Dear Neighbor,
As 2010 is coming to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to recap what your block association has been up to in its first year of existence. Formed on January 4, 2010, the East 93rd Street Block Association is comprised of residents and businesses in our neighborhood. It is a non-profit 501c3 organization established to address quality of life issues, including beautification, maintenance of our sidewalks, security, construction and sanitation which affect our neighborhood in the East 90’s, and in particular, East 93rd Street between First and Second Avenue.
As you are aware, the presence of the MTA has wreaked havoc in our neighborhood and left our block with a host of health and safety problems… including severe rat infestation, noise, dirt, excessive garbage, pollution, and loss of trees. These issues have seriously threatened the integrity of our neighborhood.
In the short time that we have been in existence, below is just a sample of the
improvements that our block association has made to our block:
- We spearheaded the campaign which resulted in the MTA’s contractor implementing a rat abatement plan in our neighborhood.
- We have coordinated efforts with our local politicians and city agencies to ensure that these efforts are continually adhered to.
- We have spearheaded a 311 campaign, encouraging residents to file complaints with 311 with every rat sighting. We then, along with Assembly Member Micah Kellner’s office (and bulk 311 complaint record numbers), follow up with the various city agencies on a regular basis.
- We have contacted, and continue to contact, those building owners on our block who do/did not place their garbage in secure metal trash receptacles, thus becoming a haven for the rats. One by one the buildings are switching from open loose garbage cans to secured trash receptacles, thus complying with health and safety regulations.
- We applied for and have been awarded a grant from the Citizens Committee for NYC to contribute to our block improvement projects.
- We have fought for and received four new trees on our block from Million Trees NYC.
- We have surveyed our block with Green keepers to coordinate tree pit cultivation and plantings in the spring.
- We have surveyed our block with the Doe Fund to coordinate a full future steam cleaning of our sidewalks .
- We are interviewing with different ironworks companies so that we will be able to protect our trees and plantings with new tree guards.
We have accomplished so much in the short time we have been in existence. However, there is still so much that needs to be done. Through community-based participation, we aim to raise funds so that we will be financially able to successfully achieve our beautification and outreach project goals, such as installing and maintaining those necessary tree guards, cultivating our tree soil and supplying seasonal plantings, steam cleaning our sidewalks, and fostering the health and safety of our neighborhood.
The East 93rd Street Block Association currently has over 75 members consisting of residents, businesses, and property owners on our block. We hope that our association will serve as a model for neighboring streets and that we will eventually be able to grow and incorporate residents of adjoining streets in the East 90’s into our association who would like to beautify and enhance their street.
How can you help? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how to improve our block so it is cleaner, safer, and healthier for our families? Do you want to volunteer? If so, please email us at mail@east93blockassoc.org . Do you want to make a donation? Your block association is a non-profit (501c3) organization and your donation will be tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law.
To learn more about the East 93rd Street Block Association or to make a donation, I invite you to please take a look at our website at:
www.east93blockassoc.org
On behalf of the East 93rd Street Block Association, we would like to wish you a safe, happy, and healthy new year.
Best,
Valerie Rifkin, President
East 93rd Street Block Association
