Author Archives: n.kyaw

Conflict Story: Keep Fighting Bensonhurst

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Here’s the fact: The majority of Brooklyn’s community boards voted “No” on Mayor DeBlasio’s Housing New York which is a 10-year plan to create or preserve 200,000 affordable apartments across all five boroughs with a projected budget of $41 billion. However, Community Board (CB) 11, which represents Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, voted “Yes” with the stipulation that the Mayor’s Housing Plan plan for CB 11 Brooklyn includes the district in a transit zone.

Source: Brooklyndaily

Updated December 2nd, 2015: Breakdown of various panels voted     [ Green = Yes, Red = No ]

Role of Community Boards and the addressing of its own concerns

As the primary role of NYC Community Boards is to improve the quality of neighborhoods, the Mayor’s Housing Plan raises overwhelming concerns in  residents and community leaders on issues such as creating smaller studio apartments/ which would result in legalizing illegally converted homes, building high additions, demolishing the existing affordable housing, and loss of parking in their neighborhoods.

Part of the Mayor’s Housing Plan proposes two zoning text amendments: Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) and Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) which is to eliminate or reduce the off street parking space and to implement “Transit Zone” in the Bensonhurst.

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Source: Housing New York NYC Planning – Community District Profile Brooklyn CD 11

Ross Brady, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee of [CB 11], reported that his committee waives a recommendation on the proposed Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) text amendment because CB 11 is not a mapped neighborhood for MIH and future actions would have to complywith the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) which is a standardized procedure for land use to be reviewed by the public.

“The need for affordable housing and senior housing to be worthy goals but posits that protections and considerations of the population density and existing community concerns and issues are not items that should be disregarded to reach these goals,” Mr. Brady said. “Development that alters the use and character of the community should undergo community review,” he concluded after committee deliberation on the application during the CB 11 General Meeting and Public Hearing held on November 12, 2015.

Changing Demographic and Parking crisis

Due to the growing population of new residents, Bensonhurst falls under the category of moderate to high-density zoning districts, according to the NYC neighborhood profile. 14th Ave to 25th Ave along 86th Street is Bensonhurst’s busiest shopping area, full of unloading trucks, double parked cars, and bicycles because of emerging small new businesses and the lack of adequate parking spaces. In fact, auto ownership and use of private vehicle commuting rate range from 34.47% to 43.94%, according to the New York University’s Furman Center Neighborhood Info Results (2010). These numbers have kept growing as the fuel prices are decreasing in today’s economy. Some results of the parking crisis are wasted time cruising for parking, angry drivers, increased traffic congestion and air pollution, and the nightmares after somebody experiences a hit-run away scenarios.

"There is just not enough parking."

“There is just not enough parking.” – A by passer said.

Naungyoe, an immigrant factory worker and a part-time yellow cab driver who has been living in Bensonhurst for half a decade, admits that he always struggles to find parking space in the neighborhood.

“When you get back home between 9 to 10 pm from somewhere, you’ve got to expect at least 45 minutes to one-hour of parking searching time – however, it is still not a guarantee of a free space yet,” he said. Mr. Naungyoe sometimes parked his car over 20 minutes walking distance away from his home.  Regarding the Mayor’s reducing off-street parking proposal, Mr. Naungyoe thinks that DCP should come up with feasible solutions such as providing hydraulic parking and underground parking lots for the residents. And having more reliable MTA subways and letting MTA buses run over major cross streets and avenues as in Manhattan neighborhoods.

Demanding Waivers and Opposing calls

In the recent public hearing meeting, CB 11 recommends approval of the Zoning for Quality and Affordability under several modifications. The Department of City Planning proposed waivers of requirements for a small number of spaces for certain districts but the CB 11 completely opposed any reduction in the parking space requirements or the waivers.

Mr. Brady said: “CB 11 opposes the inclusion of the district in a transit zone. The designation of transit zones does not adequately reflect the need for parking and the current parking situation due to development and illegal curb cuts/front yard parking…Furthermore, City Planning should undertake a study to determine the scope and impact of illegal curb cuts and front yard parking.”

The opposition from the CB 11 committee expresses critical concerns of the general residents; however, there are also different perspectives people feel on the neighborhood’s parking crisis.

Eric, who owns a couple of real estate properties in Bensonhurst, acknowledges the parking problems, but he is very optimistic and reluctant to complain to 311 about illegal parking or blocking his drive way.

“I understand and sympathize with some of the drivers blocking my drive way for few hours or a night because I was in their shoes once,” he said.

According to Eric, summer is one of the highest parking disputes seasons because of the existence of summer schools in the neighborhood. Parents park their cars wherever they can, often blocking other people drive ways and that their negligence causes excessive noise pollution which leads to people fighting or aggressive driving.

