Adams, Hamilton On Fatal Police Shooting In Crown Heights
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams (D) yesterday thanked State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for opening an investigation into the death of a black man who was allegedly pointing a metal pipe at police officers in Brooklyn when they shot and killed him Wednesday.
Cops shot Saheed Vassell, 34, on the corner of Utica Avenue and Montgomery Street after responding to 911 calls of a man with a gun threatening people on the street. After responding, cops unloaded 10 bullets — nine of which hit Vassell — after encountering him on the corner taking a a two-handed shooting stance, pointing a metal object at them that turned out to be a silver-colored pipe.
“I messaged Attorney General Schneiderman this morning to thank him for opening an investigation into the police shooting of Saheed Vassell in Crown Heights. Tragedies like this are why we fought for an independent Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit. We must all pursue justice,” said Adams.
Meanwhile, State Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) yesterday held a vigil on the corner of the deadly shooting with Vassell’s family and local advocates including Democratic District Leaders Geoffrey Davis and Cory Provost.
“Yesterday in Crown Heights, we witnessed a scene too often repeated across our nation – lethal force used against a young unarmed black man. We need a full investigation around the police shooting. As a society, we have to make the message Black Lives Matter clear on our streets, clear to all charged with law enforcement, and up and down our justice system,” said Hamilton.
“We should demand sound policing, quality police work – the best training, decision making, and accountability from the men and women serving as police officers. Police accountability matters – only through accountability and mutual respect can we heal police-community relations, instill trust, and build confidence. We need to take the steps across government, including police, including our justice system, and including people of good conscience to protect all New Yorkers,” he added.
Lander Hails Bus Countdown Clocks
City Council Member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) yesterday hailed “bus countdown clock” that came to the district through participatory budgeting last year.
“Many of you have told me you like them. You can decide whether to wait for the bus, or walk or take the subway instead. You know if you have time to get coffee or run an errand. But the clocks cost about $35,000 each, can only go where there’s electricity, and take a long time to procure & install.
“So when the LinkNYC kiosks started coming to our neighborhood, I saw an opportunity: we could make the Links into bus countdown clocks.
“Just six months later—with big thanks to the teams at LinkNYC and DoITT who made it happen, with some help from DOT & the MTA—that idea is now a reality. Starting yesterday, at the 29 LinkNYC kiosks in our district (and soon at the 1700 kiosks throughout the city) bus-riders will be able to see how many stops away the next bus is. It’s a modest but meaningful step that makes taking the bus just a little bit easier,” said Lander.
Lander also noted PBNYC Vote Week 2018 starts this Saturday, April 7 and runs through Sunday, April 15. Check out the 18 projects on this year’s ballot, and decide which ones you want to vote for. You can vote online or in-person.
Jeffries, Treyger Hold Anti-Gun Violence Town Hall Meeting
U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Central Brooklyn, Coney Island) and City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) tomorrow will hold an Anti-Gun Violence Town Hall Meeting in Coney Island.
The event is in collaboration with the organizations Moms Demand Action, the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative and S.O.S. Bed-Stuy.
Jeffries will discuss what’s next for Gun Reform in America.
The event is slated for 10 a.m., tomorrow, April 7 at MCU Park, 1904 Surf Avenue in Coney Island. Kindly R.S.V.P. at Jeffries.house.gov.
Colton Exposes Why MTA Plan Hurts Bensonhurst
Assemblyman William Colton (D-Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) on Monday will join residents of Bensonhurst, Midwood, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Canarsie, Coney Island, Flatlands, and Spring Creek to expose reasons why MTA’s plan to institute Select Bus Service Plan for the B82 along Kings Highway will not work.
“We do not want to remove parking spaces on Kings Highway. This will hurt our families and small businesses! We do not want to burden the residential side streets with the addition of metered parking spots. We do not want to remove many stops from Kings Highway,” said Colton.
Colton said shockingly, the plan lacks community input and the SBS reached only 1,500 passengers at only 12 stops, less than 1% of the 27,000 daily riders.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., Monday, April 9 at the corner of Kings Highway and West 6th Street in Bensonhurst.
