Two-Alarm Fire Along Myrtle Avenue In Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
JULY 23, 2013

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

Two-Alarm Fire Along Myrtle Avenue In Clinton Hill, Brooklyn 
Manhole Exploded Due To A Basement Fire Along Commercial Strip

(New York, NY)— On July 23, 2013 around 11:30 a.m., a manhole near 463 Myrtle Avenue began smoking, and shortly after exploded. The explosion is believed to be due to a two-alarm fire in the basement of a nearby restaurant along Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

The Fire Department arrived shortly, and evacuated seven surrounding buildings along Myrtle Avenue between Waverly and Washington Avenues. Two 3-story mixed commercial and residential buildings along the strip sustained minor damage from the explosion. Those nearby reported hearing the blast, and smelling a sulfur-like odor at the scene. An estimated thirty people were temporarily evacuated due to high carbon monoxide readings, however no injuries have been reported at this time.

“I thank the FDNY, the NYPD, and Con Edison for their quick response to the explosion, and I am deeply relieved that no one was seriously injured,” said Council Member Letitia James.

The Red Cross has offered assistance to those affected by the blast, and at this time streets have been closed along Myrtle Avenue from Clinton Street to Hall Street, Washington Avenue from Park Avenue to Myrtle Avenue, and Waverly Avenue from Park Avenue to Myrtle Avenue. Additionally, the B54 bus has been temporarily re-routed.


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CM James Comments On Collapse of Illegal Billboard In Williamsburg

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 14, 2011

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

Council Member Letitia James Comments On Collapse of Illegal Billboard In Williamsburg
Illegal Billboard Fell Onto BQE; Highlights Need For Greater Regulation

(New York, NY)— On Friday, January 13, 2012, an illegal billboard advertising the New York Lottery fell onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) due to high winds. The collapsed billboard blocked the BQE after falling on a guardrail. It also struck a nearby car wash and body shop, severed a gas line, and damaged a vehicle. Fortunately no one was injured, and traffic resumed about an hour after the incident.

The billboard was mounted atop 421 Meeker Avenue, and fell around 2:20PM, with the billboard's metal supporting partially falling on the building itself. Gas at the building was shut off, and the FDNY confirmed a partial gas leak. The New York City Department of Buildings zoning rules prohibit billboard placement within 200 feet of highways, however many City highways are lined with illegal billboards.

"It is time the Buildings Department cracked down on illegal billboards," said Council Member Letitia James. "It is fortunate that no one was hurt in this incident, but it is time the City enforced this rule and held sign companies responsible. As long as advertisers make more in illegal billboard placement than they pay in fines, this will continue to pose a danger. I call upon the Department to inspect City billboards for legality and safety."

In 2009, a Federal District Court in Manhattan found that “the City’s enforcement of its zoning regulations has been inconsistent and less than vigorous...The billboard industry has taken advantage of this lax enforcement and has consistently ignored the regulations on billboard sign location.”

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ATTENTION: FDNY Hosts CPR Trainings; FG

The NYC Fire Department (FDNY) is providing mobile CPR training in the Fort Greene community.

October 4, 2011
WHERE: Woodhull Medical Center
760 Broadway (10th Floor Solarium)
Brooklyn, New York 11206
WHEN: 6:30- 7:30PM

October 5, 2011
WHERE: Cumberland D&TC
100 North Portland Avenue (Main Lobby)
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205
WHEN: 11:00- 12:00PM

October 12, 2011
WHERE: Cumberland D&TC
100 North Portland Avenue (Main Lobby)
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205
WHEN: 11:00- 12:00PM

Please call (718) 963-8640 for more information.

ATTENTION: Community Notice Regarding Storm

September 17, 2010

Community Notice Regarding Recent Storm
An update regarding last night's severe weather storm, and the specific issue of fallen trees, structural damage, and power outages throughout a number of Brooklyn neighborhoods--

Con Edison, DSNY, FDNY, MTA, NYPD, OEM, and the Parks Department are working to restore power outages and remove downed trees and debris throughout the city. To assist with coordination, OEM deployed Citywide Incident Coordinators (CICs) to certain locations in Brooklyn.

Affected residents should call 311 to report any damage to their homes or businesses sustained from last night's storm. In order to qualify for disaster relief assistance, New York City must estimate the storm's total effect on city residents and employees. Residents should be prepared to answer questions about the extent of their property damage. Residents, if possible, should take photographs any damage prior to debris removal or repair. OEM will continue to monitor the damage from last night’s storm; the agency has opened the City’s Emergency Operations Center. OEM responders are located in the hardest hit areas and there is a command post set up to coordinate field activities. OEM is also working with the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Management Office to assess the damage. The Weather Service will survey the damage to confirm whether a tornado occurred.

