Thursday, July 28, 2011

Job Opportunity- Tillary Park Job Fair!

Tillary Park Foundation is hosting their 1st Annual Job Fair--

WHEN: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
9AM- 4PM
WHERE: Tillary Park
(corner of Tillary and Jay Streets, inside the park)
Brooklyn, NY

Potential employees are encourages to dress appropriately and bring multiple copies of their resume.

ATTENTION: Movies With A View!


Movies With A View welcomes you to their 12th season of summer movies on Thursdays!

After each movie, join the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Junior Committee at Superfine for discounted drinks and a discussion of that week's movie. Secret code word required; more information here.

DATE: Thursdays, July 7 - September 1
TIME: 6:00pm - 11:00pm. Music at 6:00pm, movies at sunset
LOCATION: Pier 1, Harbor View Lawn

Arrive early for the best seats. Lawn capacity is limited.
No pets or chairs allowed on the lawn. No alcohol allowed in the park.

Please see website for weekly movie selection.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

ATTENTION: Bed-Stuy Affordable Housing Unit Application Available


Madison/Putnam Sponsor LLC is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for 47 affordable housing rental apartments that are currently under construction, located at 924 & 926 Madison Street and 1007, 1013, 1023, 1052 & 1054 Putnam Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.

These buildings are being constructed through the Low Income Rental Program of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The application may he found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61065947/Madison-Putnam-Application#. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, express or overnight mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that is listed on the application. All applications must be postmarked by September 23, 2011. Please contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (212) 788-7081/ (718) 260-9191 or teamtish@gmail.com with any further questions.

ATTENTION: NYC Imagination Library


The NYC Imagination Library is an initiative of the NYC Department of Education and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The goal is to promote the development of emergent literacy and language skills that are important for every child's success in school by encouraging all NYC parents to read aloud to their children from birth until age five.

Just enroll your preschool-aged child (age 0- 5 yrs) in the NYC Imagination Library- through filling out the application on the link below- and a new, age-appropriate book will be mailed each month in your child's name directly to your home. Books will begin arriving at your home six to eight weeks after your registration form has been received, and will continue every month until your child turns five.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/NYC_Imagination_Library_application.pdf

Your child will be eligible for this program as long as you live within the five boroughs of NYC. To reach the NYC Imagination Library program, please call (718) 642-5791 or email imaginationlibrary@schools.nyc.gov.

Monday, July 25, 2011

ATTENTION: CUNY Rate Increase for 2011-2012 Year


On Thursday, July 21, the CUNY Board of Trustees voted to adopt a tuition increase for the 2011-12 academic year. The increase will go into effect for the coming fall semester. Tuition for full-time undergraduate students will increase by $150 per semester; tuition for full-time graduate students will increase by $240 per semester. Part-time and nonresident students will see a corresponding increase to the per-credit rates.

Friday, July 22, 2011

ATTENTION: NYS Sen Adams Sponsors SAFE CHILD CARDS for BK Families

In light of the abduction and murder of 8-year-old Lieby Kletzy, NYS Senator Eric Adams, in partnership with Youth America, will offer an opportunity for parents and children to obtain a free SAFE CHILD CARD on Sunday, July 24, 2011, from 2PM-4PM at the Brooklyn Public Central Library (Youth Wing Program Room).

The SAFE CHILD CARD contains a child’s name, biographical information (e.g. date of birth, height, weight, etc.) and a fingerprint image of both index fingers. The cards can be made in less than two minutes.

Parents and guardians can also choose, if they wish, to store the information in a statewide electronic database. In the event that a child is reported missing, the data can be disseminated to police agencies within minutes, dramatically increasing the possibility of bringing a missing child home unharmed. The storage of information is voluntary and requires a written consent of a parent or legal guardian.