Snapshot of unloading trucks and double parked cars on 86th Street

Snapshot of unloading trucks and double parked cars on 86th Street

Ongoing fight

Since the Community Boards are New York City agencies which play an advisory role in the issues pertaining to land use and budgetary issues, some of the CB boards in Brooklyn and others in Queens have completely rejected the Mayor’s Housing Plan.

For CB 11, the district manger, planning and zoning committee and other community leaders are working together to support thepopulation of some 199,000 people in the Bensonhurst community. There has been no resolution yet on the zoning conflict, but CB 11 is kept fighting, according to an updated report from the last community board meeting on December 9, 2015.

“Each community needs to address its own concerns and one-size-fits-all solutions are not appropriate,.” Ms.Eilas-Pavia wrote in her email reply. She and her board members are currently demanding that The Department of City Planning (DCP) conduct a study to determine the full scope and impact of illegal curb cuts as well as front-yard parking.

With the deep concern for the community in mind, Ms.Eilas-Pavia wrote that the  “safety of our residents and our first responders” is the main priority for CB 11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Small Asian Grocery Store on 86th Street in Brooklyn: In Person and Online

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For the past two decades, according a report in “Distinct Places, Share Opportunity: A Neighborhood-based Analysis of Asian Americans in NYC,” the Asian American community has been the fastest growing group in the nation and New York City. Bensonhurst alone had their Asian population increase 57% between 2000 and 2010. New Asian immigrants not only have moved to the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn but they have also brought their cultural influences, traditions, values, and most interestingly Asian foods into the neighborhood.

The founder of the Brooklyn Chinese-American (BCA) Association, Paul Mak, decided to address these growing needs and founded on January 19, 1988. “With all the comfort that the Chinese immigrants could find in their new neighborhood, they realized there was still a significant obstacle hindering them from achieving their dreams of prosperity. They had created their own world, but they were isolated from the larger world of New York City and the United States. Notices in English about social welfare and other literatures crucial to their daily life usually went unread,” according to the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association.

Front view of US Asia Market Inc.

Front view of US Asia Market Inc.

As the Asian community drastically expanded in the neighborhood, there was a growing need for new immigrants such as bilingual social services, Asian grocery stores, restaurants, and clinics. Situated among the supermarkets, restaurants, bakeries, bubble teashops, and pharmacies on 86th Street, right outside from D train Bay Parkway station, there is a small Asian grocery store, which fulfills the needs of the growing Asian community. The store is covered with a red billboard in white and yellow letters in both English and Chinese. It says, “US Asia Market, Inc.” US Asia Market specializes in stocking grocery and food items from South East Asia, China, Vietnam, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Two immigrant entrepreneurs opened it in 2011. One of them is Mr. Chee Hon, a 48-year old Malaysian immigrant. Two years ago, Mr. Hon bought the other half of ownership because his partner could not stand the daily tedious tasks. Many hats now belong to Mr. Hon because he is the manager, the storekeeper, the cashier, and lastly the “boss.” The store is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, seven days a week.

- Jasmine Rice from Thiland

Jasmine Rice from Thailand

Asians' favorite "HOT" chili sauce

Asians’ favorite “HOT” chili sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DSCF0903

Tom Yum, Lady’s Choice, and Peanut Sauce

“I have been shopping in this grocery store for almost two years. I come back here again and again because Mr. Hon carries different varieties of Asian cooking ingredients like this Malaysian biryani masala one. No other stores around carry products like him,” Ms. Ni said. In addition, many loyal customers come to Mr. Hon’s store because of his excellent customer service. He speaks Malaysian, Mandarin, Cantonese, other dialects of Chinese, and a little bit of Thai.

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Goya, Milo, Ovaltine, Thai, and Chinese Tea

Fresh and Green Vegetables

“How are you today?” said Mr. Hon if someone comes into his store in a rush or stop by for chatting. Although he is always working, such as arranging new merchandise or busy checking orders from eBay, he never forgets to greet the incoming customers in a friendly manner and with a big smile. Mr. Hon has been in the States for over 19 years. He started his career in a big Asian supermarket and always wanted to do his own business. With the hard work and the inspiration from the family, his dream came true.

