BP Adams, Bichotte React To “Cornerstore Caroline” Incident
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will host a community-wide conversation at the site of the “Cornerstore Caroline” viral incident in Flatbush today.
Last Friday, Oct.12, Ms. Teresa Klein, a resident of the Flatbush community, traumatized a young 9-year old child by falsely accusing him of groping her while at the Sahara Deli Market. Klein soon after, allegedly called the cops on the young boy, claiming that she was “sexually assaulted.” The cops never showed up but the incident was videotaped by Jason Littlejohn and quickly went viral. Klein later apologized for her actions after reviewing surveillance footage of the incident that shows the child’s backpack actually brushed up against her.
Adams is hoping the event encourages Brooklynites to publicly share their views on the importance of diversity and respect following days of local outrage from the incident. Adams is demanding the New York City Police Department (NYPD) investigate the incident, calling it a “modern-day Emmett Till moment.”
Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) was outraged by the incident and will also be in attendance at the event.
“Whether intentional or not, Ms. Klein’s behavior echoes an ugly past in our country’s history going back to the brutal torture and murder of Emmitt Till. Till, 14, Black, was falsely accused of “wolf whistling” at a white woman and as a result was lynched. We cannot allow racial incidents of public intimidation, especially those directed at children, to go unanswered.As we call on our community to condemn these types of action from happening again, we will look to the enforcement of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause,” said Bichotte.
The event is slated for 5:30 p.m., today, Oct. 15, at Corner of Flatbush Avenue and Albemarle Road in Flatbush.
Menchaca Announces Upgrade To Birth, Death Certificate Online System
City Council member Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) announced yesterday that the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will be upgrading their online system for obtaining a birth or death certificate.
The new system being implemented this month will make it easier for individuals to attain these certificates. Also for this week only, DOHMH will only be able to handle emergency in-person certificate orders and will have reduced office hours as a result of the online improvements.
For questions or concerns about the change, individuals can contact Menchaca’s office at 718-439-9012.
Velazquez Announces Micro-Enterprise Workshop Event
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn, Queens, Lower Manhattan) will host a Micro-Enterprise Workshop later this month.
The event will give individuals interested in starting a small business information on local resources and opportunities for jump starting their new company.
The event is slated for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m, Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Center For Family Life P.S. 1 Beacon, at 309 47th Street in Sunset Park.
Malliotakis Denounces Brutal Assault Of Staten Island Women By Homeless Man
Assembly member Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I,Ref – Staten Island/Brooklyn) denounced the disturbing assault of a 63-year old woman by an alleged homeless and mentally disturbed individual last week.
Last Monday, Eric Coleman attacked Doreen Belloni from behind while in the New Dorp section of Staten Island. Belloni was running errands when she was assaulted and dragged by Coleman who police say has a history of approximately 20 arrests, 13 convictions and history of mental illness.Coleman did not have any connection with Belloni, police say, and it appeared he followed her on the street prior to the attack. Belloni spent five days in the hospital, and was finally released on Friday to face a long road towards recovery, according to initial reports.
In the wake of the attack, Malliotakis is proposing a number of reforms to the current criminal justice system:
- Kendra’s law, which allows for court ordered out-patient treatment, should be made permanent.
- There should be a staff member trained to complete Kendra’s Law petitions present at hospitals and correctional facilities.
- 72 hour mandatory evaluation should be required by judges for anyone who has threatened harm to themselves or others.
- When there is a history of mental illness, judges should be required to notify family and counsel that Kendra’s law is an option.
- Justice centers should assist with completing Kendra’s law petitions.
- Government needs to stop downsizing state-run facilities.
- No one in custody who suffers from a mental illness, substance addiction and/or who are homeless should be released without services.
- The law should be changed so that judges are also required to consider an individual’s threat to public safety when setting bail.
This is not the first incident involving an individual with a lengthy criminal record and mental illness or drug abuse who has harmed others. In November 2017 Geetha Howie was stabbed to death in West Brighton by a stranger with 15 prior criminal convictions. In January of this year Staten Island senior Jacinto Suarez of Stapleton was pushed to his death from the R train platform in Brooklyn by a man whose relatives say suffers from Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. In March 2017, Yadira Arroyo, an FDNY EMT was murdered by an emotionally disturbed drug user with 31 prior arrests.
“The combination of Governor Cuomo reducing the number of beds at state-run psychiatric facilities, as well as Mayor de Blasio’s push to close Rikers Island have left many on the street untreated, causing potential harm to themselves and danger to the public. The individuals who are often left untreated for substance abuse or mental illness find themselves in the revolving door of the criminal justice system, released to do harm again as is the case in Monday’s assault,” said Malliotakis
