Cuomo Designates Cypress Hills Brownfield Opportunity Area
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced the designation of a 421 acre Cypress Hills site as one of 12 new Brownfield Opportunity Areas in communities across New York.
These designations help participants develop strategies to revitalize neighborhoods affected by dormant and blighted properties. Projects in these areas will be given priority status for grants and the project developers may access additional Brownfield Cleanup Program tax credit incentives.
“The designation of Brownfield Opportunity Areas facilitates the restoration and development of devastated communities across the state,” Cuomo said. “Each of these sites possesses tremendous potential for economic development and job creation, and these designations will equip local partners with the resources they need to implement their vision for community revitalization.”
The Cypress Hills Brownfield Opportunity Area encompasses 462 acres and includes 40 potential brownfield sites in the Cypress Hills/East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn. Primary revitalization objectives include: an area-wide rezoning to allow for redevelopment of strategic sites to increase available affordable housing and the creation new employment opportunities for neighborhood residents; improved access to parks and open space; and greater availability of fresh food to yield health benefits for the entire Cypress Hills/East New York community.
“We need to leverage every parcel of land to maximize its benefit to communities across Brooklyn, particularly to address persistent issues such as the limited supply of deeply affordable housing, access to fresh and healthy food, as well as spaces that foster job creation and community empowerment,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
“With as many as 462 acres potentially available for development in Cypress Hills and East New York, we have an opportunity to build the infrastructure that families and small business owners — the cornerstones of our neighborhoods — need to live and work there. We cannot afford to leave any resources on the table as we tackle the challenges of affordability in Brooklyn.”
Hikind Meets With New Brooklyn College President
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (Borough Park) recently met with newly-appointed Brooklyn College President Michelle Anderson to discuss the direction of the college, policies and to forge a working relationship.
Over the past couple of years, Brooklyn College has garnered negative attention regarding several anti-Semitic incidents on the campus. Back in February, several students that belong to the student group Students for Justice in Palestine interrupted a faculty council meeting with anti-Zionist chants, calling for “Zionism out of CUNY.”
“I look forward to turning a new chapter and working with President Anderson to tackle issues head-on,” Hikind said following the meeting. “After meeting President Anderson, it became very evident as to why she was hand-picked by CUNY President James Milliken to represent Brooklyn College.
“President Anderson’s willingness to reach out just days after being appointed was like a breath of fresh air,” added Hikind.
Hikind called for the institution to punish those who took part in the hate speech and to expel the student group from campus grounds. Hikind also called on the college to put an end to its “co-sponsorship of anti-Israel hatefests” after the institution was scheduled to allow Ben White—a known anti-Israel academic—to speak as a guest of Students for Justice in Palestine.
After the introductory meeting with President Anderson, Hikind said he felt reassured that the college is in good hands.
“I was so impressed with the direction that President Anderson envisions for Brooklyn College,” Hikind said. “Not only is President Anderson class-personified, but her character and morals are right in line with what an academic professional should be.”
Gentile Forges Alliance With ACUS Over Illegal Conversions
City Council Member Vincent Gentile (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) recently huddled with Warren Chan, president with the Asian Community United Society to discuss his proposed illegal conversion bill that will toughen laws against landlords that illegally convert their two- and three-family homes into multiple family homes.
The meeting came after the multi-agency Illegal Conversion Task Force raided two Dyker Heights/Bay Ridge homes in less than a week earlier this month, leaving nearly 40 people including little children homeless.
Chan said he supports gentile and the measure to crack down on bad landlords who are profiting from putting people that don’t know about illegal apartments directly in harm’s way.
“While these chopped up and sub-divided houses often violate every fire and safety code imaginable, they offer many new immigrants their only chance of affordable housing – especially in neighborhoods like ours,” said Chan in an emailed statement.
“It is time for our community to stand up and send a message to these bad landlords that is profiting from this housing crisis. These bad landlords don’t live in the building and only purchase properties for the sake of rental by illegally chopping up buildings,” he added.
Chan said going forward the ACUS will work closely with Gentile to tackle the illegal conversion problem, but added affordable housing is also needed.
“For as important as it is for us to work as a team to crack down on the perilous illegal conversions, we must also work to support the creation of more affordable housing units in southwest Brooklyn,” he said.
Donovan Hosts Zika Virus Information Forum
Congressman Dan Donovan (Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) today will host a Zika Virus Information Forum with presentations by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The health experts will sort fact from fiction and answer questions from the audience. The forum comes as the city has stepped up spraying to eradicate mosquitos, and outreach measures to educate pregnant women about the virus, which could affect newborns.
The forum is slated for 7 p,m,, tonight at the Richmond University Medical Center Sipp Auditorium, 355 Bard Avenue in Staten Island.
State Sen. Kevin Parker (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope) on Saturday will host his annual Harvest Fest – Back to School celebration.
Since its inception, over 1,000 families have attended the annual event, in which students receive free backpacks full of school supplies to start the new school year off fully prepared. Families will be treated to free food, music, cultural art performances by Ifetayo and Sesame Flyers International, Inc.; Zumba Fitness instruction by the Flatbush YMCA; Marching Band Exhibition by the Empire State Marching Band; Archery tutorials by Hidden Gems Archer, and more.
This highly anticipated community event has become both essential and fun for working families in the community as they prepare to send their school aged children back to school.
The event is slated for between 12 noon- 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at Paerdegat Park, East 40th Street (between Foster Avenue and Farragut Road).
