Reynoso, Espinal Celebrate Bushwick Community School
Williamsburg and Bushwick City Council members Antonio Reynoso and Rafael Espinal will join with Bushwick residents and the non-profit organization Make the Road New York (MRNY) to celebrate the kickoff of the Bushwick Campus Community School.
MRNY won a highly competitive process to support the four high schools on Bushwick Campus in their transition into a community school. Community schools are intended to provide a full range of services to students and families, including medical services, immigration legal services and more, in order to support students’ academic success and improve community well-being.
The community school models offers a tremendous opportunity for MRNY and allied organizations to bring a full array of services and civic engagement programs to 1,300 students and their families at the four schools on the campus in the heart of Bushwick.
WHO: Bushwick Campus students, staff, parents, MRNY members and staff, community residents, and Council Members Antonio Reynoso and Rafael Espinal
WHEN: from 3 – 6 p.m., today, Thursday, May 28
WHERE: Bushwick Playground, enter on Putnam Avenue between Irving and Knickerbocker Avenues [L or M train to Myrtle Wyckoff Station; or B54, B26, or B52 Buses]
Treyger, James Bill Helps Tenants When Elevator Is On The Fritz
Coney Island City Council Member Mark Treyger along with City Council member Helen Rosenthal and Public Advocate Letitia James, yesterday, introduced legislation requiring owners of residential buildings to provide tenants with reasonable accommodations in cases where the building elevators are not in service due to non-emergency repairs, in addition to the 10 days’ notice already required by city law.
Under the proposed law, building owners would be required to submit a plan to residents detailing the accommodations that will be provided during a service outage that will last for more than 24 hours. Any disabled tenant would have the right to request from the building owner a reasonable alternative method of transportation between floors, not including the stairs.
This proposal, which has support from Brooklyn Housing and Family Services, impacts residents in every neighborhood, it is especially pressing in areas like southern Brooklyn parts of Manhattan that are home to a number of high-rise buildings.
“It is imperative that landlords consider the needs of all residents, especially the disabled and elderly, and provide reasonable accommodations in the case of elevator outages. I have heard from too many residents who have become essentially trapped in their own apartments and unable to get to important appointments because their elevator was out of service. We are simply asking that building owners consider the needs and safety of our most vulnerable neighbors and take reasonable steps to greatly reduce the impact of elevator repairs and outages,” said Treyger.
“All across our City, we have seen too many instances of individuals with disabilities being deprived of their basic civil rights and protections,” said James. “My office has even taken a landlord in the Bronx to federal court for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and State and City anti-discrimination laws in connection with planned elevator outages in four separate buildings. This bill will ensure that mobility impaired tenants are given due notice and provided with reasonable accommodation if an elevator in their building is down. I will continue to work with my partners in the City Council to fight for the rights of all New Yorkers.”
Cumbo Fights For Day Care Centers Slated For Closure
Fort Greene City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, today, will join fellow electeds, parents, and members of eight day care providers slated for closure on the steps of City Hall to urge the City’s Administration for Children’s Services to keep their doors open.
WHO: New York City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo, chair of the Committee on Women’s Issues, City and State Elected Officials, Claudette Macey, Executive Director, Fort Greene Council, Inc., parents and children
WHAT: Press conference/rally calling on ACS to keep community day care centers citywide open.
WHEN: 2 p.m. today, Thursday, May 28
WHERE: Steps of City Hall
VIDA Endorses Dweynie Paul for King County Civil Court Judge
The Vanguard Independent Democratic Association (VIDA), yesterday, announced its endorsement of Dweynie Paul for Kings County Civil Court Judge in the 2nd Municipal District. A Bedford-Stuyvesant resident, Ms. Paul is a practicing attorney who is passionate about justice and service to the community.
“Ms. Dweynie Paul’s unwavering dedication to the community is what led VIDA to support her for Civil Court Judge,” said VIDA President Henry L. Butler. “She is always working to connect community members to legal advice and services pertaining to civil rights, elder care, landlord/tenant, foreclosure issues, and more. If elected as Civil Court Judge, Ms. Paul will preside with the utmost fairness and integrity.”
After earning her Juris Doctorate at George Washington Law School, Ms. Paul started her career in law and public service as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Marcella A. Holland in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Today she represents clients in the Supreme Court, Civil Court, and Small Claims Court as the In-House Counsel for a Brooklyn-based insurance company.
Ms. Paul is also the Director of Community Service and Public Affairs for the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, a member of Brooklyn Community Board 3, Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, the NAACP, the Brownstoners of Bedford Stuyvesant, and the 200 Decatur Street Block Association.
Felder: Don’t Let Trees Stump Us
As part of his ‘Senator On Site’ program, Boro Park State Senator Simcha Felder makes every effort to visit homes in his district and help owners resolve any issues they may have.
Recently, Felder was making visits to help homeowners remove tree stumps left behind after trees are cut down. As such, he visited homeowners Martin and Sonia Rosenbaum who, together with the Brooklyn Parks Commissioner and representatives from Brooklyn Forestry, helped to remove the unsightly tree stump in front of the Rosenbaum’s property. The Senator was also joined by the crew of Dom’s Tree Service, who operated the machinery used during the removal.
“While trees can often help beautify our neighborhood, stumps that are left behind after a tree has been removed present an unsightly and often dangerous obstruction to homeowners and pedestrians,” said Senator Felder. “With each tree stump removed, we take one more step towards creating a cleaner and safer neighborhood for all residents.”
Hamilton, Ortiz, Menchaca Hold Housing Forum Tonight
Sunset Park lawmakers Sen. Jesse Hamilton, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz and City Councilman Carlos Menchaca will hold a Know Your Rights Housing Forum tonight. The flier below provides the details.
