Good Morning, Brooklyn: Monday, October 18, 2021

October 18, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Share this:

ARSON ATTACK AT JEWISH CENTER: Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to offer assistance in the investigation of an arson incident at Yeshivah of Flatbush. “At around 7:30 p.m. [Thursday] night, an unidentified individual poured gasoline in front of the Yeshivah of Flatbush and ignited it,” said the governor, who assured New Yorkers that the Hate Crimes Task Force will be providing assistance to the NYPD, and that she will monitor developments closely.”

Expressing thanks that there were no injuries, Gov. Hochul said, “I want to make it very clear that this cowardly act of hate has no home here in New York. No child should ever be made to feel unsafe, especially in a place of learning.”

✰✰✰

REP. CLARKE SPEAKS OUT ON YESHIVA ARSON: Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-9^th District), denouncing the arson incident at Yeshivah of Flatbush, said, “Let’s send a strong message to the perpetrator of this shameful act by locking hands in unity instead. What this misguided arsonist fails to realize is that our Brooklyn nation is home to diverse peoples, cultures and religions. And that is precisely what makes Brooklyn a special community”

Rep. Clarke added, “To the intended targets of this attack, know you are loved and welcome in this community, and you always will be. One misguided soul cannot and will not change that.”

✰✰✰

INVESTIGATING DEATH OF BENSONHURST WOMAN: The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the October 13 death of Jamie Liang, following an encounter with an off-duty member of the NYPD. The NYPD officer, who is a suspect, as the Eagle has reported, is P.O. Yvonne Wu. Members of the NYPD responded to 911 calls of shots fired at a residence located at 7901 19th Ave. in Bensonhurst, where they found Ms. Liang and another individual with gunshot wounds and had them taken to Maimonides Medical Center for treatment, where Ms. Liang died.

Preliminary information suggests that this may be the result of a personal or domestic dispute, without connection to Officer Wu’s law enforcement duties; however, the Office of Special Investigation is required to fully investigate whether the death took place in custody or as a result of an officer’s act or failure to act.

✰✰✰

PROTECTING RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS: New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 20 state attorneys general to protect transgender students’ rights. Attorney General James filed an amicus brief in the case of Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools, opposing the plaintiffs’ efforts to block transgender students from participating in gender-segregated school sports. Four cisgender students (meaning those who identify with their sex at birth) claim that the participation of transgender students in gender-segregated sports violates the rights of cisgender girls.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that, contrary to the plaintiffs’ claims, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 does not bar transgender female students from participating in gender-segregated sports according to their gender identity.

✰✰✰

VIRTUAL TENANT RESOURCE FAIR: Homeowners and tenants can learn about housing protection during COVID-19 at a virtual Tenant Resource Fair that the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Housing Dignity Coalition are co-presenting. The Virtual Fair, being held on Thursday, Oct. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m., will also cover tenants’ rights in rent-regulated apartments, rent protection for low-income rent-regulated seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, HPD’s housing lottery “Housing Connect” process, and housing discrimination protections. Registration and the Zoom link are available through the NYC HPD’s website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/events/virtual-tenant-resource-fair/308991/1

Participants will also receive guidelines on when to use Housing Court eviction protection programs.

✰✰✰

REDISTRICTING AND ELECTIONS TUTORIALS: An overview of redistricting and of the current process, and a crash course on the upcoming election are part of the agenda for Brooklyn Community Board 4’s next meeting this Wednesday, Oct. 20. The New York State Independent Redistricting Committee will give the presentation on redistricting; and NYC Votes will educate voters on the upcoming November 2 election, including the offices and propositions that will be on the ballot. Zoom registration is accessible through the Community Board 4 website:

During the meeting, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will make a presentation on the Nutrition Incentive program.

✰✰✰

URGING $80B FOR PUBLIC HOUSING REPAIRS: Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-7^th District) and 10 of her Congressional colleagues have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that urges $80 billion be secured for public housing repairs nationwide. These funds have passed in the House Financial Services Committee’s markup on reconciliation, and are part of Congressional development of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act.

“The state of our nation’s public housing system has become a public health crisis, but it is a fixable public health crisis,” wrote the lawmakers, which included a Brooklyn delegation of Representatives: Yvette D. Clarke, Carolyn B. Maloney, and Jerrold L. Nadler. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also signed the letter.

✰✰✰

SUBWAY SEES RECORD RIDERSHIP: The city, on Thursday, Oct. 14, achieved a new pandemic-era subway ridership record of 3,236,904 customers, surpassing the previous high set on Oct. 7 by nearly 50,000 riders, Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced. Overall, the subway system has carried more than three million customers eight times in October so far; and service delivery on the New York City subway, the percentage of scheduled trains that are provided during peak hours, which were measured along the busiest part of the line, improved to 92 percent in October with daily delays down by more than 13 percent.

The recent ridership records come a few weeks after the MTA formally launched “Welcome Back New York,” a robust public messaging campaign aimed at urging New Yorkers to return to the system.

✰✰✰

DOT UPDATE ON BELT PARKWAY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES: The Department of Transportation has begun preliminary work on the reconstruction of the 17th and 27th Avenue Pedestrian Bridges over the Belt Parkway. Community Boards 11 and 13, which serve the area, will hold a joint virtual Transportation Committee meeting on Thursday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m., when DOT will be making a project presentation. All are welcome to attend and can register via https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ppa6PyP5QamxNX2KuchYjg or watch the livestream at www.facebook.com/brooklyncb11

Both bridges are metal, one-hinged, solid ribbed-deck arch fixed structures.