Adams Busy Day At The Office
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will kick off his day at 8 a.m. in Grand Army Plaza today leading local leaders and dozens of Brooklynites on his second annual Bike-to-Work ride, as he kicks off Earth Week celebrations in and around the borough.
The event will highlight the positive impact that New Yorkers can have on their local environment by using pedal power to get around the city. Groups participating in Adams’ ride, which will go from Grand Army Plaza to Brooklyn Borough Hall, include Brooklyn Public Library, Citi Bike, Park Slope Neighbors, Prospect Park Alliance, Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Corporation, and Transportation Alternatives.
Later in the day at Borough Hall, Adams will cut the ribbon on a free legal services clinic operated in collaboration with the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer’s Project, Brooklyn Legal Services, the Veteran Advocacy Project and the Domestic Violence Project of the Urban Justice Center, and Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT).
The clinic, which will provide critical resources for Brooklyn families who want to claim their rights under the law but cannot afford to hire an attorney, expands Adams’ efforts to improve access to legal assistance in Brooklyn. These efforts include holding “Know Your Rights” workshops for tenants in neighborhoods such as Brownsville, Cypress Hills, East New York, and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens.
The ribbon cutting is slated for 12 noon at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street.
Cymbrowitz Condemns CUNY Grad Students Endorsing Israel Boycott
Sheepshead Bay Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz yesterday condemned the student government representing students at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center endorsing an academic boycott of Israel on Friday.
The resolution passed with 42 students in favor, 19 opposed and 9 abstentions, and endorsed the call to “boycott Israeli academic institutions for as long as the Israeli state continues to violate Palestinian rights under international law.”
“I condemn yesterday’s action in the strongest terms and am pleased that both the CUNY Chancellor and Graduate Center President immediately gave the group the zero credibility it deserves. It is obvious that these graduate students never studied world history, and if they did, they clearly overlooked the chapter called ‘The Holocaust.’ If they had, they would’ve understood the ramifications of directing their irrational venom at a single group of people,” said Cymbrowitz.
“Unfortunately, while mostly symbolic, this group’s action serves as validation for all of the haters at campuses all over the country already spewing anti-Jewish rhetoric either overtly or under the guise of political criticism. Too often the two are one and the same, the language filled with anti-Semitic epithets that also make a point of denying Israel’s right to exist. Symbolic actions have real-world implications, and yesterday’s action is no exception. Hatred breeds more hatred and the only remedy is to denounce it with equal force.”
Walker Champions Crime Victims Aid Bill
Brownsville Assemblywoman Latrice Walker announced this weekend in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, she helped pass legislation to aid crime victims, including several measures that assist victims of human trafficking.
“Crime can have far reaching impact on victims, often causing physical and emotional damage,” said Walker. “This legislation supports crime victims as they heal and regain hope in their lives.”
The Assembly’s legislative package includes a bill that would ensure victims of violent crimes or sex offenses are informed of their right to submit a statement to the state Parole Board if and when their perpetrator is being considered for parole (A.6945).
“It is frightening to victims to think the person who committed a crime against them will be out in the community,” said Walker. “Anyone who has been a victim of a violent crime or sex offense should have the right to know when a perpetrator is being considered for release and to have their voice heard.”
The Assembly also passed legislation outlining strong procedures for identifying and providing prompt support for trafficked persons, giving more support to rape and sexual assault victims, giving more financial support to victims and their families and safeguarding individuals that report crimes.
Harris Gets State Money For Coney Island Senior Programs
Assemblymember Pamela Harris (Coney Island, Bay Ridge , Dyker Heights) announced Friday that she fought and successfully secured $52,000 for the support of senior programs for the Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island (JCCGCI).
“JCCGCI provides vital programs that better the quality of life for many of our residents, especially the elderly population here in Brooklyn,” said Harris. “I’m proud to have fought for these funds and look forward to helping our community thrive.”
JCCGCI is a community-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for the elderly, the disadvantaged and at risk-youth. JCCGCI operates local senior centers, including Haber House Senior Center, Marlboro Senior Center, Coney Island Seaside Innovative Senior Center, Jay-Harama Senior Center and Ocean Parkway Senior Center.
Harris also noted that the final budget successfully extends the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) eligibility of $50,000 for four years. These measure help protect residents from rent hikes as part of the NYC Rent Freeze Program. Additionally, the budget provides $951,000 to restore Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) and Neighborhood (N) NORCS.
Colton Disappointed Liang Case Not Declared Mistrail
Assembly Member William Colton (Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) on Friday said he was disappointed-although not surprised, by the decision of Judge Chun denying a mistrial in the case of former Rookie Police Officer Peter Liang after one of the jurists was found to have an alleged bias against police.
Liang now faces up to 15 years in prison this week at his sentencing after being convicted on manslaughter charges stemming from the incident when he discharged one round from his gun, which ricocheted off a wall and killed Akai Gurley. At the time, Liang was patrolling a darkened stairwell at an East New York public housing development.
“This decision was not only unfair but it missed another opportunity to correct the injustice against Peter Liang arising from a newly elected district attorney seeking an unjustified indictment based upon political and emotional factors,” said Colton. “When criminal determinations are made in a climate of political and emotional considerations, instead of the specific facts and the law, it should not be a surprise for injustice to result. Every time an injustice is continued against one person it is continued against us all.
Unfortunately a political climate continues to exist which serves to distract from dealing with the real causes of injustice by making Peter Liang a scapegoat.”
Williams Against Junior High Co-Location
City Council Member Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) last week spoke out against the co-locating of an Uncommon Charter School at Meyer Levin Junior High School, 5909 Beverly Road.
For video of Williams’ testimony, log on here.
The forced co-location would displace Meyer Levin’s performance arts space on the third floor, essentially “gutting” their performance arts program, which is the heart of the school’s curriculum, according to Williams.
Since the rally, the Department of Education postponed the vote about the co-location to May 18 at Long Island City HS in Queens, which was initially to take place next week.
Plans are now underway to transport parents & student to the vote. Williams is working with his colleagues in government, State Sen. Kevin Parker and Assemblyman Nick Perry to help preserve this much-needed resource in our community.
