Wednesday, May 30, 2012
CMs James, Levin, & State Sen. Montgomery Release Neighborhood Protection Plan for Barclays
On May 29, 2012, Council Members Letitia James and Steve Levin, along with NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery and community leaders, released a Neighborhood Protection Plan addressing Barclays Center traffic management methods, as well as (long.standing.) quality of life concerns.
NPP FINAL
The plan calls for measures that include the institution of residential parking permits, increased garbage can placement, and an early cutoff for alcohol sales. It also institutes an additional charge for parking, similar to the system at Newark's Prudential Center. And it would designate policing of the arena area to the 78th Precinct.
Help Us Make Kindergarten Mandatory in NYC
We are very happy to report that the Senate Education Committee recently passed this legislation, putting us one step closer to our goal of ensuring that all NYC families have access to an early childhood education. However, additional action is still needed from the Senate and Assembly before they break for the summer.
Please spread the word and sign the "Kindergarten is a Right" petition to ensure that the State Legislature swiftly passes these bills.
Groundswell and BK Navy Yard Present "Here Goes Something"
WHEN: Wednesday, May 30
3PM
WHERE: Sands Street at Navy Street
To RSVP, contact (718) 907-5965.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
ATTENTION: SLA Public Hearing On Barclay's Liquor License; 6/12 & 6/20
The New York State Liquor Authority has scheduled their public hearing on the Barclays Center liquor license application for 11:00AM on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 AND 7:00PM on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
at 317 Lenox Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY.
The hearing notice may be viewed here. Brooklyn Community Board 6 (representing the Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Gowanus, and Red Hook areas) recently voted to support the Barclay's Liquor License.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Speaks has created a public petition directed towards New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Liquor Authority Chairman Dennis Rosen to demand public accountability for Barclay's Center alcohol sales, something Council Member James has long called-on.
The hearing notice may be viewed here. Brooklyn Community Board 6 (representing the Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Gowanus, and Red Hook areas) recently voted to support the Barclay's Liquor License.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Speaks has created a public petition directed towards New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Liquor Authority Chairman Dennis Rosen to demand public accountability for Barclay's Center alcohol sales, something Council Member James has long called-on.
The Coop School Presents "Little Red Riding Hood”
FREE and open to the public.
Arts and Crafts start at 10:00 am and show begins at 11:15 am sharp.
Please bring a picnic blanket or lawn chair!
Support for this performance was provided by the LEGO Children's Fund and Brooklyn Community Foundation.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Moving Pictures: Kilimanjaro
On Monday May 28, 2012 the independent film “Kilimanjaro” is scheduled to film interior and exterior scenes at--
- St. John’s Place between Classon and Franklin Avenues
- Eastern Parkway between Plaza Street and Underhill Avenue
- Bergen Street at Vanderbilt Avenue
APPROXIMATE TIME: 6am-9pm
If you have further questions you can contact their Locations Department at 212-956-3270
- St. John’s Place between Classon and Franklin Avenues
- Eastern Parkway between Plaza Street and Underhill Avenue
- Bergen Street at Vanderbilt Avenue
APPROXIMATE TIME: 6am-9pm
If you have further questions you can contact their Locations Department at 212-956-3270
Monday, May 21, 2012
ATTENTION: Town Hall Meeting on Tenants' Rights and Housing Affordability; 5/23; 6PM; Lafayette Presbyterian
(click picture to expand flyer)
For more information, please contact Juanita Edwards at Pratt Area Community Council at (718) 522-2613 ext. 024.
CMs Letitia James and Melissa Mark-Viverito Urge City Not To Appeal Federal Lawsuit Regarding Stop-And-Frisk
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
May 17, 2012
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Members Letitia James and Melissa Mark-Viverito Urge City Not To Appeal Federal Lawsuit Regarding Stop-And-Frisk
(New York, NY)— On May 16, 2012, a federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy, saying she was disturbed by the “deeply troubling apathy towards New Yorkers’ most fundamental constitutional rights.”
In 2011, the statistics showed that 87% of the NYPD’s almost 700,000 stop-and-frisks involved Black and Latino persons; only 12% of those stops resulted in arrests, and less than 1% of those stops resulted in an arrest for weapon possession or an otherwise violent crime. Council Member Letitia James has joined many of her colleagues in criticizing the stop-and-frisk policy as one that forges distrust between the department and minority communities.
The NYPD recently disclosed that there have been more than 200,000 stops from January to March of 2012, a number that would exceed previous records if it were to hold steady. The administration had previously taken the position that a court-ordered injunction banning stop-and-frisk would constitute “judicial intrusion”, a position the federal judge strongly disagreed with (calling the City’s attitude about the policy “cavalier”).
“The fact that the NYPD has made some recent reforms, including more training for cops and closer scrutiny from supervisors, would suggest that they recognize that abusive stop-and-frisk policies have no place in a civil society,” said Council Member Letitia James. “These changes are a step in the right direction, but do not go far enough; although they may negate the need for an appeal.”
“We urge the City not to waste precious taxpayer dollars to defend its out-of-control stop and frisk agenda,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “We are not calling for softer policing, but smarter and more effective policing; and stop and frisk has been shown to be an ineffective, wasteful policy. On top of the social costs of damaged police-community relations, we are now facing the fiscal costs of legal challenges against the NYPD for its practices. This week’s court decision was clear: these suspicionless stops are unconstitutional and those who have suffered the humiliation that comes with being stopped and frisked deserve to seek legal recourse as a class. As we seek to enact measures that will strengthen oversight over the police in our city, the courts stand as an important vehicle to hold the NYPD accountable. The City should not be obstructing efforts by plaintiffs to challenge the NYPD’s stop and frisk practices.”
