Pedestrian safety and motorized and conventional vehicles on streets and sidewalks:

In 2020, we participated in the Bike Safety Group which included the 78th Pct, NY Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, the 5th Av BID and other community groups. To help understand the issues of E-Bike’s we researched and presented a report in Winter, 2020, on the Micromobility/Electric Bikes for Pedestrian Populations in NYC & other Municipalities. We recommended several actions that were needed.

We then convened a forum on March 1, 2022 with 8 local organizations to identify the scope of the problem in our area, and to suggest strategies to cope with the problem. See report on “Sidewalks Are For Pedestrians” Forum: Advocacy - Streets and vehicles forum.

In 2023, we participated in two local street fairs to focus on pedestrian safety by focusing on legislation which Good Neighbors endorsed. We endorsed six City/State bills, two of which were signed into state law. We obtained over 700 signatures from our neighbors which urged our local and state elected representatives to support these bills. The letters were hand-delivered to each representative.

We continue to work with elected and other officials to address and resolve the dangers presented by e-vehicles through education and legislation.

Park Safety:

There has been concern communicated to the Prospect Park Alliance about the dangers to pedestrians from bikes, electric mopeds etc. The Alliance is piloting signage requesting cyclists to walk their bikes on paths and will look to install them at high traffic areas. This will be similar to signage in use in Central Park. And signs banning motorized mopeds and scooters have been ordered and are being installed this fall. Additionally, the Alliance received funding for a traffic consultant who will be conducting a safety study, and working with the DOT on a re-striping proposal for the Park Drive which is still in proposal stage. 



Pedestrian problems resulting from the poor conditions of sidewalks:

We surveyed all of the blocks in our neighborhood (Flatbush Avenue to Ft. Hamilton Parkway, and Prospect Park West to 4th Avenue), a total of 570 blocks. We looked for defects that the Department of Transportation defined as tripping hazards. We then met with our members to get their perspective on the problem, as homeowners, as well as pedestrians. See report for “GNPS Sidewalk Safety Subcommittee”: Advocacy - Sidewalk conditions.

Our concerns continue, but our efforts are on pause since we have tried, but not identified, the appropriate city agencies to address and resolve these issues.

Bench success! We submitted requests for 9 new benches along Seventh Avenue and 5 were approved and installed! 

Try the new benches: 

100B 7th Ave (Union-President)

147 7th Ave (Garfield-Carroll)

160 7th Ave (Garfield-1St) 

274 7th Ave (6-7 Streets) 

365 7th Ave (10-11 Streets) 

In 2022 a Climate Change Interest Group (CCIG) was formed for members who want to educate themselves about the scientific, political, and economic issues involved in climate change. The focus is to learn about actions we may take to preserve a livable climate. Members are concerned about the effects of climate change on all that we need and value. Our aim is to understand and engage in impactful activities to preserve a sustainable environment. We participate in individual, neighborhood and regional initiatives, and identify opportunities for legislative and direct action.

Monthly Meetings:

Members share with other CCIG members actions to reduce our carbon footprints and to mitigate the effects global warming. Learn from subject experts about resources to green our lives, homes, and neighborhoods; and about the technical, political, and economic issues involved in climate change. Topics covered in these meetings have included solar energy, flood mitigation. experiences with heat pumps, improving the health of our street trees, and NY City’s mandate for building efficiency - Local Law 97.

Coordinator: Joanne Boger

How do we navigate end of life decisions to insure that our wishes are respected?

The Advocacy Committee is planning a series of presentations and educational activities to explore this and related issues. On November 13, 2024, Compassion and Choices made a presentation on "End of Life Planning".

Participants who attended that presentation will receive a survey asking for suggestions for future programming. Additional programs are being discussed to explore various aspects of this topic. Some topics under consideration are:

Hospice care in institutions and at home.

Death doulas.

The status of medical aid in dying (M.A.I.D.) legislation in New York State and throughout the country.

Getting help in completing end of life documents.

Elevator for the Subway:

We have worked with our Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblymember Robert Carroll to help organize and participate in activities that advocate for subway accessibility. Interested members have spoken at press conferences and other meetings to promote these ideas and have participated in several demonstrations. In 2019 we mobilized our membership to vote for the “downpayment” project for an elevator at 7th Ave which won in that year's Participatory Budgeting, which means that Councilman Lander would match that $250,000 with another $250,000. 

