Deutsch Scrubs Down District
Sheepshead Bay City Councilman Chaim Deutsch is sending $15,000 in additional funidng to the Midwood Devlopement Corporation for extra clean up crews in garbaqge-strewn areas of his district, according to Sheepshead Bites
The money is going towards the non-profit’s Project Sweep program, which since 1990 has employed adults with developmental disabilities who go out with job coaches to clean commercial strips. Among the corridors they clean include Newkirk Avenue, Courtelyou Road and Avenue M as well as all subway overpasses spanning from Avenue M to Avenue Z.
The initiative will also see Project Sweep tidy up Sheepshead Bay Road, the Holocaust Memorial Park and a handful of other areas known to accumulate garbage.
“Graffiti and litter adversely affect our quality of life, and can even cause an innocent homeowner to incur summonses due to littered trash blowing onto their property. My goal is to enhance the beautification of our neighborhoods,” said Deutsch in a press release.
Constituents that know of any other garbage-strewn spots should call Deutsch’s office at (718) 368-9176.
Eugene Hails Affordable Housing in East Flatbush
East Flatbush City Councilmember Mathieu Eugene yesterday was on hand for the ribbon-cutting cermoney for the completion of Phase 1 of CAMBA Gardens, which upon final completion will provide 502 units of sustainable, affordable and supportive rental housing for individuals and families with low incomes.
The project is located at 738 Albany Avenue, and Eugene worked to provide capital funding for the program.
The construction of CAMBA Gardens 1 has resulted in the creation of many jobs as well including the hiring during constructionof 59 Brooklyn residents and 79 Brooklyn-based contractors, subcontractors and vendors who put more than 1,100 Brooklyn residents to work.
In total, there was over $16 million in contracts awarded to Brooklyn contractors and subcontractors and $7.5 million of materials and equipment purchased from Brooklyn vendors.
CAMBA Gardens 2 will provide 293 units of sustainable, supportive and affordable rental housing, with 60 percent of the
units being set aside for special needs resident, including 50 units for long-term HHC patients. The remaining 40 percent
of the units will be reserved for low-income community members. All of the units will be made available to households
60 percent under the area median income.
Upon completion CAMBA Gardens will provide case management and programming on-site, which will include nutrition counseling, yoga, and financial management, in addition to an array of holiday and social gatherings. CAMBA will also work closely with Kings County Hospital to connect tenants with healthcare services.
“As someone who has long been an advocate for strong health services, I am very pleased that the national model for a public hospital, nonprofit developer and service provider is in East Flatbush,” said Eugene. “Furthermore, I am delighted that people living in the apartment units will have access to Kings County Hospital’s excellent medical care. I commend CAMBA Housing Ventures on their fine work and I look forward to continue partnering with them to provide affordable and innovative housing to my constituents.”
City Funded Daycare Center Evicted
Williamsburg City Councilman Antonio Reynoso called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to find a way to keep open an East Williamsburg day care center serving low-income parents that lost its lease and will be forced to move at the end of the year, DNA reported
Bushwick United Learning Center, funded by the city’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), got booted from it’s 152 Manhattan Avenue location after the landlord won an eviction case against the city, with the court siting shoddy paperwork on the city’s part.
The city’s 10-year lease on the building ended in 2013. It has housed some form of subsidized day care since it was built in 1963.
The landlords attorney Anthony Cornicello said.the building will be officially sold “in the ballpark” of $4 million next year, with the assumption that condos will be built.
Reynoso and locals advocates want the de Blasio administration to allocate capital funds to buy the property and keep it in city ownership for the long term. They suggested the property could be keep the daycare center open and have an affordable housing component to keep the neighborhood from further gentrification.
“Every single day, we’re losing more options,” Reynoso told reporters. “To me, [buying this place] is an investment.”
Today’s Events
12:45 p.m. – Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams unveils a pilot program in partnership with Copia Interactive LLC, to establish textbook-free classrooms in three Brooklyn schools, Eagle Academy for Young Men II, 2nd floor, 1137 Herkimer Street, Brownsville.
1 p.m. – Brooklyn BP Eric Adams joins advocates and community members for the opening of The Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Residence—affordable housing for homeless adults and low-income residents, 329 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn.
2 p.m. – State Sen. Martin Golden will join the American Legion Amity Post #791, FDNY and Boy Scouts of America to dispatch pajamas and board games to troops and their families, 7408 5th Ave., Brooklyn.
6 p.m. – Atlantic Yards Quality of Life meeting: Forest City Ratner Companies will present an overview of upcoming construction activities surrounding the project, Brooklyn Hospital, 3rd Floor Auditorium, 121 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn.
6:30 p.m. – Tenants’ Forum: an opportunity for tenants to get information on issues such as their rights and responsibilities, housing code violations, housing court, rent protections for seniors and disabled persons, NYCHA, Section 8, discrimination and more, St. Joseph’s College, St. Angela Hall, 271 Waverly Avenue, Brooklyn.
