Canarsie

This is a research paper for my state and local government class about the neighborhood I have lived in for the past 30 years, called Canarsie. It, like most of N.Y.C., is not as safe as it was 20 years ago.

CANARSIE: It is a primarily residential neighborhood, in the South East section of Brooklyn and named after the Canarsie Indians that settled there in the 1500's. Canarsie High's football team is called the Chiefs & have pictures of Indians on the backs of their jackets. The zip code is 11236 and most phone numbers begin with 251 or 763. It consists mainly of two family homes and is surrounded by public housing projects and is about a square mile. The adjacent towns are Georgetown on the west, Starret City on the east, East Flatbush on the North, with Jamaica Bay on the south. There are two weekly papers, the Canarsie Courier and Digest. It is in the 46th Council, 39th Assembly and 19th State Senatorial District, with Herb Berman, Anthony Genovesi and Stan Fink as the representatives.

There are no blighted areas. In fact, with the 1980's real estate boom most empty lots had expensive houses or condos built on them. Two swim clubs in town were bought and condos were built on the sites. Some sold for as much as $250,000.

BANKS: There are 5; 2 commercial; Banco Popular and Citibank. They are located at 8020 Flatlands Ave. and 1449 Rockaway Parkway. The savings are Greenpoint, Crossland & Bankers Federal, all located on Rockaway Parkway at 1425, 2060 and 1764 respectively.

There are no hospitals or clinics in town. However, there are many private doctors and dentists. We must go a mile north to get to Brookdale, a city hospital on the corner of Rockaway Parkway and Linden Blvd., in E. New York. Most people go a few miles west to Kings Highway Hospital, because it is private, therefore offering superior service to their patients.

Canarsie has been a solid Democratic neighborhood all my life. Unfortunately, most New Yorkers are "Yellow Dog Democrats" who will vote for almost anybody on the Democratic ticket rather than cross party lines and vote for a Republican. So much so that in 1989, I received considerable criticism from my dad for registering Republican so I could vote for Guliani in the primary. Many of them voted for Dinkins in the last election, despite the Crown Heights incident. At the 1993 Republican primary, I was chatting with a man there who comment, there are almost no registered Republican in this entire town. It was unusual that there was even a Republican primary that year.

The relationship of the residents with local government is fine, because the residents, like many, do not even know who they are. Unfortunately, most people are apathetic about the world, as long as it does not affect them or their wallets directly.
The city provides sanitation, fire, transit, police and ed. which is a bit above average- as we have 4 magnet schools for gifted children.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 3 of the 5 are Magnet, 276 is on 1070 E. 83 St., 241- 5757, Eliene Lebowitz, Principal; 279 is on 1070 East 104th Street, 444-4316, Harriet Lorren, Principal; and 114 is on 1077 Remsen Ave., 257-4428, Gerald Cohen, Principal. 115 is on 1165 E. 92 St., 241-1000, Martin Mandelker, Principal; 272 is on 101-24, Seaview Ave., 241-1300, David Burke, Principal. [i] (P.6)

JR. HIGH SCHOOLS: There are 2: Isaac Bildersee, #68 on 956 E. 82 St., 241-4800, Fred Dubinsky, Principal; John Wilson, #214 is on E. 100 St., 251-4411, Marion Kendell, Principal. (P.6)
HIGH SCHOOLS: There are 2: Canarsie, on 1600 Rockaway Parkway, 649-4820, Jacqueline Muse, Principal; South Shore, on 6565 Flatlands Avenue, 531-4454, Rina Stemple, Principal, which also has an Adult Education Program. (p.6)

SCHOOL DISTRICT: The city zoned them # 18. The office is on 755 E. 100 St., Brooklyn, New York 11236 and Dr. Harvey Garner is Superintendent. (P.6)

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS: There are 6: Holy Family Roman Catholic (Pre K- 8), 9719 Flatlands Ave., 257-2954; Our Lady Of Miracles Roman Catholic, (N-8), 744 E. 86 St., 649-0271; Saint Jude's Roman Catholic, (N-8), 1696 Canarsie Road, 241- 6623; Yeshiva Ateres Yisrael Of Canarsie, (N-8), 8101 Ave. K, 763-6777; Yeshiva R'Tzahd, (N-8), 956 E. 107th St., 272-8484. (P.6)