For more information, please contact the Office of NYS Senator Eric Adams at (718) 284-4700.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

AY Rodent Control Meeting Report

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
July 20, 2011

Contact Jonathan Perez at (718) 260-9191

ATLANTIC YARDS RODENT CONTROL MEETING REPORT

This past week, Council Member Letitia James, representatives from City Council Member Steve Levin’s Office, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s Office, other community leaders and stakeholders met with ESDC, City agencies and Forest City Ratner Companies (FCR) at an Atlantic Yards Cabinet Meeting in Brooklyn. The meeting’s focus was on rodent infestation, which has become a serious concern in the Atlantic Yards footprint and surrounding community.

Recently, neighbors of Dean Street near the Atlantic Yards project have reported cat-size rats and an uptick in the rat population. Many have expressed concerns about the rodent population’s increase in the neighboring homes and streets surrounding the construction site. A common notion has been that rats have not been a problem until the arena’s construction, while others have referred to it as a “rat tsunami.”

During the meeting, a New York City Department of Health rodent-specialist identified a number of hotspots near the immediate area of the Atlantic Yards property. In response, Forest City Ratner stated they would provide vouchers for the community to purchase special trash cans that could contain and deter rodents. Forest City Ratner agreed to work with Colony, a pest management company, which provides integrated pest management to alleviate the situation through education, outreach, and bait control. The MTA representative in attendance also shared that employees would continue to check rat bait traps every thirty to forty days in subway stations located near Atlantic Yards.

The Department of Sanitation reported that certain recommendations would be made for homeowners in this Prospect Heights area. These include that all garbage in cans be placed on the street at or around 9 p.m. Another recommendation is garbage be put in secured cans (which would be enforced by the Sanitation Department). Forest City Ratner also stated it would lead a new initiative that separates the food waste from the construction garbage on the Atlantic Yards site.

“I appreciate Forest City Ratner’s cooperation, as well as FCR taking action on the rodent control problem. Also, I look forward to starting the process of providing vouchers to residents for steel or rubber trash cans within the next two weeks, as well as educating the public at large about this ongoing problem,” said Council Member James.

Other Prospect Heights’ issues discussed at the meeting include Council Member James’ goal to secure a new dumpster for Engine 219 and Ladder 105 on Dean Street. She also seeks funding for improvement of conditions at the Dean Street playground. Lastly, the abandoned properties near the Atlantic Yards Arena need to be addressed as possible breeding grounds of the rat population.

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Friday, July 15, 2011

ATTENTION: 35th District Lien Sale Outreach Session

The Office of Council Member Letitia James will be hosting a 35th District Lien Sale Outreach Session on Monday, July 18, 2011 at--

Benjamin Bannekar Academy
77 Clinton Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

During the sale, unpaid water, sewer, and property tax debt will be sold by the City to private collection agencies, who are likely to impose heavy interest fees. You have until August 1, 2011 to settle your debt with the City and avoid the lien sale.

The outreach session is being sponsored by the NYC Department of Finance, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, who will be available to meet one-on-one.

Please be aware that some groups— such as veterans and seniors— may be exempt from the lien sale. Those individuals who are in exempted categories should fill out an “Exemption Eligibility Checklist”. For further information, please contact (212) 788-7081.

FG's Wallabout District Designated Historic District By LPC

**For Immediate Release**
July 14, 2011

Contacts: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

WALLABOUT DESIGNATED A HISTORIC DISTRICT BY LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

Unanimous approval was given for the Wallabout Historic District on Tuesday by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The community is now protected from the threat of new out-of-context high rises and condos, similar to a building erected in this area four years ago in place of a small garage and house.

The Wallabout area is in Northwestern Brooklyn just south of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Most of the structures were erected in the mid-1800s, and retain original details that lend a cohesive quality to the streetscape.

The new Wallabout Historic District consists of approximately 55 buildings on Vanderbilt Avenue between Myrtle and Park Avenues in Brooklyn. Two local groups, the Historic Wallabout Association and the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project, have been working since 2003 to get landmark designation for the neighborhood. As an historic district, Wallabout buildings are protected from demolition and significant changes, as this area may contain the city’s largest collection of Civil War era wood-frame houses.

