Borough Mourns Tragic Fire That Took Seven Lives
Brooklyn and City elected officials joined thousands of ultra-orthodox Jews in mourning at the Borough Park funeral for the seven Sassoon children who died in a tragic middle-of-the-night fire early Saturday in Midwood.
The children, aged 5-15, were asleep in upstairs bedrooms, when a hot plate – a type of device that many religious Jews utilize to keep food warm on the Sabbath where religious laws forbid one from lighting a flame – malfunctioned and sparked the blaze. A preliminary investigation found that there was a smoke alarm in the basement but none on the first or second floor.
Surviving the fire was the mother and one daughter – both of whom are in critical condition. The father was away for a religious conference.
Elected officials attending the funeral included City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblyman Dov Hikind, State Senators Marty Golden and Simcha Felder; and Councilmembers David Greenfield, Chaim Deutsch, Brad Lander, Matthew Eugene and Jumanne Williams.
“The horrific tragedy that struck the Sassoon family has left all of us deeply shocked and saddened,” said Hikind on his website. “We need to examine the safety of hot plates and check our smoke detectors immediately. Do not take for granted that your smoke detectors work, test them tonight. Our community is reeling from this unspeakable catastrophe. Our prayers are with the Sassoon family and we will continue to pray for the speedy recovery of the survivors.”
Lander Puts District Funding Projects To A Vote
Park Slope/Kensington/Borough Park City Councilman Brad Lander announced 13 possible projects for funding in his district and is now asking his constituents to vote on which ones should get funding.
“The participatory budgeting vote is only a few weeks away, and I hope we can count on you to be part of it,” wrote Lander on his blog.
Lander and a growing number of city council members are now allowing constituents on how about $1.5 million that each city council district gets in discretionary money is spent.
The projects on this year’s ballot in Lander’s district that are up for funding are:
- A/C for PS 124 Cafeteria (Title 1 School)
- Art in the 4th Avenue F/G Subway Station
- Four Safer Intersections on Hicks Street
- Kids Play Area at St. Mary’s Playground
- Make Union Street and 9th Street Greener
- More Turnstiles at the 7th Ave. F/G Station
- New Drainage along Path in Prospect Park
- Park Slope Library Storytelling Garden
- PS 146/MS 448 Innovative Gym Renovation
- PS 179 Auditorium Reconstruction
- Technology for Local Arts Non-Profits
- Water Service for Thomas Cuite Park
- Windsor Terrace Stormwater Greenstreet
For a complete description of each project and information on how to vote visit Lander’s website at BradLander.com.
Seddio Honored In Mill Basin For 50 Years of Service
Several elected officials and district leaders were on hand yesterday at a Mill Basin fundraiser honoring Kings County Democratic Party Chair and 59th Assembly District Leader Frank Seddio for 50 years of public service.
Seddio was born and raised in Canarsie, where he still lives and maintains a law practice. He came up through the political ranks through the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, and is a former NYPD police officer, assemblyman and surrogate court judge.
Among the elected officials on hand to praise and thank Seddio for his service was Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon and City Council Members David Greenfield, Mark Treyger and Alan Maisel.
Jeffries, Clarke, Velazquez Say Approve Lynch As AG Already
Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference yesterday outside Borough Hall to decry GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for failing to hold a vote on the appointment of Loretta Lynch as Attorney General of the United States.
The three lawmakers noted that it has been 124 days since President Obama nominated Lynch to replace the retiring Eric Holder – longer than its been for the past five attorney generals to get senate the senate approval to take office.
“It’s an obstruction of progress and the American people are tired of this game,” the three lawmakers said, adding the appointment is crucial as the justice department under the executive branch of government plays important roles in homeland security and all federal legal matters.
The three also pointed out that Lynch has already been vetted and has received bipartisan support.
