News, developments: Friday, July 14, 2023

IN MEMORIAM: RALPH J. PERFETTO, MR. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND FILMMAKER

BAY RIDGE — Brooklyn, and the Bay Ridge community in particular, is mourning Ralph J. Perfetto, Sr., State Assembly District Leader and Committeeman for the 64th District, who died on Wednesday, July 12. The Brooklyn Democratic Party, which issued a statement Thursday, did not give Perfetto’s age or cause of death. A passionate community activist for more than half a century, he was a highly respected and empathetic liaison to the Brooklyn Democratic Party for 18 years. He also served as a former ombudsman in the Office of the Public Advocate and as director of cemeteries in New York State under Governor Mario Cuomo.

Mr. Perfetto discovered an enjoyable and rewarding career as an actor and had roles in dozens of films and episodes of critically acclaimed television series. She had recently written a script and acted in a series titled “Sister Kathleen and the Don,” which finished shooting earlier this summer on locations in Brooklyn, including St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church. According to June 13 Eagle article by Helen Kleinthe series is free of violence or profanity, because Perfetto needed the approval of the Diocese of Brooklyn to film in a church.

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LARK BY THE PARK OPENS JULY 28 AT UMBRELLA PARK

PROSPECT PARK: The Prospect Park Parade Ground snack bar will get a new restaurant when Flatbush favorite Lark Cafe opens a seasonal location on the Parade Ground. from July 28. Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that maintains Brooklyn’s Backyard, has announced that Lark by the Park, an offshoot of the Church Avenue cafe, will be open throughout the summer and fall months, offering a menu of delicious options from pizza, hot dogs and smashed hamburgers to breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and shakes.

The Prospect Park Alliance has also brought in other popular restaurants to enhance the outdoor experience for parkgoers, including the popular Smorgasburg on Breeze Hill, Winner in the Park at the Picnic House and King David Tacos at Grand Army Plaza .

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OPEN THE ‘BLUE PARK’ SKATEPARK IN MARTINEZ PARK

EAST WILLIAMSBURG – The ‘Blue Park’ skatepark will debut this weekend on July 16th at the Martinez Playground in East Williamburg. The spot is famous among Brooklyn skaters for its color combination and smooth surface, and thanks to local advocates supported by Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Martin Maher, Councilwoman Jennifer Gutierrez, Tony Hawk’s The Skatepark Project and Vans Skateboarding, the 7,000 square foot skating space has officially been restored. The renovated skatepark features a set of safe concrete obstacles that honor the original obstacles created by the local community.

“The renovation of Blue Park is an incredible feat of local advocacy, and we are proud to help make this dream a reality,” said Benjamin Anderson Bashein, Executive Director of the Skatepark Project. “Skateboarding is a great way to form close bonds and build communities, made possible through outdoor recreation. We’re excited to partner with Vans to honor the community’s passion for skateboarding by providing skating obstacles contemporary artworks that are permanent and secure”.

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SENTENCED TO 9 YEARS FOR HAND-TO-HAND ROBBERY IN QUEENS AQUEDUCT

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly in Brooklyn federal court on Thursday, July 13, sentenced a man to 108 months (nine years) in prison for his role in an armed robbery. three years ago at Aqueduct Racecourse in Queens. Lamel Miller, 41, who pleaded guilty to armed robbery and theft of $280,000 on March 7, 2020, was also convicted in Brooklyn federal court last October of brandishing a firearm at relation to the theft.

Miller’s co-defendant, Lafayette Morrison, also 41, who was a racetrack security guard who acted as an “inside man” during the robbery, was sentenced to 90 months in prison.

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CITY COUNCIL VOTE 42-8 TO OVERDO MAYOR ADAMS’ VETO OF HOUSING LEGISLATION

TOWN HALL – For the first time since the Bloomberg administration, the City Council voted 42-8 Thursday, July 13, to override Mayor Eric Adams’ veto of a package of bills designed to expand access to a rental housing voucher program., reports City & State and other media. In doing so, the City Council reintroduced the legislation, saying it is vital to help solve the city’s housing crisis for vulnerable New Yorkers and give them access to and retention of permanent housing through vouchers CityFHEPS. The vote to override also signals growing criticism of the City Council over Mayor Adams’ handling of the budget and refugee crisis. However, among the eight Council members who voted against the override was conservative Democrat Kalman Yeger, who represents the 44th District, which includes Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Gravesend, Kensington and Midwood.

City & State noted that Mayor de Blasio did not issue any vetoes during his administration.

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THE GROUP OF RETIRED TO PRESENT TO THE CITY HALL TO APPROACH THE MEDIGAP PROTECTION LAW

IN THE CITY – Following last week’s preliminary injunction by a state Supreme Court judge preventing the city from ending traditional public Medicare coverage for its municipal retirees, group has scheduled a lunchtime rally at City Hall on Thursday, July 13 to celebrate this victory and to push for the passage of City Bill Intro 1099. Noting that the preliminary demand is only a temporary victory, Marianne Pizzitola, president of the New York City Public Service Retirees Organization, said Thursday morning that the court order prohibits the city from forcing a quarter of a million retirees elderly and disabled to drop their long-term Medicare insurance and into a lower type of insurance called “Medicare Advantage.” The bill, of which Councilman Charles Barron (D-42/East New York), is the key sponsor, would require the City to offer a Medigap plan, the same type of policy they have had for nearly 60 years.

Pizzitola added, “The unions are sending emails to the Council telling them not to sign the Intro 1099, after threatening to withdraw endorsements and donations if they do.”

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HEARING ON CITY BAN ON FOIE GRAS TODAY

IN THE CITY — The New York State Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a Section 78 proceeding over the sale of foie gras in the city, as an arbitrary directive began in December 2022 that overturns the city’s ban. The Voters’ For Animal Rights’ activist group released a statement Thursday targeting the governor and attorney general for allegedly overriding local governments’ authority to regulate commerce, saying, “Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court has twice sided with local governments’ animal protection laws were challenged for violating state and federal trade laws.However, Governor Hochul and State Attorney General James continue to defend their capricious and unsupported position rather than allow New York City to enact and enforce his human law.”

The original ban on foie gras was created in 2019. A French immigrant in New York City told the New York Times in February of this year, “Why don’t they eat it? Benjamin Franklin was very familiar with the French cuisine. The Marquis de Lafayette came from France. Foie gras is a traditional French food.

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GAMMA ACTORS JOIN WRITERS IN INDUSTRY-WIDE STRIKE

HOLLYWOOD – A synergistic set of labor strikes has essentially shut down the Hollywood film and television industry, with the actors’ union, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG- AFTRA) – approving a strike on Thursday afternoon, July 5. The SAG-AFTRA vote came hours after contract talks with a studio group broke down. Approximately 160,000 television and film actors will join the writers already on the picket lines. This work stoppage is the first time since 1960 that Hollywood’s two main entertainment unions have gone on strike together: the president of the actors’ union at the time was Ronald Reagan.

The strike will affect member organizations of the Alliance of Film and Television Producers, which represent Disney, Netflix and Amazon, among others.

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