NYC Council Member Letitia James said: “I wish to thank Chair Tierney and Commissioners for the designation of the Wallabout Historic District - a section of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill north of Myrtle Avenue. Members of the Wallabout community, under the leadership of Gary Hattem and Blaise Backer, have been working many years for this day.

As you may know, this area consists primarily of wood-frame structures built before and during the Civil War, and is believed to be the City’s largest concentration of such buildings. This neighborhood has already suffered from the demolition of numerous historic buildings, as well as out-of-scale construction. The loss of more of our past, and the loss of this fabric of our historic neighborhoods will be prevented with this Historic Designation.

We are grateful that Landmark’s staff saw the historic value in this special neighborhood, of fairly modest homes built for working- and middle-class families, and that the integrity of this collection of structures will serve as an example for more Historic Districts of this nature.”

While the Wallabout LPC-Designated Historic District is confined to only Vanderbilt Avenue between Myrtle and Park Avenues, a larger NY State and National Register District, comprised of 233 buildings on 5 blocks between Myrtle and Park Avenues, was designated in March of this year, and will allow property owners within the district to tap into low interest loans, tax credits, and other financial incentives for preservation work on their buildings.

More information on the background of the Wallabout Historic District is below:

A variety of architectural styles are present in the Wallabout Historic District. In addition to Greek and Gothic Revival wood homes with original or early porches, cornices and other details, brick and stone row houses in Italianate and Neo-Grec styles along with masonry tenements line the streets between Myrtle and Park Avenues. A row of Neo-Grec brownstones erected in 1878 are amongst the earliest known residences built on speculation by the Pratt family.

Residential development of the area in the 1830’s, 40’s, and 50’s coincided with the rapid population increase in the city of Brooklyn. Being part of the flatlands along the East River, Wallabout was not looked upon with the prestige allotted to neighboring Fort Greene or Clinton Hill. It's an area north of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, near the Navy Yard, between Flushing and Park Avenues, and the BQE runs through it.

Since the flatlands along the river were not considered to be as prestigious for residential development as the uplands several blocks inland, much of the construction in Wallabout was of wood houses rather than the more expensive brick or stone dwellings that typify the adjacent Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods. Most of the buildings were single-family dwellings of modest scale, although several may have been inhabited by two or more households.

Wallabout takes its name from a group of Walloons who settled on a modest bay on Brooklyn’s East River waterfront in 1624, calling it Waal-bogt. The area remained rural throughout much of the 18th century. Residential development began in the early 19th century and accelerated with expansion of the Brooklyn Navy Yard along Wallabout Bay in the middle of the century.

While some of the houses have undergone alterations in subsequent years, the buildings within the Wallabout Historic District on the whole retain an exceptional level of integrity. This architecturally significant collection of early wood and masonry houses represents an important part of the history of the neighborhood and of Brooklyn in general.

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

ATTENTION: Upcoming Community Events

Lecture on Skin Cancer: Prevention and Detection
Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Brooklyn Infusion Center will host a free community lecture on skin cancer prevention and detection on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 5PM- 7PM at the Brooklyn Infusion Center (557 Atlantic Avenue). Space is limited and registration is required. Please call 718-752-6190 to register.

Panera Bread Cafe Manager
An upcoming Panera Bread restaurant to be located at the intersection of Adams Street and Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn is seeking to fill a position for a Café manager.

Comptroller John Liu Town Hall
Today, June 13, 2011, Comptroller John Liu will be hosting a town hall. The Comptroller will be on hand to discuss the work he has done over the past year and a half. Comptoller Liu's Community Action Center will also be on hand with information about constituent services, claims guidelines, audit submission forms, etc.

