Mosley Rips NYCHA Appointment Of Compliance Officer
Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) yesterday criticized the New York City Housing Authority’s appointment of Vilma Huertas-Cymbrowitz as complaince monitor of the problem-plagued authority.
Huertas-Cymbrowitz is NYCHA’s longtime board secretary, given that position through political connections and is the wife of Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach). Her salary will increase from the $159,764 she made last year to $200,000.
“The City and NYCHA’s appointment of Vilma Huertas-Cymbrowitz as chief compliance officer seems to be an attempt to avoid compliance with the federal consent decree which was agreed upon in part to help protect NYCHA residents and rectify the injustices that residents have been forced to endure as a result of years of neglect. By appointing one of their own without consultation with the federal monitor, which has yet to be appointed, they have violated the consent decree and have once again proven they are unable to adequately look out for the residents under their supervision,” said Mosley.
“It was this same inability of NYCHA to follow the rules that led to a federal consent decree in the first place. It is a pattern which NYCHA seems eager to continue despite its substandard track record. Residents have suffered long enough because of NYCHA’s own malfeasance.”
Nadler On Felony Convictions for Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Midwestern Brooklyn, Wertern Manhattan), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, yesterday called for urgent Congressional action following the conviction on eight federal charges of President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and the guilty plea of Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to eight felony counts, saying he committed some of them, “at the direction of” Donald Trump.
“Yesterday’s felony convictions of President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, show this is no “WITCH HUNT” and make it even more unconscionable that Chairman Goodlatte and the Republican Leadership are continuing to sit by and rehash old conspiracy theories instead of taking action. House Republicans may be willing to abet President Trump’s worst behavior, but I am not,” said Nadler.
“The Congress stands at a crossroads. Democrats are poised to take action to respond to this culture of corruption that has taken hold under Mr. Trump and Republican Congressional Majorities. It is not too late for my Republican colleagues to put our country ahead of their politics and join us in our work,” he added.
Espinal, Adams Laud Ground Breaking of New ENY School
City Council Member Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams this week joined Mayor Bill de Blasio in breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art school at 3269 Atlantic Avenue in East New York.
The school is part of the East New York rezoning. Upon completion, it will provide 1,000 seats for pre-K through 8th grade students, and will open for the 2020-21 school year. It is fully ADA-accessible and the complex includes:
- Two state-of-the-art science labs;
- Gymatorium and two exercise rooms;
- Occupational therapy and physical therapy spaces;
- Two art rooms;
- A music room with sound-proof practice space;
- A 1,000-square-foot rooftop greenhouse, funded by Council Member Espinal;
- A school yard with a basketball court, play equipment, and benches and trees;
- The building will house a District 75 [special education] program.
“A school is so much more than a building full of classrooms. It is where our students learn valuable life lessons, build community, and friendship,” said Espinal. “That is why I am so proud that this state-of-the art school will provide technology, recreation and resources to make our students thrive. I also secured an extra $1 million to fund a greenhouse roof so that our students will have access to education in Urban farming, and the importance of healthy food from a young age. Putting them ahead of the curve around the conversation of sustainable cities. I am happy to see the many investments of the East New York Plan come through to fruition, no longer will the children on my community be disfranchised.”
“We’re not only breaking ground on a new school, we’re breaking ground on a brighter tomorrow for the children of East New York. I thank Mayor de Blasio for investing in this state-of-the-art educational facility that will be a beacon of hope for so many families, and I applaud Council Member Espinal in particular for his advocacy on this critical project, including his direction of funding for a rooftop greenhouse that will advance our shared cause of urban agriculture studies. When we invest in education, we invest in our future,” said Adams.
Brannan To Announce Increased Sanitation Funding
City Council Member Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) today will join with the city’s Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia to announce an increased funding for sanitation services in his council district.
The actual details of what this entails will likely be in tomorrow’s Lawmakers on the MOve.
The announcemnt is slated for 11 a.m., today, Aug. 23 in front of Brannan’s district office 8018 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge.
Maisel Hosts De Blasio In Town Hall Tonight
City Council Member Alan Maisel (D-Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Sheepshead Bay) tonight will host Mayor Bill de Blasio at a town hall in his district.
De Blasio is expected to bring a number of city agency heads and there will be a Q-and-A with the public.
The town hall is slated for 6:30 p.m., tonight, Aug. 23 at the Hebrew Educational Society, 9502 Seaview Avenue in Canarsie.
