Mosley Opposes Lentol’s Airbnb’s Short-Term Rental Bill
Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Green, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant) denounced Assembly Member Joe Lentol‘s (D-Williamsburg, Greenpoint) short-term rental bill helping shared economy company’s like Airbnb that was introduced in the Assembly on Monday.
The new legislation would allow apartment units in multi-family dwellings to be rented for less than thirty days, effectively turning local apartments into hotel rooms. This bill, A. 7520, will make it easier for individuals to rent empty apartments at high prices for a short amount of time.
“Short-term rentals, like those supported by Airbnb, pose a threat to our neighborhoods. When thousands of apartments across our city are designated as short-term rentals, there are fewer affordable housing apartments for families that need them. It should not be easier for people to turn apartments into de facto hotels, and instead, the Assembly should be looking at ways to make our neighborhoods affordable in the long term,” said Mosley.
A report released by Attorney General Schneiderman last October showed that the vast majority of Airbnb units are housed in Brooklyn and that in Central Brooklyn, an estimated 20% to 30% of households are severely rent burdened, meaning they pay more than 50% of their income towards rent.
“I will not support A. 7520, and instead rededicate myself to the fight for affordable housing for all people. The communities I represent are not for the people who want to come and stay for a night, but for the families, senior citizens, and hard-working people who have built a life here,” said Mosley.
Dilan Attempts To Get Release of Trump Tax Returns
Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-North Brooklyn/Central Brooklyn) was joined by his Democratic Conference colleagues yesterday to force legislation to the Senate floor that would give New Yorkers the opportunity to review President Trump’s tax returns.
“A tax return has long been the first gesture to build trust between the voting public and presidential candidates. Voters have come to expect and demand tax records. This past election proved that voters cannot rely on the common decency of candidates to release their returns. If that is to be the new norm, then it is well within New York’s right to demand a basic standard of candidates that appear on its ballots,” said Dilan.
The Tax Returns Uniformly Made Public Act (TRUMP Act) was defeated in the Senate Elections Committee this Monday, May 1. The Senate Coalition blocked yesterday’s attempt to force action on the legislation.
The TRUMP Act will provide greater transparency and ensure that to appear on a New York ballot for President of the United States, candidates must provide the public with their tax returns.
Menchaca Holds Hearing On Mold Issue in NYCHA Housing
Council Member Carlos Menchaca (D-Red Hook, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace) lead a joint oversight hearing on the mold in public housing residences yesterday in Red Hook.
The hearing assessed the ongoing problem of mold in NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) residences, and how the issue was exacerbated by Hurricane Sandy.
The joint off-site City Council hearing examined NYCHA property mold conditions, health effects on residents, and abatement practices. The hearing considered Proposed Int. No. 978-A , in relation to requiring licensure for mold abatement, assessment and remediation work and setting minimum standards for such work.
“New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) mold abatement practices have been woefully inadequate. Mold has plagued NYCHA developments for years, and Hurricane Sandy exacerbated these conditions. Tenants have turned to NYCHA for help to remediate the mold problem, but many tenants report that NYCHA often does nothing in response to the mold, or cleans so poorly that the mold reoccurs. Mold is a health hazard that NYCHA must take seriously. And as such, we must hold NYCHA accountable,” said Menchaca.
Eugene Honors Neighborhood Eatery, George’s Restaurant
Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Prospect-Lefferts, Ditmas Park; parts of Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush) last month, along with other Brooklyn officials, presented the owners of George’s Restaurant: Peter-Harry Montauredes, Michael Papazaharias, and Peter Papazaharias, with a special citation in recognition of its over 63 years of service to Brooklyn.
The diner at 753 Coney Island Avenue which is considered by many to be one of Brooklyn’s landmark eateries, first opened in 1956 and continues to be owned and operated by the Montauredes family. The award recognizes the restaurant’s tremendous contributions to the community, not only as a restaurant, but also as an institution that has a longstanding legacy of support for local charities and law enforcement.
“These are people who have been truly dedicated to serving our community. I want to say to the family, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the history of Brooklyn. When you talk about George’s Restaurant, you talk about Brooklyn. We must remember Harry for his outstanding service to our country, and for that, we owe him so much,” said Eugene.
Cumbo Holds Ribbon Cutting For New Fort Greene Dance Studio
City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights) in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and University Settlement, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the new dance studio within the University Settlement Atlantic Terminal Cornerstone Community Center.
Council Member Cumbo, a member of the committees on Public Housing and Youth Services, allocated $135,000 for the project – overseen by NYCHA. After six months of renovations, the studio is now equipped with new wood flooring, double ballet barres or dance bars, full length wall mirrors, under stage storage doors, as well as a pre-fabricated ramping system for ADA compliance of the space.
“After three years of walk-throughs and meetings, I am so proud that my allocation of $135,000 was able to create a state-of-the-art studio where our youth can realize their true potential. Fort Greene is the heart of Brooklyn’s cultural scene; and now the residents of the Atlantic Terminal Houses have a new space that will inspire, empower, and cultivate the next generation of Misty Copelands and Alvin Aileys. Arts education is an integral component in the development of our youth – instilling confidence, self-expression, physical fitness, and teamwork,” said Cumbo.
Maimonides & SUNY Downstate Create New Regional Chair of Neurology
Maimonides Medical Center and SUNY Downstate Medical Center will hold a joint press conference to announce the creation of a Regional Chair of Neurology.
This new role will expand the delivery of high quality clinical care in Neurology in Brooklyn; enhance the education and training of medical students, residents and fellows; and develop new research opportunities in neurological science.
The program will include welcoming remarks from Wayne J. Riley, MD, President, SUNY Downstate Medical Center; Kenneth D. Gibbs, President & CEO, Maimonides Medical Center; Eugene Keilin, Chair, Maimonides Board of Trustees; Carlos Pato, MD, Dean, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate; and Daniel Rosenbaum, MD, Regional Chair of Neurology, SUNY Downstate & Maimonides Medical Center.
The event is slated for 1 p.m. Thursday May 4, at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Health Science Education Building, Atrium, 395 Lenox Road, in East Flatbush.
Cornegy To Rally For Seniors On Senior Advocacy Day
Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant/Northern Crown Heights) will be among other Brooklyn lawmakers and senior advocates attending a rally at City Hall today as part of Senior Advocacy Day.
Cornegy and fellow senior advocates and agencies will be demanding a $60.6 million cut from the City’s budget for senior services, including case management and home care, senior centers, transportation, mental health services for senior abuse victims and many other issues.
Later in the day, Cornegy will host a meeting for his Home Sharing Program, an affordable housing initiative for seniors, in which “hosts” rent a room to a senior from the community at an affordable price.
This is the 22nd Annual Senior Advocacy Day which fights annually for funding for senior services.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., today, May 3, at the Steps of City Hall, in Lower Manhattan.
The Home Sharing Program event is slated for 6:30 p.m., today May 3, at Akwaaba Mansion, 373 Macdonough Street, in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
