NYC Council Approved Redevelopment of BK Navy Yard's Admiral's Row

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** November 30, 2011

Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES PLAN FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF NAVY YARD’S ADMIRALS ROW SITE

(Brooklyn, NY) The New York City Council unanimously voted in favor of the redevelopment of the six-acre Admirals Row site at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The property will be transferred from the federal government to the City of New York, and will then become part of Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, which manages the 300-acre industrial park on behalf of the City, will oversee redevelopment of the Admirals Row site, creating a 74,000-square-foot supermarket and 79,000 square-feet of additional neighborhood retail space, as well as 127,000 square-feet of industrial space. The project is expected to create 500 permanent retail and industrial jobs and hundreds of additional construction jobs.

Council Member Letitia James said: “I want to commend Andrew Kimball and the whole BNYDC and all of the community partners who worked hard on developing and approving this plan. For 20 years, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, with the support of Community Board 2 and elected officials at every level, has made it clear that redevelopment of the six-acre Admirals Row site is necessary, specifically to serve the local neighborhood, which includes 10,000 residents of Farragut, Walt Whitman, and Ingersoll Houses.”

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation has concluded its negotiations with the federal National Guard Bureau, and will issue a request for proposals for the site’s redevelopment before the end of the year. The project will break ground in 2012 following the transfer of the property from the federal government to the City, which owns the 300-acre Brooklyn Navy Yard property. The designated developer will enter into a long-term lease for the site that now houses 12 dilapidated and unused structures. The plan includes the restoration of two of the structures – Building B and the Timber Shed – which will be incorporated into the new development.

“The City Council’s approval of the public review process for the redevelopment of Admiral’s Row is great news on many levels. The project will incorporate historic preservation into a progressive sustainable site plan, which will in turn become a boost for the local economy. I’m excited to know that fresh affordable food, expanded industrial space, retail shops, and hundreds of permanent and construction jobs are soon coming to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and surrounding community. Also, the redevelopment includes the restoration of two houses, which is a huge blessing,” said Council Member James.

The development of Admirals Row will continue the expansion underway at the Brooklyn Navy Yard – its largest growth since WWII, adding more than 1.5 million square feet of new space and 2,000 new jobs.

“An important aspect of the redevelopment of Admirals Row is that it will assist residents who have much to benefit from this community resource. The Navy Yard has designed a responsible plan with an employment center on the premises. I’m delighted that the public review for the transfer of this site to New York City is complete, and the next step will begin.”

###

Events Sponsored by The Co-op School

Please join The Co-op School for their Kindergarten Fair tomorrow, November 29th. Come and learn how to navigate the systems and find out what our neighborhood schools have to offer. This event is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

WHERE: The Co-op School - 87 Irving Place, Brooklyn, NY 11238
DATE: November 29, 2011
TIME: 6:00pm to 6:30pm - Parent led session for Co-op parents
6:30pm to 7:30pm - Public School Fair Opens (open to all)
___________________________________________________


The Co-op School, though a grant from the Lego Foundation and the generosity of the Brooklyn Music School, is presenting a free interactive performance of the Frog Prince by the Galli Theater Company on Sunday, December 4th. This event is free and open to the public.

WHERE: Brooklyn Music School - 126 St. Felix Street, Brooklyn
DATE: December 4, 2011
TIME: Doors open at 3:00pm and show time will be 3:30pm SHARP!

ATTENTION: Additional Screenings of Battle for Brooklyn; Documentary In Oscar Running

If you have not yet seen the much. talked. about. Battle for Brooklyn, now is your time to do so. The documentary, co-directed by Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky and produced by David Beilinson, chronicles the seven-year long fight between the Prospect Heights community and one of the largest real estate developers in the country. It features Council Member Letitia James as well as activist Daniel Goldstein and Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn.

Upcoming Screenings:
Maysles Center, 343 Lenox Avenue (between 127 & 128 Streets), New York, NY
Dec 1, 7:30pm: Q&A with filmmakers
Dec 6, 7:30pm: Q&A with Mindy Fullilove and local community
Dec 9, 7:30pm: Q&A with Dan Goldstien

Brooklyn Heights, 70 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY
Nov 23, 6:00pm
Nov 30, 6:00pm

Indie Screen, Williamsburg, 285 Kent Avenue at S. 2 Street, Brooklyn, NY
Nov 27, 5:00pm

The Academy recently announced that Battle for Brooklyn is one of 15 films listed for an Oscar in the Documentary Feature category. The five final nominees will be announced in January 2012.