Wednesday, July 13th
6:30pm-7:30pm
Prospect Park Residence
Multipurpose Room, 5th Floor
1 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215

CM James Comments on Death of Leiby Kletzky

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** July 13, 2011

Contacts: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES DEVASTATED BY SENSELESS DEATH OF ORTHODOX JEWISH BOY

“Residents all over Brooklyn are devastated to learn about the eight-year-old Orthodox Jewish boy from Borough Park whose body was found early this morning. The crime committed against him is absolutely horrific and a tragic fate for all involved. I extend my deepest condolences to the Kletzky family, and want to express gratitude for community support, especially to the Shomrim volunteer patrol, along with the more than 2,000 volunteers from New York and New Jersey who took to the streets to assist the NYPD. My sincerest prayers go out to family and loved ones on this very sad day,” said Council Member James.


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NYC DOE: High School Admissions Summer Workshops

The NYC Department of Education (DOE) would like to invite middle school students and their families to attend a workshop series to learn about high school options and the admissions process. Students entering 8th grade in September 2011 are encouraged to attend with their families so they can make more informed decisions when they apply to high school in the fall.

There will be three sessions covering the following topics:

Session 1: High School Admissions: Where Do I Start?
An introduction to the process and the many types of schools available

Session 2: Specialized High Schools
Learn about the nine Specialized High Schools and the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)

Session 3: Make Informed Decisions
An overview of admissions methods with an emphasis on screened and audition programs


These workshops will take place in all five boroughs; translation and interpretation services will be available. View this flyer for a complete schedule of the workshops.

ATTENTION: Navy Greene Applications Available

The application for the Navy Green Apartments- which are located at 45 Clermont Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn- has been made available. The 100 affordable rental apartments now under construction are being developed through the Low Income Rental Program (LIRP) of the City of New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), The Low Income Affordable Marketplace Program (LAMP) of the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and the State Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (SLIHC) of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

For interested and qualified applicants, please visit here to complete the application. Applicants will be required to meet income guidelines, and will be selected by lottery. Eligible applicants currently residing in Brooklyn’s Community Board 2 will receive preference for 50% of the units. Applicants residing in New York City will receive a general preference over Non-City residents. Limit one application per household.

Please be sure to include a self-addressed envelope with your request for an application.
Completed applications must be returned by regular mail ONLY to--

Navy Green R3
PO Box 373002
New York, NY 10037

Applications must be postmarked by September 6, 2011.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

CM James, AM Camara Support Retention of NYPD Impact Zone CH-North

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
July 12, 2011

Contacts: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191 - aloomis@council.nyc.gov, and
Odellia Lucius at (718) 771-3105 - luciuso@assembly.state.ny.us

JOINT STATEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMAN KARIM CAMARA AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES ABOUT RETAINING THE NYPD IMPACT ZONE IN CROWN HEIGHTS NORTH:

“For the past year Crown Heights North has benefited greatly from being designated a NYPD Impact Zone. The law enforcement officers of the 77th precinct that patrol the neighborhood have done a stellar job in monitoring crime activity. As a result, criminal acts have noticeably decreased. The Impact Zone initiative is to be credited in part for helping to make Crown Heights a safer place to live and work.

Recently, the City's Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) approved the creation of a new historic district in Brooklyn called the Crown Heights North II Historic District. Borders of the new district include Brooklyn Avenue to the east and Bergen Street to the north, Nostrand Avenue to the west and Eastern Parkway to the south. The new district is adjacent to the 472-building historic district that the LPC designated in 2007 as well. In light of these historic districts now in place, the presence of an NYPD Impact Zone is more important than ever.

Also, as violent activity seems to decrease during the summer, now is not the time to reduce the number of cops on-duty in the area. We fear that it will lead to an up-tick in negligent behavior. With schools out for summer and fewer opportunities for our youth, we are concerned that the loss of the Impact Zone will precipitate a sharp decline back to former dangerous conditions. Please join the Crow Hill Community Association, the 77th Precinct, and other community stakeholders in preserving the NYPD Impact Zone initiative to keep our streets thriving.”

