Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Aug.25, 2017

News Site Brooklyn

BP Adams To Host Public Conversation On Type 2 Diabetes

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will host a public conversation with influential physician Michael Greger, MD, a Type 2 Diabetes expert.

Greger is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “How Not to Die. Adams credits this book, which focuses on the role of diet in preventing, stopping, and reversing chronic disease, as a catalyst in successfully turning around his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis last year.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the residents of our region to hear from one of the leading voices in clinical nutrition, a voice that frankly helped save my life. Nutrition education is nowhere near prioritized enough in our doctors’ offices, hospitals, and schools, leaving people without a vitally important tool in their battles against chronic diseases. I have recommended Dr. Greger’s book to everyone I have met in the last year, and I am thrilled that he can share his knowledge in person to our borough. It is my mission to show my fellow Brooklynites that food can be our medicine,” said Adams.

The event is slated for 6 p.m., on September 8, in the Courtroom of Brooklyn Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn. 


Gentile, Williams Introduce Bills Protecting Residents From Dangerous Chemicals

City Councilman Vincent Gentile
City Councilmember Jumaane Williams

City Council Member Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach), alongside co-sponsor, Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), introduced two new bills, Int. 1689 and Int. 1690, as part of a “Shorefront Notification Package,” that would protect city residents from dangerous and toxic chemicals yesterday.

The legislation package notifies the public faster and more efficiently of environmental hazards affecting our shores, and would mandate that the Office of Emergency Management, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department Of Health and Mental Hygiene notify local council members and community boards of such hazards. As a result, the public would not have to go on state agency websites to be notified of an oil spill or other environmental incident.

The introduction of these laws comes in response to the “Gravesend Oil Spill” that occurred at the Bayside Oil Terminal in March of this year, in which the public had not known for several days that diesel fuel was present in Gravesend Bay.

“Earlier this year, a 27,000 gallon oil spill off the coast of Southwest Brooklyn was nearly swept under the rug, if not for the vigilance of environmental advocates and the media. By failing to notify any local elected officials, the State potentially jeopardized the health and safety of our constituents. When an oil spill, sewage overflow, or any other related ecological disaster dangers water or shoreline quality, the City should use all the tools at our disposal to expeditiously notify the City Council, affected Council Members, and affected Community Boards of such toxins. Local elected officials are better equipped to disseminate this information to residents than officials in Albany,” said Gentile.

“Given the severe environmental impacts of oil spills, it’s surprising to me that City agencies are not required to publicly announce the release of any oil in the City. New Yorkers should have access to this type of information considering chronic, long-term exposure can have detrimental effects on the environment and public health,” said Williams.


Espinal Applauds Passage Of Nightlife & Food Bank Bills

City Councilman Rafael Espinal Jr.

City Council member Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) applauded the passage of his two sponsored bills, Intro No. 1688, which establishes an Office of Nightlife and a Nightlife Task Force and Intro. 1514-A, a bill to create a web portal linking uneaten food with hungry New Yorkers.

Intro No. 1688 establishes an Office of Nightlife and a Nightlife Advisory Board, which will include a Nightlife Director appointed by the Mayor and a board comprised of 12 members; 4 to be appointed by the Mayor and 8 by the Speaker of the Council to serve for a two year term, respectively.

The duties of the Office Of Nightlife will include conducting outreach to establishments, assisting in the resolution of enforcement actions, receiving 311 complaints and compiling recommendations, supporting workforce conditions, liaise between communities and venue. While the board’s responsibilities will include: annual recommendations related to workforce workforce conditions, zoning and community development concerns, common complaints, public safety concerns, enforcement of industry related laws and rules. The nightlife industry is a $10 billion sector of NYC’s 24 hour economy, employing over 100,000 people.

“NYC’s nightlife culture is an integral part of its identity, yet bureaucratic red tape, rising rents and lack of community planning has made it increasingly difficult for venues that contribute to our iconic nightlife to stay in business. This bill will create a space where all stakeholders can come together to solve conflicts and build bridges. It is time NYC dedicate resources to this sector of our economy that produces not only financial capital, but also, cultural capital for our city,” said Espinal.

Intro. 1514-A, will create a web portalwhere prospective food donors (such as supermarkets and restaurants) can upload their unused food and prospective food recipients (such as non-profits and soup kitchens) can arrange to collect the food.

“New York City must get creative when thinking of how we can divert uneaten food from our landfills to the dinner tables of hungry New Yorkers. While 16.4% of New Yorkers are food insecure, we waste up to 32 million tons yearly. This uneaten food rots in our landfills contributing to global climate change, rather than serving people in need. The web portal will operate like a “Craigslist” for food donations, by allowing small businesses that would normally dump uneaten food to seamlessly donate that food to non-profits and food banks,” said Espinal.


Persaud Pushes Smoke Alarm Awareness Campaign

State Sen. Roxanne Persaud

Assembly member Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) is pushing for more smoke alarms across Brooklyn as part of the American Red Cross’s smoke alarm awareness campaign,” Sound the Alarm. Save a Life.”

The quality-of-life initiative, is part of a bigger effort, the Home Fire Campaign, that strives to decrease the number of home fires and fatalities. According to the American Red Cross, a disaster happens every 8 minutes with seven people dying from home fires on a daily basis.

Persaud is hoping to install 1,000 new smoke alarms across the borough in an effort to increase fire safety in homes and protect vulnerable individuals that are disproportionately affected by fires including young children and the elderly.

The campaign is slated to go from September 23-October 15 and people can register to volunteer installing smoke alarms at Visit SD19 Sound the Alarm Registration. 


Donovan Calls On Coast Guard To Clear Yachts From Liberty Island 

Congressman Dan Donovan

Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) formally asked the U.S. Coast Guard to initiate a review of how to best prevent private yachts from obstructing Statue of Liberty views, yesterday.

In the letter, Donovan asked that “a study be conducted to determine the feasibility of imposing a limit on how long a vessel may dock near Liberty Island.” Donovan went on to cite the negative impact the yachts have on tourism and businesses who rely on the view of the statue and on the lives of daily commuters from Staten Island who expect an unobstructed view while riding the ferry.

Earlier this summer, a mega-yacht was parked in front of the iconic statue for weeks, preventing regular New Yorkers from enjoying Lady Liberty.

“It’s sad that an issue of basic decency requires action by the U.S. Coast Guard. Some loafer who doesn’t want to pay docking fees for a mega-yacht can’t just sit in front of our country’s most famous statue for weeks on end. I’ve asked the Coast Guard to look into how to put an end to this nonsense,” said Donovan.