ATTENTION: CM James Hosts Property Owners Forum; 1/30; Crown Heights

On Wednesday, January 30th, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will join Council Member Letitia James in hosting a Homeowners Forum. This is an opportunity for residential property owners to get information on issues such as property tax exemptions, foreclosure prevention, NYC Department of Building, lead/pest control, low-interest home repair loans, NYC Sanitation, and water/sewer issues.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 30, 2013
6:30PM- 8:00PM

WHERE: Public School 161 (Auditorium)
330 Crown Street
Brooklyn, NY

ATTENTION: Citywide Food and Water Distribution

There will be food and water distribution sites throughout the five boroughs. The details of these sites, including the exact locations and hours of operation, can be found here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/foodandwater.html
The two Brooklyn sites are Coffey Park at Richards Street (1PM - 5PM), and West 25th Street and Surf Avenue (1PM-5PM).

At the sites:
- Each person will be able to take three meals and five bottles of water.
- People should bring their own bags to carry their food and water.
- There will be 500,000+ flyers in English, Spanish, and Chinese to get word out to these impacted communities.
- 400 members of the National Guard, 150 volunteers from NYC Service, and 24 staff from the Salvation Army will help implement this program.
- Supplies are being delivered by FEMA in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management.
- AT&T will bring pods that provide cell service and charging stations to the areas around the food distribution sites. These distribution centers will be open for as long as they are needed.

ATTENTION: CM James and PACC Host Community Meeting On Myrtle Village Green; TODAY 6/4; Pratt Center; 6PM

You can read more about Myrtle Village Green here: http://www.myrtlepark.org/

Job Opportunity: NYC Parks Lifeguard

New York City Parks' beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and the pools are open from late June through Labor Day.

Lifeguards work 48 hours each week and first-year lifeguards will earn a minimum of $13.57 an hour, for a weekly salary of over $650.00.

Those interested may learn more about the Lifeguard Training Program and the qualifications here: http://www.nycgovparks.org/opportunities/jobs/lifeguards

ATTENTION: NYC Water Board Proposes Rate Increase, Offers Improved Billing Options

There is a proposed alteration of the New York City Water Board's water and sewer rates and billing policies for FY12, which would take effect July 1, 2011.

An increase of 7.5% has been proposed. This would raise the annual water-and-sewer charge for an average single-family home from approximately $816 in FY 2011 to $877 in FY 2012, an increase of $61 per year or $5 per month. However, the FY12 proposal also includes a one-year, 2% discount for metered customers who subscribe to receive their water bills via email, and have their billed charges automatically debited from their checking accounts or paid via credit card. For customers who participate in both the paperless billing and direct debit programs, the net rate increase is reduced to 5.4%, which equates to $44 per year for the average single-family homeowner.

In addition to the general 7.5% increase and the 2% discount for meter-billed customers who participate in the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) direct debit and paperless billing programs, the Board is considering the following changes:

(1) Installment payment agreement terms will be revised to include options for no down payment, a repayment period of up to ten years, and new default provisions;
(2) Customers subject to a denial of access proceeding currently receive all three required notices by both first-class and certified mail. The Board proposes to change the delivery of the first required notice, which has no concurrent financial impact on the customer, to first-class mail only; the final two required notices will continue to be sent by both first-class and certified mail;
(3) The maximum fixture flow-rates to qualify for a reduced water rate pursuant to the Board’s Comprehensive Water Reuse program will be conformed to recent changes to the NYC Plumbing Code;
(4) For registered participants in the lead and copper monitoring program, a new credit of $25 will be applied to a customer’s water bill upon successful completion of a lead and copper monitoring test.

In accordance with the Public Authorities Law, the Water Board will hold public hearings in each borough of the City on the proposed FY 2012 rates and charges for water and sewer service--

Brooklyn
Public School 102
211 72nd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Wednesday
May 4, 2011
7:00 P.M.

Please call the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (212) 788-7081 if you have any further questions, or would like to testify at the public hearing.

ATTENTION: CM Vann Hosts Water Bill Help Night; 12/8; 6PM: Boys and Girls HS

Council Member Al Vann is sponsoring a Water Bill Help Night

Join Council Member Vann, Coalition for the Improvement of Bed-Stuy (CIBS) and the NYC-DEP to get help with your NYC water bill.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 8, 2010
6PM- 8:30PM
WHERE: Boys and Girls High School
1700 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11213
(btwn Schenectady Avenue and Utica Avenue)


At the event you can:
· Discuss your water bill one on one with a DEP Customer Service Representative.
· Learn about other payment options.
· Learn about the Water Debt Assistance Program:
-Customers who meet the eligibility criteria can defer their unpaid water and sewer bill until the property is sold.
· Sign up for the direct debit program:
-Customers who enroll in the direct debit program will receive a 2% discount on their bill.
· Learn about Automated Meter Reading (AMR).

If you require additional information, please contact DEP at 718-595-7000 or visit DEP's website at nyc.gov/dep.

ATTENTION: DEP Upgrading to Automated Meter Reading System

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is automating its water meter reading capabilities to increase billing accuracy and provide customers with the tools they need to better manage their water usage.

The Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system is connected to individual water meters that send daily readings. This new AMR technology will send accurate readings to a computerized billing system up to four times a day and will largely eliminate the need for estimated bills. Since it is an automated system, AMR eliminates the need for meter reading personnel to visit customer properties.

DEP is also providing AMR-installed customers with an online system that lets property owners view and manage their consumption on a daily basis. This application will be made available to residents of each borough on a rolling basis (in Brooklyn by 8/9). By the first week of September, the systems will be installed Citywide. They should be completely functional by January 1, 2011 at the latest.

Once AMR has been installed on a property, the customer will be able go online to register and view their consumption. This new tool will help customers manage their water consumption, including detection of any irregular patterns that could indicate a leek or other problem. Customers may also sign-up for email alerts, and online payments. Customers will receive a 2% credit on each upcoming bill for additionally paying bills online through automated debits.

DEP contractors continue to provide door-to-door installations of the AMR transmitters at no cost and will also be replacing some old water meters. DEP should also be contacted for adjustments to long-standing estimated accounts; the agency will only provide price adjustments for the past 24 months.

Non-payment of water bills over an extended period of time may lead to water liens (with the exception of excluded groups- SCHE, DHE).

Please give our office a call at (212) 788-7081 if you have any further questions. We have much knowledge.