WEST INDIAN PARADE AND FESTIVAL

WEST INDIAN PARADE AND FESTIVAL


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Hey y’all-

The West Indian Parade is the largest parade in NYC and is quite a sight to behold. Attorney General EliotnSpitzer and Senator David Paterson will be marching and we are looking to mobilize 200 volunteers to support them. We need your help to march with Eliot and David, and most importantly, to line the parade route and distribute literature, stickers, and rally signs. Basic details are below:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2006

The parade begins at 10:00 at Eastern Parkway and Utica Ave. and goes on
Eastern Parkway to Grand Army Plaza



The following individuals so far have said that they will march with 504 and 504 North Star as part of the Spitzer/Paterson contingent at the West Indian Day Parade on Monday:

Pam Bates
Arturo Hoyte
Toby Edwards
Marty Sesmer
Pat Walls
Phil Walls
Dorothy Williams-Perrer
and myself (Marvin)

If you plan to join us, please contact me off list or
contact Pam Bates to RSVP 212-222-6439

These are the final arrangements made with Access-A-Ride for those planning to join us at the West Indian Day Parade on Monday.



Please note that you need to ask for a 9:00 arrival at 225 Rochester Ave. (Between Sterling Place and St. John's Place)
From there you cross St. John's Place and Eastern Parkway is two blocks away. From there it's one block to our meeting
place, Banco Popular at 1117 Eastern Parkway.



Return is at 1:30 at 10 Seventh Ave, at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue, which is about three blocks north of Grand Army Plaza by Flatbush Ave.(at the top of the traffic circle on Flatbush Avenue.)
If you miss the return trip on Access-A-Ride, there is an accessible
subway station about six blocks further north to Atlantic Avenue

and another accessible station is the Prospect Park station at Flatbush Avenue and Empire Blvd.

AAR customers from the 504 Democratic Club and the 504 North Star organization who will be marching as part of the Spitzer/Paterson contingent at the West Indian Day Parade on Monday, September 4 will should call Reservations and request a trip to 225 Rochester Avenue (between Sterling Place &St. John’s Place) and with a 9 a.m. appointment time for arrival in Brooklyn. We anticipate heavy traffic and want to ensure those marching will not arrive late. The reservationist will give them their pick up time. They should request a 1:30 p.m. return trip from 10 7th Avenue (intersection of 7th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue).

Please advise everyone that they need to inform reservations if they are traveling with other customers, PCAs or guests when they are making a reservation. In addition, they need to cancel their reservations, no matter when they decide they will not be traveling to avoid wasted trips.

These are the only locations where we will be able to pick up and drop off. If customers don’t arrive by 1:30 p.m. at the pick up location, we don’t know when we will be able to pick them up.

There are usually 2 million people at this parade, there are massive traffic jams and streets are subject to unannounced closings so anyone attending is forewarned that transportations plans can go awry. Even with the above arrangements there is difficulty in realizing definite pick ups because of crowds and unforeseen circumstances.



FYI – I am adding the list of police street closings.



Formation &Start: Eastern Parkway and Utica Avenue

Route: West on Eastern Parkway from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza

End: Eastern Parkway and Grand Army Plaza



Additional Closures:

· Southbound traffic from Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Flatbush Avenue

·  Northbound traffic from Empire Boulevard to Eastern Parkway between Utica Avenue and Flatbush Avenue·

· Northbound traffic on Flatbush Avenue from Church Avenue to Grand Army Plaza

·    Southbound traffic on Flatbush Avenue from Grand Army Plaza to Empire Boulevard

·  Southbound traffic on Ocean Avenue from Empire Boulevard to Parkside Avenue·       Northbound traffic on Ocean Avenue from Parkside Avenue to Empire Boulevard

· Northbound traffic on Ocean Avenue from Parkside Avenue to Empire BoulevardÂ

The above streets will be closed Monday from 11am to 6pm for the West Indian Day Carnival as permitted by the Mayor’s Street Activity Permit Office (CAU).