Adams, Brewer Ask Cuomo To Not Cut Senior Funding
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer yesterday urged Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to reverse the more than $17 million in cuts and cost shifts outlined in his Fiscal Year 2017-2018 (FY17-18) Executive Budget proposal that would result in a loss of funding that supports more than one million seniors in the City.
In a a joint letter, the two borough heads expressed their concerns over Cuomo’s decision to require a set amount of federal Title XX funds to be used to support child care subsidy costs, instead of leaving the discretion to individual counties on how to use the funding. This funding has been used to support senior centers in New York City for decades.
“We understand the importance of supporting both seniors and children, and are disappointed that you would move to pit our youngest and oldest generations against one another,” the Borough Presidents wrote. “When we were facing a $25 million loss in Title XX funds for senior centers in 2011, they were restored. We urge you to once again withdraw these cuts and cost shifts and to fully fund both child care and the quality of life resources for seniors, allowing them to age in place and in dignity.”
Adams and Brewer noted that Cuomo’s current budget proposal would force the closure of 65 senior centers in virtually every one of New York City’s Assembly and State Senate districts, representing almost 30 percent of all neighborhood senior centers. This would lead to about 6,000 seniors per day losing their local senior center as well as access to vital nutrition, socialization, and health promotion activities.
Additionally, seniors in need would lose 1.5 million meals per year as well as 24,000 hours of case work assistance for benefits, housing, and other needs.
Clarke Introduces ‘Protect Our Sanctuary Cities Act’
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights/Flatbush/Brownsville/Sheepshead Bay) released the following statement on the Protect Our Sanctuary Cities Act, a bill she introduced that would end Donald Trump’s executive restrictions on sanctuary cities and prohibit the expenditure of funds to enforce these provisions.
In addition, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to present a report to Congress within 30 days explaining how the agency could build trust with immigrant communities.
“During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to punish New York City and other communities that want to protect immigrants and their families. His executive order on immigration, by denying counter-terrorism funds to sanctuary cities, attempts to enforce that pledge with a threat.
“We are a sanctuary city because all people, regardless of their immigration status, should have the ability to access critical services, such as the protection of police and firefighters and the ability to send their children to school. Without sanctuary in New York City, undocumented immigrants are forced to live with the fear that any contact with the government – even a call to the local police precinct to report a crime – could result in deportation. Nobody in New York City should have to live in fear of Donald Trump. As a result, this executive order undermines the safety of our entire community. We should build bridges, not walls, between Americans. I urge my colleagues to join me in resisting Donald Trump’s cynical efforts to divide our nation.”
Menchaca, Velazquez, Nadler, Adams Tell De Blasio To Make Sure Sunset Parkers Have A Say
Democratic Congress Members Nydia Velazquez and Jerrold Nadler, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and City Council Member Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park/Red Hook) wrote Mayor Bill de Blasio this week strongly suggesting that community stakeholders have a say in his recent “Made In New York” announcements at the Bush Terminal Buildings in Sunset Park.
In de Blasio’s recent State of the City address, he outlined the need for significant capital improvements in Sunset Park’s manufacturing district industrial properties managed by the New York Economic Development Corporation (“EDC”). The following day, de Blasio announced the City’s $136 million commitment for a ‘Madein New York’ Campus at Bush Terminal.
While the lawmakers thanked de Blasio for the initiative, they wrote there must be a discussion on how this initiative fits into the larger vision for Sunset Park.
“This discussion must also include a robust community engagement process. We welcome impactful investment in City properties, but expect EDC to ensure Sunset Park’s residents and existing businesses are fully integrated in the planning for future economic development,” the lawmakers wrote.
“While this announcement is very encouraging, there are many critical questions that need to be addressed, and we are concerned about how this plan is being formulated. Sunset Park is experiencing extreme gentrification and displacement in residential and commercial properties. New investments must mitigate adverse effects on lease-holders at nearby properties not managed by the City.
“This initiative also raises questions about how the proposed campus will fit in with the broader planning for the Sunset Park waterfront, especially South Brooklyn Marine Terminal next door and future port expansion.”
Though the Mayor’s announcement arrived with welcome capital investments in crumbling industrial buildings and their surroundings, the co-signers noted a lack of true community engagement in the planning leading up to the Mayor’s State of the City statements and the recent Made In New York press conference at Bush Terminal.
Adams Recognizes Success Academy Prospect Heights At Black History Celebration
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams today will come together with over 200 Success Academy Prospect Heights families to celebrate Black History Month with a performance by scholars and the Brooklyn United Marching Band.
Adams will be recognizing SA Prospect Heights with a proclamation for the school’s Performing Arts Program. This will mark the second time the arts program at SA Prospect Heights is recognized after receiving their first proclamation from State Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) last year.
The event is slated for between 5:30-6:30 p.m., tonight, Feb. 17 at Success Academy Prospect Heights, 760 Prospect Place.
Elected Officials Expected At Coalition of Asian Americans For Civil Rights Event
Elected leaders, community leaders and the general public this Sunday are expected to be on hand as The Coalition of Asian Americans for Civil Rights (CAACR) based in New York is holding a Unity ofAsian American Equality press conference.
The event is in memory of two-year anniversary of the injustice trail of Officer Peter Liang who was indicted for an accidental killing during a patrolling stairwells in the New York City Housing. The selective prosecution, political maneuver and perception of scapegoating of the trial triggered a national rally among the Asian American communities in many of the major cities.
The purpose of the conference is to form a solitary among the communities that the best way to safeguard and prevent social and civil injustice from future happening is to unite together and fight for it. CAACR also calls for vigilance for any injustice and bias to any races. These acts are divisive and fundamentally undermine both the value of our democracy system and humanity.
The event is slated for between 6-8 p.m., Sunday Feb 19 at the Imperial Palace Restaurant, 618 62nd Avenue in Sunset Park.
