Lander Gives Tepid Support For Charters
City Council Member Brad Lander (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) yesterday offered somewhat tepid support to today’s massive support of charter schools in Prospect Park.
In an emailed newsletter to his supporters and constituents yesterday Lander noted that the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. rally entitled #PathToPossible is organized by Success Academy Founder Eva Moskowitz and the organization “Families for Excellent Schools.” He also said there are 350 charter buses bringing in families with students in charter schools from all over the city, which he warned constituents will cause local traffic congestion.
“I’m all for having political, social, and educational gatherings in our public parks. I love field trips – and Prospect Park is a great location. And I’m not an opponent of charter schools in general (I’ve worked closely with, and support schools including, Brooklyn Prospect Charter School, BUGS/Brooklyn Urban Garden School, and DREAM Academy/Harlem RBI),” wrote Lander in his newsletter.
“But you’ll have to forgive me for being less-than-enthusiastic about this bus siege of Prospect Park, organized for political purposes,” he added.
Two Donovan Anti-Terror Bills Pass House
The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed two homeland security bills – the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act and the Cyber Preparedness Act – which Congressman Dan Donovan (Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) sponsored.
Both bills, which passed with broad bipartisan support, bulk up the country’s transit and cybersecurity defenses, and are a direct response to feedback Donovan received during subcommittee hearings he chaired to explore ways to defend transit and cyber infrastructure against terror attacks.
The Cyber Preparedness Act streamlines the country’s cybersecurity procedures to improve cyber-threat information sharing and coordination between federal, state, and local authorities.
The Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act improves the ability of transit agencies to prevent and respond to terror attacks by tweaking some grant program rules. The TSGP provides eligible transit agencies with funding for capital and operational projects, including tunnel protection systems, evacuation improvements, canine patrols, security training and exercises, and public awareness campaigns.
“Your government’s chief responsibility is to protect you and your family from attack. Last weekend’s bombings in New York and New Jersey, as well as attacks on mass transit systems in Europe and the Iranian hack of a U.S. dam, remind us that oceans no longer insulate us from threats. Congress must constantly reevaluate federal policies to allow agencies and law enforcement to most effectively secure the homeland. That’s what I’ve done with the bills passed today,” said Donovan.
The bills will now go to the Senate for consideration.
Golden Announces Finalists For Senior Idol Show
State Senator Martin J. Golden (Bay Ridge) in conjunction with Xaverian High School yesterday announced the finalists for the 10th Annual Brooklyn Senior Idol show, scheduled for this Saturday at Xaverian High School.
The Brooklyn Senior Idol show is a popular contest that highlights the talent of the senior citizens of Kings County, while raising funds to support the Xaverian Music Department. Earlier this month, over forty Kings County residents 50 years and older auditioned from which 12 finalists have been selected. Dan Grimaldi, star of film and television, will be this year’s celebrity judge.
The 2016 Brooklyn Senior Idol Contestants and the songs they are performing are:
Tony Yodice I’ve Got The World On A String
Nicholas DeCillis My Way
Stephanie Spathakis Be My Baby
Ron Divito It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye
Irene Dobronski I Dreamed A Dream
John Douglas Hey Jealous Lover
Thomas Horlick Unchained Melody
Emmy Pai Fever
Vito Lombardo Con Te Partiro
Angel Mendez She’s Out Of My Life
Don Coy You Don’t Know Me
Darnley Browne In The Beginning
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 celebrate the 10th Annual Brooklyn Senior Idol show, I look forward to another truly entertaining event which has become a very anticipated community tradition. So if you want to see a great show, join us at Xaverian High School on October 1st, and get ready to laugh, to cry and to cheer.”
The show is slated to begin at 7 p.m., this Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Xaverian High School Auditorium, 7100 Shore Road in Bay Ridge. 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, please contact Senator Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044.
Deutsch Invites Waterfront Community Residents To Info Session On Flood Resiliency
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) is inviting residents from Brooklyn souther waterfront communities to a public information session with Army Corps of Engineer officials to share flooding concerns and suggested plans to mitigate flooding following storms.
Deutsch said ever since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, residents of a waterfront community, we have faced serious concerns about flooding and resiliency.
“Working with Senator Schumer and other colleagues, we were successful in ensuring that Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, and Manhattan Beach were included in the Army Corps’ resiliency study of the Northeast corridor. Now I invite you to participate in a public information session with the Army Corps, so that you can understand the suggested plans, and share your comments with the Corps,” said Deutsch.
Deutsch said current projects being done to mitigate possible flooding include using a variety of different structures as well as devices such as flood gates.
The informational session is slated for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5 at Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd. in Manhattan Beach.
Alabi Victory Celebration Tonight
Olanike Alabi, the popular female Democratic district leader of the 57th Assembly District, will hold a victory celebration in the recent primary tonight.
