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Around Brooklyn: BP Eric Adams slams Trump school diet proposal

January 7, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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BP Eric Adams slams Trump school diet proposal

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams released testimony he submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a recent proposal, known as “meal flexibilities,” which experts believe would increase access to one percent chocolate milk in schools, cut whole-grain serving requirements in half, and give nutrition directors more time to meet weakened sodium reduction targets. The proposed rule change comes in the final days of the Trump administration as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to be inaugurated later this month. Adams framed his testimony as a “resolution” for 2021 to promote healthy eating in schools across the city, state, and country as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the nation.

E-commerce center under construction in Red Hook

DH Property Holdings has broken ground on a three-story, 370,000-square-foot project in Red Hook that is poised to become the first multi-level e-commerce distribution facility on the East Coast. Ware Malcomb is the designer of the upcoming building at 640 Columbia St., with Suffolk Construction as general contractor. The project comprises three stories of warehouse space, with an additional mezzanine parking level that encompasses 184 spaces for employees. The first floor offers 112,000 square feet, with direct truck access, while a ramp provides entry to the second-floor loading docks. The first and second stories each include 14 dock doors, truck courts and 28-foot clear heights. The third floor has 18-foot ceiling heights and a freight elevator, according to Commercial Property Executive.

Felder: Seniors should have more priority for vaccines

State Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Borough Park, Midwood) is awaiting a response to a letter he sent on Wednesday urging NYS Health Commissioner Howard Zucker to prioritize the inclusion of all seniors amongst the first people to receive the coronavirus vaccine. “Seniors have been isolated from family, friends and community for almost a year and counting. Their suffering has devastating repercussions,” said Felder. “Finally, we have a better way to protect people and any failure to get COVID-19 vaccines to our seniors quickly is criminal negligence!”

Fire deaths continue decline in NYC

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro earlier this week announced the city had 63 civilian fire deaths in 2020, 5 percent fewer deaths than in 2019, when 66 people lost their lives in fires. This marks the 15th consecutive year there have been fewer than 100 fire-related deaths, continuing an unprecedented period in New York City history. “2020 was a year unlike any other – but New Yorkers know that no matter what’s thrown at them, New York’s Bravest will answer the call and keep them safe,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We should all be proud of this achievement, and I’ll stand with FDNY to help make even more strides on fire safety in 2021.”

Campaign started to prepare voters for Ranked Choice Voting

The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) is launching its highly anticipated education campaign to prepare city voters for their first experience with Ranked Choice Voting in special and primary elections this year. Starting this year, New Yorkers may rank their top five candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one in all special and primary elections. Ranked Choice Voting was proposed for New York City elections through a Charter Revision Commission convened in 2019. It was then approved by city voters through a ballot measure in November 2019 that passed with 73.5 percent support. Voters in Queens and The Bronx will be the first in the city to use Ranked Choice Voting in four separate special elections set before the primaries take place citywide in June.

Carroll Gardens tavern has mini-ice skating rink

The Court Street Tavern, a recently opened Carroll Gardens restaurant at 449 Court St., has created its own mini-ice skating rink outside its doors. The rink, geared for children, is open daily from 12:15 to 7:15 p.m. at $25 per child, including skate rentals. People can make reservations on Resy for 45-minute sessions, and walk-ins are welcome. Televisions are also posted right above the rink, presumably for parents and other caregivers who are watching their little ones skate.

Man admits killing grandfather with machete

The Brooklyn man accused of murdering his grandfather with a machete and injuring two family members, including his 4-year-old sister, has confessed to the attack, court papers say. “I did what I did and there is nothing to talk about,” Dayquan Dubose told NYPD Detective Lukasz Organistka of the Jan. 3 slaying, according to a criminal complaint. Dubose, 22, allegedly got into a fight with his family members in an apartment on Putnam Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Dubose wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near his grandfather due to an order of protection from a prior case, according to court records. The alleged killer was arraigned early Tuesday in Brooklyn Criminal Court on charges of second-degree murder, criminal contempt, endangering the welfare of a child, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the New York Post. He was ordered held without bail.

Deutsch reminds citizens on tax exemptions

Councilmember Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest) updates his constituents that if you currently are utilizing a tax exemption for property taxes, the deadline to renew that exemption is March 15, 2021. Senior Citizens Homeowners Exemption (SCHE) is required to be renewed every two years. Disabled Homeowners Exemption (DHE) is required to be renewed every year. Clergy Exemptions are required to be renewed every year. If you are a homeowner who has not received a property tax exemption in the past, the deadline to apply is also March 15, 2021.

Officials call on district leader to resign

Brooklyn officials are calling on Marine Park Democratic District Leader Lori Maslow to resign after a tweet she made about Chinese people on Jan. 2, along with a series of social media posts she made toward Palestinians. Maslow, who serves as the female district leader in the 41st Assembly District, posted a tweet Saturday in which she commented on Chinese tariffs, saying she will boycott goods made in that country and that she “can’t even look at Chinese food,” according to published reports. In one post about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she said, “We value life. They don’t. Never again. And as the Bible says, and you shall wipe the children of Amelek off the face of the earth.”

Suspect arrested in subway assaults on women

A man suspected in a string of assaults against women in Brooklyn is now under arrest and facing multiple charges. Khari Covington, 29, is charged with seven counts for attacks in the subway system — at least five took place at the same station at Morgan Avenue on the L line.
He is also facing two counts of attempted robberies outside the subway. Covington lives at a homeless shelter two blocks from the train station, police said. In each instance, a woman in her 20s or 30s was randomly attacked and punched in the head, according to ABC 7. He is also believed to be responsible for punching and choking a 27-year-old woman at Sunflower Glass Company Smoke Shop in Bushwick this week.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer. 

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