Good Morning, Brooklyn: Thursday, October 7, 2021

October 7, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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A rendering of the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center.

MAJOR OWENS CENTER HAD COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: When the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Community Center opens later this year, it will be the fruit of a long-term community effort, say members of its advisory committee. Housed in the old Armory drill shed on Bedford and Union that will be a new community center with more than units of housing, 60% of which are affordable. The Center will also be home to established and familiar nonprofits, an arts center and sports complex.

Advisory Committee Chairman Joseph Coello Sr., and committee members Unella Perry and Von Joseph, who have worked assiduously in their concept and design of the project to make the center a highlight for community, wrote in a joint letter, “Legendary nonprofit community-based organizations like Ifetayo, Center Shot Archery, West Indian American Day Carnival Parade Organizers, Digital Girl, Inc. and the Brooklyn Pride Center— the only borough currently without a home for its LGBTQ center – now have permanent homes where they can continue their cultural awareness, supportive outreach and community efforts without fears of being priced out.”

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ADAMS STEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE: Following another rash of shootings this week in the borough’s public housing developments, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents, violence interrupters, and elected leaders to step up their fight against the root causes of gun violence and the chronic disrepair of the facilities. Speaking outside Fiorentino Plaza, a complex in East New York where 16-year-old Cahlil Pennington was fatally shot last week, Adams, a 22-year NYPD veteran and longtime anti-violence advocate, spoke about urgent actions that are needed on the local and national levels to address the gun violence epidemic, which over the past six days also claimed the lives of a teen girl outside the Gowanus Houses and a 22-year-old man in the Albany Houses in Crown Heights.

He emphasized the need for a Joint Guns and Gangs Task Force to coordinate local, state, and federal law enforcement activity; investing in precision policing; rebuilding the NYPD’s plainclothes anti-crime unit as an anti-gun unit; fully funding the city’s Crisis Management System; and pushing for more proactive investments in NYCHA.

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YOUTHS TO SPEAK OUT ON EXPERIENCES WITH POLICE: The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) will be hosting its third annual Youth Summit on Policing tonight, Thursday, Oct. 7, via Webex. Young people ages 10 to 18 from across New York City and nationwide will have the chance to directly share their experiences with policing, identify problems within their communities, and recommend solutions to public safety and police oversight practitioners and academics.

This summit, from 5-7 p.m. (registration code https://nycccrb.webex.com/nycccrb/onstage/g.php?MTID=e1114f7461b3403711d33c4a783fc16e3) will also have panels comprised of various representatives from youth justice organizations, civilian oversight agencies, and youth activists from across the country who will share their insight on youth and policing.

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NEW AD, IN SPANISH, ENDORSES ADAMS FOR MAYOR: Mayoral candidate Eric Adams has launched a new Spanish-language television ad titled “A Better New York.” In the announcement, the teacher Victoria Muñoz recounts Eric Adams’ plans for all New Yorkers to have a better city, including a more effective fight against COVID-19, investing in early education and better schools for children, and having a safer city.

During the ad, produced by Ralston Lapp Guinn, Ms. Muñoz begins by saying (translated here into English), “I’ve been a teacher for 23 years. Last year was very hard for my students and their families.”

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GRANTS TO FIGHT HATE CRIMES: Teach NYS, a nonpartisan project of the Orthodox Union that advocates for government funding for the state’s nonpublic schools, praised NY Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday for announcing the recipients of $43 million to fund 872 grants at 362 Jewish and other nonpublic day schools, houses of worship, summer camps and an array of other nonprofits as part of the state’s Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grant program. The announcement, made at a press conference at Manhattan’s Museum of Jewish Heritage, came amid an ongoing nationwide surge in attacks against Jews and other groups targeted for their ideology, race and beliefs. A recent FBI report found antisemitic attacks account for 57 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States–more than any other faith group in the country.

During the ceremony, Orthodox Union Managing Director of Public Affairs Maury Litwack shared a story about bringing Hochul to New York City’s Yeshiva Darchei Torah six months ago. As lieutenant governor at the time, she listened to two middle school students share their fears of being attacked because they were Jewish.

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FIRST THURSDAY GALLERY WALK REOPENS IN DUMBO: Art in DUMBO relaunches the First Thursday Gallery Walk in DUMBO tonight October 7, from 6 to 8 p.m., with a celebration of creativity, curator talks, and live events. Totally open to the public, this free art event takes place on the first Thursday of every month along the Brooklyn waterfront, where visitors can use a new interactive map to explore the numerous neighborhood galleries and happenings while taking in the skyline views.

Visitors and artists are encouraged to convene at DUMBO’s oldest and original organic restaurant and bar, Superfine, that is celebrating its 20th anniversary, at 126 Front Street, for happy hour drinks and conversation.

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GREENPOINT Y’S MEMBERSHIP REOPENS: The Greenpoint YMCA’s Member Services has reopened and is giving October free for all returning members. New members also get a new offer through November 1: join the Y and get one month free, with no joiner’s fee.

This offer is valid for members who have not had a membership within the past 30 days. For more information, readers can call 212-912-2260 or stop by the Y at 99 Meserole Ave.