Cornegy, Cumbo Bill Creating Public Lactation Rooms Passes City Council
The measure that City Council Members Robert Cornegy Jr. (Bed-Stuy, Northern Crown Heights) and Laurie Cumbo (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights) to open public lactation rooms across the city passed the City Council yesterday.
The measure would require the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to ensure that every job center, SNAP center, medical assistance program center of the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration, as well as every city-owned borough office of the Administration for Children’s Services among other city offices to make at least one lactation room available upon request to an individual utilizing on-site services.
The presence of such a lactation room would not interfere with such an individual’s right to breastfeed in public. DOHMH would also be required to create a list of all public spaces with lactation rooms and make this list available on its website.
“After years of watching my wife struggle to find a comfortable place to breastfeed in the city, I made it my mission to support families that make the healthy decision to breastfeed their infants. This legislation not only reinforces a woman’s right to breastfeed in public, but it also illustrates the city’s commitment to supporting families and nurturing our youngest citizens from the very start,” said Cornegy.
“As Chair of the Women’s Issues Committee and Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, I would like to acknowledge the incredible women throughout this city and beyond that unequivocally breastfeed their children anytime and anyplace. This is a personal decision for every woman, which ought to be respected within our society. As working and stay-at-home mothers transition into their new roles, it is often a challenge to identify safe spaces where women can nurse and pump to care for their child(ren). This legislation will transform certain public spaces into safe havens to support the bonding experience between mother and child while promoting their well-being,” said Cumbo.
“We have birthed a new breastfeeding movement in the borough of Brooklyn, starting with the opening of Brooklyn Borough Hall’s Lactation Lounge last Mother’s Day. Today, the passage of Intro 1063-A marks a monumental and meaningful expansion of this public health imperative for New York City, not only for its nursing mothers but for everyone invested in raising healthy children and families,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
Council Passes Treyger, Deutsch Resolution Designating Coney Boardwalk A Scenic Landmark
City Council Members Mark Treyger (Coney Island, Bensonhurst) and Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach) yesterday saw the City Council pass their resolution calling upon the Landmark Preservation Commission to designate the Riegelmann Boardwalk (the Coney Island Boardwalk) as a scenic landmark.
The boardwalk was originally constructed between 1918 and 1924, and now stretches a distance of 2.7 miles, from West 37th Street to Corbin Place along the Coney Island waterfront. The boardwalk is an internationally recognized tourist attraction, and a vital part of the Coney Island community. Designation of the Boardwalk as a scenic landmark would require LPC to issue an advisory report for any significant improvements or alterations of the designated structure or landscape feature.
“The iconic Coney Island Riegelmann Boardwalk is not just a symbol of Coney Island and Southern Brooklyn, but one synonymous with New York City,” said Treyger. “Millions have walked the Boardwalk’s wooden planks for nearly a century, forging the legend of one of our city’s cultural touchstones. I believe we must preserve this legend, this symbol so that our children, their children, and millions of others who visit our great city will be able to walk those same wooden planks and create their own memories, as well. With the entire City Council, including Speaker Mark-Viverito, supporting our resolution to landmark the Boardwalk, as well as officials including Comptroller Stringer, Borough President Eric L. Adams, all of the elected officials who represent Coney Island, and so many residents and community leaders, there is no reason to delay this process any longer.”
Flatbush Tenant Coalition Hold State Assembly and Senate Candidates Forum
The Flatbush Tenant Coalition tomorrow will hold a massive state assembly and senate candidates forum tomorrow for Assembly Districts 42,43,44, 57 & 58 and Senate Districts 20 & 21
Among the officials invited and expected to attend include Assembly Members Helene Weinstein (AD41), Rodneyse Bichotte (AD42), Diana Richardson (AD43), Walter Mosley(AD57) and N. Nick Perry (AD58) as well as assembly candidates Victor Jordan (AD42) and Robert Carroll (AD44). State Senators Jessie Hamilton (SD20) and Kevin Parker (SD21) are also expected to be in attendance.
The forum is slated for 9:45 a.m., tomorrow, July 16 at St. Paul’s Church in the Village of Flatbush 157 St. Paul’s Place (corner of Church Ave, between E. 18 & Ocean Ave). For further information email ftcoalition@gmail.com or call (718) 635-2623.
