BP Adams To Announce Winner of $1 Million Smart Gun Design
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will announce the winner of his $1 million Smart Gun Design Competition today.
The prize will be awarded to a local university whose team has been judged to create the most promising proposal that will prevent unauthorized users from firing a gun. The conclusion of this competition — held in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the Smart Tech Challenge Foundation — will include presentations from the five student teams who were named finalists last month.
The event will also feature talks from Adams, himself a former police officer as well as a gun owner, and members of his judging panel who will speak about the competition and the ongoing effort to end gun violence in Brooklyn.
The event is slated for 12 p.m., today, Sept. 18, at Brooklyn Borough Hall in the Community Room at 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Schumer Demands FTC Launch ‘Gouge Watch’ Effort On Gas Prices In Wake Of Hurricanes
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) is demanding that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) establish a ‘gouge watch effort’ when it comes to stabilizing gas prices in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
In August and early September gas pries soared due to high demand in oil before and after Hurricane Harvey and Irma. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price of gas in New York City is currently $2.95 and the average price of gas on Long Island is $2.84—a 13 percent increase from before the storms.
In a letter to FTC Acting Chairwoman, Maureen Ohlhausen, sent over the weekend, Schumer asked for a quick drop in gas prices now that the country is back to normal and noted the potential of ‘sticky,’ or very slow fall of oil prices also known as market-clearing. The letter went on to highlight the FTC’s limited powers in regulating gas price gouging but noted the need for a precedent to put pressure on the petroleum industry and see results.
“In terms of this nation’s supply and demand for gasoline, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma were short-term disruptions that really shouldn’t have a long term impact on prices at the pump. Gas prices should come back down to earth just as fast as they went up, but right now, my worry is they will not fall as fast as they should. That is why I am asking the FTC to launch a ‘gouge watch’ with oil producers, transporters and refiners alike,” said Schumer.
“The only thing that makes a devastating natural disaster worse is the idea that that big oil could be making a buck off of the mess and hosing consumers, even after the storm has passed us by and the recovery has begun,” Schumer added.
Persaud To Open Second Mobile Office
State Senator Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) announced the opening of a second office over the weekend.
This will be the second mobile office for Persaud, this month, who last week opened her first mobile office as a new convenient opportunity for her constituents to access services, including access to unclaimed funds through representative of the State Comptroller’s Office and to senior services through a representative from the Department of Aging.
“As always, I want the resources of my office to be easily accessible by my constituents. To this end, my staff will be available to assist you with your individual issues and the navigation through other government agencies when necessary. We look forward to continuing assisting you at our mobile offices,” said Persaud.
The second mobile office is slated to open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursday, October 19, at Brigham Co-op, at 2165 Brigham Street in Marine Park.
Eugene Names Intersection In Honor Of Community Activist
City Council member Mathieu Eugene (D-Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Ditmas Park) co-named the intersection of Lefferts and Kingston Avenue in honor of a local community leader and activist, Barabara “Cookie” Simmons.
Eugene held the dedication ceremony over the weekend alongside fellow elected officials, community advocates, and family members of the late Simmons, as he unveiled the new street sign.
Mrs. Simmons, who was born on December 28th, 1952, was a valued member of the community, as well as an active participant in School District 17. She fought for education reform and traveled to Albany on numerous occasions to lobby for funding for schools and better housing for the poor. She received a certificate from the Parent Academy, and was an active member of New York Communities for Change (CPAC) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). She was devoted to supporting youth causes, and dedicated her time towards volunteering at PS 161 and MS 2.
For her efforts, Simmons received a citation for her work and dedication to improving educational resources within the community from Borough President Eric Adams.
“It is a true honor to be joined this afternoon by the friends and family of a community icon, the late Barbara Simmons. This woman dedicated her entire life to improving educational resources for her community, and for her efforts, we are most appreciative,” said Eugene.
By re-naming the corner of Lefferts Avenue and Kingston Avenue for her, we are memorializing her spirit and her value to the community, and we are setting an example for future generations to follow. It is with much pride that we come together today to co-name this intersection Barbara Simmons Way,” added Eugene.
