BP Adams, Treyger Lead Community Rally Denouncing Anti-Chinese Graffiti
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Coney Island, Sea Gate) will lead a community rally denouncing a pattern of anti-Chinese graffiti found at several sites in Bensonhurst today.
On Monday, the duo will urge the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to investigate and designate these acts as hate crimes.
Joined by leaders in the Chinese-American community, as well as elected officials including District Leader Nancy Tong, the group will address the profane graffiti discovered over the weekend and a greater trend of bias-based crimes that have been committed across Brooklyn in recent days, including an alleged subway attack on a South Korean national last month on a Coney Island-bound N train.
The event is slated for 11:30 a.m., today, Aug. 6, at 2041 86th Street in Bensonhurst.
Golden Announces Second Taxpayer Assistance Enrollment Event For Seniors, Disabled
State Senator Marty Golden (R-R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Gerritsen Beach, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gravesend and parts of Midwood, Borough Park, Sheepshead Bay) announced a second tax relief and exemption enrollment event for seniors last week.
The event will give homeowners and tenants who are senior citizens or disabled the opportunity to learn about taxpayer assistance programs.
At the event officials from the Department Of Finance (DOF) will be on hand to assist individuals in applying for: Senior Citizen Home Exemption (SCHE), Disabled Homeowner’s Exemption (DHE), Enhanced STAR, Veterans Property Tax Exemption, Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption, The Disability Rent Increase Exemption.
“The appointments for the first event I am sponsoring this month has been so tremendous I have decided to host a second event. I continue to encourage everyone who qualifies for these exemptions to apply, in order to reduce your taxes and give yourself the chance to save money,” said Golden.
“It is important going forward that we not only maintain these exemptions, but that we expand eligibility requirements. We must work to ensure that our seniors, our disabled and our veterans can afford to live here in Brooklyn,” added Golden.
The event is slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Folden’s District Office, at 7408 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge.
Applicants should bring valid photo identification, tax returns and other necessary income documentation, as well as current and prior lease for renters, and trusts or life estates for owners. Those interested in learning more about these programs, or wishing to make an appointment which is necessary, can do so by calling Senator Golden’s office at (718) 238-6044.
Lander Touts Benefits of Instant Runoff Voting
City Council member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) touted the benefits of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) over the weekend just a month shy of the state primaries on Sept. 13.
In a short video released on Friday, Lander highlighted how Instant Runoff Voting can benefit New York by saving money and increasing voter turnout. Lander introduced the bill for IRV back in 2014, as a less expensive and better option to the current runoff system that is held two weeks after primary elections with electronic voting machines. Currently, if no candidate gets 40% of the vote there is a separate runoff election between the two top finishers.
With IRV, voters will rank candidates in order of preference. If a candidate earns more than half of the votes – that is, more than half of first choices – then that candidate wins. If not, all but the top two vote-getters are eliminated, and ballots from the eliminated candidates go to the runoff finalist who is ranked next on each ballot. The winner will earn a majority of the instant runoff vote in this head-to-head contest without voters having to vote a second time.
IRV is currently being considered by the Mayoral Charter Revision Commission, which last week held a series of public hearings on various topics, including IRV.
“New York has one of the most complicated voting systems in the country, built to keep voter turnout low. If we want a truly representative electoral system, we need to make the switch to Instant Runoff Voting.. It’s time to make the switch to a voting system that will increase civic engagement across the city, and now is our chance,” said Lander.
Colton Denounces Anti-Chinese Signs In Bensonhurst
Assembly member William Colton (D-Gravesend, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights) denounced several anti-chinese signs that were painted on storefronts over the weekend.
Storefronts in the vicinity of 86th Street in Bensonhurst and Bath Beach neighborhoods were littered with hateful and vulgar anti-chinese speech over the weekend.
The Chinese-American community is the fastest growing immigrant community in South Brooklyn. In 2014, the heart of Bensonhurst emerged as the new “Chinatown”, between 64th and 86th Streets on 18th Avenue. The community is now considered the largest population of Chinese immigrants in the city.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the hateful and criminal actions which occurred around our neighborhood. I have contacted the 62 precinct and I strongly urge that all efforts be made to find the individual or individuals who committed these acts and bring them to justice,” said Colton.
“The strength of our neighborhood has always been its bringing together many diverse group to enjoy each other’s foods, traditions and human values while fighting to bring about all our common dreams and aspirations. We must all unite together to protect our neighborhood and all its families from such conduct. I will work to bring us together to ensure this attack on our neighborhood will not divide us but will make us all the more determined to work together for a better and safer neighborhood for all our families,” added Colton.
