount.

We will have a more in depth analysis of the consequences of the census soon, but for right now, check out this interview Annie Correal did with WNYC’s Brian Lehrer on Monday on the undercount in Bushwick excerpted from a report she wrote for El Diario.

“Everyone, child, newborn, will get counted. If you have that form, and someone’s living there, guess what, they [need to be] counted. They’re still using city services,” says Olmeda.

6:50 PM: A City Planning liaison announces the launch of the agency’s New York City waterfront redevelopment plan. As Bushwick is landlocked, this is a short report.

“This plan doesn’t develop specific sites, it provides guidelines that would occur on the waterfront,” says the liaision.

6:58 PM: Dent takes the mic back and manager Nadine Whitted calls the roll of community members before Dent introduces elected officials. Of note, Karen Sanders, a mayoral community affairs liaison, is retiring after 24 years.  

7:08 PM: Dent gives her report, and it is about the Charter Revision Committee, which will meet later this year. There are fears among board leaders that the revision could eliminate community boards entirely, and this is part of the mobilization effort to prevent that.

Mary McClelland’s highlighter yellow doesn’t count for St. Patrick’s Day.

Here’s another stat for you. Number of community board members who wore green on St. Patricks’ Day: three. Mary McClelland’s highlighter-yellow sweatpants do not count. 

7:18 PM: Whitted gives more context regarding charter revision, which could eliminate borough presidents, the public advocate, and community boards — one elderly woman in the corner of the room applauds.

“Well if you agree with that, then you will have the opportunity to vote on it,” says Whitted, defending community boards based on its ability to build consensus, promote transparency and local involvement, and provide an advisory role to those in public office.

But wait! Board members don’t just get to listen to the report, they get to participate too. Each member has a yellow folder filled with ten sheets of petitions, and they’re not going to fill then out themselves.

“We are planning on getting our show on the road, We need to get out there, explain to them what we do and why we do it, and get people to sign these petitions. People should start collecting signatures tonight,” says Whitted.

She shifts gears to take on the liquor stores in Bushwick. She shares news from last night’s police meeting that the 83rd Precinct sent 126 summonses based on the information coming through the public safety committee, as well as 7 nuisance abatements.

Also, Knickerbocker Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic for four Sundays again this summer from Starr to Suydam on July 11, 18, and 25, and Aug 1.

7:39 PM: Committee Reports. Elvena Davis announces that the 5th Annual Bushwick Day Parade will return to the neighborhood on June 3rd, which is also Brooklyn-Queens Day. The theme this year is "Bushwick Youth Marching Forward," and Davis is asking the schools, youth organizations, churches, and community groups to submit high achievers to be honored during the parade.  

7:46 PM: Whitted gives the Parks Report because CB4 mascot Austen Martinez is absent.

A little background. This particular meeting tends to be the bat-sh#t craziest meeting of any committee meeting during the year because of the different baseball leagues which don’t necessarily get along too well. Apparently relations are improving, though the meeting I attended two years ago resembled a cross between The Sopranos and Bad News Bears, except everyone spoke Spanish. 

7:52 PM: Barbara Smith gives the Public Safety report, speaking broadly about sending in properly filled applications for liquor licenses. One applicant messed up and found that their bar would open from 9 AM and close at 9 PM.

“When everybody is still out partying, they have to close and go home,” says Barbara.

7:59 PM: Laura Braslow has some New Business. She proposes formation of an Arts and Culture committee starting next year. It would deal with all issues regarding the arts and culture and interactions with schools, senior-citizen centers, and churches. Dent thinks that is an excellent idea and suggests that Laura should think about chairing it.

“Be ever so ready,” says Dent. “We would probably be the first community board to have such a committee.”

A resident of Willoughby Avenue wearing a navy Yankees jacket interrupts New Business to complain about 979 Willoughby and the activity happening around the building. He has been observing beds coming into the building at night. Julie takes the reins and gives out information regarding the board.

Another man in the corner of the room wearing a red tie jumps up and refutes what the Yankees jacket man. His name is Ashley Khan and he says he is living in the building and providing housing for anyone who needs it there, out of the goodness of his own heart. He characterizes the building as “transitional housing” or a “three-quarters house” but it is not a men’s shelter. Khan mentions HASA, which is the Human Resources Administration’s emergency HIV AIDS housing program, and a social worker from ARTC, a drug rehabilitation clinic branch on Myrtle Avenue.

Several women who live near Willoughby Avenue stand up one-by-one and note that they sent letters to elected officials regarding the building, including Diana Reyna, who was not responsive. A representative from Reyna’s office notes that they have received the information, that they have identified the owner, and had a phone conference yesterday about the issue. Dent closes the discussion, thanking the Willoughby residents, as a community affairs officer escorts Mr. Khan out of the meeting after discovering that he has been taping the conversation on his iPhone without permission. 

8:31 PM: Announcements! Whew! 

*Laura Braslow reminds people that Bushwick Open Studios will be the first week in June and planning has started. The minutes from this week’s meeting are already online, and if you like reading minutes (of course you do! That’s why you’re reading this!), you should check them out. 

*Barbara Aubel from Wyckoff Hospital mentions the impending B13 bus cuts that could eliminate drop-off service in front of the hospital.

*With a special St. Patricks’ Day-related report, Mary McClelland talks about rounding up the rats and driving them out of Bushwick. And also collecting dog droppings. If Mary can figure out how to do both, the board just might knight her. 

*Evelyn Cruz notes that Congress, Housing and Urban Development and the State Legislature federalized 21 state-developed NYCHA buildings, which will bring in more funding for public housing complexes such as Bushwick Houses, just outside CB4. More on this to come.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone and good luck with your brackets!

Bushwick’s Community Board 4 meets on the third Wednesday of every month (except July and August) at Hope Gardens Community Center, 195 Linden Street at Wilson Avenue. To contact the office any other time, call 718-628-8400 or visit 315 Wyckoff Avenue, 2nd Floor.

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