Abbate Announces Women of Distinction Awards Recipients
As part of Women’s History Month celebrations, Assemblyman Peter Abbate (Sunset Park, Bensonhurst) is happy to announce he has honored five extraordinary women from his district to be named 2016 Women of Distinction Awardees.
The women were recognized at Abbate’s district office yesterday on Fort Hamilton Parkway. Awardees included Barbara Turchio, Community Liaison and NIA (Neighborhood Improvement Association) Site Supervisor, Maggie Gu, Small business owner and entrepreneur, Barbara Turchio, Community Liaison and NIA (Neighborhood Improvement Association) Site Supervisor, Maggie Gu, Small business owner and entrepreneur, Haney Ho, Vice President of the Brooklyn Chinese American Association and Laurie Windsor, President of CEC 20 and Genevieve Incontrera, Bethanny Senior Center Coordinator.
“There are so many impressive women who are truly making a difference here in our community,” said Abbate, “The Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony is an important opportunity to thank these women for the work they do to make our area a better place.”
Adams Calls On State To Do More For DV Victims
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will join with female elected officials from across Brooklyn today in calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Senate Republicans to support expanding a program that helps those forced to leave their home because of domestic violence.
Adams is calling on the Family Eviction Prevention Supplement (FEPS) program to increase the subsidy provided to families in domestic violence situations to match fair market rental values for New York City.
It is estimated about 1,600 families in New York City that are impacted by domestic violence would benefit from such an expansion in the coming year. FEPS currently excludes those who have had to flee for their safety but were not subject to a legal eviction ruling. Adams, who experienced domestic violence in his family as a child, will address his personal history and urge the State to take compassionate action in the impending budget.
Adams and other will make their case at 1 p.m. today at Brooklyn Borough Hall 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Treyger Honors Former Student Turned Broadway Star
City Council Member Mark Treyger (Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend and Sea Gate) presented Anthony Ramos, cast member of the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” and graduate of Bensonhurst’s New Utrecht High School, with a City Council Proclamation this week in City Hall.
Treyger and Ramos were joined by United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew and Ramos’ former New Utrecht High School drama teacher, Sara Steinweiss.
Ramos, who plays the roles of title character’s son Philip and John Laurens in the Grammy-winning musical, attended New Utrecht High School while Treyger taught history and government there prior to being elected to the City Council. While teaching at the school, he attended some of Ramos’ earliest theatrical performances, including the school’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Ramos began his high school career as an athlete. He played baseball and wrestled for New Utrecht, but in his junior year, friends convinced him to try out for a talent show. That led to him landing the lead role in a student-produced play. Despite virtually no acting experience, his performance caught the eye of Steinweiss, who pushed him to continue acting.
With the help of Steinweiss, his guidance counselor Jason Jacobs, his baseball and wrestling coaches, and other teachers and staff at the school, Ramos was able to maintain his focus on his studies while nurturing his budding interest in the dramatic arts.
As his high school graduation neared, he considered attending community college or joining the Navy, but Ms. Steinweiss pushed him to apply to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, even paying for his application because he could not afford it. The school accepted him after he auditioned, but he could not afford the tuition. The Jerry Seinfeld Scholarship fund stepped in and agreed to cover the cost of Ramos’ tuition after Steinweiss contacted them regarding her student.
Ramos has gone on to perform in productions across the country, and currently stars in “Hamilton.” He is also cast in several motion pictures due to be released in the near future.
“As a former educator at New Utrecht High School, I am immensely proud to see that Anthony Ramos is one of the brightest up-and-comers in a cultural art form that is intertwined with New York City’s history. Mr. Ramos exemplifies what the public school system can be for our young people,” said Treyger.
“With the support of his family and caring assistance from his teachers, counselors, coaches, and school staff, Mr. Ramos navigated his way through the pitfalls of adolescence and emerged from his public school experience ready to embark on a wonderful journey and make a tremendous cultural impact on our society. His success story reminds us that our public schools need the arts, athletics, and the extracurricular programs that government must continue funding,” he added.
Gentile Announces Sale Of Seedy Hotel
Bay Ridge City Council Member Vincent Gentile announced yesterday that the seedy Prince Hotel, 315 93rd Street, will be auctioned off at the Sheriff’s Sale.
Mayor Bill de Blasio had the hotel shuttered recently after hearing from residents at a recent Town Hall that it has long been the scourge of the neighborhood drawing drug dealers and users as well as women of the night.
“I think I speak for the entire community by saying how pleased I am that the sale process for the Prince Hotel is moving forward. The Prince has been an albatross around the neck of the area’s quality of life for far too long so nobody will be sorry to see it go,” said Gentile
The auction is slated for 1 p.m., June 8 at the King’s County Sherriff’s Office, 210 Joralemon Street, Room 909 in Downtown Brooklyn.
Donovan Slams Trans-Pacific Trade Deal
Southern Brooklyn/Staten Island Congressman Dan Donovan and 16 other New York Members of Congress yesterday sent a letter to President Obama expressing their opposition to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
The letter outlines their concerns about job losses caused by previous free-trade agreements as well as the proposed deal’s failure to address currency manipulation.
“My criteria in deciding whether to support this deal is simple: will it cost Staten Island and South Brooklyn workers their jobs? The answer is yes. I cannot support a proposal that puts more blue collar jobs on the chopping block,” said Donovan.
The letter explains that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) resulted in 370,000 manufacturing job losses in New York State alone. Donovan and other TPP opponents argued that blue collar workers cannot absorb another devastating hit, especially when middle class Americans are struggling to pay their mortgages and save for their children’s college education.
Brooklyn’s other Congress Members including Hakeem Jeffries Yvette Clarke, Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez also signed the letter.