UPDATE 4/2022: 

We are thrilled that everybody’s efforts have resulted in the MTA selecting the 7th Ave./ 9th St. subway station as one of the 8 stations in the 2020-24 Capital Program to be made accessible, using some of the “use it or lose it” Federal money. The MTA made a presentation to Community Board 6 on April 15, 2021 indicating a planned completion date of July 2023. The street entrance to the elevator will be on a bumped out sidewalk on the corner of 7th Avenue and 9th Street. More details can be found by clicking here: Subway Elevator Information Good Neighbors of Park Slope was thanked during the CB 6 meeting for being instrumental in advocating for this project!

One of our members, Jasmine Melzer, is on the Prospect Park Alliance Community Committee to represent the needs of older adults at monthly meetings. For more information about this committee click here.

Senior Fitness Area in Prospect Park

In 2017 Jasmine Melzer participated in the annual Participatory Budgeting project sponsored by Councilmember Brad Lander and proposed a community project: a Senior Fitness Area in Prospect Park at 9th Street. This idea was put on the ballot, and our members helped to successfully vote it in! The area was officially opened by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on ???????.

Park Budgets:

As a way of indicating support for the NYC Parks Department, GNPS has added its name to the Play Fair Coalition of New Yorkers for Parks and is listed along with 300 other community organizations. The Play Fair Campaign advocates to restore and increase funding for NYC Parks in the City Budget.

Park Safety:

Efforts are ongoing to encourage the park to provide signage which will promote pedestrian safety.

A proposal was submitted to Participatory Budgeting in 2023, and approved, to install handrails and lighting along a very steep path near the ????. This will be completed by next year.

Many of our members have been impressed with the care that has been given to Prospect Park under trying conditions. But trash collection has been a problem. Consequently, despite the poor esthetics, Prospect Park Alliance has ordered large dumpsters to help with this. There are several initiatives taking place in the Park to hopefully help with the trash problem including encouraging people to Carry In/Carry Out and to participate in trash cleanup procedures. Volunteers are needed for these initiatives so if you are able to help you can visit ProspectPark/Volunteer.

OATS- Older Adult Technology Services (Senior Planet)

We have used the services of this organization to teach our members how to be more technologically savvy. They have presented helpful programs to us about technological issues.

LiveOn New York

We are a member of this organization which advocates for New York to be a creative and innovative place to live and work as a senior.

Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)

We have been instrumental in spreading the word about Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) through community outreach events. We were able to help 75 community residents to obtain SCRIE. There are now several organizations working on this but we will help again if needed.

Meetings with Department of Aging

We have met with Department of Aging of NYC–DFTA to discuss ways to develop better transportation services in our neighborhood; to expand In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP); to explore developing a Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC); to find free or low-cost space for large meetings that is nearby, and accessible.

Census 2020

Voter Registration

Senior Town Hall with Comptroller Scott Stringer

Community Support during 2020 Covid 19 Pandemic

  Senior shopping and delivery of groceries

  Support for NY Presbyterian/ Brooklyn Methodist Hospital workers

Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Save the Sunlight issue (2021)

Proposed rezoning to enable nearby development of two 34 story buildings will cast shade on the garden, and negatively impact BBG plants and programs. We have sent letters opposing this rezoning and supporting BBG, and we have let our members know about actions that they can take to support BBG.

GNPS Statement on Black Lives Matter

As a result of discussions with our members, the Board of Directors of GNPS has understood the depth of our shared commitment to the principles of equal justice and equal access that the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted. We wanted to go beyond making a simple statement of support and have sought concrete actions we could take. 

For those who wish to help, the GNPS Advocacy Committee has suggested volunteering with a project of the Center for Common Ground called Reclaim Our Vote (ROV), to directly address the issue of Black voter suppression. ROV is dedicated to empowering under-represented voters in communities of color by increasing voter registration and reducing the barriers to voting. Reclaim Our Vote is a non-partisan effort, and they provide online training and supporting materials. 

For more information, view the Reclaim Our Vote website.

Other Opportunities to Work on Voter Suppression

If you are interested in volunteering with other local organizations working to register new or disenfranchised voters please check out:

The NYC chapter of League of Women Voters: https://my.lwv.org/new-york/city-new-york, and click on their volunteer activities link.

Water for Grassroots: Water for Grassroots which is a group of our own Get Organized Brooklyn organization.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Board of Directors

Good Neighbors of Park Slope