DAY CARE CENTERS: There are 4: The Big Apple Day School, ages 2 -5, 8702 Ave. L, 763-9300; Bruekelen Recreation Room, HEAD START, ages 3 & 4 on 715 E. 105th St., 649-1463; J.F.K. Child Care Center, group day care, ages 3-6, 103-15 Farragut Rd., 272-8751; & Kehila Child Care Center, ages 2 1/2 -5 1/2, full day program: 7:30 -6, 9502 Seaview Avenue, 531-0415. (P.6)

POST OFFICE: The only one is on 103- 23 Flatlands Avenue, 763-2800, Jake Wohl, Supervisor. (p.19)
PARKS: Seaview is the only one in town. It runs from E. 80 St. to Canarsie Road, along Seaview Ave. It has 130 acres-seven ball fields, playground sitting areas, summer camp, and special events for school kids. (P. 20)

SENIOR CITIZENS' CENTERS: There are three: the Hebrew Ed. Society on 9502 Seaview Ave., 241-3000, offering arts and crafts, dancing, water activities, day-trips and lunch. They meet M. and Tues., 10-2. The Special Services for Senior Citizens is on 135 Conklin Ave., 257-1600. It is sponsored by the N.Y.C. Dept. of Aging for sr. residents age 60+ in the Community Board 18 area. Programs include Meals-On-Wheels, housekeeping, and transportation services to and from the area. St. Matthew's Sr. Citizens is on 1187 E. 92nd St., 649-1879. They have social activities, card games, coffee and cake. They meet on Thurs., 12-3, Mabel Holtzman is Director. (P.14)

VETERANS: The American Legion Post # 573 is on 1130 E. 92nd St., 257-9628. (p.22)

YOUTHS: The Breuklen Recreations Rooms & Settlement Community Center is on 715 E. 105 St., 649-1461. Canarsie AWARE, Incorporated, is on 1310 Rockaway Pkwy., 257-3195; a multi-faceted, drug free treatment center serving District 18 & surrounding communities. The day Service Program provides alternative schooling, vocational, individual & group counseling for ages 14-18, and family group counseling one night a week. Outpatient Programs provide group, individual & vocational services for adults 18 and over, M- F, 9-5. The Family Services Protection Program serves ages 12+ for those "at risk" with substance abuse, M & W, 5:30- 9 p.m. They also offer creative workshops & GED or h.s. diploma programs. The Canarsie Neighborhood Development Corporation, 1106 E. 95 St., 272-3887, has after school & evening programs.(P.22)

MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS: There are two non-profit outpatient clinics providing a full range of diagnostic treatment services, including family, group and individual therapy. Fees are on a sliding scale basis. There is the Canarsie Mental Health Clinic on 1106 E. 95 St., 257-3400 & the VIP-CSS Outreach Team, at 1310 Rockaway Pkwy., 257-3746. (P.23)

LIBRARIES: There are 2 branches: the Canarsie, at 1580 Rockaway Pkwy., Yelena Litinskaya, manager, 257-2180. Hours: T & W, 10- 6, T 1-8, F 1-6 & S 10-5. They are closed on Sun. and M. The Jamaica Bay Branch is at 9727 Seaview Ave., 531-1602. Their hours are M & Th, 10-6, W 1-8, F 1-6 & S 10-5. They are closed on T and S. (P. 5)
Rockaway Parkway is the only exit on the Belt Parkway for Canarsie and runs straight from
east to west about a mile. It is mainly a commercial strip, and one of four; Flatlands, Ralph and Remsen Avenues are the others. Ave. L runs for about a 1/2 mile. In the middle- from Remsen Ave., to Rockaway Pkwy.- it is commercial. The rest is residential. It contains the only movie theater in town, The Canarsie Triplex. Flatlands Ave. is, primarily, a commercial strip throughout.

The Bayview housing projects are a city run development on Shore Parkway. Up the block is a shopping center with a Russian night club called Metropol and a few small stores-including a pet, and laundromat, etc. Across the street are two more shopping centers. One has a Payless Shoe store, a Woolworth department store, a men's clothes store, an Off Track Betting parlor, a pizzeria, an Auto Parts store and a Pizza Hut. The other has a Key Food shopping center with a Blockbuster Video and deli.

