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Good Morning, Brooklyn: Tuesday, December 21, 2021

December 21, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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INVESTIGATE CIVILIAN DEATH INVOLVING NYPD:  The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of a civilian who died yesterday following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). During the early morning hours of Dec. 20, 2021, NYPD officers responded to a 911 call about an individual who was allegedly armed. After the individual allegedly displayed a knife, the officers fired several times and the individual died. Following the incident, officers recovered a knife at the scene.

New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, requires the OSI to assess every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person, by an act or omission.

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WATERFRONT PLAN ENCOURAGES COOPERATION AMONG AGENCIES:  The Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, a document that puts forth a broad, 10-year vision for New York City’s 520 miles of waterfront and potential strategies to provide more equitable access, was released on Monday. The Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, which was prepared in response to City Council’s Local Law 49 of 2008 requiring that DCP prepare a new Comprehensive Waterfront Plan every 10 years,  the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan builds on a framework of six major interconnected and interdependent topic areas, to recommend possible ways that city agencies can work together with waterfront communities and other stakeholders to address historic discrimination, build on past successes that made the waterfront more attractive and livable, and take decisive action on climate change.

The six topic areas are: Climate Adaptation & Resiliency, Waterfront Public Access, Economic Opportunity, Water Quality & Natural Resources, Ferries, and Governance.

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SAFER DESIGNS FOR GARBAGE TRUCKS:  A new report and road map, titled Safe Fleet Transition Plan: Private Vehicle Crashes and Vehicle Safety Technology released Monday, aims to prevent injuries and fatalities involving garbage trucks and focuses on ways to improve the safety of commercial garbage trucks through modified vehicle design. The four areas of recommendation include: changing the design of truck cabs to increase visibility and reduce blind-spots; installing side guards to prevent vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from sliding under the truck during a side-impact collision; adding technologies like surround cameras, safety lights, automatic braking systems, and additional mirrors; and eliminating certain vehicle retrofitting devices, like bug deflectors, which cause visual impairment.

NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services Acting Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock and NYC Business Integrity Commission Commissioner Noah Genel released the report, part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative, to address an increase in fatalities and injuries during a ten year period from 2010-2019.

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TAX PROVISION FOR CHARITABLE GIVING: The Internal Revenue Service has joined with several New York-based nonprofit groups to highlight a special tax provision allowing more people to deduct donations to qualifying charities on their 2021 federal income tax return. New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) and Nonprofit New York joined with the IRS to highlight this pandemic-related provision where married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $600 in cash donations and individual taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations to qualified charitable organizations.

Under the temporary law, taxpayers don’t need to itemize deductions on their tax returns to take advantage of this; and charities, many of which have struggled during the pandemic, can each benefit.

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LYFT AND ST. JEROME’S DOING HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY: Ridesharing leader Lyft is teaming up with St. Jerome Community Outreach Committee and the Haitian American Caucus, to present a Holiday Fête PPE & Toy Distribution tomorrow, Dec. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. More than 250 toys are expected to be distributed at Wednesday’s event, as well as 1,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, masks and hand sanitizer. There will also be giveaways, including Lyft gift cards, each worth $20.

The event is possible thanks to generous donations from: Morgan Grace, eight-year-old CEO of M & M Angels, The Cervantes Society, Pakistani American Youth Organization, Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club, and the office of Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: The FDNY reminds New Yorkers to be #FDNYSmart when using or disposing of devices that utilize Lithium-Ion Batteries. These batteries are commonly used in devices like cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric cars, and scooters/bikes. Lithium-Ion batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. Moreover, it is illegal to put lithium-ion batteries in regular household trash or recycling; they should be taken to a community battery recycling location.

This year, New York City has seen a dramatic increase in fires caused by lithium- ion battery failures in E-bikes, scooters, and similar devices. For more safety tips or to schedule a Fire Safety Education presentation visit www.fdnysmart.org

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NEW URBAN PLANNING WEBITE:  Capital Planning Explorer, a new digital tool from the NYC Department of City Planning, offers a website where residents and planners can view — all on one spot — details of all City-funded infrastructure projects, recent housing permits and city facility locations. This map-based platform, aimed at increasing transparency around capital planning, builds on an existing map of city facilities by adding details about all city-funded capital projects in the five boroughs, alongside geographic views of housing permits.

Capital Planning Explorer is comprised of three map layers: Capital Projects, Facilities and New Housing Developments.

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DAVID PRIZE APPLICATION TIME EXTENDED: The application deadline for The David Prize, named for celebrated developer David C. Walentas, has been extended to Monday, Jan. 3 for its third annual class of extraordinary visionaries for the $1 million total award. The David Prize will award $200,000 each to five of New York’s boldest visionaries spanning education, immigration, social justice, technology, and more with $200,000 each, no strings attached, to support their initiatives.

Approximately 10,000 individuals from across 92% of New York’s zip codes and all five boroughs engaged in the 2021 open call. The David Prize aims to identify and elevate New Yorkers who demonstrate exceptional potential, grit and tenacity to make New York City a better, brighter place for all.

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GODSQUAD TEAMMATES HELPING CHICAGO: Pastor Gilford Monrose of GodSquad has joined two of his clergy colleagues for a chilly fundraiser in the Windy City. Pastor Monrose & Pastor Hinds, both of GodSquad, have joined the RoofTop Pastor, Corey Brooks, who is spending 100 nights on the roof to raise money for a community center in Chicago.

Pastor Brooks’ goal is to raise $1 million by Christmas for his organization, Project H.O.O.D. The GodSquad has donated $2,000. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by WinTrust bank.

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FUNDING FOR SPECIAL-NEEDS NEW YORKERS: Brooklyn organizations were among those getting 192 conditional awards, totaling $35 million, from Governor Kathy Hochul to provide support services and operating funding for at least 1,400 units of supportive housing for homeless persons with special needs, conditions or other challenges. Among the Brooklyn recipients: St. Vincent’s Services, Inc. (headquartered at 66 Boerum Place, downtown; Brooklyn Community Housing and Services, Inc.; and The Bridge, Inc. (3 awards)

This is the sixth funding round of the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) which brings together eight state agencies to help finance supportive housing for vulnerable populations, including veterans, victims of domestic violence, frail or disabled senior citizens, young adults with histories of incarceration, homelessness or foster care, chronically homeless individuals and families, as well as individuals with health, mental health and/or substance use disorders.

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