ATTENTION: NYC Council Hosts Free Self-Defense Training; 11/29; Bushwick United Methodist Church

WHEN: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
6:00- 8:00PM

WHERE: Bushwick United Methodist Church
1139 Bushwick Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11221
(between Madison Street and Putnam Avenue)

For more information or to RSVP, please call (212) 788-7276.

NYCC Committee on Public Safety and Sanitation Hold Hearings on Snow Plans and Emergency Protocols; 11/30; 250 Broadway

Dear Neighbor,

Next Wednesday, November 30th, the City Council's Committees on Public Safety and Sanitation and Solid Waste Management will be holding a joint oversight hearing on the borough-based snow plans and citywide winter emergency protocols issued by the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), respectively.

Copies of the DSNY borough-based snow plans are available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/html/snow_plans_mapping/snowplans.shtml, and the OEM Snow Preparedness and Response Report is available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/downloads/pdf/2011snowreport.pdf.

I know snow removal and other snow-related issues are on many people's mind, especially as we edge closer to winter, and anyone who wishes to is more than welcome to attend this hearing.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in the 14th Floor Committee Room at 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

If you would like to testify, please be sure to register with the sergeant-of-arms on the 14th Floor. Due to increased building security procedures, please bring identification and allot some extra time for entry through the building lobby.

You can also email your written remarks to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at aworthydavis@council.nyc.gov.

If you have any questions about Wednesday's hearing, please feel free to contact my office at (212) 788-7081.

Thanks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,
Letitia James
Chair, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee
NYC Council

ATTENTION: ART/NY Holiday Toy Drive!

The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (ART/NY) is participating in the Brooklyn Borough President's Office Best of Brooklyn Toy Drive.

The organization is accepting donations at their South Oxford Space. They will collect new unwrapped toys suitable for children ages 3 to 10 years of age. There is a box in the first floor lobby for collection. The toys will be picked up on December 5, 2011, and donated to more than 2,500 children from public housing developments, congregations, and social service organizations at the “Best of Brooklyn Holiday Program”.

South Oxford Space is located at 138 S. Oxford Street between Hanson Place and Atlantic Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. If you come to drop off donations, use buzzer number 1.

For more info, you may call 718-398-3078.

ATTENTION: FGA Hosts Spotlight on Public Safety; 11/21; 7PM

The Fort Greene Association is hosting Shining a Spotlight on Public Safety--

WHEN: Monday, November 21, 7PM
WHERE: Brooklyn Music School
126 Saint Felix Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Confirmed Guest Speakers include:
Council Member Letitia James
Arif Ullah, Director of Neighborhood Resources, Citizens Committee for New York City
Department of Transportation
Deputy Inspector Anthony Tasso, 88th Precinct
Jay Ruiz, Brooklyn BIKE Patrol

Attendees will receive tips on how to create or strengthen local block and tenant associations, as well as learn about the available grant programs and workshops. Tips will be given on personal safety, property safeguarding, self-defense and late night home escort options. Attendees will also have an opportunity to address street lighting concerns.

Contact FGA at 718-875-1855 for more information.

CM James, Elected Officials, and Advocates Hold Press Conference In Response to Deceptive AY Training Program; 11/15

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Contacts: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191, and Molly Thomas-Jensen at (718) 237-5527

COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES, STATE SENATOR VELMANETTE MONTGOMERY, SOUTH BROOKLYN LEGAL SERVICES, CLERGY AND COMMUNITY TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF BROOKLYN RESIDENTS PERSUADED INTO PARTICIPATING IN DECEPTIVE ATLANTIC YARDS TRAINING PROGRAM
PRESS CONFERENCE THIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 3:30PM AT 67 HANSON PLACE AND SOUTH ELLIOTT PLACE - IN FRONT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES

Federal lawsuit to be filed against Forest City Ratner Companies LLC, and others for damages based on unpaid wages and false promises

(Brooklyn, NY)- A group of Brooklyn residents who participated in a job-training program negotiated as part of the Atlantic Yards project plan to file a federal lawsuit against the Atlantic Yards Development Company LLC, Brooklyn Arena LLC, Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development, Forest City Ratner Companies LLC, Bruce Ratner and others.

The suit seeks the recovery of unpaid wages as well as damages based on false promises. The plaintiffs are represented by South Brooklyn Legal Services (a program of Legal Services NYC) and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP.

WHO: Elected Officials, Clergy, Lawyers, and Plaintiffs

WHAT: Press Conference to Announce Lawsuit against Atlantic Yards Development Company LLC and others

WHEN: Tuesday, November 15 at 3:30pm

WHERE: 67 Hanson Place and South Elliott Place in front of the District Office of NYC Council Member Letitia James

###

CM James Scores A+ On Urban Justice Center- Human Rights Report Card

Council Member Letitia James has scored as A+ on the 2011 Urban Justice Center- Human Rights Report Card. The report card examines Council Members' compliance with universal human rights standards- especially in regards to employment, housing, health, food, education and other economic and social rights.

