“…the single most important piece of unfinished business that lies ahead of us in 2013: rebuilding the communities hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy – and creating a more resilient and sustainable city.” – Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s State of the City Address, February 14, 2013
The Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) addresses how we rebuild New York City to be more resilient in the wake of Hurricane Sandy but with a long-term focus.
We invite you to join us for a facilitated conversation about how to rebuild Williamsburg, Greenpoint, DUMBO, Long Island City and surrounding communities. We are looking for participants who are invested in this neighborhood now and for the next generation.
SIRR Williamsburg/Greenpoint/DUMBO/LIC Public Workshop
March 14, 2013
7:00 pm
P.S. 132 (320 Manhattan Ave)
We begin with a brief introduction of SIRR and will have break-out sessions to discuss priorities for rebuilding Northern Brooklyn and Long Island City to be more resilient in the face of future storms and long-term climate change.
RSVP by email: RSVPWaterFrontMarch14 (at) nycsirr.org.
Include the full name and email (if available) of each guest.
RSVP by phone: (212) 618-5745 – Leave the name of each guest and say “for March 14 Waterfront”.
Rockaway Renegades are an all volunteer based, direct action group committed to the cleanup and relief effort currently underway in the Rockaways following the devastation left behind by Hurricane Sandy.
During the weekend of November 3 4, Rockaway Renegades organized a large donation site in Greenpoint and two days of relief in Rockaway. They were on the ground there distributing warm clothing, water, batteries, and supplies. They also prepared hot meals to distribute to a community of people who have not had heat or power since the storm.
Their efforts that weekend culminated on Sunday November 4th, when they caravanned down to the Far Rockaways with 2 trucks, 2 SUVs, and 6 cars full of food, volunteers, clothing, and supplies. Witnessing the intense need of the community there- they were inspired to do more.
Their immediate plan is to resume our relief effort on Saturday November 11 and Sunday November 12. They will be caravanning down – this time with at least 3 passenger vans full of volunteers and supplies. They are in the process of organizing additional drivers and volunteers in addition to the vans.
Once there – they will coordinate with leaders in the community to distribute much needed food and supplies while also, for the first time, contributing to the massive clean up effort that is underway there.
-Grilling
-Shoveling
-Distributing
The Rockaway community isn’t expected to have heat or power for another 6 – 10 days and the need there is beyond belief.
Greenpointers is extremely proud to be a sponsor for this Sunday’s (11/11; 12-8pm) Brooklyn Vintage Crawl, when you can shop and bar hop and get amazing deals on Brooklyn’s best vintage. Even better, while you shop you will have the opportunity to donate to Sandy Relief efforts in each store!
Check out all the local vintage shops and bars participating here.
•Slowfax (455 Graham Ave) 20% Off Clothes & DJ in the shop
• Antoinette (119 Grand St.) is having musical performances plus 10% off in store. 100% of Tote Sales will be donated to Sandy Relief in Breezy Point.
• Brooklyn Reclamation (676 Driggs Ave) will have snacks plus 20% off non-sale items, which could add up to a lot of savings on furniture and home accessories.
• Fox and Fawn (570 Manhattan Ave.) is giving away a free vintage gift with purchase!
• Tiger Blanket(421 Graham Ave) 20% off Everything & performance by alt-country duo The Stone Lonesome, plus 20% donated to Red Cross
• Horizons Vintage (381 Metropolitan Ave.) 30% off, Drinks by donation for relief efforts
• RePOP 95% Recycled (143 Roebling St.) 10% off; 10% donated to Sandy Relief efforts. Artworks by Tom Gleeson. DJ, Complimentary drinks.
Bars:
• Manhattan Inn (632 Manhattan Ave.) $3 Sixpoint drafts, $9 Old Fashioned’s … and Free Rum Punch with brunch!
The Greenpoint Reformed Church‘s volunteers prepared more than 1,000 bag lunches over the weekend, on top of thousands of meals prepared by the Church’s volunteers throughout the week as a relief effort for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
The volunteers of the weekly Wednesday hot meal at the Church’s Soup Kitchen led the organizing of up to 60 simultaneous volunteers preparing lunches and hot meals. Bag lunches included peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, juice, chips, cookie or granola bar, and fruit. The lunches were provided to Greenpoint’s Church of the Ascension on Java Street, where Councilmember Steve Levin has been coordinating drop-off donations and deliveries to Red Hook, Coney Island and Gerritsen Beach.