There is one subway station, fire house and police precinct in town. They are all on Rockaway Parkway, in a two block radius.
The Guarino Family Funeral Parlor is the only one in town. Most Italians use them. Most Jews go to I. J. Morris on Flatbush Ave. and Kings Highway.

SYNAGOGUES: There are 14, starting alphabetically with B'nai Israel, 1066 E. 85 St., phone 251- 8234, Rabbi Noah Rosenbloom; Congregation A.A.A. Sfard, 1385 E. 94 St., 272-6933, Rabbi Jacob Chanes; Congregation Beth Abraham, 944 E. 84 St., 763-6812, Rabbi Wolf Gruber; Congregation Beth Israel, 660 Remsen Ave., 495-4900, Rabbi Joseph Levinson; Congregation Beth Tikvah, Inc., 8800 Seaview Ave., 763-5577, Rabbi Jacob Greenberg; Congregation Talmud Torah Ohev Sholem Morris Kevelson, 1387 E. 96 St., 251-1430 Rabbi Sam Shmidman; Remsen Heights Jewish Center, 8700 Ave. K, 763-2244, Rabbi Norman Zdanowitz; Seaview Jewish Center, 1440 E. 99 St., 251-1900, Rabbi S. Hecht; Sephradic Jewish Center of Canarsie, 9320 Flatlands Ave., 257-0400, Rabbi Myron Rakowitz; Temple Emanu-El of Canarsie, 1880 Rockaway Parkway, 251-0450. Temple Shaare Emeth, 6012 Farragut Road, 444-3222, Rabbi Raoul Shorr; and Young Israel of Canarsie, 1265 E. 108th St., 251-2600, 1265 E. 108th St., Rabbi Al Cohen.

JEHOVAH WITNESSES' KINGDOM HALL: There is one at 959 East 92 Street, 257-2659. (p.8)

CHURCHES: There are 10, starting alphabetically with the Canarsie Reformed, 1155 E. 93 St., 257-0331, Rev. Bob Robinson; Christian Church of Canarsie, 606 E. 89 St., 257-5051. Grace, 1280 E. 92 St., 649-5680, Rev. Ken Griepp; Holy Family R.C., 9719 Flatlands Ave., 257-4423, Rev. John McShane; Our Lady of Miracles, 757 E. 86 St., 257-2400, Rev. Ray Chapetto; Plymouth Congregational, 1223 E. 96 St., 649-5962. St. Albans Episcopal, 9408 Farragut Rd., 257-0706. St. Jude Shrine, 9401 Seaview Ave., 763-6300, Rev. Matteo Rizzo; St. Matthews Lutheran, 1187 E. 92 St., 257-2968, Theodore Zetzer, Pastor; & The Seed Of Abraham, 9036 Bay View Pl., 272-8381, Rev. Frank Morritt. (p.8)

Based upon my experiences, there are no specific expectations of the government from the citizens. Unfortunately, the local elected officials are almost totally unknown to most residents. As far as I know there are no major, or minor issues concerning the community that government can resolve. The only concern I ever hear from people is that the neighborhood is turning black & the whites will be driven out as they were in other neighborhoods. There were a few racial incidents there a few years ago. The first occurred when a black family bought a house & some people started a fire in it before they moved in & spray painted "nigger" on the front door. The people moved in & there were no further incidents. The 2nd incident occurred a few months later when a black sitting on a bench was attacked by a gang of whites shouting NIGGER. The feelings in the neighborhood is fear that blacks are going to move in & ruin it. Especially, since a check cashing center opened on Flatlands Ave. across the st. from a Banco Popular & 2 blocks from a Citibank & Crossland Savings Banks. Residents know that this will attract low life people who do not have bank accounts.

N.Y.C. is probably the most hectic, fast paced city in the world. It is so fast that people are so caught up in the hustle & bustle of living here they do not have the time or energy to pay attention to much of anything. That is understandable now that almost everyday we hear of another company or the government downsizing it's work force.

Canarsie is mainly a middle class, 2nd & 3rd generation Jew & Italian- American neighborhood. I feel it will remain this way for another few years because many Russian immigrants are moving into the projects, & the high cost of real estate in the 1980's kept many blacks & hispanics from affording to live there. Lately, blacks are leaving the projects & buying houses nearby, especially with mortgage rates at a 20 year low in 93. In the past year 4 people on my block have sold to blacks.

