BP Adams To Launch New Mobile Food Unit, “Fresh Vibes Market”
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH) Executive Director and Founder Dr. Melony Samuels will launch the “Fresh Vibes Market,” a new state-of-the-art recreational vehicle (RV) that has been retrofitted to bring below-market price produce, cooking demonstrations, nutrition workshops, as well as a range of other social services to food deserts across Brooklyn.
The initiative was funded through a $308,000 grant from Borough President Adams’ Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) capital budget as well as operating expense support from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, outside the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in East Flatbush, a community facing some of the highest levels of food insecurity in Brooklyn.
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, part of the One Brooklyn Health System, has partnered with TCAH to create numerous outreach efforts designed to eliminate barriers to food access and needed social services in the community.
Joined by impacted families and local elected officials like Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel (D-Brownsville), Adams and Dr. Samuels will showcase the features of this mobile unit and the impact they expect it will have in combating diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and other chronic illnesses that are preventable and reversible through dietary changes.
The event is slated for 10:30 a.m., today, April 24, at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center-Courtyard, 585 Schenectady Avenue in East Flatbush.
Rose Hosts Veterans Roundtable to Discuss Veteran Suicides, Local Needs
Congressman Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) an Army Combat veteran and member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, yesterday hosted his bi-monthly meeting with local veterans to follow up on his Veterans Breakfast Listening Session earlier this year.
Tuesday’s meeting focused on Rose’s new legislation to address the troubling trend of veterans dying by suicide on Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) campuses, issues surrounding transportation to the VA, and ensuring critical services like Post Traumatic Stress groups and treatment are preserved and not threatened by privatization efforts.
Rose’s legislation, FIGHT Veterans Suicide Act, is a key effort in response to recent tragedies of veterans committing suicide on VA campuses. Congress has found that VA is not always forthcoming with timely information around these events. Having key data points which this legislation requires from VA would help Congress fully understand the scope of this crisis to better serve veterans in need. Within a span of just five days this month, it’s been reported that three veterans have committed suicide at VA facilities.
“We have so much work to do to address the tragedy of veteran suicide, including making sure Congress gets critical information from the VA.But we also need to make sure crucial services aren’t cut back and scaled down in a form of de facto privatization, especially when it comes to treatment and support for those with Post Traumatic Stress,” said Rose.
“Feedback from meetings like today’s is critical to my work in Washington and right here in our community to ensure we’re keeping our promises to our veterans. I look forward to continued conversations,” added Rose.
Cornegy Unveils New Planned Parenthood NYC Mobile Health Center
City Council member Robert Cornegy, Jr. (D-Northern Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant) alongside Public Advocate Jumaane Williams yesterday helped unveil Planned Parenthood of New York City’s new, state-of-the-art Keith Haring Foundation – Project Street Beat Mobile Health Center in a ribbon cutting ceremony near City Hall.
The new vehicle’s expanded space and features, including two sound-proof counseling rooms, a wheelchair lift, and an expandable awning, will allow Project Street Beat to reach more people in more communities.
The program’s Mobile Health Center travels throughout Upper Manhattan, Central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, delivering a wide variety of care from HIV testing and counseling and STI testing and treatment to overdose prevention counseling, health insurance enrollment, gynecological care, and more.
For 30 years, Project Street Beat has provided confidential, nonjudgmental health care to New Yorkers right on the street, to meet them where they are. The program uses an innovative, targeted approach to outreach during day and night shifts, concentrating on the places where people hang out.
“Alongside committed partners, Project Street Beat has lifted up a unique approach to health care, advanced accessibility, and valued every resident of our shared communities. It is my pleasure to celebrate Project Street Beat’s new state-of-the-art mobile health center and honor the important care provided for countless New Yorkers,” said Cornegy.
Velazquez Applauds NYC’s Green New Deal
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn, LES, Queens) this week applauded Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement this week of NYC’s Green New Deal. The new initiative launched on Monday, will take a bold and audacious position to attack global warming on all fronts.
The plan is comprised of $14 billion in new and committed investments, legislation and concrete action at the City level that will ensure a nearly 30 percent additional reduction in emissions by 2030.
The Green New Deal policies are laid out in “OneNYC 2050: Building a Strong and Fair City,” a new, comprehensive plan to prepare the city for the future and lead the way for the nation on how to address the existential threats posed by climate change, economic insecurity, inequity, and rising global intolerance.
The plan aims to reduce the City’s emissions by 23 percent through the following actions from a 2005 baseline:
- 10%: Mandating that all large, existing buildings implement retrofits to be more efficient and lower emissions – a global first.
- 6%: OneNYC initiatives to further reduce emissions including more renewable energy, expanded energy efficiency in buildings and reduced reliance on fossil fuel vehicles.
- 5%: Pursuing a deal to power 100% of City operations with clean electricity sources like Canadian hydropower.
- 2%: Cleaning up vehicle fleet and implementing congestion pricing.
“New York can be a leader for the rest of the nation in combating the growing threat of climate change. Addressing this pressing danger will require working federally, locally and internationally. I’m hopeful that by adopting a Green New Deal, New York City can help lead the way for other cities, states and localities in reducing carbon emissions and building a more sustainable economy that creates jobs and opportunity, while preserving our planet for future generations,” said Velázquez.
