Felder Pitches In at BCA’s Annual Community Clean-Up Campaign
State Sen. Senator Simcha Felder (Midwood, Flatbush, Borough Park, Kensington, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst) recently rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a broom as the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association (BCA) kicked off its 2016 Annual Community Clean Up Campaign.
The opening ceremony took place in front of the BCA main office at the corner of Eighth Avenue and 50th Street where hundreds of children, volunteers and community members were on hand to participate.
“We are so proud of the children who work so hard to keep the community clean,” said Felder. “More, I continued to be impressed, every year, by the terrific job that BCA President Paul Mak does in organizing wonderful events like today’s community clean-up. Nothing shows respect for our community like keeping it clean.”
Others who attended the Kickoff Ceremony included Assemblyman Peter Abate and Captain Kenneth Quick, Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s 66th Precinct.
Gentile Lauds District Street Co-Namings
City Councilman Vincent Gentile (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) yesterday lauded the city officially signing into law the street co-namings for four individuals that meant much to his district.
The four co-namings included Senator Christopher J. Mega Way at 80th Street and 10th Avenue, Maureen Stramka Way at the southeast corner of 78th Street and 3rd Avenue, Salvatore (Sal) D’Amato Place on the east side of 5th Avenue between 94th Street and 95th Street, and Howard Dunn Way on the northwest corner of 78th Street and 3rd Avenue.
“These street co-namings that I sponsored represent civic leadership, community service and a commitment to the betterment of our local neighborhoods. Before his career in public service, a former political opponent of mine and a good man, Senator Christopher J. Mega, was a community advocate, serving in the Dyker Heights Civic Association and the Bay Ridge Lion Club. Maureen Stramka, a purveyor of volunteerism, had her finger on the pulse on all things Bay Ridge, serving as President of the famous Ragamuffin Parade, and as a loyal member of Community Board 10, the Bay Ridge Community Council and the 68th Precinct Community Council,” said Gentile.
“Salvatore “Sal” D’Amato, an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and Howard Dunn, a Navy veteran of WWII, were patriots and champions of their community. D’Amato owned Harbor View Car Service and routinely gave free rides to troops from the Fort Hamilton Army Base as well as senior citizens from the Bay Ridge Center. When Dunn wasn’t busy planting over 1,000 American flags at local Bay Ridge businesses, he was helping the Wounded Warriors raise more than $28,000 and organizing clothing drives for veterans in partnership with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“These individuals are some of the very best that our community has ever had to offer. Their names will live on perpetually on the streets and neighborhoods that they served with class and dignity, and I am proud to see these co-namings become law today.”
Adams On Delegation Mission To Caribbean
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams yesterday embarked on a delegation mission, including members of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council, on a visit to Trinidad and Tobago that is focused on local and global issues relating to gun violence.
The expedition comes at the invitation of the Trinidad & Tobago – USA Clergy Council and Major General Edmund Dillon, Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of national security. The 67th Police Precinct covers the heart of the borough’s Flatbush and East Flatbush Caribbean community.
“I am honored to come to Trinidad and Tobago and represent Brooklyn’s vibrant Caribbean population, a population concerned about safety and security in both of our nations,” said Adams. “Our two countries stand for many of the same values; we both stand tall on the foundation of rich diversity, a democratic form of government, and the traditions of the common law. Unfortunately, we also share the problem of gun violence rates that are disproportionately high when compared to other nations. I am hopeful that we will have an opportunity to learn from each other as we search for solutions that make our communities safer places to raise healthy children and families.”
The mission was sponsored by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, the 67th Precinct Clergy Council, and the Trinidad & Tobago – USA Clergy Council.
Donovan Gives Thumbs Down To Cash Payment to Iran
Congressman Dan Donovan yesterday gave a thumbs down to the Obama Administration’s $400 million cash payment to Iran in January.
Several media outlets reported the transaction leading Republicans to allege the money was paid as a ransom as four U.S. citizens held in Iran were released at the same time.
But the Obama administration maintained the five were released in exchange for seven Iranians held in the United States for sanctions violations. The prisoner deal coincided with the lifting of international sanctions against Tehran.
The administration said the money was the settlement of a longstanding Iranian claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague, releasing $400 million in funds frozen since 1981, plus $1.3 billion in interest that was owed to Iran.
Iran gave the money to the U.S. for military equipment that was never delivered before its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“How many times will the American public get blindsided with more information about how desperate the Obama Administration is to cut deals with Iran? In the dark of the night, the Administration went through a secret effort to airlift $400 million of foreign currency to a state sponsor of terrorism – which Iran promptly directed to its military budget – at the same time Iran released four American hostages,” said Donovan.
“This whole process stinks, and we can be certain that this shady cash exchange will send a dangerous message to foreign enemies who will now be emboldened to capture and hold hostage American citizens in exchange for a payday.”
Thompson Makes Major Gang Bust
Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson yesterday announced that 25 alleged members of the rival Lincoln Family and Bergen Family gangs have been charged in a 67-count indictment with conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, weapons possession and other charges in connection with eight separate shootings in Crown Heights that left six people injured and one teenager dead.
Thompson said that, according to the investigation, during the course of the conspiracy, between October 2013 and the present, the defendants allegedly agreed to commit crimes, including murder, assault and other violent acts to protect their turf. The defendants, who now range in age from 16 to 23, are members of rival street gangs operating primarily within the 77th precinct.
The violent acts charged in the conspiracy — which the defendants planned and shared on social media — include multiple alleged shootings by members of both gangs, including the January 2015 killing of 19-year-old Bergen Family member Jaquay (Queezy) Bennett on St. Marks Avenue in a retaliatory shooting by a Lincoln Family member.
In a March 2016 shooting, members of the Lincoln Family allegedly fired multiple shots at rivals as school was letting out at Clara Barton High School and the International High School in Prospect Heights, striking and injuring a Bergen Family member and a 13-year-old girl.
“This indictment underscores the continuing commitment of this office and the NYPD to take back the streets of Brooklyn from mindless gang and gun violence that puts so many people at risk, including in this case an innocent 13-year-old girl,” said Thompson.
