Levin, Williams Hold On Site Joint Hearing Regarding Supportive Housing
City Council Members Stephen Levin (Northern Brooklyn), Chair of the General Welfare Committee, and Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), Chair of the Housing & Buildings Committee, today will hold an on site joint hearing at a supportive housing facility in Downtown Brooklyn to examine the City’s plans for an additional 15,000 units of supportive housing.
Supportive housing is a form of affordable housing that offers homeless residents access to on-site support – including primary care, psychiatric care, and overall holistic care – to help them overcome the challenges that left them homeless.
Specifically, the lawmakers and their committees will look at the recent announcement from the Mayor’s Supportive Housing Task Force, which was established to plan for the 15,000 units of supportive housing. The Committees will also consider the status of the State and City coming together for a NY/NY IV agreement.
The Chairs chose to host the hearing at The Schermerhorn, 160 Schermerhorn Street to highlight that supportive housing is a highly effective model with many community benefits. In addition to representatives of the administration, non-profit providers, residents, advocates, and community members are expected to testify.
Advocates and experts assert that permanent, supportive housing is one of the best practices for housing chronically homeless individuals, particularly those with mental health and substance abuse issues. Much of the existing supportive housing in New York City has been developed through a series of joint collaborations between New York State and City known as the NY/NY agreements. There are currently more than 50,000 units of supportive housing in New York, and that number continues to grow.
The hearing is slated for 10 a.m., today Jan. 19 at The Schermerhorn, 160 Schermerhorn Street, in Downtown Brooklyn.
Gonzalez Hauls In Nearly $1 million For DA Election Campaign
As first reported in KCP, interim District Attorney Eric Gonzalez yesterday reported raising a little more than $862,000 in the first filing for this year’s Kings County District Attorney race.
The money includes nearly $800,000 of cash on hand after expenses. Among the notable contributions include several from large unions including $10,000 from the Sheet Metal Workers Local 28 and $15,000 from the NYS Court Officers union.
Gonzalez was appointed district attorney by the late District Attorney Ken Thompson last October when he took a leave of absence just days before he died. Others who either announced they are running for DA or are expected to include Bay Ridge City Councilman Vincent Gentile, Patricia Gatling, Anne Swern, Ama Dwimoh and Marc Fliedner.
Treyger Delivers Increased Cleaning Services along Commercial Corridors
City Council Member Mark Treyger (Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend) announced yesterday hat he had allocated $153,000 to provide expanded cleaning along six stretches of the busiest thoroughfares in his district.
In his role as co-chairperson of the City Council’s Brooklyn Delegation, Treyger made the cleanliness of our city’s streets a major priority this year, successfully pushing to increase the amount of money each Council Member can allocate through the Cleanup NYC initiative in Fiscal Year 2017. As a result of Treyger’s advocacy, each Council Member’s budget for Cleanup NYC projects has increased by approximately $50,000.
Treyger allocated funding for cleaning to take place four days a week along the following commercial corridors in his 47th City Council District: 86th Street, from 18th Avenue to 26th Avenue; 18th Avenue, from 68th Street to 86th Street; Kings Highway, from McDonald Avenue to Ocean Parkway; Avenue U, from Stillwell Avenue to Ocean Parkway; Avenue X, from Stillwell Avenue to Ocean Parkway; Mermaid Avenue, from Stillwell Avenue to West 31st Street
“Ensuring that our community’s commercial corridors are clean, inviting places for residents and local business owners alike is a major priority,” said Treyger. “Keeping these streets clean is integral for our local economy to thrive. Our residents shouldn’t have to navigate their way around refuse while trying to conduct their shopping or business, and our small business owners who have invested their time, energy, and savings into their enterprises should not have to lose business because the sidewalks outside are filthy. These streets may be busy, but that is no reason they shouldn’t also be clean. I am proud to provide these cleaning services as part of the City Council’s outstanding Cleanup NYC initiative.”
In addition, constituents can contact Treyger’s district office at (718) 307-7151 for assistance with electronic waste removal. Constituents are also encouraged to call Treyger’s office and report unsightly graffiti or sidewalks in need of power washing.