It was difficult to find out who my elected officials are. First I asked my neighbor Max, as he is political. He was unsure, so he called the Board Of Elections & was misinformed. I went to Bensonhurst, on W. 3/30, only to discover I had the wrong man. His secretary told me who my rep. was & gave me the phone # of the League of Women Voters. When I called them I was told that I had again been misinformed. When I gave them my address I was told

"You live in the 46 City Council, 44 State Assembly & 19 State Sen. Districts. Herb Berman, James Brennan & Howard Babush are your elected officials. Their offices are located at City Hall, N.Y. 10007, 1-212-788-6984, 416 7 Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215, 1-718-788-7221 & 270 Broadway, room 1002, N.Y., N.Y. 110007, 1-212-417-5517 respectively." [ii]

I called each man's office & told their aides that I was a college student doing a research paper & needed information on them. They took down my name & address & said they would mail me lit. A week passed & I did not receive it, so I called back Mr. Berman's office. They apologized & said

"He was born in Brooklyn, on 10/33, attended P.S. 100 in B. Beach & Lincoln High. He joined the National Guard, & became a major before being discharged in 7/59. He received a B.A. in government from L.I.U., graduated N.Y. Law School in 68 & is a member of the Brooklyn Bar, T. Jefferson club, Jewish War Vets. Committee, Georgetown Civic Association, #1 v.p. of Temple Hillel of Flatlands & former Pres. of the Futurma Civic Association.


"He represents the communities of Canarsie, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Old Mill Basin, Flatlands, Starret City, Futurama, Mill Island & part of Marine Park & resides in Georgetown, on E. 57 St.

"He also served on various committees & subcommittees. Since 3/75 he has been the Chair of the Commission on Ed. In 89 he was appointed by a charter revision of the city council members. He also serves on the Membership Finance, Government Operations, Transportation, Budget, Standards & Ethics, Land Use & Standards, speaker of The Steering Committee & president of the sub-committee on the Brooklyn delegate council & a member of the Cohen Lorie Post." [iii]

I called & found out that I was not misinformed by the secretary, but by The League of Women Voters. That I live in the 39 State Assembly District, not the 44, & that James Brennan was not my rep., Anthony Genovessi was. His office is at 279 Broadway, room 1513A, N.Y., N.Y. 10007, 1-212-385-6636. I called & was told, "He is your assemblyman, was elected in 86, replacing Stanley Fink & belongs to the T. Jefferson Club.

"He is the district leader of Canarsie, Chair of the Oversights & Investigations & a member of the Steering Committees that decides which bills get passed & which ones do not. He reviews laws on things like cable t.v. & belongs to the Democratic club on future issues & their impact upon the neighborhood, corporate law & a sub committee on proposals." [iv]

I called Howard Babush's office again & left a message on his answering machine stating who I am, my address, why I am calling & that this was my 2nd request for info. A few days later I received this information in the mail: a letter with a brief biography outlining his life in considerable detail with information like

"He is a D., born 10/8/41, in Brooklyn. He attended N.Y.C. P.S. & graduated T. Jefferson High. He received a B.A. in U.S. History from Pace U. and L.L.B. and J.D. degrees from Saint John's and became a member of the N.Y.S. Bar in 1967.

"After that he became an Asst. Corporation Counsel for N.Y.C. Then he became an Asst. U.S. Attorney in the East District of N.Y. The Justice Dept. selected him as a special prosecutor for the Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force. He was an Assistant N.Y. City Comptroller for Labor Law when elected in 76.

"He was V.P. of the N.Y.C. Community Board 18 & is a member of the Remsen Heights Jewish Center. His other activities include memberships in the Board of Directors of the Canarsie Chapter of AWARE, Inc.; Knights of Pythias, Valiant Lodge; B'nai Brith, Rambam -Canarsie Lodge; T. Jefferson D. Club; Advisory Council, S. Shore H.S. Adult Ed. Program; Honorary Chair of the Committee for the Ed. of Russian-Jewish Immigrant Kids: Jewish War Veterans & the Cohen Lorie Post.

