MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Photo by L.Cherkis http://www.redbubble.com/people/leystan

My letter to Beverley Square West Association and Ditmas Blog (10-11-10):

Installation of traffic light at the corner of Beverley Road and Argyle Road is a saga that took forty years in the making! It is the culmination of persistent citizen activism motivated by humane concern for pedestrians and drivers who dared to use an intersection made more dangerous by population increase over the years. During my tenure as Beverley Square West Representative, and as a resident for almost 50 years, I have had occasion to represent Beverley Square West during earlier efforts to convince The City of New York that the traffic light on Argyle was essential.

Traffic authorities ordered SLOW signs, the STOP signs. Still the urge to speed prevailed over caution as collisions continued to interfere with life in Victorian Flatbush. Finally, our diligent Beverley Square West cameraman, Andrew Novick, began photographing accident after accident in 2010 from our residential vantage point on Beverley, uploaded the photographs to the Ditmas Park blog, and consulted with owner, Louise Cherkis, every step of the way. The chronicling of the continuing problem was then presented to the Beverley Square West Association, which leapt into action, armed with the photographic evidence, the power of internet, and a terrific BSW liaison with the City of New York whose name I do not know. Then, Voila! Traffic authorities submitted to the inevitable expenditure.

In fact, accidents continued to happen up until days before the September installation. Given my own past participation in the process, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud all of the Beverley Square West neighbors, as well as my personal contacts over the years, the Rubmans, the Longos, the McGoverns, the Rosenberg-Siegels, the Fischmans, and of course, Brooklyn historian, Ron Schweiger who provided moral support.

Martha S. Cherkis

Beverley Road Representative 1975-2008