Hikind Sounds Alarm Over Suspects Casing Synagogues
Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind met with members of the NYPD last night after two suspicious men were seen casing two synagogues in Flatbush.
The incident occurred on the Sabbath (Saturday) afternoon at around 4:15 pm when two men, described as being of Middle Eastern decent, attempted to enter the Beth Torah synagogue located on Ocean Parkway. The men were seen looking at the video camera and attempting to photograph the front of the building.
A security guard on patrol outside the synagogue approached the men, instructing them to leave after recording their license plate and vehicle information. The suspicious men then drove off in a Blue Honda Accord. Both men were seen again in front of a second synagogue on Ocean Parkway about an hour later, according to reports.
“I urge everyone to stay calm but remain cautious,” said Hikind. “The NYPD’s anti-terrorism unit is taking this matter very seriously and doing everything that they should in light of a potential threat. If anyone has any information, they are urged to contact the police immediately.”
Adams, Hamilton Bill For Adding Diversity In Top Schools
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and State Senator Jesse Hamilton this week will announce legislation that would grant admissions access to every public middle school valedictorian and salutatorian that passes the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test.
The pronouncement comes days after the city’s Department of Education released statistics showing a persistent problem in the lack of diversity in the city’s nine specialized high schools. Of the 5,103 students offered placement in specialized high schools this year, five percent were African-American and seven percent were Hispanic, the same as the previous year.
The bill will seek to amend the 1972 Calendra-Hecht Act, which governs the city’s specialized high schools. Adams also sent a letter to Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina outlining concerns on school diversity.
Williams, Adams, Gentile Against Illegal Home Conversions
City Council Members Jumaane Williams and Vincent Gentile, and Borough President Eric Adams were in Flatbush yesterday to put more teeth into a bill to combat illegal home conversions.
Under the bill, a new building code violation category would be created: aggravated illegal conversion, punishable by a fine of $15,000 per unit. The legislation calls for inspectors from the Dept. of Buildings (DOB) to have the ability to take quick action to have illegal units vacated immediately.
Adams’ plan additionally calls for the fines levied against property owners to go to a designated city agency to use for housing displaced residents.
