Community Magazine November 2003

s ” xc Life in the New Red Light Camera Warning Signs New York City start- ed a new pilot pro- gram, installing new signs around red light cameras fore- warning motorists about the upcoming traps. The program began October 9, in the northeast Bronx, with signs stating “Red Light Camera Corridor” erected along the Pelham Parkway, Gunhill Road and Eastchester Avenue areas. New York City was the first city in the country to start a red light cam- era program according to DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall. The DOT hopes the signs will remind motorists to be careful on all roadways at all times - not just where they believe a red light camera intersection may be. The City has 50 active red light cameras and also deploys 200 “dummy” red light cameras. According to State Law, the City can use 50 active cam- eras at a time to record images. During Fiscal Year 2003, the City issued 308,100 red light camera violations. Each violation carries a $55 fine and no points deducted from a driver’s license. The DOT also recently converted red light cameras from conventional film to digital film, increasing the readability from about 50 percent to more than 65 percent. Flu Season Last year approximately 36,000 Americans died from the flu. In New York City alone, there were over 2,000 flu-related deaths. To protect yourself, get a flu shot from your doctor or for free from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Call toll free 1-866-FLU-LINE (1-866-358-5463) Candidate Insulted by Yankee Fan Accusation In an apparent tactical dig at Democratic front-runner Howard Dean, Senator John Kerry last month accused the former Vermont governor of being a Yankees fan. Dean, a New York native, called the accu- sation "insulting," and insisted he backs Boston. Sanitation Accommodates Sabbath Observers Beginning Friday, October 31st, all five of the Department of Sanitation’s Special Waste Drop-off sites citywide will be open on the last Friday, instead of Saturday, of each month to accommodate Sabbath observers. The five Special Waste Drop- off sites, which will be open from 10AM to 5PM on the designated days, accept only non-commercial special waste gener- ated by New York City residents with a valid New York State motor vehicle regis- tration and license. Materials accepted at these sites are limited to uncontaminated latex paint, fluorescent light bulbs (only straight tubes up to four feet in length), motor oil and filters, transmission fluid, thermostats, household or automotive bat- teries and passenger car tires (up to 4 tires per visit). Any person attempting to ille- gally drop off bulk material at these sites may be subject to severe illegal dumping fines and impoundment of their vehicle. T HE S PECIAL W ASTE D ROP - OFF L OCATIONS A RE Bronx: Hunts Point at Farragut Street and East River. Brooklyn: Bay 41st Street and Gravesend Bay, south of the Belt Pkwy (adjacent to DSNY Brooklyn 11 garage). Queens: College Point at 30th Avenue, between 120th and 122nd Streets. Staten Island: Foot of Muldoon Avenue off the West Shore Expressway (440) adja- cent to the DSNY Staten Island 3 garage. Manhattan: DSNY garage at 605 West 58 C OMMUNITY M AGAZINE t As the demolition phase of the Col. Marcus Playground (East 5th St & Ave P) rehabilitation project came to a completion, a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Councilman Simcha Felder, Commissioner Adrian Benepe of the Parks & Recreation Department, Commissioner Martin Horn of the Correction & Probation Department (the same department headed by Col. Marcus over half a century ago) and fourth and fifth graders from P.S.177, among others, was held on October 22.