Colton, Treyger, Tong Meet With Merchants & Police
Assemblyman William Colton, Councilman Mark Treyger and 47th Democratic Assembly District Leader Nancy Tong, on Friday, hosted a meeting for 86th street merchants and residents with new 62nd Police Precinct Commanding Officer Captain Anthony Sanserverino.
The merchants expressed their concerns about quality of life conditions around 86th Street which Treyger commented that the neighborhood is possibly a victim of its’ own success as crime continues to go down and police resources are applied to higher crime areas. Treyger promised that he and Colton will put together a multi agency approach to help address the concerns raised.
Tong stressed the importance of continuing the excellent communication and partnership between the community and the police, which recently resulted in successfully meeting similar concerns of the Bay Parkway merchants.
Captain Sanserverino addressed the merchants concerns emphasizing he has a police officer specifically assigned to 86th Street and the Precinct now has an additional midnight shift conditions unit to deal with such problems.
This was the first meeting and all agreed to follow it up with future communications to follow up on dealing with the quality of life issues.
Gentile, Treyger Hold Free Family Movie Night
Bay Ridge City Councilman Vincent Gentile and Coney Island Councilman Mark Treyger are organizing free family movie nights in their districts.
Treyger is sponsoring a movie night tonight in Gravesend’s Marlboro Playground on Avenue W and West 11th Street. The movie of choice is Big Hero 6, a PG- rated favorite about a robot and his friends. The movie night begins at 8:30 p.m. and ends around 10:30 p.m.
Gentile’s movie night is slated for Saturday, July 25 in McKinley Park in Dyker Heights. Guests will be watching The Lego Movie. The night begins at 6 p.m. Games and face painting will also be on the night’s agenda.
Participants in Brooklyn’s movie nights are advised to show up earlier than the advertised time. Spots are on a first come first served basis. Guests should bring their own blanket or chair. A limited supply of seating will be available for seniors and people with disabilities. Food is allowed, but no alcohol.
– Lenore Fedow
City Supports Coney Island Farmer’s Market
Every Sunday from July through November, a seasonal farmer’s market can be found on Surf Avenue and West 16th Street, in Coney Island, accepting various forms of payment from credit card to food stamps like WIC and SNAP.
Alex’s Tomato Farm is a part of Down To Earth Markets, which brings together two kinds of vendors – farmers and area food makers who source locally.
The non-profit Astella Development Corporation of Coney Island sponsors this location.
A variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and plants are offered besides the common super market findings like cantaloupe and corn. Some of their fresh stock consists of gooseberries, lavender, snap peas, okra and four different types of tomatoes.
– Jessica Nieberg
Adams Listens To Tenants Concerns
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, last week, hosted the second of three public hearings at All Saints Church in Williamsburg, to determine the potential for lawsuits against landlords whose actions put their tenants in danger of health or safety issues.
Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna and Williamsburg City Council Member Antonio Reynoso, whose seat was quickly replaced by Chief Counsel of Brooklyn Legal Services, Marty Needleman, accompanied Adams in responding to tenant’s testimonies.
Lorenzo Wilcher, a senior, living at 925 Prospect Place, complained of getting harassed for years. He said on numerous occasions he has come home to find his apartment vandalized and covered in feces. Wilcher explained that he has gone to Public Advocate Letitia James and Congresswomen Yvette Clarke for assistance with landlord complications in the past and he was connected him with an attorney.
The Association for Neighborhood Housing and Development, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, Los Sures Community Development Corporation, New York Communities for Change and Tenants & Neighbors, all partnered with Adams, in efforts to assist tenants in their struggle.
“It’s important to gather the strength from one another and hearing your stories inspire us to do more, because we are never doing enough. That is why the Borough President has committed to this series of different hearings. We have to make sure we are pushing the envelope,” said Reyna. “You are fighting for justice by telling your story,” she assured tenants.
The final hearing will take place July 28 at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. No time has been announced as of this post time.
-Jessica Nieberg
Ortiz Urges No Smoking On NYCHA Grounds
Sunset Park Assemblyman and Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz is urging for passage of his bill (A5893) to prohibit smoking in or on the grounds of any public housing accommodation when the Legislature returns to Albany.
Emphasizing that smoking on public housing grounds has always been a privilege not a right, Ortiz said, “with overwhelming evidence that second hand smoke presents health risks, especially for children. I first introduced this bill in 2005 in an effort to bring greater public health conditions to our residents in public housing units and I will continue fighting for its passage until all public housing is smoke free.”
The bill also ensures that any vacancies occurring in buildings following the enactment be classified or reclassified as smoke free prior to any new occupancy.
According to reports, in 2012 housing authorities in Minneapolis and Annapolis, Maryland joined more than 30 California municipalities that had already banned smoking in public housing units. In 2011, Boston announced the largest ban in the country, which prohibited 25,000 public housing tenants from smoking in their units. Portsmouth, Virginia also enacted a ban.
Parker, Williams Team Up On Job Fair
East Flatbush State Sen. Kevin Parker and East Flatbush City Councilman Jumaane Williams are teaming on their 8th Annual Job Fair tomorrow at Brooklyn College.
Below is the flier with the information:
