Adams Launches Operation C.A.R.E.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Ama Dwimoh, founder and former chief of the Crimes Against Children Bureau in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, today will launch Operation C.A.R.E. (Child Abuse Response and Engagement), an aggressive multilingual outreach campaign to educate and empower residents across Brooklyn on identifying the signs of child abuse in their communities.
The announcement comes days after three-year-old Jaden Jordan of Gravesend was found not breathing, badly beaten, and covered in feces. The child suffered a severe brain injury and is currently in a coma at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia.
In response to this tragedy, and similarly horrific abuse suffered by children such as six-year-old Zymere Perkins of Harlem, Adams will stand with advocates of child abuse survivors, including representatives of Safe Horizon and Social Services Employees Union (SSEU) Local 371, as they outline the imperative of engaging every New Yorker in guarding the welfare of children.
The launch is slated for 11 a.m., today, Dec. 2 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Gillibrand Statement On Nomination Of Mattis As Defense Secretary
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel, yesterday issued the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he will nominate General James Mattis as Defense Secretary:
“While I deeply respect General Mattis’s service, I will oppose a waiver. Civilian control of our military is a fundamental principle of American democracy, and I will not vote for an exception to this rule.”
If the Senate confirms Mattis, he would be the first former ranking general to assume the post of defense secretary since George Marshall in 1950-51. He would need a special congressional waiver to serve as defense secretary. He retired from the Marines in 2013, and federal law stipulates that the Pentagon chief be out of uniform for seven years.
Treyger, City Council Brooklyn Delegation Secures More Funding For Food Pantries
City Council Member Mark Treyger (Coney Island, Bensonhurst) announced yesterday that after the Brooklyn Delegation, which Treyger co-chairs with Council Member Darlene Mealy (Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, East Flatbush), pushed for an increase in funding to New York City food pantries.
The City Council has allocated $4,000,000 to food pantries in Fiscal Year 2017, more than doubling the total allocated in 2016 ($1,932,000).
The increase allows each member of the Council to allocate more funds to food pantries in and around their respective districts. It also comes at a time when many of New York City’s food pantries are underfunded and have found it challenging to maintain a sufficient food supply. According to a recent report from Food Bank NYC, 49% of the city’s food pantries reported completely running out of food supply this past September.
“This is a strong response to a direct need,” said Treyger. “Our city’s food pantries provide invaluable assistance to New York’s most vulnerable populations, particularly during the holiday season. Yet recent reports have delineated the struggles our city’s food pantries are facing. I am proud that the Brooklyn Delegation has been able to successfully advocate for the Council to provide more than twice as much food pantry funding as it did in 2016.”
Treyger has allocated funding to five local food pantries for Fiscal Year 2017:
| Food Pantry | Location | Amount Allocated |
| Reaching Out Community Services | 7708 New Utrecht Avenue | $30,0049%0 |
| ACTS Community Development Corporation | 2114 Mermaid Avenue | $20,000 |
| SBH Community Service Network | 425 Kings Highway | $12,000 |
| Salt and Sea Mission Church | 2417 Stillwell Avenue | $6,242 |
| Our Lady of Grace Parish | 2322 East 4th Street | $6,242 |
Espinal, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Host Cypress Hills Holiday Lighting
City Council Member Rafael Espinal (Cypress Hills, Bushwick, City Line, Oceanhill-Brownsville, East New York), the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and community members this evening will for the first time ever receive holiday lighting for the business corridor of the Cypress Hills community.
The talented youth of IS 171 and PS 65 will perform, among other festivities at the official lighting ceremony, which includes the neighborhood at Fulton Street and Hale Avenue. State Sen. Marty Dilan and Assemblyman Erik Dilan will also join in on the celebration.
The event is slated for 4 p.m., today, Dec. 2, at the intersection of Cleveland and Fulton streets in Cypress Hills.
Hikind’s ‘Save Ocean Parkway’ Rally To Include Bevy Of Elected Officials
Assemblyman Dov Hikind‘s (Boro Park) “Save Ocean Parkway” rally on Sunday is getting bigger with a number of elected officials joining in.
Among these officials are NYC Public Advocate Tish James, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Councilmembers Mark Treyger, Chaim Deutsch and David Greenfield, Assemblyman-elect Robert Carroll.
The rally is an effort to prevent disastrous traffic changes from being implemented along Ocean Parkway. The changes include eliminating right turns from Ocean Parkway onto Avenues J, P and Kings Highway, as well as eliminating left turns on other avenues. Motorists will instead be forced down service roads in order to make a right at the intersection, creating havoc, frustration and confusion along the major thoroughfare. If implemented, the traffic changes could pose a major threat to the safety of hundreds of motorists, children and senior citizens who live adjacent to Ocean Parkway.
The rally is slated for 11:15 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Corner of Avenue J and Ocean Parkway.
Hamilton Welcomes Dr. Sampson Davis To The Campus
State Senator Jesse Hamilton (Crown Heights, Brownsville, Park Slope, Sunset Park) on Monday will welcome Dr. Sampson Davis, Emergency Room Physician and best-selling author of “The Pact,” to the Campus Mentorship Program in Brownsville.
Hamilton founded the Campus Mentorship Program, which welcomes a variety of professionals, leaders, and educators to share their experiences with Brownsville students. Overall, the effort aims to promote pathways to success for young people, connecting them with role models, experience, and education opportunities to help them achieve their ambitions. It comprises one initiative in The Campus, the first technology and wellness hub at a public housing site in the United States, founded in partnership with more than 50 community based organizations.
Davis grew up in crime-plagued Newark, New Jersey, the fifth of six kids and went on, with two friends to become a physician.
The Campus Monthly Mentorship Day is slated for 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5 at P.S. 298/BCMS, 85 Watkins Street, in Brownsville. Click here to RSVP.
Cymbrowitz Hails Signing of Bill Mandating Elder Abuse Public Education Campaign
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) yesterday commended Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signing of legislation he sponsored (A.9143-A) that will require the State Office for the Aging, in consultation with the Office of Children and Family Services, to conduct a public education campaign to raise awareness about elder abuse.
According to a comprehensive study done by the senior advocacy organization LiveOn NY, about 260,000 older adults each year are the victims of some form of elder abuse, and this number is rising. Only one out of 24 of overall cases are reported to law enforcement, Adult Protective Services, medical or social services. Only 1 out of 44 financial abuse cases are reported, according to the study.
“There are many reasons why 85 percent of all elder abuse incidents fail to be reported to to the authorities,” said Cymbrowitz, who chairs the Aging Committee. “While many people are aware of the problem, they may not know how to recognize the signs of elder abuse, especially when it manifests itself as financial exploitation and the physical signs are not there.”
“Additionally, many of those who want to report suspected elder abuse do not know where to turn, and many seniors who feel they have been victimized may fear what will happen to them after an investigation is made,” he said.
In an estimated 60 percent of elder abuse cases, the perpetrator is an adult child or relative of the victim. Almost half of victims have a physical impairment and one-third have cognitive impairment or dementia.
Cymbrowitz’ legislation calls for a multi-media public education campaign that will provide information on the signs and symptoms of elder abuse, where people can report suspected elder abuse, and contact information for relevant programs and services.
Senator Sue Serino (R-Hyde Park) was the Senate sponsor.
