News From Council Member Andrew Cohen

COUNCIL MEMBER COHEN ANNOUNCES HE HAS HELPED RESOLVE OVER 1,000 CONSTITUENT CASES SINCE 2014

  Council Member Andrew Cohen announced today that he helped resolve over 1,000 constituent cases since he took office on January 1, 2014, including 393 cases in the 2016 calendar year.  These cases were brought to his attention by hundreds of constituents all throughout his district, from Riverdale to Wakefield and Kingsbridge to Bedford Park.  Council Member Cohen has assisted constituents on numerous issues, including quality of life concerns, traffic and public safety, and tenant and housing matters.  He has even gone further than helping individual constituents by organizing tenants in buildings throughout his district. 

  

“I am here to help,” said Council Member Cohen.  Constituent services are the cornerstone of my work as a City Council Member, and I am proud to have helped resolve a broad range of over 1,000 concerns since taking office.” 

Constituents may call or visit either of the Council Member’s two District Offices, or email District11@council.nyc.gov.  The Kingsbridge office, 277 West 231^st Street, telephone 718-549-7300, is open Monday through Thursday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The Norwood office, 3450 DeKalb Avenue, telephone 718-882-4000 x 353, is open Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.   

Council Member Andrew Cohen Gets New Speed Hump Approved by DOT

Dangerous Stretch of Post Road to be Made Safer

  Council Member Andrew Cohen has made it his priority to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers throughout his Council District.  Soon, there should be fewer motorists speeding along the dangerous stretch of Post Road between West 254^th Street and Mosholu Avenue.  Council Member Cohen recently received confirmation from the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) that his request for a speed hump on that stretch has been approved. 

A constituent who frequents the area reported to the Council Member that this long, narrow, residential section of Post Road, with no existing traffic controls along the entire stretch, had developed into a dangerous speed zone, with drivers using it to bypass lights and congestion on Broadway. Unfortunately, due to the hilly terrain, parking on both sides of the street, and sharp turns at corners, such speeding is very hazardous for both drivers and pedestrians.  There is also a school at the corner of 254^th and Broadway, increasing the potential risk. 

Council Member Cohen and the constituent both reached out to the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and requested they study the feasibility of installing speed humps to slow down traffic. After completion of a traffic study, DOT approved the request.

Council Member Cohen commended this constituent for bringing the conditions to his attention. He also expressed appreciation that DOT heeded their requests:  “We must send a clear message to drivers that our local streets are not speedways.  Both drivers and pedestrians must exercise greater caution. I won’t rest from working with DOT and my colleagues in government to improve driver and pedestrian safety throughout my district."

News From Council Member Andrew Cohen

The following comes from Councilman Andrew Cohen

Council Member Cohen Touts Funding to Combat Mental Illness in City Budget

“This budget is progressive, fiscally responsible and most importantly it helps all New Yorkers.  I thank Speaker Mark-Viverito for ensuring an inclusive process that was not only open and transparent but substantive as well.

“As the Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services, I am especially proud that we were able to secure $33 million to combat violence and mental illness on Rikers Island.  I am also pleased that we have secured a $200,000 enhancement for the Children Under Five Initiative and $50,000 for the Young Adult Initiative.  Mental health is a serious issue and this funding shows that the City is serious about fighting this epidemic on behalf of these vulnerable populations,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

Council Member Cohen to Bring Participatory Budgeting to District 11 and the Bronx

Groundbreaking program allows community residents to determine how taxpayer money is spent

Council Member Andrew Cohen has announced that he is instituting Participatory Budgeting in the 11^th Council district for Fiscal Year 2016.  Participatory Budgeting is a groundbreaking program which allows community residents to vote on how a portion of their tax dollars are spent.  Council Member Cohen is the first Bronx Council Member to establish this program in the borough and he will allocate a minimum of $1million of his discretionary funds to the process.

The participatory budgeting process involves a series of meetings that feed into the City’s annual budget cycle.  Starting in the fall, community members will brainstorm spending ideas at budget assemblies. Volunteers will turn these ideas into full proposals, and the public will also be able to submit, review, and discuss project ideas online.  In April 2015 residents will vote on which proposals to fund.

“I am excited to bring Participatory Budgeting to my district and let our community have a voice in how their tax dollars are spent.  It is my hope that through this process we will have residents from all over the district engage one another and work together to develop and support various projects that will benefit everyone.  I am looking forward to working with my neighbors on establishing this program in the Bronx and ensuring its success,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

This summer, the Council Member and his staff will be hosting information sessions throughout the district to let residents know more about participatory budgeting and how they can get involved. The confirmed information sessions are listed below and they will all begin at 7:00pm.  Additional information sessions will be confirmed shortly.

Monday, July 7^th at Community Board 7 Office, 229A East 204^th Street

Thursday, July 10th at Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, 3225 Reservoir Oval East

Tuesday, July 15^th at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, 4275 Katonah Avenue

Thursday, July 17^th at the Riverdale Y-MWHA, 5625 Arlington Avenue