Last night’s Community Board 2 (CB2) Health, Environment and Social Services Committee meeting started off with a very important presentation by Mr. Anthony Feliciano of Fort Greene SNAP. Mr. Feliciano asked the committee to draft a resolution in support of SNAP’s fight against the proposed city and state budget cuts in Public Health Services and Programs. In addition to cutting over 300 nurses from city schools, the Mayor has also proposed cuts in infant mortality services, HIV/AIDS services and mental health services. Mr. Feliciano feels that instead of exploring alternate revenue streams, the Mayor has focused solely on cuts.

Since the city is not required to report back to the federal government on Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/fmap.htm spending, Mr. Feliciano said it is unclear what this money has been used for in the past. He is asking the city for more clarity. He is also encouraging the public to come out to rallies later this year and to testify in public hearings.

The fireworks did not begin until the liquor license application and renewal portion of the meeting began. The most debated application was for Pineapple Restaurant Associates Inc. (71 Pineapple Street in Brooklyn Heights). Several members of the community and representatives from local elected officials came out in opposition of the application. Residents opposed the close proximity of the restaurant’s back-deck to their windows. They are concerned that the potential noise from drunken patrons late into the night will disrupt their sleep. With the addition of a few stipulations, the committee approved a recommendation to the CB2 executive committee to send a letter of support to the State Liquor Authority. The proprietor agreed to remove the request to serve alcohol on the back-deck from the application. He also agreed to sound proof adjacent windows and walls, and he will work closely with neighbors to resolve unforeseen problems.

Closer to our hood, Fresh Fanatic, the grocery store that has been operating at 88 Washington Avenue (at Park Ave.) received support from the committee to serve wine and beer to customers in a small seating area in the store.

During the community forum portion of the meeting, two gentlemen spoke in opposition of the liquor license renewal for Lox 15 (aka Lox Lounge) at 15 Putnam Avenue in Clinton Hill. Unfortunately, they were a month late because the license was renewed at last month’s meeting without opposition. The two gentlemen presented supporting documents of 311 calls, complaints to the 88th PCT and allegations of numerous violations to the committee. Although residents complained about the noise level at Lox 15 in the past, CB2 had no complaints over the past six months. Based on the information provided at this meeting, the committee recommended that the executive committee send a letter to the State Liquor Authority (SLA) asking that Lox 15 liquor license be placed under supervision. Since the proprietors of Lox 15 weren’t in attendance, the committee felt it was only fair to ask them back to hear their side of the story.