Brad Lander Calls For Traffic Mitigation
Park Slope/Kensington/Gowanus City Councilman Brad Lander reacted to the tragic death of 14-year old Mohammed Uddin, a Kensington resident and student at Brooklyn Technical High School, who was killed by a driver at Caton Avenue and E. 7th Street, by calling for increased traffic mitigation. He noted he had already sent a letter to the city’s Department of Transportation requesting traffic mitigations at the intersection where the child was killed along with other intersections in the area.
Lander is also set to release a comprehensive rezoning plan for the Gowanus area as DNAinfo reports. The multiuse plan combines housing, manufacturing and recreation uses and comes out of the Bridging Gowanus initiative, developed with the community. Other lawmakers in on the plan included Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, State Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, City Councilmembers Stephen Levin and Carlos Menchaca, and State Assemblywoman-elect Jo Anne Simon.
Broad Support For Obama Immigration Order
Congressmembers Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke held a press conference Friday to support President Obama’s executive order on immigration allowing some 4 million undocumented immigrants to live and work legally in America, The Observer reports.
Also present were State Senator Kevin Parker, Assemblyman Walter Mosley, Assemblyman N. Nick Perry, Councilman Mathieu Eugene, Assemblywoman-elect Rodneyse Bichotte, Assemblywoman-elect Jo Anne Simon, Assemblywoman-elect Latrice Monique Walker.
Adams Responds to Shootings
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams was at the 75th Police Precinct over the weekend to call for raising the penalties on the criminal possession of weapons in homes with children. His call for action followed the weekend shooting of nine-month old Jessica Rosales, who was rushed to Woodhull Hospital following the incident. NYPD officials have said her father had an illegal Colt 45 in the house and that the gun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it.
Adams also called for new measure that will not allow rookie cops to patrol alone in dangerous areas following Friday’s fatal shooting of 28-year-old Akai Gurley in nearby Louis Pink Houses.
Cumbo, Deutsch Honor Schools in Their Districts
New York City Council Members Chaim Deutsch and Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Brooklyn) honored P.S. 254 and P.S. 11 for their outstanding achievement, as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon of Excellence, at a ceremony at Brooklyn Borough Hall last Thursday evening.
“This is the most prestigious award that any school — public or private — can attain in the United States and it is my privilege to celebrate this success with PS 254 and PS 11.” said Council Member Chaim Deutsch. “Together they are an example of excellence and I commend Principal Alhonote and Principal Wrighton, as well as the staff and students for exemplifying a quality that can be upheld as a model for others.”
In 2014, the United States Department of Education recognized 337 schools across the country for displaying high learning standards and progress. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors outstanding public and private elementary, middle, and high schools each year based on their general academic achievement as well as their success in closing achievement gaps among subgroups of students.
“The academic excellence of P.S. 11 and P.S. 254 is a direct reflection of our community’s unwavering commitment to provide resources and opportunities that promote the success of our administrators, faculty, parents, but most importantly our students,” said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo. “The designation of these two institutions as the 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools of Brooklyn is commendable and recognizes the hard work of the staff, the dedication of the parents, and the strong leadership of Principals Alonta Wrighton and Linda Alhonote.”
Today’s Events:
Mayor de Blasio hosts a community meeting with local elected officials and community members at City Hall as part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to engage the community and build more support for the City’s bid to bring the 2016 Democratic National Convention to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.