“It was just luck” he said, “I found this store was locked up and empty. Then, I knocked several times and met with the Italian old woman for the leasing.” Mr. Hon came up with an idea to offer different kinds and varieties of imported Asian cooking essential ingredients and seasonal fresh produces excluding meat products, which require additional storage and expenses. Besides foods, his store has merchandise from kitchen utensils to baby lotions, except beer and cigarettes. His 1,600 square-foot-store. “US Asia Market” stands out among other Chinese supermarkets in terms of his food and his service. Mr. Hon grows some produce such as melons, chilies in the summer time, and gets them from a friend’s farm in New Jersey, selling them cheap and fresh for his customers. However, vegetables and fruits sales are not steady since they easily become and are sensitive to the temperature. Up to 5%-10% of the  produce is  thrown away in the wintertime.

His primary business expenses include rent, insurance, utilities bills, employee wages, with rent being the biggest factor, the one that gives him a headache at night.”We pay around $65,000 – $70,000 a year rent and it is increasing 4% every year.” That is about $6,000 a month. His sales are steady but there is increasing competition, with a couple of grocery stores popping up few blocks away from his store, according to Mr. Hon.

 

Lotions, Gloves, and etc.

Lotions, Gloves, and etc.

“Another factor which holds back the growth of business is the space constraint,” Mr. Michael said. He is the best friend of Mr. Hon and they have been friends for a few years. Mr. Michael used to be a customer but he is now helping Mr. Hon’s business with online sales on eBay. Selling imported Asian foods and cooking ingredients with free shipping sounded startling but Mr. Hon admits that the eBay sales have been doing well since they launched the business idea in March 2015. Due to the skyrocketing rents in Bensonhurst’s commercial 86th Street, Mr. Hon could neither take over the next door nor add extra room to the store. However, a lot of his customers stop by to check out new brands of noodles and frozen Jack fruit from Thailand.

 

 

 

Sources:

http://www.aafe.org/newsroom/reports

http://www.bca.net/eng/about.html

250 Words on the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn

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The neighborhood that I have chosen to focus on reporting is Bensonhurst of Brooklyn. Even though I used to live in two other neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Bensonhurst has become my favorite neighborhood after living for three years. One can see this neighborhood as a little square box in the Five Borough Map. However, the demand for this neighborhood is as increasing as the real estate price due to its significant location and the diverse ethnicity. This is one of the convenient places in Brooklyn because the major “D” express subway runs on New Utrecht Ave which crosses from North to South and the Bay Pkwy which connects Belt Pkwy expressway on the West and Ocean Pkwy on the East of Bensonhurst.

Bensonhurst has also two different names: one is known as Little Italy and another is second Chinatown of Brooklyn. These two names reflect the 24-hour Italian grocery stores, Deli and Italian bodega, Arabic restaurants, several of Chinese restaurants including a giant seafood buffet place and supermarkets, several 99 cents stores, and the different small businesses ranging from phone repairs and accessories shops, Kung Fu bubble tea shop, Burger Kings, Sprint, Radio Shack to Marshalls on 86th street. The demographic of Bensonhurst neighborhood is the mixture of different socioeconomic status including from many households of middle class such as doctors, physical therapists, teachers, and business owners to low-income wage earners such as college students, new immigrant families, and cab drivers. On the way from 79th street to 86th street subway station, one can enjoy the view of different lifestyles. For example, from 79th to 81st street Jewish orthodox community is occupied and the rest of the neighborhood is occupied with Italian, Russian, Chinese, and few Hispanic families.

As Bensonhurst neighborhood is surrounded with the convenient stores, medical clinics, schools, banks, the community center, the senior housing, the parks, and the churches, there are some conflicts I have noticed since I moved in 2012. These conflicts are children trespassing, noise from midnight parties, and the parking disputes as the new households are moved into the neighborhood. As a local resident, these conflicts are arisen due to lack of coherent and communication among other groups in the neighborhood. In my neighborhood profile, I would like to interview the director of Bensonhurst Jewish Community Center, which is right in front of my home, to learn more about the community services at the center and the conflicts around the neighborhood.

E.B White “Here is New York”

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1. The opening line of White’s book is provoking the reader’s curiosity because White starts by introducing the New York as a place where the person can both suffer from isolation and obtain secrecy moments. I could not agree with White more on the description of New York from the beginning. Being in the New York for half a decade, I have learned to adopt the culture and respect “privacy” of others. In addition, White uses an ironic tone in the opening by purposely choosing the phrase and the word such as “queer prizes” and “gifts” to get the attention of the reader. White’s opening is very effective because the reader wants to know more about this eccentric place, the New York. It accomplishes the primary goal of introduction which is to present the overview of the title “Here is New York.”

2.  White uses many different lists such as the name of famous writers, types of New Yorkers, neighbourhoods, races, and so on. Obviously, the writer uses those lists to deliver his affection of certain places in New York. One of the reasons the writer use lists is to connect with the reader in a clear format throughout the book.