Mosley Meets With Mayor, Heastie
Cementing his growing role as a member of new Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie‘s inner circle, Assembly Member Walter Mosley met with Mayor Bill de Blasio and Heastie at the Ebbets Field Apartment complex on Bedford Avenue yesterday to talk about strengthening affordable housing and rent regulation laws that are due for re-authorization this year.
The three lawmakers heard an earful from tenants at the complex who spoke about worries of being priced out as well as the complex often being in a state of disrepair.
“We talked about preserving affordable housing stock and the mayors plan and the link to Albany,” said Mosley. “The rent regulation laws need strengthening to keep the housing stock affordable.”
Mosley said there are strong forces that want to keep certain abatements and tax reductions as it relates to development and that these incentives, if renewed, need to have a strengthened component of affordability.
“We (de Blasio and Heastie) have the same perspective that ranges to individual renters, and to save and preserve real affordable housing. We have to make sure that outside forces don’t interrupt this notion,” he added.
Golden Clamps Down On Illegal Conversions
Bay Ridge State Senator Martin Golden introduced legislation Friday to increase penalties for those who fail to obtain proper permits or certificates, prior to altering a multiple dwelling. Additionally, the measure will create penalties for individuals that allow an altered building to be inhabited.
The bill comes in the wake of an influx in illegal home conversions impacting Golden’s district. In spite of the efforts of the New York City Buildings Department working to stop illegal conversions, properties are being altered as such throughout the City on a regular basis, Golden said.
“The issue of illegal conversions has been part of the conversation in our neighborhood for many years, but over the past couple of years, this problem has escalated at a pace never seen before. These illegal conversions are endangering those living in these conditions, our emergency service workers and destroying our quality of life. It is time that we address this problem and take strong action to halt this trend,” the lawmaker added.”
If enacted, the owner of the dwelling would be charged with a Class D Felony when a person suffers physical injury in or around a property that has been converted illegally, without the proper permits or
certifications. Owners would be charged with a Class C Felony in such instances of illegal alterations, where a person suffers serious physical injury.
Adams Honors Midwood Ambulance Service
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams honored the Midwood Ambulance Service as the first honoree of the Brooklyn’s Community Businesses Award, a series where he will honor local businesses with a commitment to their communities.
After touring their main dispatch facility and corporate office in Gravesend, he presented members of the Rapisarda family, who now operate the business 59 years after their grandfather Benny started the company out of his home, with a citation recognizing their dedication to serving patients in need throughout the borough.
“Brooklyn’s Community Businesses show that the business of making our borough great can truly be a community affair,” said Adams. “I am excited to celebrate companies big and small, old and new, which are giving back to the borough through their daily operations or other charitable acts. Businesses like Midwood Ambulance Service set a great example for all Brooklynites, and they show that serving others truly pays off.”
Midwood Ambulance Service is the oldest, private family-owned medical transportation business in Brooklyn. They have about 350 employees, all of whom are members of the Teamsters, with emergency medical technicians, paramedics, drivers, dispatchers, and medical directors that serve patients in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We are honored to have Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams come down to our base and see the operations of Midwood Ambulance Service,” said Mallory Rapisarda, executive director of marketing and PR for Midwood Ambulance Service. “As one of the oldest private ambulance companies in the city, we pride ourselves on delivering nothing but the best service to our clients. To have the Borough President come down and name us as the first of Brooklyn’s Community Businesses really means a lot to us.”
Velazquez Blasts demotion of Menchaca
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez blasted the Kings County Democratic organization for the demotion of her protege, Sunset Park City Councilman Carlos Menchaca from being co-leader of the council’s Brooklyn delegation, CapitalNewYork reported.
Bensonhurst City Councilman Mark Treyger replaced Menchaca Thursday with member sources complaining about a lack of meetings and a general dysfunction in the delegation. They did, however, re-appoint the other co-chair, Brownsville City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy.
“He (Menchaca) is a hard-working person, so I don’t know, it just leaves a very bad taste, and I don’t know if this was a political hit or who orchestrated it and the reason why,” Velázquez told the publication. “You have two co-leaders but only one was ousted, so if you want to talk about not having meetings, they mean him and the other person, why was he the only one?”
