Adams, Local Pols Renew Call For Brooklyn’s First Burn Unit
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams today will join a number of his state elected colleagues, including State Senators Jesse Hamilton and Kevin Parker as well as Assembly Member Latrice Walker, and Brownsville residents to renew their urgent call for building Brooklyn’s first burn unit.
The lawamkers will speak in the community center of Howard Houses, a public housing development that suffered a horrific fire on Wednesday, claiming the life of one-year-old Ivan Baez and causing injuries to six others, including smoke inhalation that would have been treatable at a burn unit.
Noting that Brooklyn had 8,518 structural fires last year — 31 percent of the citywide total — Adams and others will speak to the need for this health care investment in order to save Brooklynites’ lives when time is a critical factor.
Borough President Adams first called for a burn unit in Brooklyn in March of 2015, following the devastating deaths of seven siblings in a Midwood house fire; in that case, the mother and her lone surviving daughter were treated at two different hospitals in two different boroughs.
The press conference to call for a burn center is slated for 11:30 a.m., today, Dec. 16 at the Howard Houses Community Center, 90 Watkins Street in Brownsville.
Dilan Tours 3D Printing Facility
New York State Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (Bushwick, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Cypress Hills, East New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville) yesterday joined New York State Lieutenant Governor Katherine Hochul during a site visit at Voodoo Manufacturing, a custom-order, high-volume 3D printing facility and recipient of $200,000 in Excelsior tax credits to fund a 2017 planned expansion.
Founded in 2015, Voodoo Manufacturing Inc. currently employs 11 workers and has partnered with more than 225 companies on projects ranging from marketing and promotional materials to highly-functional end-use parts out of its Williamsburg facility. Most recently is has partnered with Lowe’s Stores to provide customers with on-site scanning of parts in need of replacement or duplication.
“Voodoo Manufacturing is living proof that good ideas and hard work lead to success, and there is no shortage of either in Brooklyn. With their planned expansion next year, Voodoo will be creating dozens of good paying jobs and more than 100 indirectly. I commend Governor Cuomo and Lt. Governor Hochul for committing the necessary resources to ensure that this homegrown company can continue on its path to success,” said Dilan.
Voodoo Manufacturing Inc. received the Excelsior tax credits to mitigate the costs of additional hiring, new equipment and factory expansion, and the continued intellectual and product development as part of a $2.5 million expansion expected to be completed in 2017.
Treyger Hosts Winter Coat Drive, Free Ice Skating
City Council Member Mark Treyger (Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) on Sunday will hold a winter coat drive to collect winter coats for those in need.
The drive is slated for between 1-4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1618 Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island. For more information call Treyger’s office at 718-373-9673.
Treyger, in cooperation with Congressmember Hakeem Jeffires, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, State Sen. Diane Savino and Assembly Member Pamela Harris, will also hold two days of free family ice skaing.
The free ice skaing is slated for between 9-11 a.m., Dec. 28 and 29, at the Abe Stark Ice Skaing Rink, 1902 West 19th Street in Coney Island.
Clarke Hails Expanded Brownsville Post Office Hours
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, Park Slope, Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, Windsor Terrace) yesterday hailed the announcement of expanded service hours and additional staff involvement at the Brownsville Post Office, after customers recently complained about delays in picking up packages and accessing other services.
The post office has been open seven days each week since November 20, staying open for two more hours on Saturday (closing at 3 p.m. instead of 1 p.m.) and additional staff members are also providing service as available. The nearby Martin Luther King Post Office has extended Saturday hours as well (closing at 3 p.m. instead of 1 p.m.).
“I want to thank the people of the Brownsville community for notifying me about the problems that have occurred at the Brownsville Post Office. The delivery of mail has been a critical function of the federal government from the very start. Today, even in world with iPhones and tablet computers, the American people depend on mail delivery to conduct business, contact their government, and keep in contact with family members and friends, especially in the holiday season,” said Clarke.
“For families without access to broadband internet service and older adults, the postal service remains a vital necessity. I am hopeful that, by expanding its hours of operation and deploying additional staff members to provide service, the Brownsville Post Office will provide each of its customers with an excellent experience. If any issues persist, I encourage you to contact me, and we will work with you to resolve any problems as quickly as possible. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season!”
Williams Hails Hudde Middle School Designation
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, MIdwood) applauded the Department of Education’s decision to name Andries Hudde Junior High School, 2500 Nostrand Avenue, in Midwood as a magnet school.
Under the DOE’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program, Hudde will receive funding to specialize in science, technology, engineering and math.
“There are a plethora of benefits for magnet schools,” said Williams. “Students benefit from learning from a specialized teaching staff that in turn yield improved academic achievement, higher graduation rates, and increased parent engagement. I look forward to seeing the impact this designation has on the students and the school.”
The school last year was the focus of much debate after Success Aacademy Charter Schools wanted to co-locate one of its charter schools there as the budiling was underutrilized. Williams fought the co-location. At post time, it is unknown if the magnet designation will fill the hundreds of empty seats.
In addition to Hudde, the DOE has also awarded funding under the Magnet Schools Assistance Program to East Flatbush’s P.S. 198 and Flatbush / Ditmas Park’s P.S. 245. The grant, which totals $11.5 million, covers five southern Brooklyn schools in Community School District 21 and Community School District 22.
The Magnet Schools Assistance program provides grants to establish magnet schools that assist in the desegregation of public schools and deliver innovative, theme-based curriculum.
Gonzalez Holds Immigration Forum
Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the District Attorney’s Office tomorrow will hold an immigration forum to inform Brooklyn’s communities about the tools and resources available to protect against fraudulent schemes and bias-motivated crimes. Legal assistance and immigrant affairs groups will be on site to provide assistance.
“Amid a rise in reported hate crimes across New York City, it is important that Brooklyn’s more vulnerable communities feel protected against those that target victims based on hate or seek to exploit these populations for profit. Our Immigration Forum will provide immigrants, regardless of immigration status, with essential information needed to protect themselves,” said Gonzalez.
The forum will include representatives of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, New York Legal Assistance Group, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and others for panel discussions on issues regarding immigration fraud, real estate fraud and hate crimes. The forum will also include a question and answer session along with community resource tables where community-based organizations will be on hand with additional information on housing assistance, U.S. citizenship applications and more.
The forum is slated for 10 a.m. to 12 noon, tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Avenue, in Crown Heights. Admission is free and all are welcome, regardless of immigration status.