Many of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods are reeling in the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy. The city itself, without having done door-to-door inquiries, admits 40,000 – 50,000 people will need shelter. (In addition to the already 30,000 people homeless in the city on any given night.) Reuters quoted Mayor Mike Bloomberg as stating that, “We don’t have a lot of empty housing in this city. It’s a problem to find housing.” This despite homeless advocacy group Picture the Homeless’ findings that there are enough vacant properties in the city to easily house over 200,000 people, and then some. Continue reading →
Aside from working hard all weekend to collect and distribute critical supplies to those in need after the devastation caused by Sandy, we have raised over $5000 to be donated to New York Cares. Thanks to local businesses and individuals who have donated over 50 amazing prizes!
Until now, I never understood how important this website could be in bringing the entire community together to help out fellow New Yorker during a time of such need! Be proud.
It was difficult to chose a charity and I never expected we would raise so much in such a short amount of time. I can literally sit and watch the donations coming in, minute by minute. The generosity is unbelievable!
With over a week to go, I am adding an additional option.
When you make your donation, you can chose your funds to benefit either New York Cares, or our local Greenpoint Soup Kitchen, who is working so hard, not only to feed hungry Greenpointers, but to prepare meals for those in shelter displaced by Hurricane Sandy in Brooklyn.
As I write this, the Greenpoint Soup Kitchen is making over 400 sandwiches for elderly Brooklynites who are taking shelter at the armory. Their work is tireless and directly benefits hungry New Yorkers during this difficult time.
Both options enter you to win the same awesome prizes!
The best part: whatever charity you chose, you will be entered to win the same awesome prizes! So consider making an additional donation, and up your odds of winning things like: 1 Year Cafe Grumpy Coffee Subscription ($240), Date Night for Two at Milk and Roses, Brooklyn Cruiser Bike ($499), $100 Gift Certificate to Dalaga, Weft & Warp Scarf ($250), a Baritone Ukulele from Pentatonic Guitars ($69) or many other wonderful prizes donated by local businesses in Greenpoint and nearby.
As if commuting from Greenpoint were ever normal, there is no G train service and there is no timetable for restoring service. The L train is not running to Manhattan. Buses are running but are crowded. Expect delays on all subways tomorrow. East River Ferry is running but as of Sunday there is no word whether service from India St will be restored.
Our advice: take the bus, walk, ride your bike, or work from home.
G – Suspended. Via @MTAInsider: “To everyone asking about the G train, the Greenpoint Tube under Newtown Creek is flooded. We are working on dewatering.” No time table on when G service will be restored reported.
L – Partial service between Broadway Junction and Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn. Via @MTAInsider: “To everyone asking about the L, Chairman said it was a “particular concern” b/c of extent of flooding. He’s hopeful for restoration next wk.”
M – will operate in two sections: Between Myrtle Avenue-Broadway and Metropolitan Avenue. Between Parsons-Archer and 34 Street-Herald Square making F train stops between 71 Avenue-Forest Hills and 34 Street-Herald Square. No M train service in Manhattan south of 34 Street.
NOTE: The following train stations are closed: Queens Plaza, Court Square-23 Street, Lexington Avenue/53 Street, and 5 Avenue/53 Street.
J – Service is operating over the Williamsburg Bridge to Essex Street. Advisory as of 11/4 at 1pm, “Due to signal problems at the Essex Street Station, southbound J is turning at the Marcy Ave Station.”
E – Service to and from Manhattan via Court Square is suspended.
7 – Delays. Flushing Line service is operating between Main Street-Flushing and 42nd Street-Times Square.
• BUSES FROM GREENPOINT
• B62 and B43 are both running North/South from Manhattan Ave.
• East River Ferry – India St (Closed as of Sunday 11/4)
• Via @EastRiverFerry: “We are hoping it will be open tomorrow but no official word yet” & “Problems are electrical in nature. The city has ordered the necessary parts. Hope to restore by Monday”
• Ferries from North Williamsburg (at North 6th Street) will start at 7AM, and the last ferries will leave Manhattan from E 34th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11 at 6PM. The ferries will arrive at each stop in 15-minute intervals.
• The Brooklyn Kitchen is No Longer accepting donations and no longer needs volunteers.
(If you are a collection or DROPOFF POINT/COLLECTION CENTER The Brooklyn Kitchen may be able to promote your location to volunteers and cars/drivers. Please e-mail hurricanehelp (at) thebrooklynkitchen.com with your location and phone number and we will add you to this site, and try to hook you up with volunteers, cars and trucks.)
*** CLOTHING DONATIONS ARE NOT NEEDED ANYWHERE ***
• MOST NEEDED ITEMS:
– cardboard boxes, tape, batteries, flashlights, baby formula and diapers, cleanup supplies, sanitary supplies/toiletries, garbage bags, blankets, canned/stable food and water.
• Call first to make sure your destination is still accepting donations.
