Brooklyn Boro Board Library Vote Expected Amid Protests
Library advocates last night descended on Brooklyn Borough Hall urging Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and the Brooklyn Borough Board to postpone tonight’s expected Borough Board vote on the sale of the Brooklyn Heights Library and not vote until there is transparency and a full investigation of the Brooklyn Public Library hoaxes and bid-rigging involved in the sale.
The expected board vote is the last government hurdle, and if it approves the controversial sale, developer David Kramer will buy both the site and air rights of the Brooklyn Heights Public Library branch at 280 Cadman Plaza West for $52 million and his company Hudson Inc will then build a 36-story luxury condominium. The deal also includes building a new library on the ground floors and affordable housing off-site.
The library advocates continue to put on a spirited fight against the sale, and another proposed library sale in Red Hook, and have succeeded in bringing up several issues of question including Mayor Bill de Blasio’s longtime ties with Kramer, allegations that the bidding for the property didn’t take the best bid, and allegations that the Brooklyn Public Library is financially solvent and doesn’t need the money like the public entity says it does.
According to published reports, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is refusing to investigate these allegations under non-profit laws because the cCity owns the property and not the non-profit library system.
Donovan Supports Commission On Security & Technology Challenges
Southern Brooklyn/Staten Island Congressman Dan Donovan yesterday threw his support behind legislation that would create a National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges.
The commission comes on the heels of a protracted battle between Apple and the FBI, which captured the iPhone of dead San Bernardino terrorism suspect Syed Rizwan Farook back in December, but encryption technology prevents them from accessing its contents. Thus they want Apple to write a custom version of the iPhone software that disables key security features and install it on Farook’s iPhone in order to foil the encryption – something Apple sees as a slippery slope in which government can further invade the privacy of ordinary citizens.
Donovan noted the that bipartisan representatives from the law enforcement, industry, and civil liberties communities would make up the commission and recommend policy solutions to the ongoing digital security debate.
“The digital security debate is about more than just one phone or one company. It’s a sweeping question that will define how law enforcement and industry interact for a generation. Frankly, the solution shouldn’t be dictated by a bunch of politicians,” said Donovan.
“House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul’s proposal to bring together law enforcement, technology companies, and privacy advocates is the best way forward – all roads to a legislative solution should run through this commission,” he added.
Treyger Gets More “Mobi” Mats For Coney Island
Coney Island City Council Member Mark Treyger yesterday announced the City’s Parks Department has complied with his repeated requests to provide more “Mobi” Mats on Coney Island this summer.
The mats are rolled out on the sand of the beach leading to the water and comes after Treyger’s office fielded numerous calls regarding improved beach accessibility, primarily from the community’s population of senior citizens with disabilities.
The new “Mobi” Mats will be located at West 29th and West 32nd streets. These mats are in addition to West 5th Street and Brighton 6th Street mats that Treyger advocated for and secured last year. The mats, which will be made available for use by May 30, Memorial Day, will allow for more accessible movement along beach sand.
“One of our community’s greatest natural features is our beautiful beach, and our elderly and disabled residents deserve to enjoy the bounties of Southern Brooklyn just as much as other residents do. I advocated on their behalf to have these “Mobi” Mats installed last year, and am proud to have secured even more “Mobi” Mats for the upcoming summer season. I would like to thank NYC Parks for partnering with my office to meet the needs of our community’s seniors and disabled residents,” said Treyger.
Hamilton Stands With Asians Transparency In Enforcement Legislation
Central Brooklyn State Senator Jesse Hamilton is taking a stand with Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim on proposed legislation that would halt allegations that small business owners and workers, mostly from Chinese and Korean immigrants, are being subject to double standards and scapegoating of labor laws and over enforcement of their specific businesses.
The legislation, dubbed the Transparency In Enforcement Act, addresses last year’s months of targeted enforcement sanctioned by the state’s emergency status against the nail salon industry resulted in a possible disparate impact against one race group. To prevent these types of unintentional discriminatory enforcement, the measure will amend the executive law, establishing an annual report of disaggregated demographic data based on race, gender, and region.
“I’ve stood with Assemblyman Kim from the moment we realized there is a double standard against one race group imposed by targeted enforcement of the law. Now we stand together to introduce new legislation that calls for more openness and transparency in the enforcement by agencies like the Department of Labor to avoid future cases of disparate impact,” said Hamilton.
Cymbrowitz Commends Video Series Leading Substance Abusers To Treatment
Sheepshead Bay Assembly Member Steve Cymbrowits yesterday hailed the rollout of a new state-funded video series aimed at connecting substance abusers with critically needed treatment services which debuted this week.
The video series is part of a legislative package that Cymbrowitz crafted in 2014 when he was Chair of the Assembly’s Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee to combat New York State’s dramatic rise in opiate abuse, which shifted to heroin when prescription opiates became more expensive and difficult to obtain.
“The heroin and opiate epidemic affects more than a million New Yorkers and indirectly affects several million family members and friends who often feel powerless as they watch their loved ones suffer with addiction,” said Cymbrowitz. “This new video series is just one initiative in our collaborative and multi-level response to this crisis, and one way we are ensuring that we meet our obligation to address the opiate epidemic from all angles and with appropriate treatment for all who need it.”
The 10 new videos feature addiction treatment professionals, insurance experts, parents of young people who were treated for a substance use disorder, and NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) staff.
Topics discussed include: how to get help for a family member or loved one in need, explanations of the different levels of addiction treatment, understanding your insurance coverage, and how to recognize the signs of addiction and the need for treatment.
All of the videos are available on the OASAS website here.
Malliotakis Warns Residents of “Jury Duty” Scam
Bay Ridge/Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis yesterday warned residents to be cautious of the “jury duty” scam that has become prevalent in recent months across the nation.
According to the New York State Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, jury duty phone scams have been circulating in many neighboring states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Scammers are calling victims disguised as law enforcement officers or court officials informing them that they have failed to attend their jury duty obligation and must pay a fine to avoid arrest.
“We need to make our family, friends and neighbors aware of this scam and all scams so they are not taken advantage of,” said Malliotakis, who is currently serving jury duty as a juror on a civil case. “It is disturbing that con artists are using a serious civic responsibility in the jury duty summons process to threaten and victimize residents across the country, and we must stay vigilant in the event that the fake calls come to our community next.”
In addition to requiring an immediate credit card payment, the scammers also insist on receiving personal information, such as Social Security Number and date of birth. The scammers also target immigrants who may not be as familiar with the court system or seniors who are less likely to report the fraud.
To protect yourself from becoming victimized by this type of scam, it is important to know that:
– Notice of jury duty is sent in writing through U.S. Mail from your local County Clerk;
– In the event that you do have phone contact with a court official you will never be asked for confidential information;
– It is only safe to provide personal information on a call that you initiate to a reputable contact; and
– If you are concerned that you missed a jury duty summons, please contact the local county clerk.
