Williams On The Death Of Tupac’s Mother
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) this week released the following statement after learning that Afeni Shakur, mother of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur, passed away at the age 69 on Monday night in California.
Although best known as Tupac’s mother, Shakur had a rich history. She was a Black Panther and a civil rights activist. In 1997, she founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which worked to bring quality arts training to at-risk youth.
“I am saddened to hear that Afeni Shakur’s time on this earth has come to an end. Despite our lost, she is in a better place where she is joined by her ancestors and son. Shakur was a loved and respected person, who fought to keep her son’s legacy alive. She was a champion for equality and justice, and served as inspiration for some of Tupac’s biggest hits. Her courage and passion transcends generations and will be remembered for years to come. My prayers for peace and comfort go out to her family,” said Williams.
Adams Joins With Clergy For Annual Day Of Prayer
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams this morning will join leaders from the community of faith at the Christian Cultural Center to celebrate Brooklyn Day of Prayer.
Adams proclaimed the day of prayer in keeping with the tradition of President Harry Truman and his signing of a law in 1952 that established a National Day of Prayer.
The celebration, which will feature prayers offered by clergy from multiple denominations as well as musical performances, honors the legacy of Brooklyn as the “Borough of Churches,” a community where people of all faiths have the ability to practice their religion in freedom.
The Day of Prayer and celebration is slated for 9 a.m., today at the Christian Cultural Center, 12020 Flatlands Avenue in East New York.
Lander Announces Rescheduling of the Brooklyn PTA 5K Fun Run
Park Slope City Council Member Brad Lander announced that due to a permit mishap, the Brooklyn PTA 5K Fun Run to Saturday May 14th. The race will start at 10 am (8:45 a.m. check-in).
“Registrations that have already been made will count toward school team totals even if you cannot make the new date. We hope everyone will keep their registration in order to benefit our PTAs, but if you have questions please email vsell@council.nyc.gov and PTArunfortheschools@gmail.com,” Lander said in an emailed newsletter.
The PTA 5K Fun Run is an important opportunity for families and schools from all over Brooklyn to connect and raise money for public education across the borough. Elected officials that are co-sponsoring the event include Councilmembers Carlos Menchaca, Stephen Levin and Laurie Cumbo, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, and State Senator Jesse Hamilton.
The race is now slated for 10 a.m., Saturday May 14 starting at Bartel-Pritchard Square outside Prospect Park in Windsor Terrace. Register here.
Gentile Kicks Off 9th Season Of Bay Ridge Greenmarket
Bay Ridge City Councilman Vincent Gentile and GrowNYC will kick-off the 9th season of the Bay Ridge Greenmarket, famously nicknamed by Gentile as“Bay Ridge’s Town Hall” at 11 a.m., this Saturday, May 7 inside the Walgreens parking lot at 95th Street and 3rd Avenue.
A short opening ceremony will begin with a live jazz band performing until 1 p.m. from the Jazz Foundation led by the supremely talented Alvin Flythe. The performance is funded through the Jazz Foundation’s Gig Fund, which gives retired jazz musicians opportunities to perform in public spaces.
For the month of May, Williams Fruit Farm, Ulster County, NY, will cater to all those green thumbs out there selling potted plants, hanging planters, and flowers from their greenhouse to address the neighborhood’s gardening needs!
This season, the following vendors will be selling local fresh caught fish, baked bread and pastries, dairy, fruits and vegetables:
American Pride Seafood: Wild caught Fish from Suffolk County, NY
Bread Alone: Breads & pastries from Ulster County, NY
Goodale Farms: Vegetables and dairy from Suffolk County, NY
Jersey Farm: Produce Fruit and vegetables from Hunterdon County, NJ
Toigo Orchards: Orchard fruit from Cumberland County, PA
Coming this Fall to the Bay Ridge Greenmarket: Wager’s Cider Mill: Orchard fruit, grapes, juice & cider from Yates County, NY.
The Bay Ridge Greenmarket is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. with food scrap collections from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. until November 19.
Williams, Bichotte Laud Approval Of Haitian Studies Institute At Brooklyn College
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) and Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte (Flatbush, Ditmas Park) hailed the recent City University of New York Board of Trustees unanimously approving the creation of the CUNY Haitian Studies Institute (HSI), which will be housed at Brooklyn College.
“I’d like to thank the CUNY Trustees for voting in favor of creating a Haitian Studies Institute at Brooklyn College, and for the university’s administration for working with the community in seeing this project through from conception to realization. Brooklyn and District 45 is home to a thriving Haitian community, which I am so proud to represent, and boasts the second largest population of Haitian Americans outside of Miami. For decades Haitian Americans have called Brooklyn home and have contributed to the borough’s economic and cultural vitality. I look forward to the opening of HSI and the hiring of a Director in the near future as Haitian culture and contribution to our City is documented,” said Williams.
Bichotte said the approval is a momentous and historical occasion that the Haitian community has been waiting for.
“The Haitian Studies Institute (HSI) would not have come to fruition without the help and support of many people, especially my partners in this effort Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, along with State Senator Kevin Parker, who not only championed for the HSI but wanted to make sure it was in the right institution, Brooklyn College.
“As the only Haitian-American state legislator in the City of New York, it was heartfelt to see a true partnership from the beginning and throughout the entire process to make this dream a reality. I want to thank my brothers for always being champions for the Haitian people,” said Bichotte.
