Electeds Tip Hats To Adams For His Affordable Housing Allocation
Several borough elected officials, last week, lauded Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams for his allocation of $3 million in Fiscal Year 2016 funds from his office to construct and preserve hundreds of affordable housing units across Brooklyn.
The money included several allocations to local non-profit developers, NYCHA and institutions throughout the borough that work with developing or maintaining affordable housing throughout various Brooklyn neighborhoods.
“As One Brooklyn, we must ensure our borough can afford to be home to everyone from everywhere,” said Adams. “Recent data has shown that Brooklyn is now the most unaffordable place in the United States to buy a home. My office is working hard on addressing the arrays of challenges facing affordability; these include our fight against tenant harassment, our push to strengthen rent regulations, our efforts to properly prepare residents for upcoming housing lotteries, as well as our approach to advancing non-traditional and underdeveloped locations for affordable housing development through our role in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). This approach must be matched with a financial commitment that supports the borough-wide creation and preservation of affordable housing, and I’m proud that this budget makes a significant down payment towards that ongoing mission.”
Other elected officials chipped in:
Buchwick/Cypress Hills/East New York City Councilman Rafael L. Espinal, Jr.: “I commend Borough President Adams for his leadership and dedication to East New York and the neighborhoods where affordable housing is increasingly hard to find,” said Council Member Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. “This is a critical time for East New York, and as we work to ensure the rezoning of this area results in the creation of additional housing that is affordable for the long-term, Borough President Adams is helping to create more affordable housing today.”
Flatlands City Councilman Jumaane D. Williams: “As our city addresses our affordable housing crisis, I am pleased to see Borough President Adams carefully allocate his capital budget to preserve and build affordable housing that will meet the needs of so many Brooklynites. I am especially pleased to hear additional funding will go toward the construction of Crystal Towers, a project that will bring reasonably priced units to income-targeted residents in my district.
Coney Island/Gravesend City Councilman Mark Treyger: “This $600,000 allocation will allow vital maintenance work at Highlawn Terrace to proceed while preventing a burdensome increase for the hundreds of hardworking residents who live there. My sincere thanks go to Borough President Adams, on behalf of the residents of Highlawn Terrace, for working with me on this important project, as we work to keep Brooklyn affordable and to preserve our great neighborhoods.”
Williamsburg State Sen. Martin Malavé Dilan: “Borough President Adams’s investment in Brooklyn is a smart one. By targeting existing units for renovation and earmarking others for new construction we can address the housing crisis at all levels; from renovations like waterproofing and the addition of cost-saving utilities, to constructing new units in communities that need them most.”
Greenfield, Treyger, Felder Say Fix Ocean Parkway Potholes
Midwood and Gravesend City Council Members David G. Greenfield and Mark Treyger along with Midwood/Boro Park State Sen. Simcha Felder are demanding that the road on Ocean Parkway be fixed immediately.
Last month, Greenfield wrote and Felder wrote two separate letters to the New York State Commissioner of the Department of Transportation (DOT) urging the road be fixed promptly. Although the New York State DOT assured the elected officials that the road would be repaired by 2017, Greenfield, Treyger and Felder are demanding that some work begin now. Ocean Parkway, which is shared by all three representatives, stretches from Church Avenue to Avenue Z.
“The condition of Ocean Parkway is horrendous. I have received numerous calls and complaints to my office about huge potholes, crumbling pavement and the general terrible condition of this roads. We cannot wait any longer for the Ocean Parkway to be fixed,” said Greenfield.
“The current state of Ocean Parkway is absolutely unacceptable and must be addressed now on behalf of thousands of residents who rely on this main thoroughfare each day. This has clearly become a legitimate safety issue that is putting drivers at risk due to the potholes and broken pavement along the entire stretch of Ocean Parkway. We are once again asking that the state move forward with its planned repairs immediately instead of waiting for this situation to get even worse,” said Treyger.
“I have written New York City’s Department of Transportation many times to demand that they repair this major roadway. New York City is obligated to pave this road and keep it free from potholes and other safety hazards. Delaying repairs could G-d forbid result in vehicular or pedestrian accidents to the thousands of people who use this city road on a daily basis,” said Felder.
Last Spring, Greenfield and Treyger urged Mayor de Blasio to reconsider changing the speed limit on Ocean Parkway from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway was constructed as the major roadway throughout central and southern Brooklyn. The parkway is heavily trafficked since there are no parallel roads of similar capacity.
The de Blasio administration, citing several traffic accidents involving pedestrians, refused the request
Colton, Treyger Clean-Up Huge Success
Bensonhurst/Gravesend Assemblyman William Colton, City Councilman Mark Treyger and Democratic Assembly District Leaders Nancy Tong and Charles Ragusa declared last week’s neighborhood clean-up event around Bensonhurst and 86th Street a great success with over 180 volunteers coming out for the second annual “Speak-Up & Clean-Up” campaign.
The streets that were cleaned included 86th Street between 14 Avenue and 26 Avenue, Bay Parkway between 82nd Street and Shore Parkway, Bath Avenue between 18 Avenue and 24 Avenue, and 18th Avenue between 84th Street and Cropsey Avenue. Volunteers also passed out fliers in multiple languages and spoke to residents and local businesses about sanitation rules and guidelines encouraging the community to “do their part” in keeping the neighborhood clean.
“The purpose behind events organized by our ‘Speak-Up and Clean-Up’ campaign is to inform people about proper trash disposal and to keep our neighborhood clean,” said Colton. “The amount of volunteers once again demonstrated how the neighborhood can come together. Our volunteers explained to people passing by, as well as local business owners, to do their part because we’re encouraging everyone to take part in our efforts to keep the neighborhood clean.”
Treyger added, “It has been great to see so many teens and community members get involved and give back and it has had a tremendous impact on our neighborhood. We must continue with the same determination that has gotten us this far to make sure our neighborhoods can remain clean.”
The list of volunteers included students from Stuyvesant High School’s Red Cross Club and Key Club, students from Midwood High School’s Key Club, students from Brooklyn Technical High School’s Red Cross Club and Key Club, students from Edward R. Murrow’s Key Club, Midwood High School’s Key Club, Coney Island Prep volunteers, UCA volunteers and many more.
The Department of Sanitation supplied tools, gloves, and trash bags to assist with the clean-up effort. All volunteers received community service hours and enjoyed free refreshments in appreciation of their work.
Adams Hoists Dominican Flag Today
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, at 6 p.m. today, will raise the Dominican flag over Brooklyn Borough Hall in honor of the upcoming Brooklyn Dominican Parade, which will bring thousands of New Yorkers to celebrate their heritage along Graham Avenue in Williamsburg this Sunday, August 30.
Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, the first Dominican-American to serve in borough-wide office, will join him in unveiling the week of cultural festivities that will lead up to the parade and highlight the community’s contributions to Brooklyn and its diversity.
Brooklyn City Council Members Rafael Espinal and Antonio Reynoso are also scheduled led to be on hand.
