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Editorial: Applause, Applause

January 22, 2014 Editorial Staff

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The inauguration of Eric Adams as borough president opens a new chapter in Brooklyn history.

With that in mind, we offer our own wish list from among the priorities Adams enunciated in his inaugural address.

First, we would like Adams to tackle the boroughs health care crisis. With hospitals like LICH and Interfaith in jeopardy, he should move quickly to help craft a healthcare plan that will be accessible to all Brooklynites. As Adams stressed, with healthcare Brooklyns largest employer,whats good for our personal health is good for our financial health.

Next up is economic development. We applaud Adams for proposing to expand the uses of the Red Hook Container Terminal, a great idea that would bring money and jobs to Brooklyn, and strengthen the rationale for another of Adams goals: maintaining Brooklyns remaining industrial areas, which are urgently needed as economic engines and job creators, and which would help attract new businesses here.

We are heartened that, as a former NYPD captain, Adams has committed to strengthening social services in Brooklyn, as a way of tackling problems from poverty to violence. Among the proposals he announced was working with Police Commissioner Bratton to create a system for tracking social services, to aid in stemming violence, while also working to identify areas in need of services that can help reduce the inequities Adams so movingly described. With that in mind, we also applaud Adams for his commitment to additional after-school programs, to motivate the boroughs youngsters, enhance their education and keep them off the street.

We are also encouraged by Adams announcement of a major volunteer initiative to be run out of Borough Hall. This initiative can benefit Brooklyn as a whole as well as participants, because, as Adams stressed, when you do something for someone else, you also benefit.

Finally, we are delighted that Adams has indicated a commitment to the arts that are flourishing in portions of Brooklyn, and hope that he moves soon to infuse cultural deserts now lacking such institutions with the sort of enrichment that not only delights the soul but also can help inspire students to learn, so that they are prepared for the changing job market of the 21^st century.