Anti-BDS Legislation To Be Introduced
Brooklyn Assembly members Dov Hikind, Steve Cymbrowitz, Alec Brook-Krasny, Peter Abbate and Walter Mosley are joining seven colleagues from Long Island and Queens in working on a bill to prevent New York State’s pension fund from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.
The bill follows on the overwhelming success of a similar bill that was unanimously passed in the Illinois legislature and is set to be signed by the State’s Governor.
“Thanks to a well-oiled propaganda machine, Israel is a uniquely vilified nation state,” said Hikind, a staunch supporter of Israel. “The BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), the strategy of economic warfare, is rooted in anti-Semitism and a denial of Israel’s right to exist. It’s purpose is to delegitimize Israel.
“There’s no BDS movement against any other country. It’s time for New York State to make it clear where we stand. I applaud the lawmakers in Illinois who unanimously recognized the implicit lawlessness of boycotting Israel and I am proud to raise my voice, along with my colleagues in the Assembly, in support of ending the unethical, disingenuous, and frankly racist boycott against this legitimate nation and its people.”
Adams Welcomes New Brooklyn Museum Director
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, yesterday, welcomed Anne Pasternak as the new Brooklyn Museum director and thanked outgoing director Arnold Lehman for his work in keeping the facility a world-class art museum.
“For over a century, the Brooklyn Museum has stimulated culture and conversation both inside its illustrious galleries and across the globe. In recent years, we have been blessed to have this beloved institution directed by Arnold Lehman, a visionary champion of diversity, community engagement, and groundbreaking expression. His leadership is an incredible mantle to take on, so I am pleased to see the Museum’s selection of Anne Pasternak as its new director, a woman with her own impressive legacy of bringing innovative public art to the masses,” said Adams.
“As an enthusiastic patron of the arts, I look forward to working with her and the entire team at the Brooklyn Museum to ensure that local and global audiences will continue to enjoy what has become one of the world’s greatest cultural institutions,” he added.
Lander Keeps Eye on Kensington Projects
Kensington City Councilman Brad Lander will give updates at next week’s Community Board 12 meeting on several projects in the works this summer.
The first is a proposal to improve safety on Caton Avenue between Ocean Parkway and Coney Island. The proposal calls for converting the road into one lane in each direction and adding turning bays, pedestrian islands, and new pedestrian crosswalks. These changes will reduce speeding and make pedestrian crossings safer—especially important given that a new school, M.S. 839, will open its doors on Caton Avenue this fall.
The second proposal is for a new public plaza at the triangle where Avenue C and McDonald Avenue intersect, and the last project is the continuing renovation work to double the double the size of the children’s play area at Dome Playground.
“I was happy to work with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to fund the renovations, which also include a multi-use play area, new plantings, and a spray shower. Construction should be completed in a year. In the meantime, I have worked with the Parks Department to provide a summer playground associate, who will organize activities for children and families from Sundays through Thursdays in the afternoon,” said Lander.
The Community Board 12 meeting is slated for 7 p.m., Tueday, May 26 at PS 230 Upper School, 1 Albemarle Rd, at McDonald Avenue.
Squadron Statement On July 4th Fireworks
Norther Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan State Senator Daniel Squadron released the following statement regarding yesterday’s announcement that this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will take place over the East River:
“This year’s Fourth of July will be another great ‘East Side Story’ for New Yorkers. Fireworks over the East River means more New Yorkers ‘own the night like the Fourth of July,’ as Katy Perry would say,” said Squadron.
“I’m pleased to have worked with Mayor de Blasio and Macy’s to ensure these festivities can be part of the holiday for millions of New Yorkers. Hopefully they will be for years to come.”
Donovan Assigned to House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees
Newly-elected Southern Brooklyn Congressman Dan Donovan, yesterday, announced he was assigned to the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees.
“The issues being considered by the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees are incredibly important to our nation, and specifically New York,” said Donovan. “This is a scary time for our global security and there are many complex problems to tackle, but our goal must always be a safe and strong America. These committee assignments will allow me to play a key role in the decisions affecting America’s leadership on the world stage, and most importantly to ensure New York has every resource it needs to be protected from terrorism.”
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Republican Ed Royce of California, considers legislation that impacts the diplomatic community, which includes the Department of State, the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the United Nations, and the enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act.
The Committee on Homeland Security, chaired by Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, was established in 2002 to provide Congressional oversight for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and better protect the American people against a possible terrorist attack.
Golden Announces ‘Senator for a Day’ finalists
Bay Ridge State Senator Marty Golden announced the elementary school finalists for his annual “Senator for a Day” contest which this year was themed to address efforts to stop bullying in the neighborhood.
In the contest, Golden asked participating 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to write a 150-200 word essay starting with the phrase, “If I Were A State Senator For A Day.”
“This year, my annual essay contest focused on the issue of bullying in order to raise awareness and get students thinking about the problems that such behavior causes. I have reviewed a great number of outstanding essays which have been submitted and we have now selected our finalists. I am confident that the elementary students of my district are aware that in fact, bullying is wrong and must be stopped,” said Golden.
The winning essays will be presented by the students at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Shore Hill Community Room, 9000 Shore Road.
Cymbrowitz Lauds Passage of Rent Regulation Laws
Sheepshead Bay Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, yesterday, lauded the Assembly’s passage of legislation to strengthen New York’s rent-regulation laws and improve New Yorkers’ access to affordable housing.
“Too many families are struggling to pay ever-rising rents, which in some cases amounts to fully half their income,” said Cymbrowitz. “By strengthening rent-regulation laws, we can maintain affordable housing options and make it possible for more families to stay in their homes.”
New York City has approximately one million rent-regulated households.
Under the measure, current rent laws set to expire at the end of the month, would extend to June 15, 2019, and eliminate vacancy decontrol when rent reaches $2,500 a month.
The assembly bill also decreases the current allowance of landlords to increase rent by 20 percent to 7.5 percent.
The bill now moves to the senate for debate in the final weeks of Albany’s legislative session.
