BP Adams To Discuss Public Safety Measures Amid Holiday Shopping Season
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will discuss enhancements that have been made in recent weeks to advance public safety in Downtown Brooklyn after a series of daytime shooting incidents several months ago and growing concerns about gang-related activity threatening children, families, and seniors around the Fulton Mall area.
Adams will share some important safety tips for the holiday season and beyond following discussions he convened with local law enforcement agencies, business leaders, community stakeholders, educational institutions and residents’ associations.
Amid the activity of the holiday shopping season, which brings an influx of foot traffic to the area, Adams will be joined at a media briefing by leadership from the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP), Kings County District Attorney’s Office, New York City Department of Probation (DOP), New York City Police Department (NYPD), and New York State Courts Department of Public Safety, among others.
The event is slated for 2:30 p.m., today, Dec. 17, at Brooklyn Borough Hall – Courtroom, at 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Menchaca Announces Longshore Job Opportunity
City Council member Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) announced an opportunity for local residents to be employed as a Longshore worker.
The Brooklyn 1 Industrial & Transportation Career Center alongside the NY Shipping Association (NYSA) have partnered to hire for positions in the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).
Longshore workers may operate large and complex cargo handling equipment. These jobs are performed in all weather conditions during daylight, evening and night time hours.
Requirements:
- Local residents are encouraged to apply
- 2 years experience working with a manufacturing, in a factory using a forklift of/in commercial construction, experience with all-weather outdoor work environment, and/or equivalent secondary school Career and Technical Education
- Driver’s License
- Ability to lift and pull 75 pounds
- Available 24/7 and experience working outdoors
- Demonstrated commitment to at least a year’s employment with the firm
- Experience in a fast paced environment
- Team player
If interested, potential employees will need to meet with the Brooklyn Workforce 1 Industrial & Transportation Career Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday -Friday, at 140 58th Street, Building B (away from the water), Lobby Left Hand Side in Sunset Park.
Espinal Tackles Treatment of Shelter Residents
City Council Member Rafael Espinal (D-Williamsburg, Cypress Hills, East New York) will hold a hearing on two critical pieces of legislation aimed at addressing systemic issues in the shelter system today.
On Monday, Espinal will fight for Int. 883 and Int. 884, aimed at making the shelter system more humane during the City Council Committee on General Welfare hearing.
Int. 883 will require all Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and contracted shelter employees to receive customer service training, equipping them with better cultural sensitivity, and de-escalation tactics. Int. 884 requires all shelters operated by the City or third parties to report on the number of transfers they issue with 72 hours of notice or less.
The bills are inspired by the recent story of Angela Castillo and just over a week since the violent arrests of Jazmine Headley.Earlier this year, Angela Castillo a mother of four young children challenged a shelter transfer that would have moved her family out of Bushwick, where the family had lived for about 4 years since being evicted, according to the New York Times.
Headley, 23-years-old was arrested while at a Brooklyn food assistance center earlier this month, where she was forcibly separated from her one-year-old son.
The event is slated for 12:30 p.m., today, Dec. 17, on the Steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Nadler, Senior Dems Demand Answers In Death of Girl In Border Patrol Custody
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-Western Brooklyn, Western Manhattan), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, led a letter signed by Senior House Democrats to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Inspector General John Kelly demanding answers in the death of a 7-year-old girl who died last week while in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.
The death, first revealed by the Washington Post, is raising serious concerns among top officials about the conditions in CBP’s short-term holding facilities, and the general suitability of such facilities for families given that Border Patrol stations were never designed to hold children.
In their letter, the Members requested the IG’s office begin an immediate formal investigation with the expectation that DHS would quickly provide answers to Congress on why this tragedy happened, what policies may have been contributing factors in the young girl’s death, and how it was never reported by CBP as directed by Congress in the statement accompanying the FY18 DHS Funding bill.
Jakelin Caal, a Guatamalan immigrant, reportedly went several days without food and water before crossing the Southern border with her father Nery Caal. The two were then picked up eight hours after crossing the border, at which point Nery told officials his daughter was sick and vomiting, which later turned into a 105.9 fever on a 90-minute bus ride to Lordsburg, N.M. Jakelin would later die at the Providence Children’s Hospital, according to DHS and consular officials.
“Due to the seriousness of this tragedy and the many questions that remain, we request you initiate an investigation into this incident, as well as CBP policies or practices that may have contributed to the child’s death. The investigation should focus on policies and practices designed to protect health and safety, as well as policies and practices that may result in increased migration through particularly harsh terrain,” the Members wrote.
