Adams Addresses At-Risk Youth & NYPD Mentors
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams today unveil more than half a million dollars in new investments from Brooklyn Borough Hall’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget to advance public safety and community-police relations in the borough.
Adams will make the announcement at the 90th Police Precinct Station House in Williamsburg, home to an innovative partnership that offers an alternative to suspension for local students facing school disciplinary action through mentorship and tutoring from police officers. The program, called NYC Together, is receiving funding from Adams to outfit a multimedia learning center for use inside the precinct.
Borough President Adams, a 22-year veteran of the NYPD, will also highlight his continued investment in safeguarding neighborhoods across Brooklyn from crime, highlighting partnerships to expand security camera deployment and enhance building safety measures at several sites in the borough.
The unveiling of the initiative is slated for 3:30 p.m., today, Nov. 1 at the 90th Police Precinct, 211 Union Avenue in Williamsburg.
Schumer, Gillibrand Pressure DHS To Prioritize National Flood Insurance Program
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (IG) to prioritize and provide a timeline for completing an investigation into mismanagement, failures in oversight, and potential fraud in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) immediately after Superstorm Sandy.
In the aftermath of Sandy, thousands of New York homeowners were underpaid on their flood claims, potentially as the result of a fraudulent scheme to intentionally underpay policyholders by altering engineering reports.
Despite referrals of concerning activity and the 2014 launch of an investigation, the DHS IG has given no indication as to the status of the investigation or the potential conclusions that the IG may make with regard to the allegations of fraud and other concerning activity.
“We request, as soon as possible, assurances in writing from you that this investigation is being prioritized,” the two lawmakers wrote in a letter to DHS Inspector General John Roth. “We also request a timeline of when you anticipate that your investigation will be completed and a report will be issued. Our constituents deserve to know that an investigation is moving forward and that there will be accountability for those who were involved with carrying out or enabling the intentional underpayment of flood insurance claims and the mismanagement of the National Flood Insurance Program claims process more broadly. We simply cannot allow these victims who have already been through so much to once again have a claims process fail to provide the protection and compensation they deserve.”
Greenfield Bill Would Ban Use of Plywood to Secure Vacant Buildings
City Councilman David Greenfield (Borough Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst) yesterday introduced legislation that would ban the use of plywood to secure vacant or abandoned buildings.
The purpose of Greenfield’s bill, Intro. 1266, is to stem blight, prevent crime, and promote safety in our city’s neighborhoods.
“The use of plywood to secure vacant or abandoned buildings is downright spooky,” Greenfield said. “Not only is it unsightly and creepy, it can also conceal unsafe conditions. From squatters, to potential fire hazards, plywood inhibits the ability of police and other officials to identify and address problems quickly.”
Greenfield said in place of plywood transparent polycarbonate boarding could be used to secure these buildings. This would have the effect of making vacant buildings look more like ordinary buildings in the neighborhood, reducing blight. It would also allow for police, inspectors, and others to see inside the buildings, making it easier to avoid some of the more common problems that tend to arise around vacant and abandoned buildings, he said.
Deutsch Bill Would Help First Responders Get Around Quicker
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) is proposing legislation that would mandate the City’s Department of Transportation to notify emergency providers in advance of roadway milling and paving work it is scheduling.
The measure will give these first responders prior notice of traffic diversions, ensuring that they are not held up because of an unanticipated closure, Deutsch said.
Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, DOT crews are dispatched throughout the City to resurface roads. Closures can have a serious impact on daytime traffic and last for several weeks. For ambulance drivers, police officers, and firefighters, every second counts when they are responding to an emergency, he said.
Deutsch is also in the process of drafting a bill in the New York City Council that would require the suspension of alternate side parking within a five block radius of street repaving. Parking spots are already extremely limited in Brooklyn, and construction reduces that availability further.
“During the summer months, many streets in my district were repaved, making smoother, safer roads for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists,” said Deutsch. “While this important work is being done, it’s also imperative that the critical job of emergency responders is not impaired. My bill will ensure that the FDNY and the NYPD are provided the information that they need in order to plan ahead when traffic conditions are altered temporarily in their community. Lives depend on these first responders having a better notification process.”
Williams Committee Hears Gentile’s Illegal Conversion Bill
City Council Member Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), chair of the Committee on Housing and Committees, yesterday held a committee hearing to discuss five bills addressing a number of housing issues that negatively impact thousands of New Yorkers.
Among these bills is Int. No. 1218,, that Council Member Vincent J. Gentile (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) sponsored that would increase the minimum civil penalty for immediately hazardous illegal conversions, which involve the conversion, maintenance or occupancy of three or more dwelling units than are legally authorized, from $2,400 to $15,000.
It would also make such conversions a basis for a vacate order, and make such civil penalties, when unpaid, eligible for lien sale. For immediately hazardous violations, a civil penalty of no less than $1,000 nor more than $25,000 may be imposed for each violation.
In addition to the civil penalty, a separate additional penalty may be imposed of no more than $1,000 for each day that the violation is not corrected. For major violations, a civil penalty of no more than $10,000 may be imposed for each violation. In addition to such civil penalty, a separate additional penalty may be imposed of no more than $250 for each month that the violation is not corrected.
For lesser violations, a civil penalty of no more than $500 may be imposed for each violation.
“This is a bill that the Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Chairman Jumaane Williams and I have worked on for nearly two years, since the fatal fire of an illegally converted building in the Flatbush section of Council Member Williams’ district. I thank Borough President Adams and his staff and Chair Williams and his staff for working with me and my staff to construct and draft a meaningful and tough bill that aims directly at the most egregious conversions,” said Gentile. ” New York City may be called the ‘big apple’ but it must not tolerate the ‘bad apples’ who convert residential homes in the most egregious fashion. We must set a precedent that substandard housing is not affordable housing and we can do that here with Intro. 1218.”
Adams To Address TJ Club
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will be the guest speaker at the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club regular meeting this Thursday.
The powerful club is the home club of Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio. Additionally, the club is holding its’ annual dinner at 6 p.m., this Sunday, Nov. 6 at the El Caribe Country Club in Mill Basin. Those wishing to purchase a ticket or place an ad in the club’s journal for the dinner please contact Debbie Malone at tjdinner08@aol.com. The deadline is today at noon.
Adams will address the club at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, 77 Conklin Avenue in Canarsie.
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP Obtain $12.085 Million Settlement (Sponsored)
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin attorney Kathleen Kettles recently obtained a court order approving the settlement of $12,085,000.
This is a case involving the failure to timely deliver an infant to a first-time mother and resulting in severe brain damage to the child who is now six-years-old. This child cannot speak, walk or talk and must be tube fed. Her parents are completely devoted, but their day to day existence is filled with dealing doctor’s appointments, emergency visits, outside therapies and managing or providing her child’s need for extensive nursing services.
“I am truly in awe of this family and despite the heartache of having a child this disabled, it has been a joy to work for them. This settlement will lessen the burden on this incredible family,” said Kettles, who heads the firm’s Medical Malpractice team. Though a practicing attorney for almost 28 years, she was an RN for ten years prior to going to law school.
During the litigation, Kathy worked extensively with well known, respected experts in the fields of obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, neonatology, pediatric neurology, pediatric neuroradiology and a life care planner to prepare the case for trial. It is this attention to detail which results in an extremely favorable settlement for her clients.
“When I was a nurse, I often felt powerless to really help my patients, but as a nurse attorney, I get to help secure a child’s future and there is no greater feeling of satisfaction,” she said.
The law firm of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP is one of the city’s top accident and medical malpractice firms in the city and is there to represent you. To get a free consultation click Here.
