Colton Alerts of Homeless Shelter Plans
Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) yesterday alerted the community about the city’s plan to build a homeless shelter at 2147 Bath Avenue in Bath Beach.
“I have learned that there was no proposal presented to Community Board 11 and there has been no transparency in informing the local communities that the city is planning to build a homeless shelter at 2147 Bath Avenue. The local community was not surveyed. No public hearing was conducted to hear community concerns regarding this project,” Colton stated.
“I am pleased that upon receiving notice of the city’s intention, Community Board 11 has requested that the city make a presentation about the specifics of this proposal. All we know so far is that the city intends to build a homeless shelter for 150 single men. This is in addition to another proposed shelter for 170 single men that the city is planning to build in the Brighton Beach area at 100 Neptune Avenue. If this shelter follows the rules, which the city imposes on its other shelters, the occupants will not be permitted to remain inside during the day but must return in the evening after being out all day. As such it does not provide a permanent solution to solving the problem of homelessness and is not even open to the many homeless families,” Colton continued.
“My additional concern is that there is an East Academy of Science & Technology High School is 0.3 miles and I.S. 281 Joseph B Cavallaro middle school which is 0.5 miles from the location. I believe that this project will create serious safety and quality of life issues for the neighborhood without solving the basic homeless issue. Therefore, I demand that a public hearing must be scheduled here in our community before the city will proceed with their project, and I demand that the city must seriously listen to the concerns of the community,” Colton added.
Persaud Helps Small Businesses Build Back From COVID-19
State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D- Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Old Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) advanced legislation to support small businesses that have taken the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This action builds on legislation passed in July 2020 to help hardworking New Yorkers and struggling small businesses and includes protecting small businesses from eviction and foreclosure with the COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Business Act, protecting restaurants from third-party delivery fees, implementing third-party restaurant posting requirements, promoting the shared work eligibility program, freezing unemployment insurance rates, and establishing a partial-unemployment system.
“Small businesses and restaurants across New York State have faced great hardship throughout the pandemic,” Persaud said. “This legislation package works to aid small businesses, provide legal protections, and provide necessary resources to help them recover and keep their doors open. This legislation package continues the Senate Majority’s commitment to helping New Yorkers and businesses recover, and we will continue to hold hearings and advance legislation as our communities move forward. I thank my colleagues and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for moving this legislation package forward.”
Cumbo, Levin Call for Cop Firing
City Councilmember Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn) and City Council Member Stephen Levin (D-Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg) yesterday called for New York City Police Officer Artem Prusayev to be fired for drawing his gun during a protest at the intersection of Myrtle and Flatbush Avenues in Downtown Brooklyn on Jan. 12.
“Let’s be clear, this behavior is never okay. From video and photo footage, it is clear to anyone that there was absolutely no reason for this officer to pull a loaded gun on a small group of peaceful protestors. This is not what public safety looks like, and action must be taken if the NYPD truly exists to “serve and protect” our city,” said Cumbo.
“After this was brought to our attention, my team immediately reached out to the 84th precinct who claims that this incident is “under investigation.” Nearly a week later, we have not been informed of any disciplinary action being taken. This is unacceptable, and I stand with community members in calling for the resignation of Officer Artem Prusayev. We must do better, and a prompt response to incidents such as these is the LEAST that the NYPD can do to assuage the concerns of our community,” she added.
Levin said it is clear to him that Officer Prusayev should not have access to a firearm and should not be in an environment where he could pull out a lethal weapon on the public unprovoked.
“This incident and the lack of transparency or accountability from the NYPD clearly demonstrates the need to change the disciple process for police officers. The current process consistently erodes the trust between the public and the police,” said Levin.
Rep. Clarke Congratulates Biden-Harris Administration
U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-East Flatbush, Central Brooklyn) released the following statement congratulating the newly sworn-in Biden Harris Administration.
“From impeachment, to insurrection, to a historic day of inauguration, the last Administration has been nothing short of a tumultuous undertaking that has provoked division in ways America has never known. Our constitution’s safeguards have held firm and supported the peaceful transition of power from one Administration to the next. Indeed there is no tradition more crucial to our nation than this. The Biden-Harris Administration historically included the first Black Caribbean-Indian American woman, Vice President Kamala Devi Harris. As a woman of Caribbean descent, the historic nature of this accomplishment cannot be understated. This morning, being among the socially-distanced masses watching history being made, I was overcome with joy. My colleagues and I were filled with the optimism of building towards a united future and the possibility of continuing to legislate on behalf of not only our constituents but the American public as a whole and our global contributions.
“For many people of color, immigrants, and other minority communities, these past four years have been difficult. But today is not a day to dwell on the past. Today we look forward with hope for this great nation and rejoice that the will of the people has prevailed.To President Biden and Vice President Harris, I wish you all the best. God bless the United States of America.”
Brooklyn Lawmakers Call for Fair Future Saving
City Council Member Stephen Levin (D-Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg), Borough President Eric Adams and Councilmembers Adrienne Adams (D-Queens), Antonio Reynoso (D-Brooklyn) and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will gather today to call on the Mayor to save Fair Futures.
The Fair Futures coalition, composed of over 200 former and current foster youth and child welfare advocates will gather virtually to call on the City and Mayor de Blasio to sustain and baseline funding for the Fair Futures model citywide.
Fair Futures, a transformative model implemented at all 26 foster care agencies in New York City, connects youth in foster care — 85% of whom are Black or Latinx — with 1:1 dedicated coaches, tutors and education, employment and housing specialists starting in middle school.
Over 4,000 middle- and high-school-aged children and youth are entrusted to the care of the city through the foster care system, and approximately 600-700 age out each year at age 21 without any adult to turn to for guidance. Foster youth who age out are disproportionately likely to become homeless, involved in the justice system, or to face unexpected pregnancy. In New York, only about 21% of foster youth who age out finish high school by age 21, compared to 67% nationally. Only 12% will enter college or a vocational program.
This event is slated to take place at 1:30 p.m. today, Jan 21. RSVP to Nichola.Greenblatt@berlinrosen.com and register here: https://graham-windham.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JUf041S7Q1iZRvMJchKN6Q.