"His Senate Committee assignments are: Ed. (ranking minority member); Codes; Crime & Correction; Higher Ed.; Insurance; & trans. He is a member of the Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Mngmnt. & Skills Development & Vocational Ed., Special Task Force on Drunk Driving, & the Subcommittee on L.I. Marine District. He is married & has 3 children." [v]

"A 4 pg. booklet listing many items that are exempt from sales tax. A card Entitled Easy Access To Your Government, listing his Manhattan & Albany office addresses & phone #. I already have the Manhattan 1, Albany is The Legislative Office Building, room 504, Albany, N.Y. 12247, 1-518-455-3536. It also lists 13 toll free phone numbers for various state agencies & their hours. It starts with the State Senate- 1-800-342-9860, 9-5, M-F. Status of bills during the legislative session. Sr. Citizens- 1-800-342-9871, 8-4, M-F. Assistance from the State Office For Aging for Sr. citizens with any problem. Child Abuse-1-800-342-3720, 24 hours, everyday. Drug abuse- 1-800-522-5353, 24 hours everyday. Info. about drug abuse & assistance or confidential referrals. Vets.- 1-800-635-6534, 9-4:30. Provides information on state & fed. benefits & county phone #s for help. Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage- 1-800-332-3742, 8:30-5, weekdays. Info. on state prescription drug plan for senior citizens & help in obtaining & filling out forms. Public Service Commissions- 1-800-342-3377, 8:30-4:30, weekdays. *For complaints on utility billing, services, deposits, disconnections & info. on hearings. 1-800-342-3355, 7:30-7:30 weekdays. To meet emergency needs of residential consumers without gas or electric service. Energy- 1-800-423-SAVE, 8:30-5:00, weekdays. For information on insulation, heating fuel cut-offs, energy-related problems & energy conservation programs. @ Family Violence- 1-800-942-6906, 24 hours, everyday. Provides crisis intervention & counseling referrals & information for victims of family violence. Banking-1-800-522-3330, 9-5 weekdays. For consumer complaints & information concerning state & financial institutions, like savings and commercial banks, or credit unions. Taxpayer Assistance-1-800-CALL-TAX, 8:30-4:30, weekdays. Aid to taxpayers on questions about state taxes, including information on goods that are subject to sales tax. * Tourist Info.- 1-800-225-5697, 8:30-5, weekdays. For travel information on N.Y., "I love N.Y." tour packages, travel & ski guides. * (*= Voice mail & @= Answering machine)." [vi]

There is a questionnaire with 11 questions on education, three on social service, five on health, seven on public safety, four on government reform and four on miscellaneous. It is self addressed with Senator Babush's Albany office and requests it be mailed back. It also includes an eight page booklet entitled How A Bill Becomes Law & How You Can Help. It shows the step by step process starting with Idea, Bill Drafting, Introduction, committee Action, The Calendar, Floor Amendments, Passing A Bill and The Government. [vii]

There was a booklet entitled What Every Driver Should Know.. It outlines in detail all the laws pertaining to driving while intoxicated. Everything from the legal blood alcohol limit, Points on Drivers Licenses, Fees & Fines to Suspensions and Revocations. [viii]

In conclusion I would still live in Canarsie as it is still a decent mid. class neighborhood. I realize that is not what is was 20- years- ago when I was a kid, but the schools are as good, or even better than ever. I, like many New Yorkers gain great comfort from the sense of "a new broom sweeping clean" and a hands on mayor, like Giuliani doing things to improve the quality of city life like appointing Herman Badillo as a fiscal "watchdog" at the Board of Ed. to reduce the bureaucracy and improve the quality of education by putting the money where it belongs: in the classroom. I foresee a reduction of violent crime in the city now that the mayor has hired 2,400 new police officers.

Works Cited
1. Talking Yellow Book, 22nd Edition, Rockville Centre, N.Y.,
Yellow Book Co., Inc. 1993.
2. The League of Women Voters, 817 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10007. 3. Councilman Herb Berman's Office, City Hall, N.Y. 10007.
4. Assemblymen Anthony Genovessi's office, 279 Broadway, Room 1531A, N.Y., N.Y. 10007.
5. Sen. Howard Babbush's office, 270 Broadway, Room 1002 N.Y., N.Y. 10007.
6. Easy Access To Your Government, #18, April 1993.
7. What Every Driver Should Know, #90, October 1993.
8. How A Bill Becomes A Law & How You Can Help, #13, July 1991.