Levin Reimagines Jay Street
Northern Brooklyn City Councilman Stephen Levin, yesterday, walked eight blocks of Jay Street – from Fulton Street to Sands Street in DUMBO – to see first-hand how pedestrians, bicyclists and motorist interact and to reimagine possibilities for traffic pattern changes.
Coming along for the walk were Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, members of the NYPD’s 84th precinct and representatives of Transportation Alternatives.
The key busy thoroughfare connecting thousands of drivers and cyclists to the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges each day, has been the subject of several in-depth studies by the NYC DOT, MTA, New York City Transit and organizations like Transportation Alternatives and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in recent years.
“Jay Street runs through the heart of Downtown Brooklyn and thousands of New Yorkers rely on it every day,” said Levin. “Residents of Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO deserve to know that their streets and communities are safe and we need to put our heads together to address the challenges facing everyone who uses Jay Street- pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. I hope today’s walk-through will revive a robust conversation about how we can work together to promote policies to fix Jay Street and ensure that more New Yorkers get home safely.”
“We thank DOT Commissioner Trottenberg, Council Member Levin and the 84th Precinct for their willingness to explore ways to fix Jay Street,” said Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Paul Steely White. “Traveling along what is essentially Downtown Brooklyn’s ‘Main Street’ should be a safer and more welcoming experience for everyone. We look forward to working with all parties to find solutions that will improve this vital corridor.”
Adams In Williamsburg To Promote “Brooklyn Brand”
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, today, will announce the details of his $8 million capital budget for Fiscal Year 2016 plan to invest in the borough’s cultural institutions and libraries.
He will make this announcement at STREB Lab for Action Mechanics, a school in Williamsburg that teaches disciplines for adults and youth, including acrobatics, dance, trampoline, and trapeze arts. The location is set to receive $250,000 in funding for renovations.
Several local elected officials and representatives of the many cultural institutions and libraries that the budget will impact will join Adams. They will stand with giant checks symbolic of the investment made for the “Brooklyn Brand” by Brooklyn Borough Hall.
The event is slated for 10 a.m., today, Aug. 19 at STREB Lab For Action Mechanics, 51 North 1st Street, Williamsburg.
Felder Visits Day Camps To Preach Merits Of Bike Helmets
Borough Park Sen. Simcha Felder, yesterday, visited local day camps to discuss the importance of wearing helmets. The visits were part of the Senator’s “Wear a Helmet” Campaign, which was launched together with BINA Stroke and Brain Injury Assistance, in response to reports that Brooklyn’s 66th Police Precinct is the second most dangerous precinct in New York City for cyclists.
“I was excited to talk to the children personally about helmet safety, and to hand out colorful activity books to them,” said Felder. “It was so refreshing to be able to discuss the importance of wearing a helmet in a way that was enjoyable and educational.”
One of the children told the class about how a helmet saved him personally, saying that although the helmet was cracked and he got stitches on his chin, his head was protected and he was saved from serious injury.
The activity books were co-sponsored by BINA – an organization that knows full well the importance of wearing a helmet, and the unfortunate consequences that can result from not doing so. BINA provides guidance and assistance to survivors of stroke and brain injury, many of them children and young adults, and their families whose lives have been unexpectedly shattered by a brain injury. BINA addresses every need with rehabilitation referrals and discharge planning, case management, crisis intervention, support and education, allowing brain injury survivors to achieve every possible goal while on the difficult road to recovery.
Beginning Sunday, August 30 to Friday, September 4, any child or teenager wearing a helmet while riding a bike may pick up a coupon for a free Klein’s ice cream or ices from the following participating neighborhood toy stores:
- Toys 4 You – 4510 13th Ave
- Linicks – 4811 13th Ave
- Double Play – 4115 14th Ave
- Tree House – 5210 16th Ave
- Toys 2 Discover – 5504 18th Ave
- Totally Toys – 1435 Coney Island Ave
The coupons can then be redeemed at the Safety Sunday Extravaganza on Sunday, September 6th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.at the Boro Park Ice Cream House, 2 Church Avenue.
For a free copy of the activity book for your child, contact Felder’s office at 718-253-2015.
Mosley Holds Central Brooklyn Basketball Tournament
Fort Greene Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley announced he is sponsoring the 1st Annual Central Brooklyn Invitational Classic Basketball Tournament.
Participating leagues in this free event include Dean Street, Brooklyn Bridge, Project Win and Fun Sport.
The games are slated for between 6-8 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 21, and Friday, Aug. 22 at the Dean Street Park on Dean and Bergen streets between 6th and Carlton avenues.
For more information about the event or any state or local issues contact Mosley’s office at 718-596-0100.
Colton Advocates Free Parking For Custom Border Patrol Officers
Bath Beach/Bensonhurst Assemblyman William Colton is lobbying the Port Authority to stop charging custom border patrol officers a monthly parking fee at JFK Airport where they work.
Colton immediately fired a letter to the Port Authority asking them to change this policy after learning that the agency will soon be tripling parking fees for the officers.
Colton, recognizing that these officers must risk their lives daily to protect the airport and its facilities from terrorism and other dangers, said he is strongly against the fact that there is a fee for parking, let alone that it is being tripled.
To recognize their efforts and to show appreciation to these brave officers, Colton requested that the Port Authority not only stop the increase of the fee, but waive it completely.
“In these days when there is a need to show our appreciation for the heroic work of our police and law enforcement, absorbing the cost of providing free parking at JFK for the security officers while they protect us from terrorists and other dangers is small compared to the safety and security of the millions who use this Port Authority airport facility,” he said.
