Cuomo, Gillibrand On Trump’s Election
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said yesterday while he is disappointed Hillary Clinton didn’t win the presidency, he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump in a phone call and sees some positives in working with him.
“I think Donald Trump being from New York is a bonus not just for this state, but for other states also. You know, one of the situations you normally see with the republican administration, or you have seen – when my father used to battle President Reagan, Reaganomics when he was governor, there was an insensitivity to urban areas and the Northeast,” said Cuomo, speaking to a NY1 Reporter.
“Donald Trump won’t have that. He understands some Queens, he knows New York, he knows the challenges, so he’ll bring in an orientation. Now, we have to see how that translates, right? We have federal programs that are very important to New York. The housing, affordable housing programs – I was the former HUD secretary. The housing obligation, the affordable housing, has historically been a federal obligation. What are they going to do with that? Healthcare – not just Obamacare, but Medicaid, which is the lifeblood in this state. What is the federal orientation going to be towards those programs? So, the devil is in the details in the governance. But with President Elect Trump today, I had a very good conversation about building an infrastructure. We use a method called, design build, I’m using. We’re doing a lot of construction in New York. Queens Tunnel, Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, new LaGuardia Airport, new Tappan Zee Bridge, and we were talking about the need for infrastructure. The need to get it done differently, so that it’s actually on time, on budget. You know, Mr. Trump is very much a private sector builder. I’ve built in the private sector also. So, he has a natural orientation toward the needs of this type of urban area. I think that’s a good thing,” he added.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday issued the following statement on the results of the presidential election:
“Obviously, I was deeply heartbroken by the results last night. Hillary Clinton has been a friend, mentor and inspiration to me my entire adult life,” said Gillibrand. ““We are fortunate to live in the greatest Democracy on earth that is built upon important checks and balances. I stand ready to work cooperatively with President-Elect Trump on shared goals and values and will be equally vigilant in opposing him where our values diverge.“I am committed to serving others, making a difference, and helping to heal our great country.”
Clarke Critical Of Obama Administration Over Haitian Deportees
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (Crown Heights, Flatbush, Sheepshead Bay) released the following critical statement yesterday on the resumed deportation of Haitian nationals from the United States:
“Earlier today, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that removal proceedings have resumed for Haitian nationals in the United States who lack Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The majority of the people DHS intends to remove have not been accused of any crime.
“These deportations will return thousands of Haitians to a country that continues to struggle with the devastation of Hurricane Matthew and the recent outbreak of cholera that was introduced by international aid workers responding to the 2010 earthquake. In this period of turmoil, the forced removal of Haitian nationals will only exacerbate the difficulties of rebuilding Haiti and deny families access to remittances from relatives in the United States. I am deeply saddened that these deportations have resumed, and I call on President Obama and his administration to end this policy immediately.”
The statement follows a Nov. 2 letter that Clarke and 13 colleagues sent Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson urging him to suspend the removal of Haitian nationals who have not been convicted of a serious crime or otherwise present a threat to national security.
Gentile Cuts Ribbon On Newly Completed Dyker Heights Playground
City Council Member Vincent Gentile (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) today will join Parks Department officials, the family of Patrick O’Rourke and local community members to cut the ribbon on a complete transformation of Patrick O’Rourke Playground.
Gentile succeeded in getting $1 million in capital funding for the reconstructed playground, which offers many new amenities, including updated play equipment and community gathering areas. A new water play area and drinking fountains have been installed, in addition to new picnic tables, benches and a renovated flagpole. And not only has the much-beloved bear statue been restored, but she is now accompanied by a brand new baby bear cub. New trees, flowering shrubs and landscaping complete the transformation of this beautiful community space.
The playground was first constructed in 1956, but had not received any renovations since the 1990s. In 2003, the site was renamed for a local boy, Patrick O’Rourke, who suffered a tragic accident while hospitalized at the age of eight and passed away some 20 years later after touching the lives of many.
His family, originally from this Dyker Heights neighborhood, turned the tragedy into progress by successfully lobbying and making mandatory laws and procedures that protect thousands of patients in hospitals and medical establishments across the country.
The ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for 3:30 p.m., today, Nov. 10 at the Patrick O’Rourke Playground, 81st Street between 11th & 12th Avenues in Dyker Heights.
Jumaane Williams Has Busy Day In District
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) today will have a busy day in his district starting with hosting the unveiling of the new netball courts at Harry Maze Playground in East Flatbush.
Representatives from Assembly Member Helene Weinstein‘s office, Parks Department Officials, students from Nazareth Regional High School, situated across the street from the playground, and members of the Caribbean American Netball Association will join Williams in the event.
Williams succeeded in getting the $1.4 million capital project funded in his continuing effort to improve parks and playgrounds in the community. Netball is played by two teams of seven players, and is primarily played by women, although there are men’s team that exist. The game is similar to basketball and is popular in British commonwealth countries such as Jamaica, Australia, and New Zealand.
The old asphalt field was completely repaved and drainage conditions corrected. The new multi-purpose athletic field has new color seal coating and lines that can accommodate softball, flag football, and has 3 brand new netball courts. A new walking track surrounds the field and a new outdoor fitness area provides state of the art exercise equipment for year round use to get in shape and there is no membership fee. Painted games that show world, country and local maps are featured on the new surface for reference by kids and adults alike. The project also included new pavement, color seal coat and lines for the basketball courts.
The ribbon cutting ceremony is slated for 11 a.m., today, Nov. 10 at the Harry Maze Playground, East 57 Street and Avenue D in East Flatbush.
Then this evening, Williams will sponsor the Business Corridor Forum with HABNET Chamber of Commerce, the Flatbush Nostrand Junction BID, and Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
During the forum, interested members of the public will be able to speak to representatives from:
- Department of Consumer Affairs
- Department of Small Business Services
- Department of City Administrative Services
- Department of Finance
- Department of Sanitation
- Fire Department
- New York Police Department
- Department of Economic Development
- Department of Health
- Department of Buildings
- Con Edison
Attendees will have the opportunity to address issues related to settling taxes, fines and any issues involving the agencies listed above.
The forum is slated for between 6-8:30 p.m., t0night, Nov. 10 at the Flatbush YMCA, 1401 Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush. For more information or to RSVP call 718-360-5971 or email info@habnet.com.
Squadron Holds Brooklyn Community Town Hall
State Senator Daniel Squadron (Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan) tonight will host a Brooklyn Community Town Hall.
The town hall is the first of two follow-up events to Squadron’s annual Community Convention, held this past April. Squadron’s Town Hall will provide an open forum for issues broad and local, including parks and open space, healthcare, development, and buses and subways.
The town hall is slated for 6 p.m., tonight, Nov. 10 at the Brooklyn Law School Student Lounge, 250 Joralemon Street, between Court Street and Boerum Place.
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.
