News, Developments: Monday, July 24, 2023

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER JEFFRIES SECURES $1 MILLION, DISTRIBUTES FOOD FOR MET COUNCIL

BOROUGHWIDE – House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries donated $1 million to the Met Council on Jewish Poverty, joining Met Council CEO David Greenfield and Rabbi Avrohom Hecht, executive director of the Canarsie JCC, last week in distributing food to those in need. Together, they distributed more than 500 boxes of food and fresh produce. Representative Jeffries’ funding allocation represents a significant boost to the Met Council’s Kosher and Halal Emergency Food Program, and also a huge victory for the countless individuals and families who depend on the Met Council’s services for sustenance and support.

The largest charity in Congressman Jeffries’ district and the largest Jewish charity in the country, Met Council owns and operates six affordable housing buildings, and each month serves more than 20,000 people in the district, nearly half of whom are from minority and immigrant communities.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries (left) presents a check to Met Council’s Jessica Chat, Managing Director of Food Programs (center) and CEO David Greenfield.
Photo courtesy of the Met CouncilMet CEO David Greenfield (left) and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries deliver food boxes.
Photo courtesy of the Met Council

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THE MAYOR STARTS NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS

IN THE CITY — A NEW MAYOR’S INITIATIVE will honor New Yorkers who have lived on their blocks or served in a civic organization the longest. according to an announcement from Community Board 10. Mayor Eric Adams’ Community Affairs Unit invites nominations from longtime residents who have demonstrated wisdom, history, commitment and compassion to their neighbors for the Neighborhood Awards. Block/civic/tenant associations are encouraged nominate an online neighbor.

Having been a former police officer and captain, state senator and Brooklyn borough president, Adams wants to recognize constituents who have also dedicated their lives to public service in many ways.

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COUNSELOR HUDSON COORDINATES DISTRICT RELIEF EFFORTS FOR ASYLUM

CLINTON HILL/FORT GREENE: The Office of City Councilor Hudson (D-35) is working with Clinton Hill/Fort Greene Mutual Aid and Gowanus Mutual Aid to coordinate immediate relief needs for asylum seekers who were recently placed in a previously vacant commercial building in their district. which stretches from Fort Greene to Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. Alderman Hudson, who is asking for help to supplement the city’s resources, says cash donations (through the group’s Open Collective Fund: labor, specific goods and translation services are most needed. Most needed are interpreters and translators who speak native Arabic, Creole, Russian, Ukrainian, French and Spanish. Volunteers must indicate days and hours of availability.

Clinton Hill-Fort Greene Mutual Aid also offers training calls on the second Wednesday of each month to explain the genesis of CHFGMA, the principles of mutual aid and how to get involved in the efforts of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill neighbors. The next training will take place on Wednesday August 9 at 17:30 (registration via https://actionnetwork.org/events/august-9-clinton-hillfort-greene-mutual-aid-general-orientation-delivery-training).

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PUBLIC HEARINGS SOLICIT COMMENTS ON THE NATIONAL RATE OF PROPOSED RATES

IN THE CITY — National Grid customers may want to attend a series of public hearings the New York State Public Utilities Commission is holding in August to propose rate increases. Virtual public hearings on National Grid’s rate amendments will be offered Tuesday or Wednesday, August 1-2, to solicit public input and comment on National Grid’s proposals to increase rates for natural gas customers in Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island), Nassau and Suffolk counties, which would take effect on March 16 or March 24. Daily virtual meetings can be held by phone: 1-800-342-3330.) National Grid proposes to use the additional revenue to ensure safe and reliable service, meet customer needs, advance the goals of the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA), and maintain energy affordability programs that help low-income households with their energy bills.

A typical residential heating account can see an average monthly bill increase of $28 to $31.

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NYC DOT ART PROGRAM OPENS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

IN THE CITY — The New York Department of Transportation is releasing a request for proposals for its New York City DOT art program. Community nonprofits can apply to be partners in the 2023-2024 Community Commissions through a signature program that allows them to identify sites for artwork and select individual artists to propose site-responsive artwork. Organizations can apply until Tuesday, August 1 through https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/dotart-community-commissions.pdf.

NYC DOT Art provides up to $20,000 in direct project costs, engineering and operational support, and the opportunity to beautify places accessible to a diverse audience.

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DUMBO GUY MAY HAVE DEVELOPED WHY THE TRUCKS ARE STILL BACKED UP ON THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

DUMBO – A TECHNICAL CONSULTANT WORKING IN DUMBO may have discovered at least part of the reason the trucks are still stuck on the brooklyn bridge, resulting in kilometers long traffic jams on the BQE. One problem lies with the chains that are supposed to hang from the BQE exit sign to warn lorries that they cannot fit on the bridge. The chains, however, are wrapped around the sign post “probably because they’ve been hit so many times,” Michael Cata told Gothamist.

Cata and his colleagues documented nearly 40 trucks stuck on the bridge over the past 12 months and presented the data and possible solutions via Powerpoint to DOT, but it looks like they’re getting a little bored, Gothamist reports.

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STARS HELP FEED HUNGRY FAMILIES

SUNSET PARK — STARS KAREN PITTMAN (“And So”) AND TAYSHIA ADAMS (“Bachelor Nation”) VOLUNTEERED with non-profit organizations City Harvest and Feeding America Tuesday to help hungry New Yorkers in need. The celebrities helped repackage food rescued from farmers, wholesalers and manufacturers, to be donated to children and families in New York City. Hundreds of pounds of food are being repackaged at City Harvest’s Cohen Community Food Rescue Center at Sunset Park.

According to the Fund for the City of New York, 50% of New York households they cannot meet their basic financial needs, including food costs.

Stars Karen Pittman, left, and Tayshia Adams help pack food for the hungry at City Harvest.
Photo courtesy of City Harvest

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THE NEW ELEVATORS MAKE TWO MORE METRO STATIONS FULLY ACCESSIBLE

BROOKLYN/MANHATTAN — The MTA announced WEDNESDAY the opening of two new ADA-compliant elevators: one at the 8th Avenue N station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and another at the 1 Dyckman Street train station in Inwood, Upper Manhattan, which opened on July 14. Both stations are now fully accessible. The new 8th Avenue elevator connects customers between the street platform and downtown, while the Dyckman Street elevator connects customers between the street and the upper platform. Both lifts feature a two-way emergency communication system by voice or visually answering questions on the screen, improving communication for hearing impaired riders.

The 2020-2024 MTA Capital Plan includes a historic $5.2 billion investment to make 67 subway stations ADA accessible, more than any Capital Plan in MTA history, the MTA said in a statement.

This new elevator opened Wednesday at the 8th Avenue N station in Sunset Park, making the station fully accessible. Photo courtesy of the MTA

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FROM AUGUST. 1, FOOD BUSINESSES MUST USE CONTAINERS WITH RAT-PROOF LIDS.

CITYWIDE — NYC’S WAR ON RATS INTENSIFIES: A new rule will go into effect Aug. 1 requiring all food-related businesses in New York City to put “putrefactive” organic trash curbside in rigid containers with tight-fitting lids. the city’s Department of Sanitation said Thursday. DSNY held a public hearing on the proposed rule on June 22. The rule can be suspended if the mayor declares a health, weather or solid waste emergency, or “if the use of these containers would constitute a public nuisance,” DSNY said.

Many residents of Brooklyn sent in comments supporting the new rule, citing frequent nighttime encounters with rats munching on plastic bags full of food waste on the sidewalk.