Good Morning, Brooklyn: Monday, January 24, 2022

January 24, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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Adjoa Jones de Almeida (at left); Carolyn Royston.
Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum

MUSEUM HIRES EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT STAFF: The Brooklyn Museum has created two new deputy director positions: Adjoa Jones de Almeida has been appointed deputy director for learning and social impact, and Carolyn Royston will join as deputy director for engagement.

These newly created positions will reinforce the museum’s commitment to community impact and reimagine strategies for delivering engaging experiences for all visitors.

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FORUM ON ABOLITIONIST PLACE ART INSTALLATION: As part of the new Abolitionist Place in Downtown Brooklyn, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and Brooklyn-based artist Kameelah Janan Rasheed are inviting New Yorkers to learn more about and engage with the proposed artwork for the new public space. Commissioned through DCLA’s Percent for Art program, “Questions Worth Having Answers To” will consist of a text-based public art installation featuring engraved text throughout the open space, as well as a free-standing sculptural installation inspired by the area’s abolitionist history. Registration for the introductory program on Monday, January 24 is available via https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oz-mm2D8TAi_WgUmoUhM7g

The project builds on the work of In Pursuit of Freedom, which explores Brooklyn’s anti-slavery movement through programming, photographs, census records, anti-slavery and local newspapers, maps, and more

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INDICTED IN THEFT OF SCHOOL BUS: The Kings County District Attorney’s Office indicted a Queens man on several charges involving a stolen school bus. Anthony Reyes, 43, of Jamaica, Queens was arraigned on a 43-count indictment including for attempted assault, reckless endangerment, grand larceny and related charges for allegedly stealing a school bus in East Flatbush, and driving recklessly across multiple police precincts, damaging property and other vehicles and injuring other drivers. (See page 16.)

The defendant stole an unoccupied school bus, with keys in the ignition and the engine running from the driveway of a house on East 51st Street in East Flatbush in the 67th Precinct. A call was placed to 911 to report the stolen bus, along with its GPS location.

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GRANTS FOR FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $792,935 through the Title X family planning program to address increased need for family planning services where restrictive laws and policies have impacted reproductive health access. This competitive grant opportunity addressing dire family planning needs was announced as part of a series of recent actions that HHS took to protect patients and health care providers in response to the Texas Law SB 8. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services in communities across the United States.

The awards, made possible by funds from the American Rescue Plan, will go to entities in New York and six other states.

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TV SHOW FILMING IN BAY RIDGE: Residents and workers in southwest Brooklyn may be impacted by a film shoot on Tuesday, Jan. 25, for a television show titled “City on a Hill – S3.” A film permit and request for parking space was issued for portions of Fort Hamilton Parkway and vicinity from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Though film scenes at the gun range at 6716 Fort Hamilton Parkway are for interiors only, crews will be using parking space on Ft. Hamilton Parkway between 66^th St. and Bay Ridge Ave. (west side of street for full block); 67^th and 68^th streets between Ft. Hamilton Pkwy. and 9^th Ave., and Ft. Hamilton Parkway between Bay Ridge Parkway and 74^th Street (a quarter block on the east side of street.)

Kevin Bacon stars in this Showtime series that, though being filmed in Brooklyn, takes place in Boston.

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REGIONAL TALKS ON CANNABIS INDUSTRY: The New York State Office of Cannabis Management is inviting residents to attend Cannabis Conversations, a series of 11 regional discussions across the state about cannabis legalization – including one in Spanish. This first public outreach is designed to introduce the team to New Yorkers, and start the conversation about the legalization law, health and safety, and goals to build an inclusive, equitable new industry.

More information on the regional events is available via https://cannabis.ny.gov/sign_up_for_updates_from_OCM

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GRANTS TO ADDICTION PREVENTION PROVIDERS: More than $3.7 million has been awarded to social service providers to expand evidence-based addiction prevention services throughout New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday. The funds will support prevention providers who had their services negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Provider awardees in Brooklyn include National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education (run by Chabad-Lubavitch whose world headquarters are on Eastern Parkway); Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Brooklyn, Ltd.; The Department of Education of the Diocese of Brooklyn; CAMBA, (Church Avenue Merchant Block Association); The Hebrew Educational Society (southeast Brooklyn); and Riseboro Community Partnership, Inc. (Bushwick area).

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is administering this funding, and providers can use these awards either as start-up funding to create new services, or to support continued delivery of existing services and update programs, and to upgrade IT systems and videoconferencing platforms.

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NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Homecrest Community Services, a community non-profit which has for 25 years worked to improve the quality of life for Asian Americans, has hired Wai Yee Chan as the new executive director. She will oversee the non-profit’s work to provide community-based, multi-social services for seniors and immigrant families.

Prior to Homecrest, Wai Yee Chan worked in Councilmember Justin Brannan’s office as his Director of Community Engagement, where she managed plans for community outreach and represented the office at local events. She also served in numerous positions at the Chinese American Planning Council, overseeing community services in Brooklyn and Queens.

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IPS NEWS: HELP FOR VETERANS WITH HEARING LOSS: Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-11^th District) has re-introduced the Hear our Heroes Act, which would provide crucial health benefits for veterans injured while serving in the armed forces. Specifically, the legislation would help veterans suffering from tinnitus, or hearing loss, to obtain medical care through the Veterans Administration (VA), and would eliminate burdensome documentation requirements for veterans seeking medical treatment for hearing problems.

The legislation will also allow health care providers who treat veterans for hearing ailments to receive compensation from the VA.

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IPS NEWS: ESTABLISH GARDENS AND PARKS: Congressmember Carolyn B. Maloney (D-12^th District) introduced the Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement (RECIPE) Act, which would establish a grant program to help non-profit community groups establish small community gardens and parks. The grant program will help obtain leases for vacant, municipally- owned lots and provide funding for their transformations.

Qualified community organizations will receive grants for the establishment of community open spaces in urban areas from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The legislation appropriates $10 million each for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

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IPS NEWS: GETTING THE HOMELESS OFF STREETS: Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced expanded initiatives to address homelessness and help provide intensive outreach, engagement, and care coordination services on the streets and in the subway in New York City. She has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for nonprofit organizations to operate specialized “Safe Options Support” teams, to include direct outreach workers, as well as clinicians, to help more New Yorkers come off the streets and into shelters and/or housing.

These initiatives were announced earlier this month on Jan. 5, as part of the Governor’s State of the State proposals to combat homelessness and expand housing access for New Yorkers in need.