Council Member Letitia James is a supporter of the Council's living wage legislation, and has spoken against Walmart coming to New York City. She was recently part of the leadership that removed a racist anti-abortion billboard in SOHO; and joined with women's advocacy organizations to hold a press conference in support of a fair trial for Nafissatou Diallo, the Guinean housekeeper who accused former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault.

Council Member James sponsored a law that addressed the Department of Corrections reporting to the Council violent incidents involving adolescents in 2009. She has been a strong advocate for restoring childcare vouchers, and fought to avoid the closure of childcare centers Citywide. She sponsored a 35th District Food Conference last term, and continues to work towards increasing green jobs throughout the City.

Council Member James is the sponsor of legislation that would address inequality in City housing, and paid family leave. She can be seen in the Atlantic Yards documentary Battle for Brooklyn, and was a contributer to the documentary The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till, following her introduction of a City Council resolution to reopen Till's murder case.

Council Member James has scored consistently high scores on the report card (see 2008, 2009, and 2010).

Those interested in reading the report may do so here.

ATTENTION: CB2 Seeks Economic Development Cmte Secretary

Community Board 2's Economic Development and Job Creation Committee is seeking a secretary to take notes for its monthly meeting.

Those interested may e-mail cb2econdev@gmail.com.

More at the NYT-Local here.

Education Resources

BPL HOMEWORK HELPER

Become a Homework Helper at the Brooklyn Public Library.

If you have a strong commitment to helping Brooklyn students in grades 1 through 8 succeed in school and a minimum of two hours per week to volunteer, from 3-6pm weekdays, for at least six months then this is for you.

Apply now by completing an application at any neighborhood library or online at http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/ or call 718-230-2406.

________________________________________________

EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, RESOURCES & FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS

Ralph Lincoln Service Center, Inc. at St. John's Family Center offers a FREE program designed for youth ages 16 to 20 and adults 21 and over who are looking for assistance in job training, job referrals, and resources, resume writing, preparing for job interviews, job etiquette, and money management. This program is open to EVERYONE!

Ralph Lincoln Service Center, Inc. @ St. John's Family Center, Inc.
1604 St. John's Place (between Buffalo and Ralph Avenues)
Brooklyn, NY 11213

Classes
Mondays (Adults Only-21 and over)
11:00am to 1:00pm

Wednesdays (Youth Ages 14-20)
11:00am to 1:00pm

Fridays (Youth Ages 14-20)
4:00pm to 6:00pm

To register or for more information email ralphlincolnservice@gmail.com or call 347-765-1113 or 347-422-3465.

CM James Comments on Opening of 'A Fire In My Belly' Exhibition At BK Museum

For Immediate Release

Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

Statement by Council Member Letitia James on Opening of A Fire in My Belly”Exhibition at Brooklyn Museum of Art

(Brooklyn, NY)- Freedom of expression is protected under the first amendment, and I support Brooklyn Museum Director Arnold Lehman's decision to feature the exhibition A Fire in My Belly, by the late David Wojnarowicz.

This year New York City celebrated the victory of the passage of gay marriage, a win for everyone seeking equality and justice in life. The passage of this law is especially important because it repositions New York again as a leader in freedom for family expression and equal rights. Also, my colleagues and I stand with the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the overall opposition of social inequality and corporate greed. Protestors all over the country have the right to express their dissatisfaction with the excessive influence of big business and the wealthiest one-percent of Americans on U.S. laws and policies.

New York City has come to far to allow the Hide/Seek exhibition, scheduled to open at the Brooklyn Museum next week, a major museum show exploring gay themes in art history to be altered from the artist's original intent, or pulled. Freedom of expression is the pillar of democracy, and much is to be gained from the entirety of this show. Censorship has no place in a free society."

