Bklyn Pols Lead Faith Rally In Barclays Center Plaza
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, last night, led several hundred elected officials, clergy of various faiths and Brooklyn residents in a moving interfaith candlelight vigil in memory of the victims of Wednesday’s terror attack at Emanuel A.M.E. Church that claimed nine lives outside the Barclays Center.
Among the elected officials that participated were Public Advocate Letitia James, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, Assemblymembers N. NIck Perry, Latrice Walker and Jo Anne Simon, and City Council members Laurie Cumbo and Jumaane Williams.
Golden Makes Unemployment Strikeforce Presentation
Bay Ridge Senator Marty Golden in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor and the 13th Avenue Merchants Association, will host an Unemployment Strikeforce presentation at 7 p.m., this Wednesday, June 24 at the Knights of Columbus, located at 1305-86th Street.
“During these challenging economic times, many talented New Yorkers are either under employed or still looking for good paying jobs. Therefore, I am pleased to partner with the New York State Department of Labor and 13th Merchants Association to provide local businesses the information and resources they need to hire quality employees,” said Golden. “I encourage many of our local store owners, who are so vital to the well-being of our community, to participate in this event so that we can continue to cultivate a strong business climate right here in our neighborhood.”
The main goal of the program is to reduce unemployment rates within communities. Additionally, the outreach event is designed to ensure that the New York State Department of Labor is investing in their workforce development effectively.
Since 2011, the New York State Department of Labor and the Empire State Development Corporation have been working to match New York State industries and businesses in need of talented workers with people looking for new employment opportunities.
This program also makes funding available for on-the-job training, customized training and many other free services resulting in potential employers. The staff presenting at the event Wednesday will also provide information on the Hire-a-Vet Tax Credit, as well as assisting businesses with any other state tax credits or incentives that they may be eligible for.
Greenfield Pre-Payment of Muni-Meters Law Goes Into Effect
Midwood/Boro Park City Councilman David Greenfield, announced yesterday, today that his muni-meter legislation, which allows drivers to pre-pay New York City’s muni-meters one hour before the meter regulations go into effect, is now active in much of New York City and will be fully rolled out by next week – Wednesday, July 1st.
Greenfield’s office painted the following scenario to exhibit how the law affects residents: It’s a typical Monday morning and you just pulled up to the Doctor’s office for your 8:30 a.m. appointment. The problem? It’s 8:15 a.m.and you know that you will get a ticket when the meter regulations turn on at 8:30 a.m..
Greenfield’s law forced the City to reprogram all of its muni-meters so you can purchase the muni-meter ticket at 8:15 a.m.but it will say 8:30 a.m. as the start time – in essence allowing you to pre-pay muni-meters in New York City. The law actually passed the City Council in June 2013, but because of the complexities involved, the city needed two years to roll out the changes.
The city has already re-programmed many muni-meters including ones in Greenfield’s Boro Park neighborhood. All of the city’s muni-meters will be reprogrammed by this July 1st.
“I am thrilled that muni-meters citywide will finally allow you to prepay one hour before the meter rules go into effect. This is a common sense law: it saves drivers both time and money. Now, drivers can feed the meters before they go into work or appointments and avoid a parking ticket for no reason. I am proud to be leading the fight to reduce unnecessary parking tickets for drivers in New York City,” said Greenfield.
The law also makes two other improvements to muni-meters. First it forces meters to shut off and not accept payment when the driver is not required to pay for parking like in the evening and second it does not accept payments when a muni-meter runs out of paper needed to print muni-meter tickets.
Lander Urges Kensington Residents To Meeting Tonight
Park Slope/Kensington City Councilman Brad Lander is urging residents to attend tonight Departmnet of Transportation meeting where the agency will present their design for “Avenue C Pedestrian Plaza” (recently proposed by community members for the unused concrete triangle at McDonald Avenue and Avenue C) to CB12’s Transportation Committee.
After the presentation there will be an opportunity for you to comment on the design. Then the CB12 Transportation Committee will vote on it.
DOT’s design for the plaza is informed by the discussion at a very well-attended public workshop in April, organized with the Kensington Plaza Stewards and the Neighborhood Plaza Partnership.
The presentation is slated for 7 p.m., tonight, Monday June 22, at the AMICO Senior Center, 3rd Floor, 5901 13th Avenue (at 59th Street in Boro Park).
Eugene Calls Meeting To Address Haitian/Dominican Republic Situation
Flatbush City Council Member Mathieu Eugene and members of the Haitian community will host a meeting to discuss the pending deportation of hundreds of thousands of Haitian Dominicans in the Dominican Republic.
The meeting follows a petition that Eugene circulated last week calling on the Dominican government to create a path for citizenship for the individuals facing deportation. The petition also calls on the United States government to recognize this important human rights issue.
“The unjust deportation of hundreds of thousands of people who call the Dominican Republic home is unfathomable. Many of the families facing deportation were born in the Dominican Republic or have lived there for most of their lives and are simply being removed from their country because they are of Haitian descent,” said Eugene. “We must stand together and find a dignified and humanitarian solution to this crisis before it is too late.”
What: Council Member Mathieu Eugene and Members of the Haitian Community Meeting to Discuss the Deportation of Haitian Dominicans in the Dominican Republic
When: 6:30 p.m., tonight, Monday, June 22
Where: St. Marks United Methodist Church, 2017 Beverley Road, between Ocean Avenue and East 21st Street
For more information, please contact Roslyn Joinvil at (718) 287-8762 or at rjoinvil@council.nyc.gov.
Richardson’s Impassioned Video On Need For Independent Prosecutor
Crown Heights Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, last week released a video of her speech on the assembly floor in favor of the assembly legislation recently passed to create a special unit in the office of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute alleged criminal offenses committed by a police or peace officer that results in the death of a civilian.
The Office of Special Investigation would be empowered to preside over such cases, helping to eliminate questions regarding conflicts of interest within local municipalities and police units.
“I know policing is tough, dangerous and necessary work,” said Richardson. “But accountability is key to developing trust, and many of my constituents see a system where it is nearly impossible for a police officer to see a jury trial after the death of a civilian, regardless of circumstance or even video evidence of misconduct. This creates an adversarial relationship between the police and the communities they are supposed to protect. This bill helps to restore trust.”
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Bichotte MWBE Bill Passes With Bipartisan Support
Midwood/Ditmas Park Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), announced that legislation she sponsored to enhance opportunities for emerging businesses passed the assembly with bipartisan support.
“By encouraging minorities and women to grow their businesses, we are promoting job opportunities in our communities and building a sustainable economic future,” said Bichotte. “MWBEs have a lot to offer, and increasing their participation in government contracts is one way we can help these job-creating small businesses prosper.”
The measure increases the city’s MWBE discretionary spending of the small-purchase threshold from $100,000 to $200,000, allows MWBE status to be a factor in “best value” awards, establishes capacity building programs for the benefit of state or local MWBE-certified firms doing business in New York City and permits pre-qualified lists for purchase contracts in addition to public works contracts.
Assemblymember Bichotte noted the next step is to expand the program statewide and ensure businesses’ past labor practices include prevailing wage standards when awarding contracts.
Below is a video of her explaining the legislation.
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