Williams, Greenfield Lead Joint Hearing On Affordable Housing
Brooklyn City Councilmembers Jumaane Williams and David Greenfield on Monday led a seven-hour joint committee hearing on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s affordable housing plan to build and preserve 200,000 affordable housing units within 10 years.
- The methods which will be used to create more affordable and more deeply affordable housing units;
- Learning about which programs and neighborhoods will be targeted for preservation efforts;
- Identifying which neighborhoods will be “upzoned” and the impact this will have on existing communities;
- The proposed reduction in homelessness;
- The proposed expansion of supportive housing and new housing assistance programs, such as housing for seniors and veterans;
- Paying for the anticipated $41.1 billion dollar cost of the plan
“As the Administration begins to address the affordable housing crisis that has plagued New York City for far too long, this hearing gave the Council an opportunity to diagnose and way in on the 116-page plan to find out how the Council can help make this ambitious goal a reality,” said Williams.
“While we learned a lot about the newest aspects of the plan, Mayor de Blasio’s housing plan is simply too big of a topic, and too important to only discuss in one day. I look forward to continuing the conversations we started today with Housing Chair Williams, Community Development Chair Arroyo, HPD, DCP, NYCHA and housing advocates over the next few months. We certainly made some good headway and I intend to continue our partnership and oversight role as we tackle New York’s affordable housing crisis,” said Greenfield.
Adams Unveils Digital Textbook-Free Program For Schools
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams yesterday unveiled a groundbreaking pilot program introducing textbook-free classrooms to 250 students at PS 196 Ten Eyck and MS 582 The Upper Academy, located jointly in East Williamsburg, as well as Eagle Academy for Young Men II in Brownsville.
The program is funded through a public-private partnership between his office and New York City-based Copia Interactive LLC, a digital learning platform provider.
“Our pilot program for textbook-free classrooms shows how technology can be used effectively to enhance and enrich the educational experience for students and teachers alike,” said Borough President Adams. “I believe the early impact of this pilot program with Copia, which is replacing physical textbooks that might be older than the students using them with cutting-edge technology that accesses up-to-date class material, holds great promise for schools in Brooklyn and across New York City.”
The new program also drew support from the City’s Department of Education Chancellor Carmen Farina
“I am always excited to see new technology in our classrooms that engages students and facilitates learning,” said Fariña. “I thank Borough President Adams for his continued work to support our students, and congratulate him on the launch of this pilot program. I look forward to seeing this new program in action, and I have high hopes that it will be a real gain to these Brooklyn students and classrooms.”
Cornegy Rolls Out Safe Stop Program
City Councilman Robert Cornegy this week rolled a Safe Stop program in his Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights district, DNAInfo reported.
The program provides support for anyone feeling threatened with local businesses, schools and community-based organizations asked to be the eyes and ears of the NYPD and make their spaces available as safe havens with decals in windows.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” said Cornegy. “While we support NYPD and its efforts to keep us safe, they’ll probably tell you that the greatest degree of assurance that we’ll be safe comes from the community. This collaboration has to happen.”
Cornegy’s office launched the program in partnership with Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson’s office and the NYPD’s 77th, 79th and 81st precincts.
Today’s Events:
6 p.m. – Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams calls for greater youth involvement in civic matters, part of his proposed community board reforms, Al Vann Library of Boys and Girls High School, Bedford-Stuyvesant.
6:30 p.m. – Annual Community Food Drive, Teen Challenge Center, 444 Clinton Avenue
7 p.m. – New York City hosts town hall for immigrant-owned businesses featuring Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Julie Menin and Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer, Sunset Park Recreation Center, 7th Ave.
7:30 p.m. – The Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association meets, Carmine Carro Community Center (Fillmore Ave. & Marine Pkwy.), Marine Park
7:30 p.m. – Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams hosts emergency town hall for residents of the 70th Precinct, in response to a surge of criminal activity, particularly armed robberies at local small businesses, that have occurred in and around Ditmas Park in the past month, PS 139, 330 Rugby Road, Ditmas Park
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