Thursday, December 22, 2011

ATTENTION: Chase Bank Presents Homebuying Seminar


On February 8, 2011, Chase Bank will be hosting a free homebuying seminar. Topics to be discussed include--

-Preparing for bomeownership
-Affordable mortgage programs
-Questions and answers with mortgage specialists

WHEN: February 8, 2012
6:30PM- 8:00PM

WHERE: Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza
1380 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216

Seating is limited. Please RSVP at (718) 230-1284 by February 2.

ATTENTION: FCR and CM James Again Provide FREE Waste Receptacles

Forest City Ratner (FCR) Companies and Council Member Letitia James are again providing free rodent-proof waste receptacles to 35th District residents.

The heavy-duty, plastic cans with lids are approved by the City's Department of Health.

The receptacles can be picked up at the District Office of Council Member James, 67 Hanson Place, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Bring identification and proof of address when picking up, and call (718) 260-9191 to confirm availability.

Friday, December 9, 2011

ATTENTION: CM James Hosts "Jingle All The Way" Holiday Party; 12/20; Bed-Stuy

For My Sweet Garden and Event Space/Kalahari Gallery
1103 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238


Tuesday, December 20, 2011
6:00pm until 10:00pm


Please join us and bring an unwrapped toy for local children!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Elected Officials Speak Out Against Hateful Language By NYPD Officers Exposed On Facebook



**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
December 6, 2011

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

Elected Officials Speak Out Against Hateful Language By NYPD Officers Exposed On Facebook
Outrage Follows Police Officers Found Making Disparaging Comments Concerning West Indian American Day Parade, Community

New York, NY— Individuals affiliated with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) have been found making offensive and disrespectful comments on the social networking website Facebook regarding the West Indian American Day Parade in Central Brooklyn, an annual multiday event that unfolds over the Labor Day weekend.

In the Facebook group, entitled “No More West Indian Day Detail”, posters were found referring to parade participants as “animals”, “savages”, and “filth”, and the parade overall as a “scheduled riot”. In fact, the language was so inflammatory that some posters sent out the warning that it could be exposed to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.

In early November 2011, Council Member Letitia James joined State Senator Eric Adams, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, and Council Member Jumaane Williams to urge Mayor Bloomberg to appoint an independent commission to investigate corruption within the NYPD. This request followed a number of recent well-publicized scandals involving New York City police officers including ticket-fixing, evidence tampering, and drug-planting; as well as overall policies such as unlawful surveillance activity and discriminatory stop and frisk tactics.

“These comments are deeply bigoted, and suggest that these officers view their duty as some kind of war against the communities they have sworn to protect,” said Council Member Letitia James. “This attitude mars the integrity of the department and is reminiscent of a time before community policing was established as NYPD policy. When officers suggest ‘dropping a bomb’ on a community, I have to question not only their commitment to their duties, but the degree to which they value basic human life.”

“Such deeply offensive remarks don’t belong anywhere, anytime in our City,” said Comptroller John C. Liu. “The Officers who were responsible for these comments don’t represent the NYPD, but do reinforce concerns about biased policing. The NYPD needs to get the bottom of this.”

“The comments made by these police officers are disgraceful and need to be investigated immediately,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I know that these views do not represent the entirety of the police force, but unfortunately, this only serves to reinforce distrust of the police among communities of color.”

“I cannot say that today's report surprises me, based on the growing avalanche of these stories coming from every corner of New York City,” said Council Member Jumaane Williams. “Yet, Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Kelly have maintained their deafening silence towards this issue. These comments come out in the wake of other concerning statements from NYPD officers, including a racially motivated arrest on Staten Island in April where an officer said he ‘fried another n-----’, as well as racist language captured in wiretaps during the ticket-fixing investigation in the Bronx.”

The 2011 West Indian American Day Parade saw a total of nine shooting victims, with four of those victims shot along the parade’s route. Those who lost their life include Denise Gay, 56, who was shot while sitting on a stoop with her daughter. Mayor Michael Bloomberg blamed the violence on gun-accessibility.