Council Member James would like to stress the importance or reporting the building damage and downed trees. This information will be collected and used to determine eligibility for FEMA disaster declarations.

Lastly, Council Member James asks that residents continue to take the following steps wherever necessary:

-Report health and safety emergencies to 911.
-Report structural and tree damage to 311 (including trees blocking streets and roadways).
-Report power outages to Con Edison at 1-800-75-ConEd.
-If you have been displaced due to the storm, contact the American Red Cross in Greater New York at (877) 733-2767.

Additionally, Alternate Side Parking regulations are suspended Citywide on Friday, September 17. And, as always, constituents may reach out to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (718) 260-9191 to assist them in any matter related to the storm.

[Photograph by Benjamin Pasteur]

Bystander CPR Training / CPR Anytime Program

New York City Fire Department is pleased to offer free bystander CPR training for community organizations and other groups in the district. A full training session only takes 30 minutes, but participants must take a vow to help others is a crisis and use the knowledge, and the self-training kit included in the session, to train 5 others (friends, family, etc.)

The program gives members of the community the opportunity to learn the required skills to save the life of a loved one. All the CPR unit members are all uniformed EMS professionals with years of field and training experience who are skilled in creating an exciting learning environment.

If you are interested in the program, please call or email Vicki Dunham at 718-999-0743 or dunhamv@fdny.nyc.gov.

ATTENTION: Upcoming Community Events

The next Fort Greene Association meeting, scheduled for Monday, February 22nd at 7:30PM will include forum of sorts on cost of living increases in the Fort Greene area.

Pratt Area Community Council and NYCHA reps will be on-hand to answer questions. All FG residents are welcome.

Monday, February 22, 2010
7:30PM (refreshments will be out at 7PM)
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church
85 South Oxford Street
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
______________________________________

Join the 57th Assembly District Democratic Organization, District Leader Olanike Alabi and the Clinton Hill AARP- Chapter 2197--

In a community forum on Fire Safety presented by the Fire Department of New York. Joint carbon monoxide and smoke detectors will be distributed at the event. Please note that the second half of the meeting will be a community conversation on the race for New York State Governor and United States Senator.

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Teen Challenge Center
444 Clinton Avenue
(between Gates Avenue & Greene Avenue)
6:00pm
______________________________________

The Civic & Public Safety Committee of Brooklyn Community Board #3 will host a community presentation in conjunction with Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes on Sexual Predators.

Thursday, February 25, 2010
6:00pm
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration
1368 Fulton Street
(between Brooklyn Avenue & New York Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY 11216

For more information you may call Ms. Saadia Adossa at 718.250.3370.

______________________________________

TONIGHT: End the Cradle to Prison Pipeline with a candlelight vigil at the

Brooklyn House of Detention
February 17, 2010
6:00pm- 8:00pm
275 Atlantic Avenue

Please bring a photo of a loved one that is in prison and a white candle. For more information you may reach out to Rev. Sylvia Kinard, Esq. at sylvknrd@aol.com.

ATTENTION: Building Collapse on Myrtle Avenue; 6/21

*
On June 21, 2009, a four-story building on 493 Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill collapsed in the midst of construction around 2:00PM. The building housed Vespers Bar. The few people in the building at the time suffered minor injuries, and all appropriate City agencies responded quickly. Everyone on Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Ryerson Streets were temporarily evacuated following routine precautions, and bus line were re-routed (also temporarily). Council Member Letitia James was also at the scene to survey the damage.

The building had a list of violations on it, including an unrepaired crack running along the side. The collapse damaged a residential building next store, leaving those residents without a home. A young woman, Caitlyn, who is graduating from public school this Thursday was a victim of the collapse, and now needs attire appropriate for her graduation. If you are interested in helping her, please make-out your donation to “Jose Nunez”. All checks can be brought or mailed to PS 157 at 850 Kent Avenue [Principal Torres]. If you can donate clothing to Caitlyn, or wish to donate to any victim, please email us at teamtish@gmail.com where we may be able to facilitate such a donation. We will expand on this situation as more details come forth.

For more information:
See NY1- http://ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=101115
The NYT-Local- http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/vesper-building-on-myrtle-collapses-no-major-injuries/
Brownstoner- http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/06/fourstory_build.php
McBrooklyn- http://mcbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2009/06/myrtle-ave-building-that-collapsed-had.html
and Gothamist- http://gothamist.com/2009/06/21/brooklyn_building_on_myrtle_avenue.php

*Photo courtesy of the ClintonHillBlog (lesterhead).