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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

ATTENTION: PowerPlay Hosts Summer Program for Middle School Girls in FG; Ingersoll Community Center; Deadline 7/7

The "Rising Stars Summer Program" is an exciting six-week program for middle school girls. The program is hosted by PowerPlay NYC, an organization dedicated to educating and empowering girls through sports, teaching life skills and building self-confidence and self-esteem for life. The summer program will include a focus on sports, dance, and life skills.

It will be located at--
Ingersoll Community Center

Dates--
July 11, 2011 through August 18, 2011
Monday through Friday
10AM- 4PM

Lunch and snacks provided for all girls. The registration deadline is Thursday, July 7, 2011. Applications are available at- Ingersoll Community Center (177 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY). Information and orientation session will take place on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 6:30PM at the Ingersoll Community Center.

For more information, call 212-545-0021 or email info@powerplaynyc.org.

Job Opportunity- Red Apple Market Job Applications Available


Our office has recently acquired the Red Apple supermarket application and Orientation Guide for potential employees of their Fort Greene location being developed at Myrtle Avenue and Ashland Place, in the Andrea apartment building. Potential employees should fill out the application here, and send the completed application to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at 67 Hanson Place (Ground Floor) in Brooklyn. Please call the office at 718-260-9191/ 212-788-7081, or email teamtish@gmail.com for more information.

teamtish

Friday, July 1, 2011

CM James Plans 35th District Bike Appreciation Day!

Team Tish will be planning a 35th District Bike Appreciation Day. While we plan, we hope to get information on the cycling experience throughout the district. Please review (and follow) our Team Tish Bike Appreciation 2011 blog to keep up-to-date on the upcoming event, and to participate in periodic surveys!

CM James Commends Mayor Bloomberg On Demanding $600M Refund for Citytime Disaster

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 29, 2011

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

Council Member Letitia James Commends Mayor Bloomberg On Demanding $600M Refund for Citytime Disasterr

New York, NY— The charges against Citytime were outrageous— on December 15, 2010 four Citytime consultants were charged with embezzling $80 million from the City of New York through steering public funds to consulting firms who funneled the money to shell companies controlled by the consultants and their families. By the time federal investigators and the NYC Department of Investigation began looking into the program’s payroll fraud and abuse, the list of crimes became more unbelievable. By February 2011, three upper-level Citytime officials employed by project contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) were dismissed from their positions.

And it soon became clear why such steps were taken— two officials soon plead guilty to criminal charges, and SAIC found one senior projects manager erroneously billed overtime hours. In fact, TechnoDyne, one of the largest subcontractors of Citytime, saw its executives flee the country after receiving federal indictments for their crimes. All this brought the number of people allegedly involved in Citytime corruption since last December to a whopping eleven, with federal prosecutors seizing more than $38 million in stolen funds from over 100 bank accounts hidden in international shell companies.

It is no wonder Mayor Bloomberg— on the eve of the expiration of the SAIC contract— saw fit to demand a $600 million refund from SAIC on behalf of the City of New York!

“Mayor Bloomberg absolutely made the right decision in demanding a refund for this thief’s buffet,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I regret that he did not move to address this Citytime corruption when it first became apparent, perhaps it could’ve saved CUNY’s Vallone scholarship or DHS’ Advantage Program program, programs that offered options for low-income New Yorkers. Perhaps this money could’ve helped ease cuts to domestic violence services, criminal justice services, and city hospitals and health services. Allegations of greed and mismanagement were widespread for some time before the investigations proved them to be more than accurate.”

On September 2010, before any crimes were uncovered, Comptroller Liu announced his agreement with the administration to give SAIC a deadline of June 30, 2011 to complete all original work on the program. With the understanding that the delayed work would be completed, the program was allocated up to $32M for maintenance and support services alone. Around this time, Council Member Letitia James joined Local 375 (DC 37) in opposing the project. Council Member James cited what were at the time ‘accusations’ of administrative greed and mismanagement, as well as the ballooning costs of the program from an initial $68 million to what at the time was $700 million.

Council Member James has been a long-term opponent of the Citytime project, from her tenure of Chair of the Contracts Committee where she held two hearings on the project in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

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