Adams Calls For Rent Freeze At The least
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, yesterday, called for a rent freeze and possible rent rollback at the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) public hearing held at borough hall.
The RGB is part of rent regulation laws and is charged with setting price increase, decrease or freezes on one- and two- year leases on the city’s roughly one million rent regulated apartments.
“I know firsthand that a rent freeze is manageable for small property owners and landlords, because I have managed to provide it for years to the tenants in my own building. Rent burden is a chronic illness in New York City, and the only cure is relief for wallets that have been stretched beyond their limitations,” said Adams in his testimony.
“In fact, I see no reason why we cannot have a rent rollback. Last night, as tenants and I camped outside Governor Cuomo’s office in protest of the continued inaction on strengthening our city’s rent laws, my appreciation grew for the constant challenge and fear facing New Yorkers who sleep on our streets every night. As a city, we cannot morally or economically afford to put more of our people out of their homes,” he added.
In related news, Governor Cuomo came to an agreement with both senate and assembly leaders to a five day extender on the city’s rent regulation laws, which expired this week, while they negotiate terms of a renewal.
Donovan, Golden Oppose Closure Of VA Surgical Unit
Southern Brooklyn Congressman Dan Donovan and Bay Ridge State Sen. Marty Golden, yesterday, jointly announced their opposition to the proposed closure of the 12W Medical Surgical Unit at the Brooklyn VA hospital. The closure would result in a loss of 25 beds, forcing veterans–many of whom are disabled and elderly–to travel to Manhattan for certain treatments.
The 12W unit accounts for one-third of inpatient beds and provides care to a wide variety of medical and surgical patients, including veterans who require respiratory and dialysis treatments. It was announced the closure would take effect in just two short weeks on July 1st.
“I am deeply disturbed by this proposal and the rapid pace in which it was developed,” said Donovan. “The VA did not brief my office or other local offices before formulating this plan, and news of 12W’s imminent closure has caused panic among veteran patients, nurses, and other hospital employees many of whom live in Brooklyn and Staten Island. I look forward to being briefed by the VA this week on this directive and how it will affect the healthcare of our veterans.”
Donovan vowed to get to the bottom how, why and when the Brooklyn VA arrived at this drastic conclusion. There are many unanswered questions.”
Una Clarke Confirmed As CUNY Board Member
State lawmakers, yesterday, confirmed Dr. Una Clarke, the former Flatbush City Councilwoman and mother to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, to sit on the City University of New York (CUNY) Board of Trustees.
Both Mayor de Blasio and his GOP opponent in the last mayoral election, Joe Lhota, who is stepping down from the CUNY board, hailed the conformation.
“I commend the State Senate for confirming Dr. Una Clarke as a member of the CUNY Board. During her tenure on the City Council, she was a prolific legislator and tireless advocate for students across the five boroughs,” said de Blasio.
“I’m confident that Dr. Clarke will bring her vast knowledge as a former educator and longtime public servant to further improve the quality of education CUNY delivers to its students every day. I also want to thank Joe Lhota for his outstanding service to the CUNY community as a member of this Board.”
Golden On Sandy Recovery Fund Oversight
Bay Ridge Sen. Marty Golden, yesterday, announced the senate passed legislation he sponsored that will necessitate oversight of Superstorm Sandy recovery funds.
The bill requires the state Division of Budget to oversee, track and report on how the State expends funds that are allocated or set aside for help with the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
The report will also detail the total amount of Hurricane Sandy funding received by the State, the process by which such funding was distributed and the identity of the funding recipients. Additionally, the information will include the number of jobs created by such funding, an analysis of whether the funding achieved its intended purpose and the distribution of funding by county and municipality.
“My district was severely affected by Superstorm Sandy and our infrastructure, our homes and businesses, are still rebuilding in its aftermath. This legislation will provide accountability of the relief funding that has, and will be, made available to New York. It is vitally important that New Yorkers have confidence that the funding allocated to improve and rebuild homes, streets, parks and businesses, is in fact doing just that,” said Golden.
Kensington Assemblyman James Brennan sponsored the assembly version of the bill, which also passed that body, and the bill is now being sent to Governor Cuomo for review.
Thompson Holds ‘Begin Again’ Weekend
Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson is holding a ‘Begin Again’ program today and tomorrow at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 279 Lafayette Avenue and the corner of St. James Place in Fort Greene, in which the court and defense attorneys will be available to resolve certain outstanding summons warrants.
These warrants include for consumption of alcohol in public, unlawful possession of marijuana, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, littering, transit fare evasion, loitering, being in the park after closing, disorderly conduct, trespass, unleashed dog, spitting, making unreasonable noise and more.
The “church court” is slated from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both today, June 19 and tomorrow, June 20. For more information call 718-250-3888
De Blasio Closes West Side Drive Of Prospect Park To Autos
Mayor Bill de Blasio, yesterday, announced the permanent closure Prospect Park’s West Drive between Grand Army Plaza and Park Circle to cars.
The section had been open to the cars for evening rush hours. The East Drive section of Prospect Park will remain open to cars during the morning rush hours.
“Prospect Park has always been my family’s backyard. That’s a sentiment New Yorkers in every borough feel about their parks. Making the loop drives in Central and Prospect Parks permanently car-free for the first time in more than a century will make these great spaces safer, healthier and more accessible to the millions who flock to them,” said de Blasio.
Supporting the move in the announcement were Prospect Park Alliance President Sue Donoghue, Borough President Eric Adams, and City Council members Mathieu Eugene and Brad Lander.