###

Job Opportunity: Property Management Office Manager

Pratt Area Community Council (PACC) is seeking an energetic and organized individual to assume the position of Office Manager/Receptionist at 900 Fulton Street, home of our property management and economic development departments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Welcome visitors/clients, answer phones, screen calls,
• Direct and refer clients to appropriate staff members and outside sources
• General clerical duties including computer data entry, filing, organizing office records and files, and operating office equipment
• Open and sort high volume of mail daily
• Compile and send out department mailings including rent statements
• Maintain client literature and forms
• Track staff schedules, maintain staff sign-in sheets
• Keep inventory and order office supplies
• Oversee equipment upkeep and communicate with technical support
• Assist with composing correspondence including resident requests
• Maintain database of apartment seekers, RSVP apartment hotline
• Assist with assembling data and information for monthly reports as required.
• Provide other support as required
• Ability to deal with vendors and create invoices

REQUIREMENTS:
Self-starter who is detail oriented with excellent office, organizational, and communication skills. Must be computer literate with proficiency with Microsoft Office suite as well as good word processing and typing skills. Must work well with a wide variety of people and be able to multi-task. Previous office experience required
Spanish speaking a plus

Please send or fax cover letter and resume to:
201 Dekalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718-422-0413 (Fax)
resumes@prattarea.org

ATTENTION: NY For Better Neighborhoods Grants Available!

Citizens Committee for New York City has released the application for their New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods Awards. Volunteer-led community groups, as well as public school-based student groups, are encouraged to apply for grant funding up to $3,000 to support neighborhood improvement projects in their communities. The grants are an important resource for community groups, particularly in low income areas. Recent awards have enabled neighbors to come together to make healthy food available in their communities, transform empty lots and school lawns into community gardens, organize tenants to advocate for better housing conditions, and start school recycling programs. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2012.

Applications are also available on the Citizen's Committee website at www.citizensnyc.org/grants.

The Citizens Committee is offering 6 information sessions to assist groups who may be applying for a grant. The dates for these sessions are listed below. RSVP is required for each workshop, as space is limited.

Manhattan Info Sessions
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday, January 11, 2011
6:00-7:30pm
Citizens Committee for New York City
32 Old Slip, 33rd Floor

If you have any questions about the application, please contact 212-822-9580/9568 or grants@citizensnyc.org.

CM James Introduces Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** November 2, 2011

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Introduces Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts

Bill Is In Response To Administration's Lack Of Oversight, Ongoing Review Of Contracts

New York, NY- On November 3, 2011, Council Member Letitia James will introduce legislation that would require City agencies to report to the Council cost overruns on large contracts. Specifically, agencies would be required to notify the Council within seven business days when it authorizes a payment to modify or extend an original contract worth more than $1M, for an additional cost of $500,000 and/or more than 10% over the original contract price.

During Council Member James’ tenure as Chair of the Contracts Committee, the committee held hearings on the outsourcing of public services to the private sector (as it affected both municipal workers throughout the City of New York, and public costs for potentially unnecessary private labor); as well as two oversight hearings on the Office of Payroll Administration’s City Time contract, a payroll system that she’d criticized as being overly costly and difficult to manage.

In September 2010, after Council Member James’ chairmanship ended, she stood with Local 375 (DC 37) to halt any further rolling-out of the Citytime project. She later commended Comptroller John Liu for ending expansion of the project due to ballooning costs and unmet deadlines, as well as his imposing hard deadlines on incomplete work. She joined numerous elected officials in speaking out against the $80M embezzlement of public funds by City Time consultants in December 2010, and praised Mayor Bloomberg for rightfully demanding $600 million from Science Applications International Corporation (contractor of Citytime) for what had become a public disaster for the administration.

In March 2011, former Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith wrote an op-ed in the New York Daily News on the outsourcing of technology positions to private contractors. In the article, Mr. Goldsmith asserted that the issue was not the outsourcing itself, but rather the administration’s need to place more attention towards employing City workers to perform these IT duties. He also announced administrative efforts to increase positions for municipal workers. Council Member James commended the administration for taking these initial steps.

"It is obvious that a lack of administrative oversight of contracted companies leaves the City vulnerable," said Council Member James. "Although I support the administration developing technology that simplifies and updates necessary functions, I do not support the administration handing over blank checks to private companies for IT projects."

The Citytime contract increased from a projected $68 million at its onset to more than $738 million, the Emergency Communications Transformation Program went from an initial $380 million to $666 million, and NYCAPS has ballooned from $66 million in 2002 to $363 million as of 2011.

###

Please Sign BK Speaks Petition In Support of RPPs

As Council Member James joins her colleagues in speaking in support of residential parking permits today, we want to bring your attention to a petition created by Brooklyn Speaks (civic associations, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups concerned about the future of development at the Atlantic Yards site) in support of a residential permit parking program for New York City in conjunction with local communities and their representatives.

An informal poll by Brownstoner also put the number of residents in support of an RPP near Barclay's at 83.6%.

Petition- http://www.petitiononline.com/petitions/rpp4nyc/signatures
Poll- http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2011/10/a-push-for-residential-permit-parking-near-the-arena/#more-73139