Greenfield Announces Ambitious Summer Street Repaving Schedule
City Councilman David G. Greenfield (Borough Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst) yesterday announced an ambitious summer street repaving schedule throughout his district.
Greenfield secured $200,000 in additional funds in both last year’s and this year’s city budget for these crucial road work projects. Repaving is one of the most popular improvements to the district and consistently ranks high among residents’ priorities as expressed in the annual participatory budgeting process.
“Smoother streets are safer streets. Every year I work with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and add extra funds to the budget to ensure that streets in my district are prioritized for resurfacing,” said Greenfield. “Further, I am thrilled that the DOT took our suggestion of repaving Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst streets during the summer months when many residents are out of town and school is not in session. That means less congestion on our local roads.”
The full list of streets to be repaved in Greenfield’s district is below:
15 Avenue between Dahill Road and 45 Street and between 54 Street and 61 Street
19 Avenue between 47 Street and 53 Street53 Street between 16 Avenue and 21 Avenue
55 Street between New Utrecht and 17 Avenue
56 Street between Fort Hamilton Parkway and 18 Avenue
58 Street between 8 Avenue and New Utrecht Avenue.
Ocean Parkway between Ditmas Avenue and Elmwood Avenue
East 2 Street between Avenue J and Bay Parkway and between Avenue M and Avenue P
East 3 Street between Foster Avenue and Bay Parkway and between Avenue M and Avenue P
East 12 Street between Avenue L and Avenue P
East 17 Street between Avenue H and Avenue P
East 19 Street between Avenue L and Avenue P
Greenfield asks that residents please be aware of temporary “No Parking” signs that are posted by the DOT right before work is set to begin. Parked cars will need to relocate so that resurfacing can happen. Residents who have any questions about should call Councilman Greenfield’s office at (718) 853 2704.
Golden Announces Plans For 10th Annual Senior Idol
State Senator Martin J. Golden (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend) in conjunction with Xaverian High School, announced plans for the 10th Annual Brooklyn Senior Idol, a popular contest that highlights the talent of the senior citizens of Kings County.
Brooklyn residents age 50 or older are invited to audition at 2:30 p.m., Monday, September 12 at Xaverian High School, 7100 Shore Road (handicapped accessibility available at 71st Street door). Those trying out for this singing competition should bring a CD or cassette tape accompaniment. A piano is available for any contestant interested and participants are welcome to bring a guitar.
Contestants will be selected from those who audition to compete on stage at the finals, scheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday, October 1. The winner, selected through the votes of the audience and the judges, will
be awarded a $500 prize.
“Every year, Brooklyn’s Senior Idol attracts some great talent from residents of our Borough, who dazzle the crowd with renditions of some of the greatest songs of all time. This year, as we begin to plan the 10th Annual Senior Idol show, I look forward to another truly entertaining event which has come a very anticipated community tradition. So if you can sing, be sure to try out. And if you want to see a great show, join us at Xaverian High School on October 1,” said Golden.
Tickets for the event are $10 and can only be purchased at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Xaverian High School music program for scholarships and to purchase new instruments. For more information, or to register for auditions, please contact Senator Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044 or via email at golden@nysenate.gov.
Persaud Rain Barrel Giveaway A Success
State Senator Roxanne Persaud announced that 15 minutes prior to the 9 a.m. rain barrel giveaway last Saturday, homeowners from Bergen Beach, Canarsie, East New York, Flatlands, Georgetown, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Ocean Hill / Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay and Starrett City were lined up in front of her district office to receive their free rain barrel that the city’s Department of Environmental Protection donated.
By 1 p.m. all 100 of the rain barrels were claimed and on their way to be setup for this seasons’ rain showers. Those who received rain barrels were able to immediately put them to use as rain showers fell sporadically over the region throughout the rest of the weekend, Persaud said.
Rain barrels are an efficient way to reduce water bills and to protect our waterways from sewer runoff pollution. Homeowners can use the collected water for cleaning their car, watering their gardens and other miscellaneous uses.
For those who were unable to partake in this event please check online at Persaud.nysenate.gov for Persaud’s next rain barrel giveaway.