Cornegy Brings De Blasio To Bed-Stuy
City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy Jr. (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) will moderate a town hall meeting New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio next week in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“Although the mayor has visited Bedford-Stuyvesant with me in the past, this will be his first town hall meeting with us. District 36 constituents and other stakeholders have many concerns. On Wednesday, residents and business owners will have the mayor’s full attention to express their opinions and discuss important issues. I look forward to the mayor providing answers along with his plans to further assist the vibrant Bedford-Stuyvesant community,” said Cornegy.
The town hall meeting is hosted by Cornegy, Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery and State Assembly Member Tremaine S. Wright. Community Board 3, Restoration Plaza and the Bridge Street Development Corporation are co-sponsoring the event.
The Town Hall is slated for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25 at P.S. 23 Carter G. Woodson, 545 Willoughby Avenue. Space for the town hall meeting is limited. RSVP is required by 5 p.m., Monday, January 23 to TownHallRSVP@cityhall.nyc.gov or by calling (212) 788-1369.
Schumer, Gillibrand get Fed Money For The MTA
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday announced $1,568,483 in federal funding for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Safety Research & Demonstration Program. Specifically, the MTA will receive funding for two projects focused on improving visibility of transit bus operators and for improving safety through train detection and worker warning systems.
“These federal funds, made possible through the FAST Act, which we worked so hard to pass, will help make New York’s transportation systems safer for passengers, pedestrians and workers,” said Schumer. “I am pleased that the Department of Transportation is providing these funds to the MTA—North America’s largest transportation network—and using monies we secured in Congress towards smart upgrades to our transit systems.”
“This critical federal funding for the MTA will help strengthen our transportation infrastructure,” said Gillibrand. “I will continue to fight for investments like this one which helps enhance safety protocols, safeguarding New York’s transit employees by improving the technology they use to communicate underground and upgrading mechanical designs in buses to better protect pedestrians.”
Cymbrowitz and Colton Fund New Appliances At Marlboro Houses
Assemblymembers Steven Cymbrowitz (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Gravesend) and William Colton (Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) whose districts are bordering each other will announce on Friday the delivery of new stoves and refrigerators for tenants of the Marlboro Houses in Gravesend.
The two lawmakers share representation of Marlboro, a 28-building, 1,765-apartment New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) complex bounded by Avenue V, Avenue X, 86th Street and Stillwell Avenue. NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye will join them in the announcement, which is part of $3 million in improvements that the two lawmakers obtained for the Gravesend housing complex in 2016.
The announcement is slated for 10:45 a.m., tomorrow, Jan. 20 at the Marlboro Senior Center, 2298 W. 8th Street in Gravesend.
Bay Ridge Democrats Announce New Club President Chris McCreight
At their monthly meeting on January 12, 2017, the Bay Ridge Democrats officially announced that Chris McCreight would become new club president. McCreight takes over for Justin Brannan who stepped down from the position he held for six years in order to run for City Council in the 43rd District.
At the meeting McCreight shared his vision for the club, “Bay Ridge is a Democratic neighborhood represented by Republicans. This is not acceptable and will change soon. And because Democrats will soon represent all of Bay Ridge, we need to make sure they share our values and what makes us Democrats. Moreover, we need to continue to make our local Democratic party open to all regardless of age, race, gender, income, zip code, religion or sexual orientation.”
McCreight also praised Justin Brannan’s work as president, “Nobody has worked harder for Bay Ridge than Justin Brannan and that goes for his work as president of the club and his other roles including Sandy recovery and Bay Ridge Cares. I promise to try my hardest to uphold the standards Justin set as the founding president of the Bay Ridge Democrats.”
This is not the first time McCreight has held a position in the club as he was the founding Vice President in 2010. McCreight also has extensive knowledge and experience in Bay Ridge politics having been at the helm of many campaigns in Brooklyn including managing several in Bay Ridge. He was also recently a candidate for Democratic District Leader where he won the Bay Ridge portion of the district with 75% of the vote.
After announcing its new leadership, the Bay Ridge Democrats discussed Congressman Dan Donovan’s motivations for voting to repeal Obamacare, which will result in over 20 million people losing their health care and heard from representatives of the New Kings Democrats who explained some Democratic Party reforms they are proposing.
The club next meets at the Bridgeview Diner on Thursday February 9, 2017.
