Brooklyn Political Roundup, November 1: Last minute endorsements coming in before Election Day

In Public Service, From The Political Staff Of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

November 1, 2017 By Paula Katinas & John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (left) with Kalman Yeger. Photo courtesy of the Yeger campaign

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Meng backs Yeger for City Council

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, the vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, has endorsed Kalman Yeger for the City Council seat in the 44th District (Borough Park-Midwood-Bensonhurst).

“Kalman Yeger has been a dear friend for more than a decade so I know firsthand how much he loves his community and how hard he’ll fight for his constituents each and every day. He is a man of integrity and dedication, and I know that he’ll be a tireless public servant working to make our great city even better,” Meng said in her endorsement statement.

Yeger, a Democrat, is locked in a fierce battle with Yoni Hikind, the son of longtime Borough Park Assemblymember Dov Hikind, for the Council seat being vacated by David Greenfield. Yoni Hikind is running on the independent Neighborhood Party line in the Nov. 7 election.

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Dov Hikind secures $1 Million for volunteer ambulance

Assemblymember Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park-Midwood) has secured $1 million in state funding for the Hatzoloh volunteer ambulance service. The funding, which comes in the form of a grant, will be used to upgrade Hatzoloh’s communications system, according to Hikind’s office.

Hatzoloh’s current radio system consists of 23 radio towers. However, the communications system is flawed, Hikind said, because Hatzoloh cannot activate more than one radio tower at a time.

The $1 million grant will help eliminate so-called “dead spots,” places where radio communications do not work, Hikind said.

“I have always had the greatest respect for our wonderful Hatzoloh volunteers, as I think everyone in our community does. Who doesn’t have Hatzoloh’s number next to their phone? Hatzoloh saves countless lives every single day, 24/7, and I am thrilled and relieved that this money will allow them to do even swifter work and help more people,” Hikind said in a statement.

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Espinal, Dilan demand recourse for ticketed merchants

Councilmember Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick-Cypress Hills) and state Sen. Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Bushwick-Williamsburg-Cypress Hills) are demanding that the city do something to help store owners in their districts who have been slapped with fines for violating the city’s awning regulations.

The two lawmakers charged that more than 80 businesses along the Fulton Street corridor, including many immigrant-owned shops, have been hit with fines. Some mom and pop shops are facing as much as $20,000 in accumulated fines. Espinal and Dilan want recourse for the merchants.

The lawmakers said that in 2005, New York City passed a moratorium temporarily halting enforcement of building signage violations but that that the Department of Buildings (DOB), without warning that the moratorium had ended, swooped in to issued violations.

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Harris lauds voter protections

Assemblymember Pamela Harris said she was pleased when legislation she co-sponsored to ensure that voter registration records would remain confidential for victims of domestic violence has been signed into law.

Voter registration records are public records, but Harris (D-Coney Island-parts of Dyker Heights, Bay Ridge) said releasing the information risks the lives of violence survivors.

“Victims of domestic violence deserve to break free from their abusers and take back their lives, but all too often, their information can be tracked down. Victims should never feel too afraid to participate in our democracy, they deserve this protection,” Harris said in a statement.

Prior to the new law, domestic violence victims had to file a claim in New York State Supreme Court to have their voter registration records and information set aside and not be accessible to the public.

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Police unions endorse Quaglione

John Quaglione, who is running for Bay Ridge’s City Council seat, has received the endorsement of the NYPD Captains Endowment Association.

“John cares about the quality of life of New Yorkers and will be a welcome voice of reason on a legislative body that too often passes laws that make the job of New York City police officers more difficult,” said Association President Roy T. Richter.

Quaglione was also endorsed by the Sergeants Benevolent Association. “I am proud and honored to receive these endorsements for my candidacy. Both of these associations recognize that I stand by law enforcement and will work to make this district safer. I sincerely look forward to having the opportunity for us to work together and advocate on behalf of their members in City Hall,” Quaglione said.

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El-Yateem endorses Brannan

Rev. Khader El-Yateem, Justin Brannan’s former City Council rival, has thrown his support behind the Democratic City Council nominee. During a heated primary, the two Democrats clashed on a number of issues, but have since buried the hatchet and come together to help Brannan win Vincent Gentile’s hotly contested City Council seat in District 43 (Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bensonhurst).

El-Yateem was Brannan’s leading opponent in the Democratic primary.

“Father El-Yateem and his team ran a remarkable campaign, inspiring thousands to come out to vote, many for the first time. The active engagement of so many people — especially Arab-Americans, Muslims, Asian-Americans and immigrants — is a deeply hopeful step for our community,” Brannan said.

“At a time when Trump and GOP leadership are dividing our country through Islamophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric and hateful, haphazard policy proposals, the primary showed that people are hungry to be actively involved in our democracy. I was grateful for the opportunity to sit down with Father Khader El-Yateem and other leaders in the Arab-American community, and I am incredibly proud to have their support.”

El-Yateem praised Brannan’s desire to support the Arab-American community. “I found Justin to be humbled by the opportunity to represent some of the largest and longest-standing Arab-American, Muslim and Palestinian communities in the United States,” said El-Yateem.

El-Yateem, himself a Palestinian, was heartened to hear Brannan’s views on the Palestinian situation in the Middle East. “Among many other things, Father El-Yateem and I spoke at length about the recognition and support of the aspiration of the Palestinian people for self-determination, in an independent state. I strongly support a ‘two-state solution’ which we both believe must come through negotiations and an end to the occupation,” Brannan said.

To ensure that his office can fully serve the entire community, Brannan pledged that, if elected, he will have staff who speak Arabic and Chinese, and who will work closely to listen to, serve, represent and engage with these important immigrant communities.

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New renovations coming to Fort Hamilton High School field

Councilmember Vincent Gentile has allocated $2.8 million toward the Fort Hamilton High School Field and Track renovation project, which is, in total, a $5.5 million project. He was joined by the School Construction Authority on Saturday at the school

During a halftime ceremony on Saturday at the school’s track and field, Gentile unveiled the plans for the greatly anticipated new high-tech football field and track upgrade that will serve as the home for the Tigers and the Fort Hamilton sports program.

There were samples of the new turf and track surface on view along with a rendering of the new facilities. The construction is set to begin sometime next year.

Saturday’s game marked the team’s last on the old field.