Hamilton Reveals Prelim Survey Results On Lead, Mold In NYCHA
State Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) revealed preliminary survey results on the hazardous living conditions in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) yesterday.
Starting in January, Hamilton alongside colleagues, began conducting a survey of NYCHA residents concerning lead inspections, NYCHA awareness and remediation practices for lead paint or mold within seven public housing developments in Central Brooklyn. In recent months, the city’s Housing Authority has been under increased examination in the wake of revelations that the agency failed to conduct lead inspections in 55,000 potentially hazardous units and then fraudulently reported the inspections.
On Monday, Hamilton revealed the early data results of the survey including findings that:
– 57% of residents report peeling or chipped paint, or finding paint chips in their units
– 14% report NYCHA inspecting for lead paint or mold
– 10% of residents report NYCHA attempts to educate on lead paint or mold
– 0 residents reported a NYCHA unprompted visual assessment of lead paint or mold
“We urgently need proactive action by NYCHA to protect residents from lead poisoning. Our survey’s findings thus far point to continued NYCHA failures in outreach, awareness raising, and inspections. As a community, we must mobilize to tackle this crisis,” said Hamilton.
“Every child growing up in NYCHA housing deserves to be free from hazardous lead that can negatively impact their growth and development. Every parent raising a family in NYCHA housing deserves to know that their apartment is not poisoning them. As someone who grew up in NYCHA housing myself, I know it is our duty to ensure NYCHA lives up to its responsibilities to every NYCHA resident,” added Hamilton.
Schumer Demands Feds Beef Up NYS’ Flu Prevention Strategy
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-Brooklyn) called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to designate a special ‘domestic flu surveillance team’ for New York State yesterday.
In a letter to CDC Director, Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, Schumer noted the need for immediate action citing inundated hospitals and budget strained localities across the state. The CDC domestic flu surveillance team would be compiled of experts who would help local communities track which flu strains are hitting, which treatment works best and work to map out a plan to fight flu across areas and age groups.
Already, more than 5,000 New Yorkers have become bedridden as a result of this year’s serious flu epidemic. According to New York State, over the past four years, twenty-five patients have died from the flu in the state alone, eight of which occurred during last year’s flu season. As of January 18th, the weekly rate of New Yorkers hospitalized with influenza was the highest it had ever been since the Department of Health began reporting in 2004. So far this season, 5,267 people in New York have been hospitalized as a result of the flu, compared with 3,533 hospitalizations the prior season.
“A New York specific flu surveillance team would help take the state’s temperature on the epidemic and help break its fever. With record-setting highs this season, it’s absolutely critical that New York have the resources it needs to track the flu’s path, gather intelligence and combat this powerful virus,” said Schumer.
BP Adams Offers Free Tax Prep Services
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and Grow Brooklyn, the largest non-paid tax preparer in the borough, announced a new season of free tax preparation services last week.
Last Friday marked Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day which Adams chose to recognize this year with tax assistance for Brooklyn residents amid uncertainty around the impending effect of the federal tax law enacted last month.
Nationwide, during 2017, more than 25.8 million eligible workers and families received about $63.8 billion in EITC, on average taking back $2,470. With around 325,000 returns claiming the EITC in 2015, according to the IRS and Brookings Institution, Kings County had more residents claiming the credit than any other county in New York State and was amongst the highest in the nation. For 2018, the maximum EITC amount available is $6,444 for taxpayers filing jointly who have three or more qualifying children.
Starting now, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering a number of free tax preparation sessions for eligible residents, including single filers who earned $34,000 a year or less, filers with dependents who earned less than $60,000 a year, and filers who are self-employed with expenses of $5,000 or less.
“Community partners like Grow Brooklyn are more important than ever in our pursuit to put hard-earned dollars and cents back in taxpayers’ wallets, especially as the looming burden of last month’s federal tax law looms large for hard-working families across our borough. We cannot afford to leave resources like EITC and free tax preparation services on the table. This program, in addition to my administration’s longstanding commitment to financial education, can make a difference,” said Adams.
Those looking to receive free tax prep assistance or more information will need to make an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or visiting growbrooklyn.org.
Maisel Celebrates Mill Basin Library Re-Opening
City Council Member Alan Maisel (D-Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Sheepshead Bay) joined Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) in celebrating the re-opening of Mill Basin Library yesterday.
The branch was originally closed in order to replace the old HVAC system, at which point the BPL also decided to refresh and modernize the branch with new paint, tables, chairs and shelves as well as enhanced lighting, signage and additional computers and furniture. Students from PS 236 presented the librarians and Maisel with thank you notes during the re-opening ceremony.
Most recently, BPL has committed to updating aging infrastructure system-wide and closing a $240 million capital needs gap. Currently, over a third of the libraries in the BPL system are either in the process of or slated for rebuilding and revitalizing capital improvements.
“I am happy that Mill Basin Library’s repairs are complete and the branch is ready to reopen. Libraries provide important services to the community and its absence was felt,” said Maisel.
Williams Applauds Release of Ravi Ragbir, Denounces Trump
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) alongside Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) applauded the release of immigration rights activist Ravi Ragbir yesterday.
Ravi Ragbir, Executive Director of New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC—an interfaith organization that helps undocumented immigrants fight detention and deportation–was arrested on January 11 during one of his regularly scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and taken to a facility in Miami. According to reports, a court the ordered Ragbir be sent to a facility in Goshen in Orange County, New York.
However on Monday, U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest granted habeas corpus to Ragbir arguing ICE infringed upon Ragbir’s due process rights by his “abrupt and by all counts unnecessary detention,” according to New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC. Ragbir’s next hearing is set for Feb. 9. In recent weeks, New York Lawmakers have alleged the federal government in targeting of immigrants’ rights leaders leading to increase dissent over the future of the immigration system in the country.
“While a temporary victory, this in nonetheless extraordinarily significant. Let us be clear: Ravi’s situation is still dire. As the Trump Administration seems to be deliberately and aggressively targeting its political opponents, they are sure to continue to push for the deportation of a bold leader like Ravi Ragbir,” said Williams.
“We must continue to raise our voices and use all tools at our disposal to help him remain in the country and community that he calls home. In New York alone, millions of undocumented immigrants call our state home and serve to enrich our communities. The immorality, hatred, and bigotry of the current administration leaves millions threatened every day, and we must support them in every way we can,” added Williams.
Eugene Sends Relief Supplies To Puerto Rico
City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Prospect Park Lefferts Garden, Flatbush, Ditmas Park) recently joined with non-profit organization WHYNOTCARE over the weekend to send a shipment of relief supplies to victims of recent natural disasters in Puerto Rico.
On Saturday, Eugene was joined by members of WHYNOTCARE in sending relief supplies to residents of the island nation hit by Hurricane Irma and Maria last fall, as part of the District 40 Cares Relief Drive.
Currently Puerto Rico still remains in crisis as half the island remains without power while residents struggle for scarce resources and access to health care and in some cases clean water. According to Newsweek, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remains in Puerto Rico working alongside the local government on the recovery process they expect to take years.
“I want to thank WHYNOTCARE for partnering with my office to deliver these critical supplies to those who require them most. This organization serves a special purpose, because it is able to reach residents in the less populated areas of Puerto Rico that have more difficulty receiving aid,” said Eugene.
“There are still millions of people living in dire circumstances and we must continue to do everything within our means to assist them. I want to express my gratitude to the residents of the 40th District, and our neighboring community organizations and institutions, each of whom have played a vital role in our relief efforts. Their donations are a powerful example of how our community responds when there are people in need, and I am honored to be a part of that process,” added Eugene.
