Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Dec. 19, 2016

Gillibrand Gets Extended Leave For Service Members

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Friday announced new extensions to parental leave policies for servicemembers were included as part of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate and now heads to the President to be signed into law.

The extensions Gillibrand fought to include in the NDAA for the first time allow adoptive and LGBT parents in the military up to six weeks of parental leave.

“I’m very pleased that the national defense bill includes a provision to ensure all parents have the opportunity to take sufficient leave to care for their new children,” said Gillibrand. “Every parent regardless of gender or sexual orientation, has a right to take the time to care for their families. I fought to make sure this provision got into the final version of the bill because fathers and adoptive parents were given little to no coverage in parental leave. Now our servicemembers can care for their families at the time children need their caregivers most.”

Gillibrand’s provision would grant fathers and adoptive parents up to six weeks of paid parental leave; previously fathers received leave for only 10 days and an adoptive parent would receive leave for 21 days. This would allow the Department of Defense to let households with two servicemembers make the decision as to who would receive either six weeks or three weeks in parental leave, whether they are birth or adoptive parents.

Schumer Wants Recalls For E-Cigarettes

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer yesterday called on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take a hard look at issuing recalls on e-cigarette batteries and devices that have caught fire and exploded, injuring dozens of users. 

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that are designed to resemble traditional cigarettes. E-cigarettes contain a mechanism inside the device that heats up liquid nicotine and turns it into a vapor that smokers then inhale and exhale. According to Wall Street Journal report, dozens of lawsuits have been filed involving exploding e-cigarettes and many of the batteries at issue are manufactured by Chinese companies.

According to the FDA and an Associated Press chronicling from this past week, since 2009 there have been at least 92 exploding e-cigarette incidents. The AP analysis also explained that the numbers are likely undercut simply because many victims are not reporting the incidents. Moreover, according to a New York Times report, approximately 90 percent of  the world’s e-cigarettes are produced in China. Despite these dangers, Schumer said that there have been no product recalls or defective warnings issued on e-cigarette products.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and that seems to be the case–again and again–for many popular e-cigarettes that have injured dozens of people,” said Schumer. “With any other product, serious action would have been taken—and e-cigarettes should be no exception. Despite the explosions, no recalls have been issued. It’s radio silence from both the industry and the feds, so that’s why I’m sounding the alarm. The CPSC and FDA should investigate and determine which e-cigarette batteries and devices are the most volatile, and require a recall to make sure these explosions stop.”

Reports of exploding e-cigarettes have occurred throughout the country, including Brooklyn. Earlier this year, an e-cigarette exploded in the face of a 14-year old Brooklyn boy at a vape shop at Kings Plaza Mall in Mill Basin. According to reports, the boy is now blind in his left eye. Metal  shards from the e-cigarette’s battery penetrated both of his eyes and left a large gash on his hands.

De Blasio Leads Gala Of Pols In Praising Parcel Purchase of Bushwick Inlet Park

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday joined the city Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, Council Member Steven Levin, Borough President Eric Adams, Assembly Member Joseph Lentol, Congress Members Carolyn Maloney and Nydia Velazquez, State Senators Daniel Squadron and Martin Malave Dilan, and Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park to celebrate the City’s acquisition of the final parcel of land in Bushwick Inlet Park.

The $160-million purchase of the 11-acre former CitiStorage site allows the City to realize its vision for a complete, 25.4-acre park.

“Our administration keeps its promises. When we commit to build a new park or a new school in a growing community, we deliver,” said de Blasio. “Today we celebrate – and tomorrow, we look forward to working with all these dedicated local officials, activists and residents as we design and build a Bushwick Inlet Park we can all be proud of.”

The CitiStorage site is one of six parcels that make up Bushwick Inlet Park, the centerpiece of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront. Already, 3.5-acres of the park are complete and open to the public, featuring a multi-purpose field and a building for community activities with a state-of-the-art green roof which doubles as a seating area.

“A completed Bushwick Inlet Park is the gift that will keep on giving. This is a present for our future, a healthier and happier future for the advocates and longtime residents who fought so hard for the open space equity they deserve. I am proud to be part of the winning coalition that made the acquisition of this final piece of the park a reality. Thank you Mayor de Blasio for showing that community-driven and community-focused movements can and do make a difference in our city,” said Adams.

“This is a big deal,” said Levin. “The community has been eagerly anticipating the final step on the path to a completed Bushwick Inlet Park for decades — now the wait is over. Beyond North Brooklyn, communities citywide, especially those undergoing the land use process, will know and appreciate what this precedent might mean for them — when the City makes a promise, it keeps it. I would also like to thank my North Brooklyn elected officials for their tireless dedication and support for this acquisition and the countless community residents who have tirelessly advocated for Bushwick Inlet Park, especially the Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park and the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn. Their steadfast support, undiminished for two decades, galvanized the community in anticipation of this historic agreement.”

“Through the ups and downs, I never doubted that the acquisition of the final parcel to complete Bushwick Inlet Park would happen,” said Lentol. “It was a group effort of persistence and community pressure. While the promise to build this park was made over a decade ago and the completion is a few years out, I know that Bushwick Inlet Park will be the shining star of the 2005 rezoning. I applaud both Norm Brodsky and Mayor Bill de Blasio for making this park a reality.”

“The acquisition of the final parcel of land in Bushwick Inlet Park is an important step forward for Brooklyn and all New Yorkers. It will mean more open space and greater outdoor options for working families throughout our community,” said Velázquez.

“Bushwick Inlet Park was a promise made, and now we are one big step closer to it being a promise kept,” said Squadron. “For over a decade, this community has worked towards a full Bushwick Inlet Park, and this land purchase means we’re on our way to a world class park on the Greenpoint and Williamsburg waterfront — our Harbor Park, a Central Park for the center of our city.”

“I don’t think we could have asked for a better way to close out the year and begin anew. Any open space is a welcomed addition in Brooklyn, but the dedication of advocates who fought long and hard to complete Bushwick Inlet Park has been inspiring. For me, this park will always be a monument to the passion and concerted effort of the community that made it a reality,” said Dilan.

Jaime Williams Brings Early Holiday Surprise To Mill Basin Kids

Assembly Member Jaime Williams (Canarsie, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) las week donated an onslaught of toys and treats to an engaged audience of kindergarteners at the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School in Mill Basin.  

It was difficult to tell if the youngsters were paying attention to the Assembly Members or the toys and gadgets sprawled out before them. In addition to the toys, Williams welcomed the Hebrew Language Academy to the Mill Basin location and donated a glowing globe for the Principal’s office. The parent’s organization continued the festivity by giving out doughnuts and other treats in honor of Hanukah and the holiday season.

The children walked away with an understanding of their community and the importance of elected officials and of course a toy of their choice. They were greatly appreciative and expressed their appreciation with a multitude of thank you cards.