Monday, October 22, 2012

BK District Attorney Drops Charges Against Man Beaten By NYPD In Jewish Center

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
OCTOBER 22, 2012

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

Brooklyn District Attorney Dismisses Charges Against Ehud H. Halevi
Video Shows Homeless Man Was Beaten By Police Officers

(Brooklyn, NY)— On Monday, October 8, 2012, NYPD was contacted about a man who was sleeping in the lounge of the ALIYA Institute, a synagogue and outreach center, on East New York Avenue. The homeless man, Mr. Ehud H. Halevi, had permission to sleep in the center by the Director of ALIYA, Rabbi Moshe Feiglin. Video shows that two officers from the 71st Precinct approached Mr. Halevi and attempted to place him under arrest. In the process, Mr. Halevi appears to have been pepper-sprayed, and was repeatedly punched violently. Other officers later entered the center to subdue Mr. Halevi.

On October 15, 2012, Council Member Letitia James joined other elected officials in denouncing this incident of police brutality. Today, the Office of Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes announced that charges were dropped against Mr. Halevi.

"I applaud District Attorney Hynes for quickly reviewing the evidence of the case, and dismissing the charges against Mr. Halevi," said Council Member Letitia James.

Council Member Letitia James is a co-sponsor of the package of legislative bills known as the Community Safety Act that would address the stop-and-frisk policy, and appoint an independent Inspector General to oversee the NYPD.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

ATTENTION: PACC Free Tree Giveaway; 11/3; Bed-Stuy

Pratt Area Community Council will be hosting a Fall 2012 Tree Giveaway where 100 trees will be given away.

WHEN: November 3, 2012
11:00AM- 1:00PM

WHERE: Magnolia Plaza (between Marcy and Tompkins)
686 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11216

More information is available at www.nyrp.org/BrooklynTrees.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

CM JAMES CALLS ON THE NYS LIQUOR AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE CERTAIN LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS TO INCLUDE SECURITY, COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

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

COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES CALLS ON THE NYS LIQUOR AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE CERTAIN LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATIONS TO INCLUDE SECURITY, COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN 

(New York, NY)— On Monday, September 21, 2012, Council Member Letitia James introduced a resolution into the New York City Council. The resolution calls on the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) to further protect local communities through more thoroughly communicating with residents, community leaders, and local elected officials concerning liquor licensing; and to require liquor license applications for large venues to include thorough security and community safety plans.

Currently, the SLA requires any business entity applying for a liquor license to submit a 30-day notification form to the local community board. The 30-day notification process is meant to afford all those affected an opportunity to voice their position. A Brooklyn Speaks petition signed by nearly 1,400 residents requested that Barclays Center’s license be limited to serving drinks during ticketed arena events only, and must mandate an end to liquor sales after half time at an NBA game, 45 minutes before the end of an event, or at 10:00PM—whichever comes first. Although Barclay’s Center complied with the 30-day notification requirement, and public hearings were held, developer Forest City Ratner and the SLA did not implement an early cutoff for alcohol sales (as had been consistently requested and outlined in the community-centered Barclays Center Neighborhood Protection Plan). Instead, the Board voted to impose a 1:00AM cut off for liquor sales at the arena.

“It is important that the State Liquor Authority understand that even with the most meticulous crowd management imaginable, the opening of an arena that serves alcohol into the morning will affect residential life in the surrounding community,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I would certainly hope that when the next big arena is developed in New York City, the SLA would make more of an effort to address quality-of-life concerns raised by the community.”

Stakeholders also requested that SLA require Forest City Ratner to clarify and make transparent their security and community safety plan prior to granting the license.

Barclay’s Center will soon be holding sporting events and concerts that seat up to 20,000 individuals.

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CM James Joins Parents, School Advocates In Rally Against DOE Co-location of Success-Academy Charter School Brooklyn 5


**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
October 10, 2012

CONTACT: Barbara Sherman (718) 260-9191 /bsherman@council.nyc.gov

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL 13, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND ADVOCATES RALLY AGAINST DOE’S PROPOSAL TO CO-LOCATE SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL BROOKLYN 5 AT SUSAN MCKINNEY SCHOOL K265 

(Brooklyn, NY)-- Please join Council Member Letitia James Thursday, October 11th at 4:00pm at a press conference opposing Eva Moskowitz’s Success-Academy Charter School Brooklyn 5 that will serve K through fifth grade to be co-located with Susan McKinney K265 and P369@265, a secondary school, sixth through twelfth grades in school District 13. The District 13 School Field Office (KN13) and a community based organization Partnership with Children is also located in K265. 

The co -location of Success Academy School Brooklyn 5 will compromise and or eliminate the mandated services for District 75 students and students with an Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”). In addition, the co-location will diminish the educational mandate of Susan McKinney Secondary School of the Arts ability to offer classes in drama, chorus, dance, and visual arts to students in grades 6 to 12. 

DOE’s Educational Impact Study purports that the school will operate at 102%. Operating at above capacity will endanger students, compromise education, and eliminate state mandated resource rooms for children who attend P369@k265 and students with IEP’s. 

DOE’s expansion of charter schools has led to greater inequities, and a higher concentration of need in our district public schools at the same time they have taken up increased amounts of critical space from the district schools that educate the neediest students, including in many cases libraries, classrooms, and intervention spaces leading to unacceptable conditions. 

WHO: NYC Council Member Letitia James 
WHAT: The New York Department of Education Office of Portfolio proposal to co-locate Success Academy Charter School Brooklyn 5 at Susan McKinney K265 and P369@265 
WHEN: Thursday October 11, 2012 4:00PM EST 
WHERE: 101 PARK AVENUE BROOKLYN NY 11205