Eugene to Give Out Free Food
Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Lefferts Gardens) today is partnering with local organizations to provide free food and masks to residents facing food insecurity and to help protect them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the past few weeks, I have been honored to partner with community organizations to provide free food and masks to hundreds of members of the community,” said Eugene. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a serious public health issue, and we still have friends and neighbors who are at-risk and need resources to stay healthy. By providing food and masks to those who are dealing with financial instability and food insecurity, we are helping numerous families get through this crisis.
“It is important to me to demonstrate what is possible when we work together as a society and do what is right for our neighbors who are struggling. I am very appreciative to the organizations and volunteers who have assisted with this event, and I remain committed to doing everything in my power to provide these resources to those who need them most,” he added.
This event is slated to take place at 3 p.m. today, Sept. 24 in front of the Eugene’s District Office, 900 Rogers Avenue in Flatbush.
Adams to Advance Nutritional Education for Healthcare Professionals
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will join today with the Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic to release a new report putting forward concrete policies the City and State can adopt to advance nutrition education for health care professionals.
Physicians and other health care professionals who interact with patients on a daily basis currently receive little to no formal education on nutrition, despite being a trusted source for information on the relationship between diet and health.
Adams, who was able to reverse his diabetes through a whole-food, plant-based diet and lifestyle changes, will highlight his own health journey and how it spurred his advocacy for this cause. He will also speak about how a more robust nutrition education requirements for healthcare professionals can mitigate the risk of severe health complications from coronavirus for some, in light of the fact that diet-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes are some of the leading co-morbidities associated with COVID-19.
Rose Backs Bill Protecting First Responder Communications
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) helped pass through the House of Representatives the Don’t Break up the T-Band Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation that would repeal a provision of a 2012 law that directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction the T-band spectrum (470-512 MHz) by 2021.
Emergency personnel in major metropolitan areas across the United States use the T-band spectrum for emergency public safety communication. It allows first responders to communicate even when cell towers, electricity or the internet are down and allows communication deep underground in tunnels or inside concrete buildings.
“We’ve seen in times of absolute chaos, crisis, and times of emergency just how critical communication is between our first responders and emergency personnel,” Rose said.“Unfortunately, the spectrum that New York City’s cops, firefighters, and first responders depend on is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder—public safety be damned. That’s wrong and doing so would hinder the ability to respond quickly and properly in times when things are scariest. I’m proud to see this pass with such broad, bipartisan support and see no reason why the Senate won’t quickly do the same.”
Agencies across the country have invested millions of local, state, and federal dollars in the T-band networks, and the result is reliable coverage and regional interoperability that first responders rely on to keep us safe.
Brannan Introduces Emergency Preparedness Bill
City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) introduced legislation yesterday to ensure the city is prepared for any future state disaster emergency or local state of emergency.
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. I am proud to join my colleague Councilmember Fernando Cabrera in introducing this vital legislation to require the City of New York to produce an annual report on our readiness for a public health emergency. As we have all seen with the COVID19 pandemic, all levels of government were caught off guard and ill-prepared, and the consequences have been dire, unacceptable, and completely avoidable. We need to ensure that our city has plans in place for any future public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks so that countless lives and livelihoods can be saved,” said Brannan.
Intro 2088-2020 would require New York’s Commissioner of Emergency Management to submit an annual report to the City Council describing the City’s level of preparedness and ability to respond to emergencies including infectious disease and bioterrorism that impact public health.
The annual report would include a list of all city agencies, offices or private entities that were involved in the City’s emergency response; description of the city’s current public healthcare workforce and ways to improve medical surge capacity; and guidelines for notifying and communicating with the public and City officials during a local public health emergency.
Treyger, Gounardes to Visit with Pre-K Families
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) today will endorse State State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) for re-election.
The two lawmakers will also greet and speak with Pre-K families who are heading back to school this week.
This event is slated to take place at 11:30 a.m., today, Sept. 24 at PS 205, 6701 20th Ave in Bensonhurst.
Adams Launches Portal for Borough Hall’s Topography Bureau
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams announced the launch of an online appointment portal for Brooklyn Borough Hall’s topography bureau, whose mandate under the City Charter is to maintain the Borough Map and to furnish copies of the map and related data to City agencies and the general public upon request.
“Even with many New Yorkers continuing to adjust to a new normal of remote work, the services our office provides, upon which many Brooklynites rely, must continue. I am proud that Brooklyn is the first borough to offer such a service to the public, which is critical for civil engineers, architects, historians, and many others who shape our neighborhoods. I thank my staff for their continued efforts to serve the public during this unprecedented time,” said Adams.
Beginning this week, appointments can be made through the portal. Topographical bureau staff will be at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Mondays through Wednesdays and will be working remotely through email and phone on Thursdays and Fridays. The bureau is providing appointment services for the drop-off and pick-up of house number applications; for City employees, surveyors, and title searchers who need information regarding benchmarks, mappings, monuments, and street statuses, as well as for anyone who would like to view the bureau’s Sanborn atlases.
The full hours and corresponding availability for specific services are:
Monday: 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM / 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (House Numbers Only)
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM / 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (House Numbers Only)
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 11:45 AM / 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (Title Searchers/Surveyors/City Agencies Only)
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: CLOSED
The portal can be accessed through his website at brooklyn-usa.org/topography.
