Cymbrowitz Saves Sheepshead Bay Swans From Executioner
Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) announced yesterday that the mute swans in Sheepshead Bay and other downstate regions will be spared a death sentence for the foreseeable future under the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) newly released “swan management” draft plan.
The plan comes as a result of Gov. Cuomo signing Cymbrowitz’ legislation in late 2016 declaring a two-year moratorium on swan executions pending further study.
“It’s clear from the new region-specific recommendations that DEC has been listening to the concerns of thousands of advocates in my district and across the state who don’t want mute swans to disappear from our communities,” said Cymbrowitz. “Still, after reading the plan, there are questions remaining about what constitutes humane swan management and how aggressive the state really needs to be in controlling these birds.”
In Brooklyn, Long Island and other areas where the mute swan population is stable, DEC will focus on population control methods like coating the eggs in oil, according to the draft plan.
Anyone wishing to comment on DEC’s draft plan has until December 3 to do so. Comments may be sent to Bureau of Wildlife – Mute Swan Plan, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754 or emailed to Wildlife@dec.ny.gov (subject line – “Mute Swan Plan”).
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce NYC Area to Get Over $263 In Fed Anti-Terrorism Funding
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced yesterday that New York is set to receive more than $263 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
A little more than $178 million is coming through Fiscal Year 2017 funding for the New York City area through the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). In addition, about $7 million in UASI funding has been awarded to the New York City area for use by 91 nonprofit organizations that are high-risk of attack to improve their security.
The Senators also announced nearly $77 million in the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and nearly $2 million for Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) for New York. SHSP funding supports the implementation of the strategies to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic events. OPSG funding enhances coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement for security purposes.
“With ISIS-inspired attacks becoming more and more frequent across the globe, top terror targets like New York City must remain proactive and well-protected,” said Schumer. “Federal security funds, like UASI, are the cornerstone of effective preparedness and prevention against terror threats and enable local law enforcement, like NYPD, to do all they can to keep New Yorkers safe and secure. I have been a strong supporter for counter-terrorism funds in New York City and I will do everything in my power to continue fighting for these funds and make sure that New York is protected.”
“New York is the number one terror target in the world, so we must continue to be vigilant,” said Gillibrand. “These anti-terror funds remain critical for our law enforcement to have the resources they need available in their efforts to protect and save lives. I will always fight in the Senate to make sure they are given the support they need to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Gentile, Sanitation Say Make Appointments To Collect Unwanted Bulk Items
City Councilmember Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge, Bensonhust, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach) and the Department of Sanitation (DOS) will announce today that appointments for collection requests of large (bulk) items can now be made for large non-recycling items such as sofas and wooden furniture.
The DOS asks that foot and street traffic not be blocked, and if there are more than 6 large items for collection to please make additional appointments. Please place your large items curbside after 4 p.m. the night before your appointment. Mattresses and box springs should always be placed in a plastic bag before setting them curbside to avoid the spread of bed bugs and a fine ($100). Make sure also those large items can be lifted by two people and fit into a collection truck.
To schedule an appointment, you may call 311 or visit nyc.gov/bulk to schedule a collection. Special handling may be required for certain items, so Sanitation recommends visiting nyc.gov/dsny to review the guidelines on disposing air conditioners, refrigerators, and other items.
Greenfield Announces Jewish Groups Receive $9 Million in City Funding
City Councilman David G. Greenfield (D-Borough Park, Bensonhurst, Midwood, Kensington) announced with Manhattan Councilman Mark Levine yesterday that New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage will receive $2.75 million from the City’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget, which Greenfield helped advocate for this summer.
According to the Museum, these funds will initiate new high-impact exhibitions on anti-Semitism, revitalize public space, and introduce new technology for the benefit of 50,000 schoolchildren, their teachers, and other visitors.
Described as “a living memorial to the Holocaust,” the Museum of Jewish Heritage features rotating exhibits as well as a permanent collection of more than 25,000 items, divided into chronological sections for before, during, and after the Shoah. It is this permanent collection that will be revitalized with the City Council’s new funding.
“We all know the words, that we must keep the memory of the Shoah alive,” Greenfield said. “The way we do that is by funding programs like these and making sure that future generations will learn about the horrors of the Holocaust.”
Additionally, Greenfield supported the efforts of Council Member Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) to secure funds for the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights which will see $2 million to provide supplemental educational opportunities focused on Jewish history.
Additional money will go to Jewish social-service providers like the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services will receive new office space, equipment and new vehicles including for transportation to and from Boro Park’s Mishkon.
Adams Presents Community Conversation with Author/Doctor Who Saved His LIfe From Type 2 Diabetes
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams this evening will present a community conversation with New York Times best-selling author Dr. Michael Greger, the doctor he credits with saving his life, for a talk on how changes in diet and lifestyle can prevent death by diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and various cancers.
Adams has credited Dr. Greger’s book, “How Not To Die,” 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.
Adams will present the talk with Kelley Wind, program director at the Coalition for Healthy School Food, a non-profit organization he is working with to help introduce and promote plant-based nutrition in the borough’s school cafeterias, and Dr. Robert J. Ostfeld, director of the Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore Medical Center.
Additional partners on this educational event include the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Brookdale University Medical Center, Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health and Wellness Centers, Noah Sheetz of Chefs’ Consortium, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, Perelandra Natural Foods, Riverdel, Wild Park Slope, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, as well as NutritionFacts.org, Dr. Greger’s non-profit organization.
The talk is slated for 6 p.m., tonight, Sept. 8 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Cumbo To Break Ground On Stroud Playground Transformation
City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) today will join NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver for a groundbreaking ceremony at Stroud Playground, which will undergo a $5 million transformation as part of the Community Parks Initiative.
The groundbreaking is slated for 12 noon, today, Sept. 8 at the Stroud Playground on Park Place between Washington and Classon avenues in Prospect Heights.
