While, for some people, summer means a slowdown, for some advocates in East Flatbush, the season will be an opportunity to build community.
To that end, Morgan Gabriel, the chairperson of the Block Association Committee of Community Board 17, recently said that the committee would be reaching out to help residents around the community form or revitalize block associations.
“The months of July and August have been designated block mobilization months,” Gabriel told fellow members of CB 17, gathered in the auditorium at Downstate Medical Center, 395 Lenox Road, for the board’s June meeting.
The more block associations in the community, the merrier, Gabriel stressed, “If your block is organized, and the next one is not, they’re taking something away from you.”
Gabriel – whose oft-repeated catch phrase is that “block associations are the life blood of the community – stressed that building block associations is, “About taking control of our community. The community belongs to us. We’re going to watch over it and take care of it.”
In addition, Gabriel said, there would be an ongoing effort to help block associations incorporate. That status, he emphasized, would allow them to, “Take advance of the money that’s around so they can develop the community and make improvements.
“The quality of life is very important,” Gabriel concluded. “We must watch over our community. If you see something, say something. If you hear something, say something. The community belongs to you. Show some interest and stand up for what you believe in.”
