Bklyn Pols React To weekend Shootings
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, today, will launch a week long gun violence awareness campaign by staging an open casket with provocative imagery outside Brooklyn Borough Hall for five straight days.
The campaign comes on the heals of a particularly violent weekend in the borough in which at least 14 people were shot, one fatally in the borough with 19 shot across the city leaving three dead.
Adams’ staging of an open casket is the kickoff of his promoting a “Take Five to Stay Alive” plan of action for New Yorkers to help reduce the impact of gun violence in their community.
The effort is intended to engage Brooklynites in serious conversations about gun violence following a recent spate of bloodshed in the borough, including nine people shot at a party in East New York earlier today and a fatal shooting early Saturday in Canarsie.
Meanwhile, Flatlands City Councilman Jumaane Williams and Canarsie Assemblywoman Roxanne Persuad, and the mother of recent gun violence victim Donnell Smith, yesterday, held a candlelight vigil for her son who was shot and killed in the Glenwood Houses late Friday night.
The vigil, held just outside the NYCHA property, allowed community leaders to speak out against this and many tragic shootings that have occurred throughout the borough this weekend.
Public Advocate Letitia James released the following comment Saturday after four separate shootings left two dead on Friday night.
“Last night, four separate shooting incidents shook our city. These senseless acts of violences took two lives and left fourteen people injured. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. As a City and as a country, we must do more to take guns off our streets and end the madness that continues to bring us death and destruction,” said James.
Deutsch, Tryeger Launch Boardwalk Bicycle Safety Campaign
Sheepshead Bay/Brighton Beach City Councilman Chaim Deutsch and Coney Island City Councilman Mark Treyger, last Friday, launched a bicycle boardwalk safety campaign to inform and reinforce to cyclists the hours permitted for riding on the boardwalk.
Parks Department regulations permit bike riding on the boardwalk between the hours of 5 – 10 a.m. only. However, bicyclists are frequently observed riding during the prohibited time.
The Parks Department, in partnership with Deutsch and Treyger, installed increased signage throughout the boardwalk entrances to inform bicycle owners of the hours that bikes are acceptable.
Deutsch has also teamed up with the Parks Department and the 60th Precinct to conduct outreach and urge bike owners to adhere to this rule.
Pedestrians on the boardwalk often complain about the dangers of bikes, which have led to multiple instances of bicycle/pedestrian collisions. With weeks of outreach, Parks Enforcement will be out in full force on the boardwalk, issuing violations to those who ride during the restricted hours.
“I have been working together with Commissioner Jeffrey of Brooklyn Parks to increase bicycle safety and regulation awareness on the boardwalk. Pedestrians and beach-goers deserve to be safe, and increasing awareness is a big step towards improving bike safety on our boardwalk. I am grateful to Commissioner Jeffrey, Captain Taylor of the 60th Precinct, and my colleague Councilman Treyger for partnering with me on this endeavor,” said Deutsch.
“The purpose of Boardwalk regulation is to protect all stakeholders that enjoy our iconic walkway. We’ve heard too many cases of violations of these regulations that have led to incidents including senior citizens getting struck by bikes during late afternoon hours. I thank my colleague Councilman Deutsch for his partnership in ensuring that reasonable enforcement remains a priority for the city administration on behalf of all Boardwalk stakeholders,” said Treyger.
Adams Assails Cuomo For Failure to Give Borough Medical Marijuana License
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Friday, continued his verbal assault on Gov. Andrew Cuomo – this time for failing to grant Brooklyn a license to manufacture or dispense medical marijuana in Brooklyn.
Adams’ words came after Cuomo last week granted five companies authorization to grow and dispense medical marijuana – including one in Queens and one in Manhattan – but none in Brooklyn, despite several applications.
“I am extremely disappointed in the decision by the State Department of Health to not grant Brooklyn a license to manufacture or dispense medical marijuana, a decision that translates into lost local jobs and lost local access to critical health care. No borough or county has been more vocal or clear in their support for hosting a medical marijuana facility than Brooklyn, the fourth-largest city in the United States which has a significant population of patients in need of palliative care.
“My team and I have actively met and worked with companies that are interested in opening for business in our borough, including two firms, Mindful Medical and PalliaTech, that had applied to operate in Sunset Park and Downtown Brooklyn, respectively. Instead of approving either of these applications, the choice was instead made to issue licenses that will provide for two dispensaries in Manhattan and none for a borough with almost 40 percent more residents.
“Governor Cuomo continues to send the wrong message to his state’s largest county, a county that time and again has been denied its fair share of resources and attention from leadership in Albany. To address this inequity, I urge the Governor and State Legislature to pass legislation in the next session that expands the number of medical marijuana licenses available in New York as well as the number of diseases that can be treated, both lists that are far too limited. Additionally, I ask State Health Commissioner Zucker to work with the newly licensed companies in developing delivery systems that can help underserved patients in need, including those in Brooklyn.”
Lentol Gives Going Away Party For 94th Precinct Top Cop
Williamsburg/Greenpoint Assemblyman Joe Lentol, last week, hosted a going away celebration at his district for the Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s 94th Precinct, Captain James Ryan.
Attendees included Norther Brooklyn City Councilman Steve Levin, a representative from Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s office, the 94th Precinct Community Council and various community members.
Ryan joined the 94th Precinct, which covers Greenpoint and parts of Williamsburg in 2013 after leaving the Queens Gang Squad. His next command will be the 42nd Precinct in the Bronx.Captain Ryan spearheaded various community-based initiatives.
Lentol noted Ryan’s work with residents near McGolrick Park on security concerns in the park. He also led the way when the community needed the NYPD’s help to alleviate traffic because of the G train shut down last summer. While he always provided help to the community, he also regularly assigned police officers to guide local youth through various neighborhood organizations.
“Captain Ryan was truly a community police officer. The first time I met him he gave me his cell phone number and said to call whenever there was an issue, any hour of the day,” Lentol said. “This speaks to his dedication to the job and his unwavering desire to build trust between the police and community members. He has been one of the most engaging and responsive Commanding Officer’s the 94th Precinct has ever seen.”
