Adams Brings Financial Education In Underserved School
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams today will launch his partnership between underserved schools and financial institutions such as Santander Bank to bring financial education into classrooms across the borough.
The announcement will coincide with the release of his report, “Countering Consumer Debt in Brooklyn: Strengthening Communities by Raising Financial Literacy,” an analysis of the borough’s credit crisis that includes recommendations to improve financial security.
Adams and others, including elected officials, financial professionals, and principals, will speak about the plan at 1 p.m., today at PS 184 Newport, 273 Newport Street in Brownsville.
Cymbrowitz Hearing Looks At Senior Citizen Poverty
Sheepshead Bay Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chair of the Aging Committee, will preside over a public hearing in Albany with Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, Chair of the Social Services Committee, and Marcos Crespo, Chair of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, to hear testimony regarding the causes and risk factors of poverty among senior citizens — especially those who are disproportionately impacted by poverty — in order to improve prevention efforts and find solutions to help those seniors currently trapped in poverty across New York State.
The hearing will also explore the impact of the assistance currently provided by state and local government agencies, as well as any gaps in services which may require review or that may lead to the creation of new initiatives that can reverse this trend.
According to the 2013 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, approximately 1 in 10 New Yorkers aged 65 and over are currently living in poverty.
“Older adults are living longer due to better health and medical advances, but their quality of life can suffer when they need to make difficult sacrifices with severely limited resources,” Cymbrowitz said.
Malliotakis Kicks Off Holiday Toy Drive
Bay Ridge/Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis is partnering with the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Salam Arabic Lutheran Church and Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis (DGK) Parochial School to host her annual holiday toy drive to benefit local children. Toys collected will be donated to various local organizations across her 64th Assembly District.
“Just one small contribution will make a world of difference for a young girl or boy in need. Year after year, I am truly touched by the generosity that has been demonstrated in our community. I am hopeful that this year our efforts will be just as successful and, together, we will bring smiles to the faces of many children,” said Malliotakis.
Donors are encouraged to drop off unwrapped toys until Monday, December 14 at the following locations in Brooklyn:
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 8401 Ridge Boulevard; Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, 414 80th Street; and Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School, 8502 Ridge Boulevard.
Gentile, Brooklyn Chamber Leads Rally For New Supermarket
Bay Ridge City Councilman Vincent Gentile and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will hold a rally nearby Waldbaums in Bensonhurst tomorrow, on the supermarkets last day in business before it closes after 40 years. Coney Island City Councilman Mark Treyger, and Southern Brooklyn Assembly Members Peter Abbate and William Colton will also be on hand.
There is currently no deal in place for a new supermarket, which the lawmakers and Chamber find unacceptable. As a result, over 70 jobs will be lost and local residents will be left dry without a food shopping destination. This is a great disservice to Waldbaums’ loyal employees and Bensonhurst community members. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, the aforementioned lawmakers and the Chamber will voice their disappointment and call for action.
The location is expected to return to auction after two failed transaction attempts by A&P (The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company).
The rally is slated for 2 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 19 at 8124 18th Avenue (18th Avenue Entrance/Exit to Waldbaums Parking Lot). The actual address of the Waldbaums is 8121 New Utrecht Avenue.
Greenfield’s Snow Clearing Law Moves Forward
Midwood/Borough Park City Councilman David G. Greenfield‘s proposed law establishing a clear plan for the removal of snow and ice from pedestrian bridges was heard at the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management this past Thursday.
Greenfield’s proposed legislation would require that the Office of Emergency Management include pedestrian bridges in its annual snow removal plan. This would include information about the exact location of the more than one hundred pedestrian bridges throughout the five boroughs, a plan for the removal of snow and ice from such bridges, and information about which agency is responsible for clearing and maintaining such bridges.
The measure will help ensure that these crossings are properly plowed and will make it clear to elected officials and the public what agency should be held accountable. One of the problems discovered at the hearing is that as many as three different agencies may be responsible for clearing a pedestrian overpass leading to no single agency taking responsibility.
“After hearing complaints from local residents, schools and senior centers about hazardous conditions at many pedestrian bridges during winter months, I am proud that this bill was heard in the Sanitation Committee. Pedestrian bridges and overpasses are usually unplowed creating dangerous conditions. This bill will result in safer conditions for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers,” said Greenfield.
The proposed snow and ice removal legislation was introduced at the February 4 City Council Stated meeting and currently has support from 19 Council Members representing neighborhoods across the city.
Donovan backs Bill Halting Refugee Admittance
Southwest Brooklyn Congressman Dan Donovan yesterday backed legislation to halt entry of Syrian refugees into the United States while the federal government audits security and background check protocols.
“The world changed on November 13. We must not be naïve about the risk of radical Islamic terror in the United States. American security must be our top priority. I ask that the Speaker bring this legislation to the floor as expeditiously as possible. In light of the Paris attacks, there can be no further delay,” said Donovan.
The Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act would require affirmative approval by the House and Senate before any refugees are admitted to the United States. It would also permit Congress to block any inadequate refugee resettlement plan put forward by President Obama. Further, the bill would require the Administration, when considering the admission of refugees from Iraq and Syria, to prioritize the resettlement of oppressed religious minorities. Lastly, it instructs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a sweeping review of security gaps in the current refugee screening process.
“America has always been a compassionate nation, but our country’s security comes first. The solution to the refugee crisis lies in ridding the world of ISIS and its followers – no refugee program will solve that,” said Donovan.
