Greenfield’s Summer Street Repaving Campaign Heats Up
City Councilman David G. Greenfield (D-Boro Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst) announced yesterday an ambitious summer street repaving schedule throughout the district thanks to $200,000 in additional funds in both last year’s and this year’s city budget for these crucial road work projects.
Repaving is one of the most popular improvements to the district and consistently ranks high among residents’ priorities as expressed in the annual participatory budgeting process. This year’s work will fix some of the busiest streets in the district — Ocean Parkway, Coney Island Avenue, 60th Street and Avenues J, M and P.
“Smoother streets are safer streets. Every year I work with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and add extra funds to the budget to ensure that streets in my district are prioritized for resurfacing. I am thrilled that the DOT only repaves most of my Borough Park, Midwood and Bensonhurst streets during the summer months when many residents are out-of-town and school is not in session. That means less congestion on our local roads,” said Greenfield.
Greenfield asks that residents please be aware of temporary “No Parking” signs that are posted by the DOT right before work is set to begin. Parked cars will need to relocate so that resurfacing can happen. Residents who have any questions should call Councilman Greenfield’s office at (718) 853 2704.
The full list of streets to be repaved this summer in Greenfield’s district is below:
Ocean Parkway Service Roads between Ditmas Avenue and Gravesend Neck Road, Elmwood Avenue between McDonald Avenue and Ocean Parkway, East 2 Street between Avenue F and Avenue J, 47th Street between 15th Avenue and Foster Avenue, Dahill Road between 47th Street and 19th Avenue, East 12 Street between Avenue I and Avenue P, 60th Street between 10th Avenue and 14th Avenue, Coney Island Avenue between Avenue I and Avenue P, Avenue J between Coney Island Avenue and East 17th Street, Avenue M between Coney Island Avenue and Ocean Avenue, Avenue P between Ocean Parkway and East 15th Street.
Espinal’s Office Of Nightlife Bill Moves Forward
City Councilmember Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, East New York), chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee, is expecting the committee to approve his legislation, Intro. 1648, today establishing an Office of Nightlife headed by a Director of Nightlife and a Nightlife Advisory Board.
Both factions will be tasked with supporting NYC’s iconic nightlife and growing the $10 billion industry.
Modeled after successful practices in London and Amsterdam, the Office of Nightlife will be the first-of-its-kind in NYC, It will serve as a point of contact for nightlife establishments, support the nightlife workforce and promote fair workplace practices, liaise between local communities, city agencies, and nightlife establishments to help resolve complaints.
The proposed city agency will also be tasked with promoting a more vibrant and friendly nightlife atmosphere, among other official duties. The Advisory Board will identify and study common issues and trends and make recommendations to the mayor and city council to support best practices for the industry and to improve the lives of New Yorkers.
The measure is expected to go before the full city council for a vote at the August 24, 2017 City Council Stated Meeting.
BK Pols Participate in 24-Hour #RidersRespond Transit Tour
A number of Brooklyn’s elected officials today will continue their participation in the #RidersRespond Tranist Tour, in which they are riding the subway for 24-hours to hear directly from straphangers in advance of a city council hearing on Aug. 8 to air out the continuing subway woes.
The tour comes after months of delays, derailments, power outages, track fires and more. The officials and advocates will take to the tunnels to get feedback, suggestions and concerns from riders, while getting a full picture of the system that sustains our city.
Among the Brooklyn electeds participating in the tour include Assembly Members Jo Anne Simon, Robert Carroll and Felix Ortiz; and City Council Members Carlos Menchaca, Brad Lander, Rafael Espinal and Mark Treyger.
Persaud Still Has 25 Rain Barrel’s To Giveaway
State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown and Ocean Hill) announced yesterday that her office still has 25 rain barrels to give away following last Saturday’s rain barrel giveaway she hosted with the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at the John Malone Community Center in Bergen Beach.
The rain barrels, which the DEP donated, are an efficient way to reduce water bills and to protect our waterways from sewer runoff pollution. Homeowners can use the collected water for washing their car, watering their gardens and other miscellaneous uses.
This event was in keeping with Persaud’s advocacy for the environment and her concern for the ecological future of the communities her district encompasses and the state.
For information on obtaining one of the rain barrels or any other local concerns, call Persaud’s office at 718-649-7653.
Schneiderman, Gonzalez Call for End To Immigration Raids In State Courts
New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman (D) and Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez (D) yesterday called for the U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop conducting raids in New York courthouses and to recalibrate their priorities so crime victims and witnesses are not targeted for removal proceedings.
Instances of arrests and attempted arrests by ICE in courts have spiked approximately five-fold this year compared to 2016, according to service providers, and a growing number of victims have expressed reluctance to move forward with criminal prosecutions due to fear of being deported, according to the Brooklyn DA’s Office.
These reports are consistent with findings detailed in a national report issued by the New York Attorney General’s office in March. Together, the reports provide overwhelming evidence that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies have undermined public safety and must end.
“Targeting immigrants at our courthouses undermines our criminal justice system and threatens public safety. If the Trump Administration continues to arrest people in the heart of our justice system, immigrants will be less likely to serve as witnesses or report crimes – and that leaves us all at risk. Everyone regardless of their immigration status or the status of their loved ones, should have access to equal justice under the law,” said Schneiderman.
“The federal authorities claim they are making America safe again, but the truth is that their immigration enforcement policies are making all of us less safe. We encounter more and more victims and eyewitnesses to crime who are fearful of moving forward because of immigration status, and we see arrests by ICE spiking in our courthouses, including Family Court and courts dedicated to helping human trafficking victims and those with mental health issues,” said Gonzalez.
“We must not allow a large number of our residents to live in the shadows and stop cooperating with law enforcement – but the Trump Administration is now creating this dangerous reality. ICE should treat courthouses as sensitive locations, like it does schools and houses of worship, to allow everyone free access to our justice system and stop the chilling effect felt by victims and witnesses,” he added.
