Explosive Concerns: E72NA Community Meeting Addresses Safety & Quality of Life

The E72NA is pleased to announce that we had several hundred neighbors attending the January 17th community meeting, where important issues facing the neighborhood were discussed. The meeting was a great opportunity for residents to come together and learn about the important work being done to keep our community safe and improve the quality of life for all residents.

Speakers’ Highlights:

FDNY Engine Company 44 --- Captain Jason Wendell

E-bike lithium-ion battery pack explosions have caused several deadly apartment fires recently; a single leaking battery can create a hydrogen gas explosion. E-bikes and their batteries need to be stored in a cement-encased room with self-closing doors to limit the risk of fire spreading throughout an apartment building.

FDNY Engine Company 44 welcomes visitors to its station house located at 221 E. 75th Street.

Manhattan Borough President --- Mark Levine

Working closely with UES representatives to improve quality of life issues including pausing 5G tower installations in residential neighborhoods; automated enforcement of double-parking violations related to e-commerce deliveries; identification of off-street, alternative spaces for sorting and distribution of e-commerce packages; and working with the Parks Dept. to address the sink hole along the East River Esplanade.

Residents are invited to attend the State of the Borough meeting on Tuesday, January 31st at 6pm.

NYPD 19th Precinct --- Acting Commanding Officer Captain Anthony Lavino

In 2022, grand larcenies from shoplifting and robberies showed the biggest year-over-year increase, as well as check washing --- checks stolen from mailboxes where the payable party’s name is changed to a fraudulent one.  Arrests have increased 53% during the period.

The Precinct has increased enforcement of moving violations for e-bikes, ATVs and motorcycles, including 200 e-bike confiscations.  Parking summonses also increased 25% during the year.  

The Precinct has coordinated with the Dept. of Human Services and the Sanitation Dept. to clean-up 136 homeless encampments by offering homeless individuals social services and shelter to assist in their transition from street life.

New field training police officers will be joining the Precinct as foot patrolman with an initial focus on the Madison Avenue shopping corridor near 86th Street.

E72NA Heroes Award

The first annual E72NA Heroes Award was presented to our Neighborhood Coordination Officers, PJ Conley and Amir Hamdy, for their dedicated service to our residents and their close partnership with E72NA.

District 5 NYC Councilmember Julie Menin

Sponsored 7 bills passed into law including the provision of universal childcare, the streamlining of the NYC small business portal for permits and licenses, and mandated disclosure of hospital medical procedure costs.

The successful rat mitigation pilot program on 86th Street will be expanded to other priority areas in the district. Continued funding of the outside exterminator, combined with the increased frequency of trash collection, should significantly reduce the UES rat population.

34 new security cameras were purchased to assist in the deterrence of retail theft in the district.

Department of Sanitation for Manhattan --- Assistant Commissioner Levy

Increased frequency of trash collection combined with twice weekly street sweeping is aiding the rat mitigation effort in District 5.  The department has removed 5 outdoor dining sheds no longer in use and in disrepair.  Call 3-1-1 to report abandoned dining sheds for removal.

A pilot composting program in Queens has met with tremendous success and is expected to be rolled out in the next 18 months to District 5, pending continued funding for the program.