Good Morning, Brooklyn: Monday, August 30, 2021

August 30, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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BROOKLYN CONGRESSMEMBER CONDEMNS SCOTUS DECISION: Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement on Friday condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the national eviction moratorium. “Housing is a human right, and for as many as 11 million Americans facing eviction nationwide, the patchwork safety net of rapidly ending state memorandums and emergency executive orders is not enough to stave off this compounding crisis,” she said. Denouncing the Supreme Court’s decision as “logically and morally bankrupt,” Clarke called on the House of Representatives to reconvene immediately and vote to pass H.R. 4791, the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act, and on her Senate colleagues to pass their companion bill.

Rep. Clarke also called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to extend the New York State Eviction Moratorium until December 31 and to swiftly disseminate the housing assistance funds that were allocated to New York State.

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POP-UP RENTAL ASSISTANCE EVENT: This coming Tuesday, August 31, Good Shepherd Services will host a free pop-up event in East New York to help community members who have fallen behind on rent payments due to financial hardship caused by COVID-19 to apply for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). From noon to 5 p.m. that day, Good Shepherd will be offering free application assistance, education, and outreach at the Prince Joshua Avitto Community Center (876 Schenck Ave.) in collaboration with United Community Centers to ensure those at risk of homelessness or housing instability can successfully access rent relief through ERAP.

Tenants seeking assistance who are unable to attend the event can also book an appointment by calling Good Shepherd’s ERAP Call Center at (929)-552-2248, accessible seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT ERIC ADAMS has formally released recommendations on the proposed Gowanus rezoning as part of his City Charter-mandated role in the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP). He seeks to secure the needed capital investments in the two New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments and ensure a better quality of life for residents of the developments. The recommendations, part of a broader vision for the future of the Gowanus community amid a proposed city rezoning, underscore local leaders’ commitment to prioritizing the needs of public housing residents and provide a model for future rezonings throughout the City that include public housing developments with significant capital needs.

As Congress continues to debate the appropriate level of federal investment in public housing, Borough President Adams believes it is critical for the City to find creative ways to meet NYCHA’s capital needs.

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CENTER FOR FICTION’S NEW BROOKLYN HOME: The Center for Fiction, now celebrating its 200th year, has reopened with a new home in Brooklyn. Following a 17-month hiatus, this literary nonprofit that was founded as the Mercantile Library of New York is now based in the heart of the BAM Cultural District at 15 Lafayette Ave. with an 18,000-square-foot facility. The coming season’s educational programming will include a free public event that is part of The Center’s KidsRead initiative, where young readers can virtually meet bestselling middle-grade author Alan Gratz, presented in partnership with The New York Society Library.

The Center will also be honoring several writers throughout the fall, including the next group of Emerging Writer Fellows, the winner of the Bridge Book Award, and the winner of the First Novel Prize, to be announced at a December 7 gala.

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COUNTERACTING SUPREME COURT’S DECISION: Gov. Kathy Hochul late on Friday announced that she is “in talks with the NY State Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker to call a special session to address the impending eviction crisis, given the Supreme Court’s decision [striking down the CDC’s moratorium]. Our teams will be working through the weekend to address how best to deliver relief to renters and homeowners in need as quickly as possible.”

The U.S. Supreme Court earlier on Friday had ruled, with dissentions from the three liberal justices, that tenant evictions do not pose a public health issue, even as COVID cases are again surging nationwide. However, they left an opening for Congress to fix the legalities.

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COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: College students pursuing degrees in the education field still have a chance to apply for internships at P.S. 287, Dr. Bailey K. Ashford Elementary School, near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Brooklyn Community Board 2 announced that the application extension has been extended to Friday, Sept. 3 for school internships in social work and counseling, school media and SEL and enrichment. Applicants must be current college students and need to email their resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: “Internship.”

Course credit is available, when applicable to the intern’s situation.

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DOMINICAN MUSIC AT WILLOUGHBY PLAZA: Readers with an appetite for Dominican music can drop by the Willoughby Plaza Lunchtime Music Series tomorrow, Aug. 31, from noon to 2 p.m. Guitarist, vocalist, composer and producer Yasser Tejeda will perform some of the new music he has written to preserve and celebrate Dominican roots.

Tejeda has released two albums: Kijombo (2019) which received six awards from Dominican Republic’s Indie awards, including Best Album; and Mezclansa (2009), dubbed one of the “100 essential recordings of Dominican music” (Acroarte). He recently released a new acoustic EP, titled Interior.

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BQE LANE REDUCTION: Commuters and truckers are expected to experience the impact on traffic today, the first rush hour following the DOT’s reduction of lanes in both directions. Lanes were reduced from three to two, in each direction, and work started over the weekend on the BQE between Atlantic Ave. and the Brooklyn Bridge, in an effort to extend the life of the triple-cantilever roadway that runs underneath the Brooklyn Promenade. The DOT said these measures will reduce weight on the roadway, promote safety by providing dedicated exit and entrance lanes, and provide a shoulder space to minimize the traffic impact from crashes.

The agency warned drivers to expect construction-induced traffic jams, and suggested they take public transit instead. Trucks and essential vehicles, meanwhile, should look to make use of the Battery Tunnel and the New Jersey Turnpike.

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RASH OF RECKLESS DRIVING: Even as the Dyker Heights community mourns the death of the 6-year-old girl who was struck by a scofflaw SUV driver on Tuesday, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes issued a statement condemning the lack of action in the latest pedestrian death this week: “The day after the vigil for 6-year-old Tamy, our community is faced with another tragic loss of life due to vehicular violence,” said Gounardes. “When will enough be enough? My condolences go out to the family of Chumei Pan, and to all those who knew and loved her.

“It’s time for all my elected colleagues to put words in action and pass important legislation to hold reckless drivers accountable, enhance the lifesaving speed camera program to slow drivers down, and highlight the dangers of large vehicles. We also need all our leaders to finally commit to Vision Zero so that we can stop the carnage on our streets,” said Gounardes.

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BACKPACK GIVEAWAY DONATIONS: City Councilmember Stephen Levin’s District 33 Office at 410 Atlantic Ave. is holding a Backpack Giveaway Drive, for which donations are being accepted through this Friday, Sept. 3. Community members who wish to donate backpacks and other school supplies in time for the new school year can bring them between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week.