In April 2012, multiple media sources reported that a “working group” has been formed inside New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office, with the purpose of reviewing the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) stop-and-frisk policy. Council Member James has further urged Mayor Bloomberg to appoint an independent commission to investigate corruption within the NYPD, and relocate the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau to the NYC Department of Investigations.
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May 17, 2012
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Members Letitia James and Melissa Mark-Viverito Urge City Not To Appeal Federal Lawsuit Regarding Stop-And-Frisk
(New York, NY)— On May 16, 2012, a federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy, saying she was disturbed by the “deeply troubling apathy towards New Yorkers’ most fundamental constitutional rights.”
In 2011, the statistics showed that 87% of the NYPD’s almost 700,000 stop-and-frisks involved Black and Latino persons; only 12% of those stops resulted in arrests, and less than 1% of those stops resulted in an arrest for weapon possession or an otherwise violent crime. Council Member Letitia James has joined many of her colleagues in criticizing the stop-and-frisk policy as one that forges distrust between the department and minority communities.
The NYPD recently disclosed that there have been more than 200,000 stops from January to March of 2012, a number that would exceed previous records if it were to hold steady. The administration had previously taken the position that a court-ordered injunction banning stop-and-frisk would constitute “judicial intrusion”, a position the federal judge strongly disagreed with (calling the City’s attitude about the policy “cavalier”).
“The fact that the NYPD has made some recent reforms, including more training for cops and closer scrutiny from supervisors, would suggest that they recognize that abusive stop-and-frisk policies have no place in a civil society,” said Council Member Letitia James. “These changes are a step in the right direction, but do not go far enough; although they may negate the need for an appeal.”
“We urge the City not to waste precious taxpayer dollars to defend its out-of-control stop and frisk agenda,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “We are not calling for softer policing, but smarter and more effective policing; and stop and frisk has been shown to be an ineffective, wasteful policy. On top of the social costs of damaged police-community relations, we are now facing the fiscal costs of legal challenges against the NYPD for its practices. This week’s court decision was clear: these suspicionless stops are unconstitutional and those who have suffered the humiliation that comes with being stopped and frisked deserve to seek legal recourse as a class. As we seek to enact measures that will strengthen oversight over the police in our city, the courts stand as an important vehicle to hold the NYPD accountable. The City should not be obstructing efforts by plaintiffs to challenge the NYPD’s stop and frisk practices.”
In April 2012, multiple media sources reported that a “working group” has been formed inside New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office, with the purpose of reviewing the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) stop-and-frisk policy. Council Member James has further urged Mayor Bloomberg to appoint an independent commission to investigate corruption within the NYPD, and relocate the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau to the NYC Department of Investigations.
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Friday, May 18, 2012
ATTENTION: Elected Officials & SCA Host MWBE Informational Session; 6/15; Medgar Evers College
- How to become Certified MWBE
- Current City and State Contracting Opportunities for Minority-Owned, Women-Owned Business Enterprises
- Build Productive New Business Relationships
WHEN: Friday, June 15th, 2012
10:00am – 2:00pm
WHERE: Medgar Evers College
1650 Bedford Avenue (Between Crown Street and Montgomery Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11225
Please RSVP by June 12th to email: infobizdev@nycsca.org or call (718) 752 – 5049.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
CM James Calls on State Legislature To Re-Authorize Tax Abatement For Co-op/ Condo Owners; Sponsors Tax Information Session in Fort Greene, BK
**For Immediate Release**
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Calls on State Legislature To Re-Authorize Tax Abatement For Co-op/ Condo Owners; Sponsors Tax Information Session in Fort Greene, Brooklyn
(New York, NY)— As Brooklyn apartment-owners begin to grow alongside their Brownstoner counterparts, it becomes imperative that co-op and condo owners educate themselves on the property tax associated with their purchase. Every year, the NYC Department of Finance releases preliminary figures for the coming fiscal year's property-tax assessments. And almost every year, property-owners object to the department’s assessment, and in a standard process called tax certiorari, eventually receive a refund.
However, the concern over high property tax rates is especially worrying for co-op and
condo owners who in 2011 saw increases in market value of up to one-hundred
fifty percent. In fact, market values for co-ops, condos, and rental apartment
buildings (Class 2) rose $6.8 billion (or 3.6%) to a total of $196.3 billion
Citywide, according to the property assessment roll for FY2013. The
Department of Finance is not allowed to use sales prices to value co-ops and
condos, and instead must be value these properties as if they were rental
buildings. The fact that co-ops and condos are taxed not as private
residences, but effectively as commercial properties that bring in rental
income, presents serious concerns to owners.
The tax break authorized for co-op and condo owners in New York City will soon be
expiring. If the State Legislature doesn’t reauthorize the tax abatement,
roughly 365,000 New York City co-op and condo owners could see their property
tax bills jump.
Council Member Letitia James will be hosting a 35th District Co-op and Condo
Tax Information Session. The session will provide insight into co-op and condo
real-estate taxation process, and NYC Department of Finance representatives
will be available to answer questions—
WHEN: Thursday, May 24, 2012
WHERE: 210 Clinton Avenue (Community Room)
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Calls on State Legislature To Re-Authorize Tax Abatement For Co-op/ Condo Owners; Sponsors Tax Information Session in Fort Greene, Brooklyn
(New York, NY)— As Brooklyn apartment-owners begin to grow alongside their Brownstoner counterparts, it becomes imperative that co-op and condo owners educate themselves on the property tax associated with their purchase. Every year, the NYC Department of Finance releases preliminary figures for the coming fiscal year's property-tax assessments. And almost every year, property-owners object to the department’s assessment, and in a standard process called tax certiorari, eventually receive a refund.
6:00pm
Clinton Hill Co-ops
Brooklyn, NY 11205
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