Christopher Schaefer 4 Congress.Com

Howard Ave., south of First Street, was dug up and re-patched today--only about 1 month after the new bike lanes were painted. So these need to be repainted where damaged.

Sunday, July 15, c. 7:45 AM I called non-emergency police # 203-946-6316 to complain about someone using a chainsaw at 7:45 AM on a Sunday near Howard Ave. & Third St. City ordinance does not permit this on Sunday until 9 AM. The officer in charge [Harrison?] said it was allowed at 7 AM. I told him not on Sunday and quoted the ordinance in link below. He then told me I should tell the person to stop--and hung up. IS THIS WHAT WE'RE PAYING TAXES FOR? http://library.municode.com/showDocumentFrame.aspx?clientID=14668&jobId=&docID=0

When No. 305 Howard was destroyed by fire last March, the London Plane tree in front of this now-empty lot was damaged, as well as the oak tree in front of 301 Howard. The London Plane has responded to the stress by putting out a lot of new growth. However, all of the dead limbs on both of these trees need to be trimmed off.

Tag has been sprayed on the railroad wall at the intersection of Lamberton St. & Hallock AVENUE.

Pole is near the railroad wall corner, at the intersection of Cedar and Lamberton, diagonally across from 2 Cedar St.

This pole has 2 lights on it. The light projecting over Rosette St is the one that's out.

Last March a tragedy put a hole in our street and in our hearts, when number 305 Howard Ave. (Santos family’s home) was destroyed in an explosion, and the Antrum/Rivers home on the left (309) and Ortiz home on the right (301) were heavily damaged, temporarily dislocating these families. [See uploaded photo.]
Neighbors want to create “tree surround gardens” in front of their damaged homes, so they’ll know that their neighbors haven’t forgotten them—and that we’re looking forward to their return. (Plants will be provided for FREE by Yale’s Urban Resources Initiative Greenspace program.)
But we need YOU to help with the planting.
We’d also like to plant FREE trees, shrubs, or FLOWERS in the tree strip [curb strip/area between the sidewalk and curb] in front of YOUR home or apartment. (Take a look at Howard Ave. from Second to Fourth Streets to see what your neighbors did last year. This particular Greenspace group works approximately in the area bounded by First St., Hallock Ave., Fifth St., Greenwich Ave., including that portion of Howard and the numbered cross streets between.)
WHEN: June through July. Days of week & times will be determined by group members. So join now and we’ll accommodate your schedule! Also, if you join now you can help us determine which additional locations on the aforementioned streets we’ll tackle this season.

HOW TO JOIN: Call me, Chris Schaefer, at 203-668-6348. If no answer, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE and I’ll return your call. OR email me: schaeferchristopher@yahoo.com

“As neighbors work together to beautify their homes, they begin to identify other problems of concern: trash, crime, abandonment, etc. Before you know it, a planting project creates common ground which helps solve a variety of problems…” Community Greenspace Manual: Urban Resources Initiative

For more info about this program go to
http://www.environment.yale.edu/uri/programs/community-greenspace/

To see one of our planting sessions last year go to https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2231743476732.2131313.1342249996&type=3&l=a33eb6323e

owner of 234 Howard Ave (@ corner of Third St.) seeks zoning variance to add ADDITIONAL apartments. Meeting of Board of Zoning Appeals is TOMORROW evening, Tues. March 13, 2012 at 6:30 PM, Public Hearing Room, Hall of Records, 200 Orange St. Here’s the wording of the variance application: Variance to allow 896 sq. ft. of lot area per dwelling unit where 3500 sq. ft. are required; allow 2 on-site parking spaces where 6 are required. [In reality not even 2 cars can park in back due to trash toters, etc.]

Toters--including blue recycling full of garbage--have been out all week in front of 31 Kimberly (hair salon).

Pile of furniture has ben discarded along side of 126 Hallock AVENUE [along Fourth St]. There are no signs posted [e.g. no parking], indicating that there is a bulk pick-up scheduled for tomorrow[which would be March 8, 2012], therefore this is an illegal trash pile.

Pile of furniture has been discarded in front of 198 Hallock AVENUE. There are no signs posted [e.g. no parking], indicating that there is a bulk pick-up scheduled for tomorrow[which would be March 8, 2012]. Therefore this is an illegal trash pile.

A tire has been dumped on the sidewalk on Lamberton St. near railroad wall & near intersection of Cedar St.

A tire has been dumped on the sidewalk on Hallock Ave, across from intersection of Second St.

375[-381] Greenwich Ave. [owners: Clement & Helen Eneh of Stratford 203-526-7045] has had a large pile of broken furniture, mattress, hubcaps, etc. along rear yard fence [facing Second St.] for over a month. In far corner of yard there also are discarded auto parts. Owners need an order from LCI to clean it up (again...).

resolution2012. The new trash toters were introduced with attached flyer explaining that the large blue toters are now for recyclables only. The fliers ended up all over the street and many residents (especially in large multi-family buildings) are using both large & small toters for trash. City needs a much more aggressive education program re. proper use of toters--followed by aggressive fining for non-compliance (yet another way to lower our taxes while socking it to those who are trashing our neighborhoods...).

Resolution2012. CT Transit should extend the J Bus going up Howard to the edge of the Yale-New Haven Hospital campus so more employees can take the bus to work. (Currently it turns off Howard @ Columbus.)

resolution2012. New Haven's budget needs to re-fund twice-per-month street sweeping. Clean streets is a basic expectation of taxpayer-funded city service.

Nearly all of the c. dozen lights on the City Point Pier (@ junction of S. Water & Sea Streets) have been destroyed by vandals and are now an eyesore. These need to be replaced with vandal-proof lights (if such a thing exists) or the destroyed lights need to be removed and the posts capped. (I'm posting this as a "Parks request" since there are Park Rules posted at the beginning of the pier, so I'm assuming the Parks Dept. is responsible for maintenance here.)

This seems to be an escalating problem: http://www.citypointnewhavenconnecticut.net/monthly_police_log During Nov. 2011 there were car break-ins near Hallock AV @ Sea St, Howard Av @ Sea, Howard Av @ Sixth St.