Myrie Honors Brownsville Veteran
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) honored Brownsville resident Jestine Roper with the New York Senate’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame Award.
“It is my honor to present this award to Jestine Roper who has not only served our country in the armed forces, but also serves our local community,” said Myrie.
“Ms. Roper served for thirty years in the US Army, and continues to uplift young people and seniors in Brownsville with environmental education programming. I am proud to represent Ms. Roper and all the other veterans across our district whose contributions we honor today.”
Jestine Roper enlisted in the United States Army and served for 30 years retiring as Chief Warrant Officer 3. During her service in the military, she held various positions, including Telecommunication Center Operator, Army Communication Security Officer, Army Motor Pool Officer, and the Company Commander for Annual Training. Her following Units included 99th Signal Battalion (Floyd Bennett Field. Brooklyn), 343rd Combat Support Hospital (Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn), and 344th Combat Support Hospital (Fort Totten, Queens).
Walker, Salazar, Lander to Host Anti-Speculation Rally
Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brownsville), State Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Bushwick, Cypress Hills, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York) and City Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) are hosting a rally tomorrow calling on the City Council to abolish the NYC tax lien sale and for the state legislature to pass the NYS Small Homes Anti-Speculation Act.
Sponsor organizations include the Brownsville Nehemiah Homeowners’ Association, Housing Justice For All, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Western Queens CLT, Cooper Square CLT, The Bronx CLT, Chhaya, CDC, UHAB, Take Root Justice, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, New Economy Project, NYCCLI, Community Service Society and Northfield Community LDC.
This event is slated to take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at 486 Glenmore Avenue in Brownsville.
Simon on New Protected Bike Lanes
Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, DUMBO) is proud to announce that there are new protected bike lanes on Flatbush and 4th avenue.
“I’m so pleased that DOT has completed the protected bike lane (PBL) projects on Flatbush and 4th Avenues, which ensure safer streets for all New Yorkers along these busy corridors. Biking in New York should be fun, accessible, and safe, but it takes work to make that a reality and the new protected bike lanes are a solid step forward. We have seen far too many cyclists killed this year, and we must work to reverse that trend. There is safety in numbers and in infrastructure, and I hope that with each new protected bike lane, more and more New Yorkers will feel comfortable getting out on their bikes,” Simon wrote in her newsletter.
The Flatbush Avenue PBL runs in both directions from Grand Army Plaza to Ocean Avenue, providing direct connections from Downtown Brooklyn and the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges to Prospect- Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush and beyond. The lane provides increased access to Prospect Park, and also allows easier bike access to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo and the Brooklyn Public Library. The 4th Avenue PBL adds protected lanes to the entire corridor from 65th Street in Bay Ridge to Barclays Center in Prospect Heights.
Adams on Possible School Shutdown
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams released a statement on potential school closures due to rising COVID-19 cases.
“As serious and justified concerns on the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases spark a move toward decisive action, we must be far more strategic than we have been to date about the restrictions the government puts in place. Full shutdowns were necessary when we had virtually no testing capacity or knowledge of the virus. Now we know that robust testing combined with strict protocols around mask-wearing and social distancing can be extremely effective. We also know that our schools have much lower transmission rates than citywide and community averages,” said Adams.
“Families expect and deserve clear guidance, informed by science and the lessons we’ve already learned in this pandemic. Before the City moves to shut down schools that are not experiencing any documented cases of the virus, it must explain why comprehensive testing and tracing to prevent outbreaks is either not available or effective. The last thing we should do is unnecessarily compromise the futures of our students by further overloading a remote learning system that has been a disaster — especially for Black and Latino and lower-income families,” he added.
Senators Announce Funding for NYC Management Budget
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced $42,997,137.20 in funding for New York City’s Office of Management and Budget.
New York City was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, and this critical funding will help the city cover previous COVID-19 expenses that helped protect New York’s communities and mitigated the risk of COVID-19. Specifically, this funding covers the cost of enhanced protective measures that have been deployed throughout New York State, including personal protective equipment (PPE), medical equipment, and disinfectant services for public buildings.
“I’m proud to deliver these federal funds to help New York City cover the massive costs of increased protective measures needed to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency,” said Schumer. “While these funds are critical to New York City’s COVID-19 response and recovery, we must deliver more state and local assistance. New York needs a bill that meets the moment and current need, like the House-passed Heroes Act, which passed more than five months ago and has not been taken up by the Senate under McConnell’s leadership. As the pandemic continues to impact New York and the entire country, local governments and the American people need the help of Congress. I will continue to fight for federal funding and meaningful legislation that benefits New Yorkers and the American people in the ongoing battle against coronavirus and will not accept inadequate Republican proposals.”
“New York City has been on the frontline of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and this essential funding will give state and city officials the resources needed to mitigate the risk of further spread,” said Gillibrand. “As the pandemic continues into the winter months, this funding will equip our public officials and frontline workers with the resources needed to do their jobs efficiently and to safely rebuild our economy and communities.”