• LOCATIONS ACCEPTING DONATIONS AS OF SUNDAY 11/4: (CALL AHEAD)
Church of the Ascension, 122 Java St., Greenpoint, 917-885-3096
American Legion, 519 Leonard St., Now-11pm Sat., 11a-7p Sun, (718) 383-9822
Greenhouse Holistic yoga studio at 783 Driggs (@ S. 4th) 718-384-9454
Call any of the numbers from the “SUPPLIES TO DONATE” list above. Any/all of them may need cars to transport their collected donations.
Assemblyman Michael Miller’s office needs cars and trucks (with fuel!) to shuttle supplies from their office on out to several distribution points in the Rockaways. You can contact them directly at 718-805-0950.
We cannot stress enough that you ought to have plenty of gas in the tank before considering contributing your car. Even the local trips.
For anyone thinking of driving directly to the Rockaways: Please remember that it’s a mess out there. There is debris in the road; stuff everywhere. Most cell service is out. If you get a flat tire, etc., you’re on your own. Everyone wants to help and your hearts are in the right place. Make sure your mind is in the right place too. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Love you guys! Hope that wasn’t too harsh!
• HAVE A CAR WITH SUPPLIES & DON’T KNOW WHERE TO DELIVER?
If you have a full load of supplies and don’t know where to take them, here are some options. Be sure to CALL FIRST to make sure you have what they need.
Friday, November 2 through Sunday, November 4, 10am-8pm: Drop off materials at 83-91 Woodhaven Boulevard, Woodhaven, NY 11421. For questions about the donation drive, please call Assemblyman Mike Miller’s office at 718-805-0950. Miller’s office is distributing goods specifically to several locations in the Rockaways.
Friday, November 2 through Sunday, November 4, 10am-8pm: Drop off at 80-00 Cooper Avenue (the former Borders Bookstore site). For questions about the donation drive, please call Council Member Elizabeth Crowley’s office at 718-366-3900. (via Bill DiBlasio)
The Red Cross is operating a donation point at Resort World Casino (Aqueduct Racetrack), accepting many types of donations. Click through for directions, needs list, hours and contact information. Goods donated to the Red Cross may be used locally in Howard Beach and the Rockaways, or may be sorted and sent to other areas of need in the region. (via NYPD Community Affairs <– link)
Same message as before: For anyone thinking of driving directly to the Rockaways: Please remember that it’s a mess out there. There is debris in the road; stuff everywhere. Most cell service is out. If you get a flat tire, etc., you’re on your own. Everyone wants to help and your hearts are in the right place. Make sure your mind is in the right place too.
G Train
Completely suspended. No surprise, it’s the G!
L Train
Partial service is in operation between Broadway Junction and Rockaway Parkway. No word when local stops or service to Manhattan will be open.
E Train
Service to and from Manhattan via Court Square is suspended.
7 train
Limited 7 train service has resumed in both directions from the Times Square-42 Street Station to the Flushing-Main Street Station.
Follow All Trains NYC @NYCTrains on twitter for latest updates.
Subways to Manhattan via Queens –
Queens Plaza F/M trains are operating into Manhattan to 63rd/Lex.*
Queensboro Plaza N trains are running as far as Times Square.*
Vernon Blvd 7 train to Manhattan is now running.*
*You can take the B62 bus from Manhattan Ave to the F/M at Queens Plaza and N/R to Queensboro Plaza. Why does everyplace in Queens have to have the same name?
*You can also take B62 or walk over the Pulaski Bridge to the 7 at Vernon Blvd.
The B62 and B43 are both running North/South from Manhattan Ave.
FERRY East River Ferry stops in Greenpoint and South Williamsburg will remain closed until further notice, as damage continues to be assessed.
Ferries from North Williamsburg (at North 6th Street) will start at 7AM, and the last ferries will leave Manhattan from E 34th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11 at 6PM. The ferries will arrive at each stop in 15-minute intervals.
Looking for a way to help out with storm response here in Greenpoint? I need your help! Tomorrow, Saturday November 3, the Parks Department is doing a lightning-fast survey of the whole city to get a clear and comprehensive picture of which streets are blocked to emergency vehicles. I’m coordinating the survey for a section of North Brooklyn, and I could use your help in inspecting a few of these areas.
All you need to do is look at each street in one of those sections and mark whether it’s passable (can a fire truck get down it?) or not. I estimate a section would take 1-2 hours to complete. If you can pitch in or have questions, please contact me at petertiso (at) gmail (dot) com or meet us at the north corner of McCarren Park (The corner of Lorimer and Nassau, across from Five Leaves) at 9 AM.
From MTA Weekender:
trains between Nassau Av and Court Sq. Free shuttle buses provide alternate service.
Manhattan Ave shuttle buses run between Nassau Av and Court Sq, stopping at Greenpoint Av and 21 St.
and Court Sq,
