Persaud Lauds SchoolYards To Playground In Her District
State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (Canarsie, East New York, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach) recently lauded the school yard of PS 72, at 605 Shepherd Avenue being chosen as one of the Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC plan, whereupon the Parks Department and the Department of Education partnered to expand access to public space by including 12 new sites in the Schoolyards to Playgrounds program, effective immediately.
Schoolyards to Playgrounds opens school play space during non-school hours, and 235 play spaces are already open in this capacity. This expansion, which brings that number up to 247 – plus the addition of at least ten more sites this fall – will help NYC Parks bring 85 percent of New Yorkers within a walk to a park by 2030, a goal supported by $48 million of OneNYC funding.
“I am extremely excited that the Schoolyards to Playground program is expanding to include a school in the 19th Senate District. This gives families the opportunity to utilize outdoor recreational space closer to their homes. Children who do not live near a park can now enjoy the amenities of the playground,” said Persaud.
The PS 72 schoolyard has been open to a playground immediately, and will be supported with $50,000 to fund DOE custodial labor and supplies.
Powell Steps Down AS District Leader, Pierre Chosen To Replace Him
Longtime male Democratic 42nd Assembly District Leader Ed Powell officially resigned last night, and Josue Pierre and the Kings County Democratic Committee unanimously Josue Pierre to replace him as the district leader.
“I have identified with the Democratic Party since I was a kid in elementary school learning about the election of Mayor David Dinkins and have supported the party’s candidates since. I believe that one of the traits which separates Democrats from the other party is empathy. We don’t have to be in our fellow Americans shoes to understand or acknowledge their struggle. Our party is open to all Americans, regardless of class, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc… Those are my New York values and the values of our party,” said Pierre.
The district covers Flatbush and Ditmas Park. Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte represents the district in Albany and is the female Democratic district leader.
Pierre noted that while he is now the incumbent, he still faces a primary challenge from Victor Jordan, and that he and his team are going to continue working hard and preparing for the Sept. 13 primary election day as originally planned. To that end, Pierre is hosting a fundraiser from 6-9 p.m., this Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Tonel Restaurant and Lounge, 1236 Rogers Avenue and the corner of Newkirk Avenue.
Adams To Announce Civic Minded Green Thumb Winners
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams today will join the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to announce the residential and commercial block winners of 2016’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest.
The competition that recognizes the efforts of community residents and business owners to create beautiful streetscapes throughout the borough. The announcement is slated for 11 a.m. on East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D.
From this event Adams will travel to Sunset Park where he will meet with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is on a tour of Manufacture New York, a woman-owned fashion design and production incubator in Industry City, to support the announcement of her bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act.
The legislation would grow the local apparel, textile, and wearable tech manufacturing industry by creating a permanent program that designates local regions as “Manufacturing Communities,” putting them in the front of the line to receive federal economic development funding specifically for investing in manufacturing.
Adams meet up with Gillibrand is slated for 1 p.m., at 850 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park.
Malliotakis Endorses Nocera For The Assembly
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Bay Ridge, Staten Island) recently endorsed fellow Republican Glenn Nocera for the 44th Assembly District seat covering Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington and parts of Borough Park and Ditmas Park.
“We need new leadership in Albany and, as a member of the minority conference, I know how sorely the people of New York require a strong opposition to fight against wasteful spending, high taxes, over regulation, and bad policies,” said Malliotakis. “Glenn Nocera has been a consistent voice against bad government and has helped elect a new generation of reformers to our state legislature. That’s why I endorse Glenn for State Assembly and look forward to working with him in Albany during the next session.”
The seat is open with the recent retirement of Assemblyman James Brennan. Nocera has no opposition on the Republican Party line. Three Democrats – Robert ‘Bobby’ Carroll, Troy Odendhal and Robert Curry-Smithson – are running in the Sept. 13 primary.
-Andrea Karshan
Richardson Hosts Movie Celebrating Breastfeeding
Assemblywoman Diana Richardson (Crown Heights, Lefferts Gardens) and the NYC Health And Hospitals Thursday will host a screening of the documentary The Milky Way as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
The event will also feature breastfeeding resources, giveaways and special tours. It also comes as recent legislation has created lactation rooms in government offices across the city.
