Bensonhurst Wants to Dump on Sunset Park

Obviously, the United States has a waste problem. We need to learn to deal with the remnants of our lifestyles (and our lifestyles) in a manner that will make future generations look back with something less than disgust at our habits. However, that doesn't mean that Sunset Park needs to do the bulk of the management of waste for Brooklyn, or the City, even.

CB 7 sent out an email with the link to an article (see yournabe link below) about a proposed waste transfer station. Randy Peers, the chair for CB 7, added this comment to accompany the link:

"Dear friends and fellow board members, please read the very disappointing article about assemblyman Colton's suggestion that another waste transfer station be put in Sunset Park instead of Bensonhurst. Rest assured we will not allow our community to be dumped on again. We are in the process of drafting a letter in response. I will keep you posted on any further developments."

According to a yournabe.com article from last Wednesday, Bensonhurst's Colton is trying to get a proposed waste transfer station moved from Bensonhurst to Sunset Park. While his reasons sound pretty solid (parts of Gravesend Bay would have to be dredged), Sunset Park is doing more than its share, as Randy Peers of CB 7 points out:

“Tell Mr. Colton that we already have the Hamilton Avenue waste transfer station; a private waste management facility; two sanitation garages; and a private recycling facility. Mr. Colton needs to learn the definition of ‘fair share,’” said Peers.

Also, the proposed site, 1st Avenue and 58th Street, is just blocks from Lutheran Medical Center and PS 314, as well as the in-construction PS 971 on 4th Avenue - an early childhood center. Seem like good reasons to write in to Felix Ortiz, Sara Gonzalez, and CB 7. Also, don't forget that we have a CB 7 meeting coming up in early October!

Hopefully Bay Ridge will also have something to say about this; its northern residents already have some residual issues due to waste management.

Free ESL Classes in Bensonhurst

Granted, they don't take place in Sunset Park, but the classes are easy to get to on the D train. I taught free ESL for several years down near Brighton Beach, and the classes can be really wonderful and very social. The current class information is only for the Beginner Classes, but information about Intermediate and Advanced is coming.

Here's the information taken from a flyer forwarded by CB 7:

The Brooklyn (Kings County) Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring FREE English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) classes. The classes will be in three levels, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced over a 9-month period.

The first class will be the Beginner Class, which will begin in late February and continue through April. We are taking candidates for this class at this time. Registration will run through late January.

◊ Beginner Class Schedule – Monday, February 2nd, 2009 – Saturday, April 25th, 2009
◊ Mondays 7 – 9PM & Saturdays 12 - 2PM (must attend both days)
◊ The Classes will be held at Chamber Headquarters at 2359 86th Street, 2nd floor - between 23 and 24 Avenue in Bensonhurst - Brooklyn.

Members, employees, community, and guests will be accepted. Please call the Chamber at 718-714-7146 and speak to any staff member.

Details on Intermediate & Advanced class to follow