Hamilton Gets State Funding For Caribbean American Health & Heritage Groups
State Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) today will give $150,000 in state funding for Brooklyn Caribbean American health and heritage groups.
Among the organizations slated to get money include the Caribbean Women’s Health Association, who will receive $50,000 to support their work regarding domestic violence and intimate partner violence, including workshops and a conference.
Global Trauma Research Inc. and the Haitian-American Community Coalition will receive $50,000 to support their public health and mental health work, including individual and group counseling, community trainings, and community groups.
The United States Steel Band Association will receive $10,000 to support their music education programs; and The West Indian American Day Carnival Association, celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, will receive $40,000 to support their work on promoting, developing, and celebrating Caribbean culture, arts, history and traditions through year-round programming, including the week-long festivities and Carnival parade.
“Caribbean American Heritage Month serves as a perfect opportunity to highlight Caribbean American community organizations whose work touches the lives of so many. Whether tackling important public health challenges and providing culturally competent health care services, or sharing the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean with our fellow New Yorkers, these groups provide an invaluable service. I am honored that I am able to support their important work,” said Hamilton.
Donovan Votes To Reform Dodd-Frank Act
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island NY-11) yesterday voted to help pass the Financial CHOICE Act, which institutes necessary reforms to the flawed Dodd-Frank Act – which ends big bank bailouts, increases Wall Street accountability, incentives economic growth, and boosts opportunities for small businesses and community banks.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is a massive piece of financial reform legislation the Obama administration passed in 2010 as a response to the financial crisis of 2008. Named after sponsors U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd and U.S. Representative Barney Frank, the act’s numerous provisions, spelled out over roughly 2,300 pages, are being implemented over a period of several years and are intended to decrease various risks in the U.S. financial system.
The partisan act established a number of new government agencies tasked with overseeing various components of the act and by extension various aspects of the banking system. President Donald Trump and Republicans argued it was a giveaway to big banks and over regulated Wall Street.
“Small business and entrepreneurship is the engine of our economy, and we must always work to implement policies that increase opportunities for hardworking Americans and their families. The Financial CHOICE Act puts in place necessary reforms to the U.S. financial system that will provide sensible regulatory relief to revitalize job creation. I’m proud to support this bill, which will unleash our nation’s economic potential to help families pursue their American dream,” said Donovan.
The bill reforms the U.S. financial system to:
- Protect hardworking taxpayers by ending big bank bailouts;
- deliver necessary regulatory relief to community banks and credit unions;
- enhance opportunities for consumer and small businesses by increasing access to capital and financial choice;
- bolster Wall Street accountability by instituting the toughest penalties in history for financial fraud; and
- reduce the U.S. deficit by $24 billion over the next 10 years.
Donovan said the Financial CHOICE Act focuses on fixing the flaws of the Dodd-Frank Act, which although well intentioned, led to the growth of Wall Street “too big to fail” banks, destruction of community banks, rise of banking fees and mortgages for Americans, and slowest economic recovery in U.S. history. It’s estimated that under Dodd-Frank, one community bank or credit union in the U.S. closes each day, which has allowed big banks to grow larger and further control the banking industry. Additionally, research has shown that banking fees, including monthly service fees, have increased 111% under the law, he said.
The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.
James Report Recommends Improvements To Criteria For Affordable Housing
Public Advocate Letitia James yesterday released a report recommending improvements to New York City’s stringent Tenant Selection Criteria for affordable housing.
The current criteria the City’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) sets forth bars low-income New Yorkers, families, those experiencing homelessness, and the elderly from access to safe and stable housing. James’ report suggests that the current criteria puts too great an emphasis on past financial challenges rather than a household’s ability to pay rent, and that the housing lottery process needs greater transparency and accessibility.
“We are in the midst of one of the worst affordable housing crises our City has ever experienced, and our government must do everything it can to ensure that New Yorkers most in need have access to safe and stable housing,” said James. “The City’s affordable housing is meant to support New Yorkers, yet the selection criteria to qualify for the housing does not take into consideration the real lives and economic circumstances of many of these families. Our goal should be to help individuals and families get back on their feet, not to adopt strict criteria that shuts them out.”
