BP Adams To Unveil Plans For State-Of-The-Art School Greenhouse
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will unveil plans for a state-of-the-art school greenhouse plan today as part of his $7 million capital budget investment for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18).
The plan is part of Adams’s “Growing Brooklyn’s Future” initiative, which which has brought cutting-edge technology to cultivate urban farming education in classrooms across the borough. The intiative, with Adams’ help will now expand to seven new schools.
Additional FY18 funds from Brooklyn Borough Hall will fund the creation of aquaponic and hydroponic classrooms, school greenhouses, and rooftop gardens at schools in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bergen Beach, Brownsville, Gravesend, Mapleton, and Sheepshead Bay.
At the event, Adams will highlight the potential of urban farming to revolutionize the borough’s relationship with food and the environment, and the importance of having children and young adults gain first-hand experience with the power of growing their own food.
The event is slated for 1 p.m., today, Nov. 28, at P.S. 56 Lewis H. Latimer/Urban Assembly Unison School, at 170 Gates Avenue in Clinton Hill.
Golden To Host Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies
State Senator Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend and parts of Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park and Midwood) announced his plans to host Christmas tree lighting ceremonies to bring holiday cheer and excitement to Senate District 22 yesterday.
The ceremonies will include Christmas Carols, a special visit from Santa Claus and hot chocolate for all and are free and open to the public. Donations for Toy For Tots will also be accepted at all events.
“It has become a great tradition here in our community to join together to celebrate the holidays, and give thanks for all the good in our lives. I encourage neighbors, families and friends, to take part in this year’s Christmas tree lightings and help us usher in this most magical time of the year. No matter what you like best – hot chocolate, candy canes or singing Christmas Carols – a great time awaits you,” said Golden.
The events are slated for:
6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 30
at Shore Road and 90th Street (at Gazebo) in Howard Beach
6: 30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1
at Lady Moody Square, at Van Sicklen Street and Avenue U in Gravesend
6: 30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 7
at McKinley Park, at Bay Ridge Parkway and Fort Hamilton Parkway in Dyker Heights
6: 30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8
at Hendrick I. Lott House, at 1940 East 36th Street (between Fillmore Avenue and Avenue S) in Marine Park.
Espinal Kicks off Broadway Junction Working Group and Planning Study
City Council member Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) alongside Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced the formation of the Broadway Junction Working Group and the start of an interagency planning study of the transit hub yesterday.
The two efforts will work in tandem to identify ways to bring economic opportunity and new amenities to the area around Broadway Junction, informed by the vision of the surrounding community. Broadway Junction is a major transit hub served by five subway routes, six bus routes, and the Long Island Railroad. NYCEDC, with the Department of City Planning, the Department of Transportation, NYC Parks, and other City agencies, is leading a planning study of the area in and around the Broadway Junction transit hub to identify potential public realm and transportation infrastructure improvements to enhance the transit hub and increase connectivity to the surrounding neighborhoods.
The Broadway Junction Working Group will be comprised of elected officials, community boards, and local stakeholders who will develop a comprehensive vision and set of recommendations to guide future development in and around Broadway Junction.
“Broadway junction is an area that has been over utilized and underinvested in for decades. Home to 5 subways, 6 bus routes and the LIRR, the Junction transports 150,000 commuters from vast parts of Brooklyn to the rest of the city. Through the East New York Neighborhood Plan, I made clear to the Administration that one of the commitments must be to conduct a study of the area to identify potential investments and ways to deliver the quality service our community deserves. This area is prime to provide my constituents and the people of Brooklyn with opportunities to improve their socioeconomic status, increase educational opportunities and be safe when transporting,” said Espinal.
“Broadway Junction has boundless potential as a hub for community-driven growth and prosperity, but it will take robust community engagement and input to shape that potential into progress. It is time for us to tap into the power that tens of thousands of daily commuters represent for meaningful job creation and quality-of-life enhancements,” said Adams.
Cymbrowitz Asks For Help Brightening The Holidays For Needy Kids
Assembly member Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach), in partnership with former Councilman Lew Fidler and Assembly member Helene Weinstein (D-Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Flatlands) and announced that his district office will serve as a participating collection site for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Toys for Tots drive.
Since 1947 the USMC has collected new, unwrapped holiday toys for needy children. The drive, organized locally by the 41st A.D. Democratic Club, has collected over 67,500 toys in the last 14 years.
“There is no greater gift than to bring a smile to a child during the holiday season. If you can, donate a toy and brighten the holidays for kids who don’t enjoy the luxuries that many other children have,” said Cymbrowitz.
New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the collection box at Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., from today until Dec. 14, at 1800 Sheepshead Bay Road in Sheepshead Bay. Toys can also be dropped off at the Kings Bay Y at 3495 Nostrand Avenue.
A finale toy drive will held on the last day of the event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 2952 Avenue R in Marine Park.
Bichotte To Hold MWBE Hearing To Examine Disparity Study
Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Ditmas Park, Flatbush) will hold a public hearing on the Minority-and-Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program today.
The hearing will examine the 2017 MWBE Disparity Study and the overall MWBE program as it relates to project labor agreements, workforce development and other issues through the input of program participants.
Additionally, the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) will listen to testimony from various stakeholders on the 2017 MWBE Disparity Study, the design, implementation, and utilization of the MWBE program, including but not limited to, its level of State funding, how the MWBE program interacts with project labor agreements across the State, capital access opportunities, incorporating goals within workforce development and the overall enhancement of and a more robust minority and women’s program.
The meeting is slated for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Hamilton Hearing Room B in the Legislative Office Building (2nd Floor) in Albany.
