Donovan On Berlin Holiday Attack
Congressman Dan Donovan (South Brooklyn, Staten Island) yesterday condemned the terrorist attack two days ago in Berlin, at which a truck plowed into a shoppers and vendors at a popular outdoor Christmas market leaving 11 dead and scores injured, including several critically.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by yesterday’s terror attack in Berlin and the people of Germany. This attack reminds us of the threats faced by citizens around the world and emphasizes the importance of combatting radical terror. Today, we stand in solidarity with Germany and pledge to further our commitment to defending freedom and democracy,” said Donovan.
German authorities are still investigating the incident and the perpetrator(s) remain at large.
Weinstein, Maisel Lobby For Ave P Traffic Controls
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein (Flatbush, Flatlands, Sheepshead Bay) and City Councilman Alan Maisel (Canarsie, Flatlands, Mill Basin, Georgetown) are urging the NYC Department of Transportation to hear the pleas of local residents calling for the installation of traffic controls along Avenue P between East 36th Street and Flatbush Avenue.
The push for an expedited fix comes after a young boy, waiting for his school bus, was hit by a truck at Ryder Avenue, leaving him with a fractured skull and a ruptured spleen.
Weinstein recently arranged for DOT Deputy Borough Commissioner Claudette Workman to visit the site, and reiterated the need to prevent another tragedy or fatality. Workman, who was filming vehicles as they sped well over double the legal 25 miles per hour speed limit, wholeheartedly agreed there are grounds for intervention, which may include the installation of speed bumps, day-lighting on selected corners, all-way stop signs, and at least one traffic light along the corridor.
Joining the lawmakers and Workman for the onsite visit were Yosef Segal, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Council of Marine Park, and Nachman Mostofsky – a local resident behind an online petition that garnered over 1000 signatures in just a few days.
Weinstein thanked the DOT for their renewed attention and concern, despite a study conducted this Spring, which denied requests for traffic controls at the location.
Williams Hosts Annual Senior Holiday Luncheon
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) and his staff last week hosted about 200 seniors from the Midwood Senior Center, Phillip Howard, Glenwood Senior Center, St. Augustine’s and Clarendon Road Senior Center for his 5th Senior Holiday Luncheon at the Tropical Paradise Ballroom in East Flatbush.
The annual holiday event was organized in partnership with the Flatbush Development Corporation and the Brooklyn Arts Council. Attendees enjoyed performances by I.E.T Band, Council Member Williams Holiday Choir, and the Ebenezer Missionary Prep School Choir and Dancers.
“I look forward to our senior holiday luncheon every year,” Williams said. “The luncheon gives me an opportunity to interact with the elders in our community and show them the appreciation we have for them.”
“It is important and rewarding to celebrate the holidays with the community’s seniors. They are the cornerstone of our communities and one of the more engaged groups in the community, and deserve the same attention they give to their community on a daily basis.”
Lander Touts Proposed Fast Food Worker Legislation
City Council Member Brad Lander (Park Slope Windsor Terrace, Kensington) yesterday touted a legislative package he is spearheading that would help fast-food and other lower-wage workers in the city win advance notice, stable schedules, a pathway to full-time hours and the right to request schedule flexibility, and a new way to work together.
“Without a stable work schedule, who can build a stable life, pay the rent, arrange child care, or go to school? Much less buy new clothes for the kids, or go on a real vacation,” said Lander in his newsletter before departing on his own holiday vacation.
Lander said the package of legislation introduced this month would provide fast-food workers with advance notice of their schedules and ban “clopenings” (i.e. when workers are asked to close a business location at night and then return first thing in the morning to reopen the same business). It would offer a pathway to full-time work, by requiring employers to offer shifts to current part-time employees, before bringing on new ones.
The legislation would also protect other retail workers (outside of fast-food) from abusive “on-call” scheduling, in which they are forced to wait by the phone to see whether they are working or not, and don’t get paid at all if they aren’t called. Finally, it would provide all NYC workers with the right to request schedule flexibility from their employers, to address caregiving, school, and other needs (without fear of retaliation, and with a fair process to consider the request).
Deutsch Announces Holiday Sanitation, Parking Schedules
City Council Member Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) is reminding constituents that the Department of Sanitation will be performing extra trash and recycling pickups on the next two Tuesdays (December 27 and January 3), for those who usually receive pickups on Mondays.
In particular, recycling tends to accumulate when there are holidays two weeks in a row, such as we have for the next two Mondays (December 26 and January 2).
“If you are normally on a Monday schedule, you can put trash and recycling out on Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2 after 4 p.m. to be picked up,” he said.
“Also, I’d like to remind you that alternate side parking is suspended and parking meters will not be in effect on Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2.
“For further information please don’t hesitate to contact my district office at 718-368-9176.”