James said when it comes to the HPD affordable housing lottery, a fair shot should be given to all New Yorkers. Individuals should be assessed based on whether they have the means to pay rent by evidence of one year’s worth of on-time rental payments as positive rental history or receipt of guaranteed income such as Social Security Disability (SSD). Applicants should also be allowed to use qualified guarantors for rent.
James’ report noted that HPD updated its selection criteria so that bad credit cannot be the sole criterion for rejecting applicants, but for those same people, their likelihood of falling into one of the disqualifying categories is still disproportionately high, mitigating the value of the policy change.
The report recommends:
– Modifying tenant selection criteria to focus on current evidence of ability to pay rent, not past financial challenges.
– Banning the use of debt, delinquencies, and bankruptcies, as criteria for all City-owned and City-subsidized affordable units for homeless referrals.
– Requiring all developers participating in the affordable housing plan to partner with a City registered and qualified not-for-profit housing organization to assist applicants with the lottery process and to help address selection criteria issues.
– Increase the transparency of the lottery process.
Deutsch Funds Three Auxiliary Vans In Memory Of Tony Christo
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest) on Monday will dedicate three auxiliary vans in memory of NYPD Auxiliary Assistant Chief Anthony “Tony Christo” Christodoulakis.
In fiscal year ’17, Deutsch allocated $125,000 for the purchase of three auxiliary vans, to be provided for the auxiliary units of the 60th, 61st, and 70thprecincts, all of which fall into his 48th Council District.
Christo was a beloved auxiliary police chief who passed away after 44 years of service to the NYPD Auxiliary Unit, serving in precincts throughout NYPD Patrol Borough Brooklyn South.
NYPD Inspector Phyllis Byrne, NYPD Inspector William Taylor (60th precinct commanding officer), Captain James King (61st precinct commanding officer), Inspector James Palumbo (70th precinct commanding officer) and community members will join Deutsch at the dedication.
The dedication is slated for 6:30 p.m., Monday June 12 in front of the 60th Police Precinct, 2951 West 8th Street in Coney Island.
Squadron Lauds Passage Of Service Corps Bill
State Sen. Daniel Squadron (NOrthern Brooklyn, LOwer Manhattan) yesterday lauded Senate Labor Committee’s passage of his bill to establish a New York State Service Corps (S.146/A.8201-Niou):
Squadron’s bill is part of a package of legislation put forward by the Senate Democratic Policy Group, which he chairs. The proposal would expand state service programs and pair them with tuition and loan repayment support. President Trump’s budget proposal includes elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which houses AmeriCorps and other service programs.
“A stronger New York State Service Corps has the ability to create a path to opportunity for New Yorkers across the state, as well as help address student loan debt, provide job training, and encourage the next generation of service and engagement. Goals that are more important than ever in the face of short-sighted federal proposals to eliminate AmeriCorps,” said Squadron.
“Today, the Senate’s Labor Committee agreed that this proposal is an important part of helping New Yorkers get ahead, begin careers in service, and help with college affordability. It’s important the Senate quickly take up the bill in Rules and bring it to the floor,” he added.
Kings Bay Y Annual Israel Celebration On Sunday
A number of local elected officials are expected to be on hand Sunday when the Kings Bay Y hosts its annual Israel Celebration.
This is the only outdoor salute to Israel celebration in Brooklyn. Nostrand Avenue will be closed to traffic between Avenues U and V. A member of the Knesset, Israeli Minister of Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver, is scheduled to attend.
The event attracts thousands and will feature live music, giveaways and an Israeli marketplace with jewelry, Judaica, Israeli crafts and food. Children will enjoy carnival rides, a petting zoo, face painting and sand-art.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about summer day camps and programming at the Kings Bay Y.
The event is slated for 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11 at the Y’s main site, 3495 Nostrand Avenue (between Avenues U and V) in Sheepshead Bay. The event is free and open to the public. The elected officials are scheduled to address the crowd at 12:15 pm. For more information, email the Kings Bay Y at info@kingsbayy.org.
