BP Adams Unveils First-Of-Its-Kind Mobile Shower Service
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will announce a partnership between his administration, Brooklyn Community Services (BCS), and Turning Point Brooklyn to establish a first-of-its-kind a mobile shower service today.
The mobile service, which will be housed in a bus, will travel across the borough to serve homeless Brooklynites and other at-risk populations at multiple locations. The mobile unit, which will be funded in part by Adams’ Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) capital budget, is an expansion of Turning Point Brooklyn’s “We Care About You” shower project, that has operated out of Sunset Park. The shower project provides users with showers as well as clean towels, shampoo, soap; shaving kits; toilet facilities; socks and underwear; access to laundry services; snacks, and a safe space to relax.
Additionally, Adams will discuss plans for the new service and present mockup images of the mobile unit at the announcement. Last November, the Coalition for the Homeless estimated that there were more than 15,700 families in homeless shelters every night across the five boroughs. The most recent Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) street survey, conducted by the City last February, found nearly 4,000 homeless individuals on the streets that night.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., today, Jan. 17, at Turning Point Education Center, at 423 39th Street, in Sunset Park.
Kavanagh, Simon Announce Coalition To Enact New Gun Violence Prevention Law
State Senator Brian Kavanagh (D-Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Lower Manhattan) and Assembly member Jo Anne Simon (D-Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus, Boerum Hill) alongside State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) will announce the formation of a coalition to enact a new gun violence prevention law today.
The group is pushing for new legislation to create Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). ERPO legislation (S7133/A8976) would create a new type of court-issued order of protection that temporarily prohibits an individual from purchasing or possessing guns if a family member or law enforcement officer petitions a court and the court finds the individual is likely to engage in conduct that would harm him- or herself or others. Similar legislation has successfully been enacted in Connecticut, Indiana, California, and Washington.
The event is slated for 12-noon, today, Jan. 17, at the Corner of State Street and Washington Avenue (outside the Senate Chambers, 3rd Floor) in Albany.
Cornegy Hosts Housing Assistance Fair
City Council member Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) will host a Tenant and Homeowner Assistance Fair today.
The event will help residents with Tenant Succession Rights, rental and lottery applications, legal counseling, Senior Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) applications, foreclosure prevention and home and maintenance repair.
The event is slated for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., today, Jan. 17, at Restoration Plaza, at 1368 Fulton Street (between Brooklyn Avenue & New York Avenue) in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Schumer Reveals Lack of Communication Led to JFK Airport Chaos
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-Brooklyn) revealed yesterday that a lack of communication between foreign airlines & John F. Kennedy Airport was a major factor leading to the chaos at the terminal earlier this month.
All flights in and out of JFK International Airport were canceled on January 4th, as a result of the snow storm or the bomb cyclone. The following day, when flights resumed, planes landing on JFK’s tarmac became stranded because all of the gates were full, causing space limitation issues. Amidst the confusion, a water main broke and flooded the baggage claim area of Terminal 4. As a result, thousands of pieces of luggage became separated from their owners for hours, some for nearly a week.
Currenlty, the six terminals at the airport are subcontracted by the airlines and managed by independent operators. According to reports, JFK’s international terminals (terminals 1 and 4) were impacted most by the bomb cyclone fiasco. In fact, two days after the bomb cyclone hit, Terminal 1 was forced to close down because of the flight capacity and Terminal 4, was evacuated as a result of the water main burst.
On Tuesday, Schumer made a formal push for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to take an active role in bringing foreign airlines to table, along with the Port Authority and it’s terminal operators, to come up with a coordination and communication plan to prevent the chaos and dysfunction from ever happening again.
“Make no mistake, there is plenty of blame to go around when it comes to what happened at JFK, but some of that blame squarely lands on a lack of communication between foreign airlines that flooded JFK with flights and the entities that manage the airport. It was this lack of communication that helped to create the chaos at Kennedy and it is only through improving this system that we will prevent this from happening again,” said Schumer.
Persaud’s Applauds Passage of Bill For Needy Families
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) applauded the passage of her bill that provides funding to needy families last week.
On Jan. 9, the Children and Families Committee passed bill S. 1318, that will provide an allowance to needy families to purchase diapers. The measure creates an allowance for eligible parents to receive a set funding every three months to assist in the purchasing of diapers for their children two years and under.
The bill has been passed by the State Senate and Assembly and is currently in the Finance Committee waiting approval.
St. Francis College Celebrates Inauguration of Martinez-Saenz
St. Francis College will celebrate the Inauguration of their 19th President, Miguel Martinez-Saenz today.
Starting Wednesday and running until next week,the College community will participate in a series of events to celebrate the inauguration of Martinez-Saenz. The ten day celebration begins with the serving of Cuban Sandwiches to students, continues with the observation of International Flag Day, a Day of Mentorship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York, a spoken word concert from Bryonn Bain, and culminates with a Mass Friday, then Presidential Installation Ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 27. The inaugural events reflect the Franciscan mission of the college and the importance of helping others.
A Cuban-American from Florida, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz earned his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of South Florida. He has more than 17 years of academic and leadership experience. President Martinez-Saenz is a Philosophy Professor with experience as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Otterbein University); Dean and Associate Provost for Student Success (St. Cloud State University); and Assistant Provost for the First-Year Experience and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (Wittenberg University).
“It is very easy for us to say things. It is much more challenging for us to be living examples of our values,” said President Martinez-Saenz. “Endeavoring to live mindfully and humanely in a complex and ever-changing world, we should aspire to be living examples of mercy, compassion and hospitality.”
“The next leader of St. Francis College needed to be a person whose leadership would help unleash the full potential of the talented students, faculty, and administrators at the College. In just a few short months, President Martinez-Saenz has proven that we chose wisely,” said John F. Tully ’67, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