WHO: Council Member Letitia James
NYC Comptroller John Liu
Public Advocate Bill De Blasio (Representative Kirsten Foy)
Representative Yvette Clarke (Representative Latrice Walker)
Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito
Council Member Jumaane Williams
Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez
Council Member Robert Jackson
Council Member Brad Lander


WHEN: December 7, 2011
1:00 PM

WHERE: steps of City Hall

###

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

ATTENTION: HEAP Program

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally-funded program intended for low-income households. The program may assist with household's energy bills- which includes electricity, gas, and oil bills. Even if heat and utilities are included in a renter's payments, HEAP may be able to assist. Grants vary depending on household income and type of heating.

There are two HEAP components--
-Regular component opened on November 16, 2011
-Emergency component opened on January 3, 2012

HEAP's regular component benefits households who pay heat, utilities, and cooking gas; have utilities and heat included in the rent; and reside in public housing.

HEAP's emergency component benefits households when heat service is disconnected or scheduled for disconnection; when the household is without heating fuel or has low fuel; and when heating equipment is inoperable.
- One emergency grant, primary fuel grant, and/or heat related emergency grant is available per vendor during the HEAP season
- One boiler repair/replacement is available

A person is eligible for HEAP benefits if they are a US citizen or qualified alien and meet income eligibility guidelines; receive temporary assistance (safety-net or family assistance); receive food stamps; receive supplemental security income (SSI); and/or live in subsidized housing [Mitchell-Lama apartments, Public Housing (NYCHA), and apartments financed with Section 8 Certificates and Vouchers].
- Income eligibility depends on household size in relation to total household income

Those seeking to apply for HEAP must provide proof of residence, identity, utility costs, and income. The HEAP Brooklyn Field office is located at 1 Metrotech Center (Lobby). Customers should call (800) 692-0557 for more information.

Monday, December 5, 2011

City Council Sanitation Committee Chair Letitia James To Speak At NY League of Conservation Voters Forum on City Solid Waste Challenges

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
December 5, 2011

Contact: Dan Hendrick at (212) 361-6350 x206

City Council Sanitation Committee Chair Letitia James To Speak At NY League of Conservation Voters Forum on City Solid Waste Challenges

(New York, NY)— Did you know that New York City ships 10,500 tons of residential waste to out-of-state landfills every day? That adds up to nearly 27 million miles a year— all on large, long-haul trucks that spew massive amounts of climate-warming emissions into our air.

New York City is lagging behind other major cities in the adoption of new technologies, even as our current system grows more and more expensive. Isn't it time for the Big Apple to rethink its solid waste management strategy?

On December 6, 2011, Council Member Letitia James will be joining the New York League of Conservation Voters (Education Fund) at “Wasted Opportunity: Confronting NYC's Solid Waste Challenges” to discuss how New York City can best manage the nonrecyclable fraction of its municipal solid waste. Panelists will include NYC Deputy Mayor for Operations Caswell Holloway; NYC Environment- Natural Resources Defense Council Director Eric Goldstein; Citizens Budget Commission President Carol Kellerman; as well as others.

The forum will take place Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the New York City Bar Association (42 West 44th Street) from 8:00AM to noon.

See more information here: http://www.nylcvef.org/wastedopportunity

ATTENTION: BCAP Summer Camp

The much-celebrated Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP), an innovative summer program for kids ages 7-12 which gives them the chance to interact with their local environment and community, is currently open for registration.

BCAP Summer Camp is sponsored by Heart of Brooklyn, a unique partnership among six of Brooklyn’s most treasured cultural institutions. All lessons are consistent with New York State Learning Standards and are taught by professional educators. BCAP Summer Camp is licensed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and is inspected twice yearly.

BCAP's curriculum theme for Summer 2012 is Myths and Magic. The program is offered in three two-week sessions in summer 2012:

• Session 1: July 2 – July 13
• Session 2: July 16 – July 27
• Session 3: July 30 – August 10

Tuition assistance is offered for qualifying families. For more information or to register, see here.

Friday, December 2, 2011

NYC Parks Department Offers Grant To Non-Profits Using Green Infrastructure


The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation recently announced that up to $4M will be available for private property owners, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations that use green infrastructure to reduce or manage stormwater on private property and public sidewalks in combined sewer areas of New York City—such as building green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, right-of-way bioswales, and similar methods.

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is strongly encouraging applicants to apply online at: www.nyc.gov/dep/grantprogram, and will be hosting grant workshops for those that are interested in applying.

Brooklyn Workshop
Brooklyn- December 6, 2011, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Brooklyn Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom– 2nd Floor
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Please contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James for more information at (212) 788-7081.