Levin Arrested Calling on Mayor to Release Study to Prevent Overdose Deaths
City Council Member Stephen Levin (D-Northern Brooklyn, Boerum Hill) and community advocates yesterday were arrested outside of City Hall in an act of civil disobedience calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to release a report on Safer Consumption Spaces, an initiative where individuals are able to consume drugs under medical supervision.
De Blasio stated the report, commissioned nearly two years ago by the City Council, is coming out “soon”. Overdose deaths in the city continue to steadily increase. At the 2017 rate of overdose incidence, there is an overdose death every seven hours.
“Soon is not soon enough for New Yorkers who continue to die from this epidemic,” said Levin, Chair of the General Welfare Committee. “Here we are, nearly two years later, demanding to release a report that is long overdue. If it came out today, it would already be too late for the people whose lives could have been saved. A challenge like the one we’re facing demands action. I appreciate all the serious work the Mayor has been doing on this issue, but we need to explore every harm-reduction tool at our disposal. Frankly, we don’t have time to wait.”
Levin said safer consumption spaces have proven to be a vital tool to saving lives and increasing treatment. In fact, not one overdose death has been reported at such a space.
Cornegy Reminds Constituents To Get Off 2018 Lien Sale List
City Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) is reminding constituents that the last day for a property owner to pay or enter into a payment agreement to avoid the lien sale is Thursday May 17.
There are still 573 properties on the notice list that need to resolve their outstanding debt by that date in order to avoid having their liens sold. Be sure to pay your debt or enter into a payment agreement before the deadline, said Cornegy.
Outreach sessions where property owners can get one-on-one help are being held in all 5 boroughs. More information about the lien sale is located here: www.nyc.gov/liensale. For further questions contact Cornegy’s office at (718) 919-0740.
Persaud Recognizes Pamela Hardy-Lockley
State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetowne, Ocean Hill) this week recognized Pamela Hardy-Lockley at the 2018 Woman of Distinction Award Ceremony today in Albany.
Hardy-Lockley is the current President of the Linden Plaza Leaseholders’ Tenant Association Council in the East New York. She was born and raised in the Weeksville and Crown Heights and moved to Linden Plaza in 1975. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and attended Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. She is a member of the St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn.
Hardy-Lockley along with the Board and alternate members, have worked day and night to stop the wave of evictions and to address the issues that have plagued Linden Plaza residents as a result of a 2008 mortgage refinancing, conversion and 93% rent increase. Together, they have assisted hundreds of tenants appearing weekly in Brooklyn Housing Court facing eviction. Working closely with elected officials and other leaders in the community, Hardy-Lockley and the Council have successfully fostered a better understanding of the housing challenges in their community.
“It is truly an honor to recognize Ms. Hardy-Lockley. We are fortunate to have strong female leaders in the district like Ms. Hardy-Lockley. It is my hope that this recognition will serve as encouragement and inspiration to everyone thinking about giving back to the community.” said Persaud.
Golden Announces Winners Of Anti-Litter Essay Contest
State Sen. Martin J. Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) and members of his anti-litter essay contest committee, yesterday announced the three winners of his elementary school Anti-Litter Essay contest including Ian Carswell (PS 222), Riley Rosario (PS 222) and Kevin Collins (Good Shepherd), who were the selected winners among twenty-one finalists.
The finalists represented students from grades 3, 4 and 5, from a variety of local public, private and parochial schools including P.S. 102, P.S. 185, P.S. 204, P.S. 222, P.S. 277, Holy Angels Catholic Academy, Leif Ericson Day School and Good Shepherd Catholic Academy. The 3rd Annual “Don’t Drop It” anti-litter essay contest received more than three hundred essays from schools within Senator Golden’s district.
“Congratulations to the three winners and all the students who participated in the essay contest. The contest committee had a difficult task choosing the winners because all the essays were deserving of top honors. Improving and maintaining the quality of life in our community has long been the cornerstone of my career in public service,” said Golden.
“That is why I again sponsored this essay contest this year, to provide a valuable lesson to our students of the need to keep our community and streets clean. This contest has generated an important dialogue amongst our families, our schools and beyond, and I believe it will impact many of our residents to take greater pride in our neighborhood. Thank all the schools who have participated in this civic lesson,” he added.
Wright Honors National Foster Care Month
Assembly Member Tremaine Wright (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) yesterday saw her resolution proclaiming May 2018 as Foster Care Month in New York State pass the assembly yesterday.
The resolution is in conjunction with the observance of National Foster Care Month.
“The month of May is to promote opportunities and contribute to lifting the quality of life of the youth of this noble Empire State, while advancing the spirit of united purpose and shared concern which is the unalterable manifestation of our American experience” said Wright.
Deutsch Sponsors Rain Barrel Giveaway
City Council Member Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheesphead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Midwood) yesterday announced his fourth annual Rain Barrel Giveaway.
A rain barrel is used to collect rainwater to be repurposed for activities including watering your garden, washing your car, or cleaning the exterior of your home. This is an easy way to save money on your water bill, and be environmentally conscious at the same time.
The giveaway is slated for between 10 a.m.-12 noon, Sunday, May 27 at Madison High School, on Avenue P at the corner of Bedford Avenue.Rain Barrels must be reserved in advance by calling Deutsch’s office at 718-368-9176.
