Q&A
Discussion on community changes and current challenges
3:41:53
·
161 sec
Ms. Jackson Mendez describes the changes and challenges in the Van Nest neighborhood over the years. She highlights initial improvements and recent deterioration in community conditions.
- Past improvements: park upgrades, push for homeownership
- Current issues: neighborhood falling apart, cleanliness problems, safety concerns
- Lack of support: reduced cleaning services, limited police assistance
Kristy Marmorato
3:41:53
Okay.
3:41:53
So as long as you've been here, what are the changes that you've seen?
Charlene Jackson Mendez
3:41:57
Oh my goodness.
3:41:59
Well, at 1 point, we worked very hard in Venice.
3:42:02
We are the little village that could.
3:42:05
My beautiful Venice.
3:42:06
And we are located just north of Parkchester.
3:42:11
We were seen significant improvement for a long time and it was a pleasure.
3:42:18
We worked really hard to secure our neighborhood and to make it cleaner and more attractive.
3:42:25
We really push for home ownership.
3:42:28
That's a big thing.
3:42:29
In our area, and we also really work hard for our children.
3:42:34
So under the leadership of Bernadette Ferrara, and others that were founders of the Van Ness Neighborhood Alliance.
3:42:42
We were able to get our park upgraded, and that was a really big deal.
3:42:48
But in recent years, we have seen the neighborhood is really falling apart.
3:42:56
I know that you very graciously participated in a cleanup along the MTA wall, which extends on Morse Park Avenue, from Fillmore to about Van Buren Street, and you actually on a freezing January day in honor of Martin Luther King got out there with us, and we cleaned up.
3:43:20
And this is why unfortunately, I have to say that the MTA hasn't been a good neighbor.
3:43:26
And we just have a lot of issues with trusting the MTA because That area is really filthy.
3:43:35
And 1 of the things that we lost, we used to have the dough fund, so they would come in and clean along that MTA wall.
3:43:43
On a regular basis, but we don't have that anymore.
3:43:47
And then there has been we have many, many people that transient people that are kind of in our community and don't have ties to the community, and so it's very disturbing as a person that uses the subway on a daily basis.
3:44:07
It's it's just very upsetting to walk through your community, which was once a quiet lovely neighborhood.
3:44:16
And now you see all sorts of people that make you feel unsafe smoking marijuana on top of you.
3:44:25
Loud music most nights so that you can't sleep, and we can't get any much police assistance because of their limited number.
Kristy Marmorato
3:44:35
Yes.