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Good Morning, Brooklyn: Monday, July 19, 2021

July 19, 2021 By Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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NEW LAW RE: GAS METERS: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday signed legislation making the installation of a gas meter without a permit a class B misdemeanor with the potential for up to a year in prison. The legislation was passed in response to utility company employees exploiting consumers by installing gas meters without the knowledge of their companies, as well as the potential safety hazards of unlawfully installed gas meters. Gas meters are considered unlawfully installed if the work is done by anyone other than a person acting on behalf of a utility company regulated by the New York State Public Service Commission, unless that person has received a permit from the appropriate authority.

Unlawfully installed gas meters can also be potential safety hazards because they do not always conform to the regulations and codes used to prevent accidents or injury, and they use They often use nonstandard materials such as plastic flex piping, a cheaper but unsafe material that has been blamed in gas explosions, such as the one that occurred in Manhattan’s East Village in 2015.

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ART CRAWL AIMS TO FOSTER DIALOGUE The 8th Annual STooPS Bed-Stuy Art Crawl will be held on Saturday, July 24, 1 to 5 pm. Hosting this free, public event is America’s Next Top Model Winner Naima Mora. The STooPS Bed-Stuy Art Crawl is a space where local artists can explore innovative, community-minded creative experimentation that opens up a dialogue with their neighbors.

By presenting artists in unconventional performance spaces throughout the community, STooPS brings together different facets of the community —residents and businesses — that may not normally interact. For performance locations and full roster of participating artists, visit stoopsbedstuy.org.

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ELECTED OFFICIALS ALSO SPONSOR SOCIAL EVENTS: State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, in coordination with Councilmember Justin Brannan, announce the Shore Road Park Summer Concert Series for 2021, set to run from Tuesdays, July 20 to August 24. These concerts are free and open to the public, so that community members can venture outdoors after more than a year of sheltering at home due to the pandemic, and enjoy the summer weather with the company of friends, family, and live music. The concerts, featuring Radio Daze, an Irish Night with the Canny Brothers Band and other performers will take place at 79th St. and Shore Road Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.

Rain date is each Wednesday. All weeknight concerts begin at 7 p.m., with the exception of Kids’ Day, on Saturday, July 24 at 1 p.m.

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FREE MEDIATION SERVICE FOR COMMUNITIES: New York City business and residents are invited to join a webinar, hosted by the NYC Office of Nightlife (MOME) and the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution, to learn more about the MEND NYC citywide mediation program. MEND NYC provides free conflict resolution and mediation services to address a number of neighborhood disputes that impact New Yorkers every day that may include quality-of-life issues between residents and businesses, problems between commercial tenants and landlords, and misunderstandings between neighboring businesses.

The webinar takes place on Wednesday, July 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. Register at bit.ly/mendnycwebinar .

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NYC311 EXPANDS TO SUBWAYS: Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) and the MTA have joined forces to implement the expansion of NYC311 into the city’s subway system. For the first time ever, New Yorkers are able to request outreach assistance for individuals believed to be experiencing unsheltered homelessness; to report physical conditions within subway stations that are obscuring public space and must be addressed; and to identify non-aggressive panhandling to better connect such panhandlers to 311 support services. NYC311 is available 24/7, 365 days a year in nearly 180 languages through the call center, online, a mobile app, social media and by texting 311-NYC (692). NYC311 can also be reached through video relay service at 212-NEW-YORK (639-9675) and through TTY at 212-504-4115.

New Yorkers should continue to call 911 if they see dangerous or illegal activity in the subway system.

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NEW PRESIDENT REPRESENTS NY STATE NURSES: Nancy Hagans, RN, CCRN, has been elected president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), considered the oldest nurses’ union and association in the nation, and representing more than 42,000 registered nurses across the state. A native of Haiti, Ms. Hagans started her career as a surgical intensive care nurse at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn in 1990 and became NYSNA’s local bargaining unit president at Maimonides three years later. She brings to her new role a broad experience at Maimonides and in oversight of the union.

Ms. Hagans’ election came soon after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a safe-staffing law that was passed during the 2021 legislative session, a major development for hospital nurses and the patients for whom they care.

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SURVEY FOR NYC MILITARY PERSONNEL: The City of New York wants to hear from veterans, active-duty service member, reservists, guardsmen, military spouses, and military caregivers who live in York City. The Veteran and Military Community Survey is geared to help NYC policymakers identify service gaps and better understand the needs of the military community. Responses will inform new policies and programs that will support veterans, service members, and military families across the city.

The survey link is: https://polco.us/n/res/vote/nyc-department-of-veterans-services/nyc-veteran-and-military/. Information provided will remain anonymous unless those completing the survey opt-in to receive support services from DVS.