De Blasio Delivers $77.7 Billion Executive Budget
Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday unveiled a $77.7 billion fiscal year 2016 budget that stayed true to his progressive agenda, and was actually a slight decrease over last year’s $75 billion spending plan that was ultimately adopted by the City Council.
The spending plan, which the City Council must approve, and will go into affect July 1, has no cuts to any agency spending and some highlights include:
- $11.3 million a year to add 45 new ambulance tours and $6.7 million a year to add 149 new EMS dispatchers, aimed at improving emergency response times.
- $340 million for high-quality, full-day universal pre-K for all four-year-olds, building on this year’s success. Much, if not all of this money will come from the state
- $190 million to expand after-school programs to over 100,000 middle school students.
- Funding for 128 Community Schools, including the transformation of 94 renewal schools.
- $29 million to expand academic intervention and support for STEM at community colleges.
- $1.1 million to expand the Fatherhood Academy at CUNY, helping fathers ages 18 through 24 improve their job and education prospects as part of the Young Men’s Initiative.
- $28.4 million for rental assistance and support to move homeless New Yorkers out of shelter.
Noticeably missing from the budget was any money to hire more police – an issue that will probably be contended as the budget negotiation process with the City Council progresses. Look for a later post today with Brooklyn lawmaker reactions to de Blasio’s initial spending proposal.
Adams Gears Up For A Family Friendly NBA All-Star Game
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will launch an initiative today with Fort Greene City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo to combat with an expected rise in sex trafficking surrounding the NBA All-Star Weekend which is coming to both Manhattan and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center this weekend.
The initiative with ECPAT-USA, the leading anti-trafficking policy organization in the United States, will seek to train hotels and their employees on how to identify and combat incidences of sex trafficking. It comes on anecdotal evidence suggesting major sporting events can lead to greater risks regarding trafficking.
Adams said the initiative could enhance the borough’s attractiveness as a family-friendly tourist destination.
Cornegy Hosts Bed-Stuy Reunion All-Star Party
Bedford-Stuyvesant City Councilman Robert Cornegy will host a private Bed-Stuy Reunion All-Star Party this coming Saturday afternoon, The BK Reader reports.
Entertainment attorney Londell McMillan will be the special honoree and guest in the event, which filmmaker Spike Lee and Hip Hop icon Ralph McDaniels are co-hosting.
McMillan was born and raised in Bed-Stuy’s Tompkins Houses in Bed-Stuy. His big-name clients include The Discovery Channel, Time Warner, Radio One, National Football League, Mercedes-Benz Prince, Lil’ Kim, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and Michael Jackson before his death.
“This is about honoring those people from Bed-Stuy– and there are a ton of them– who are making big contributions to society in their daily dealings and who always put Bed-Stuy in a good light,” Cornegy told the web publication covering Central Brooklyn. “It’s about exemplifying the best of what the neighborhood has to offer. Those are the stories we want to tell.”
Golden Hires Bay Ridge Merchant and Community Activist
Bay Ridge State Senator Martin Golden announced yesterday that longtime Third Avenue merchant and community activist, Arlene Rutuelo, has joined his staff and will serve as executive assistant.
“I am so proud to welcome Arlene, her enthusiasm, and love of our community to my staff,” said Golden. “Arlene has long been an outstanding local leader who has made a difference in our neighborhood at
so many levels. I am confident that she will be a stellar addition to my staff and I look forward to working with her.”
Rutuelo is a lifelong resident of Bay Ridge and for almost three decades was involved in the successful Bakke family business, Nordic Delion Third Avenue, which recently closed. She is the President of The Guild for Exceptional Children, a member of The 68th Precinct Community Council, and a board member of The Merchants of Third Avenue.
Rutuelo also served as the New York City coordinator for a worldwide Norwegian organization, The Dina Foundation, working to prevent human sex trafficking, and as vice chair of the executive board of the Norwegian Christian Home & Health Center, a board member of the Scandinavian East Coast Museum, co-chair of The Miss Norway Contest and co-chair of the Norwegian Day Parade.
