Good Morning, Brooklyn: Monday, May 16, 2022

May 16, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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GRAND OPENING FOR CATON FLATS AND MARKETPLACE: Mayor Eric Adams on Friday kicked off a weekend-long grand opening celebration for Caton Flats, a new mixed-use development with 255 affordable homes, a revitalized and expanded Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace, and 20,000 square feet of community space. A $136 million project, (developers Urbane and BRP Companies), Caton Flats rents are capped to be affordable to households considered between very low- and moderate-income.

The Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace occupies the lower level of the building, with upgraded amenities, including expanded space for food vendors, a shared commercial test kitchen, a bar, and a lounge.

Mayor Adams participates in the ribbon cutting of Caton Flats.
Photo courtesy of Urbane.

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MONTAGUE ST. GETS NEW FRENCH BAKERY: Heights locals missing a bakery on Montague St. after the popular gathering spot Connecticut Muffin closed seven years ago finally had their patience rewarded on Saturday. The French bakery L’Appartement 4F was set to open Saturday, May 14 with a ribbon-cutting at 115 Montague St. Owners Ashley and Gautier Coiffard started their boulangerie in their apartment during the pandemic and were overwhelmed with demand for their delicious croissants, baguettes, and cookies.

Gautier Coiffard, a self-taught baker originally from France, rolls each croissant by hand to flaky perfection.

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NYC’s BOND CREDIT RATING IMPROVES UNDER ADAMS: Fitch Ratings has raised New York City’s general obligation bond credit outlook, citing strong fiscal management under Mayor Adams, as the city recovers from the pandemic. The revised New York City’s outlook promoted the Big Apple from stable to positive for the first time in more than a decade and affirmed the AA-rating assigned to New York City’s General Obligation (GO) bonds.

This ratings action was taken several weeks after Mayor Adams released his Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Executive Budget, which increased budget reserves to $6.3 billion — the highest level in the city’s history.

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MARCH AND PROTEST ‘CACEROLAZO’ STYLE: Marchers were set to fill Cadman Plaza and the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday as a coalition of reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations organized the “Bans Off NYC.” Marchers were encouraged to bring pots and pans to bang on in the style of Latin American “Cacerolazo” protests, and the use of the color green in clothing and bandanas is requested to show solidarity and alignment with the La Ola Verde / The Green Wave abortion movement.

The event was part of a larger mass mobilization across the country, with anchor marches in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and Austin.

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PRECAUTIONS WITH DIGITAL TRACKING APPS: Protecting individuals seeking abortion from unwanted digital tracking is part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ plan to safeguard abortion rights in the state. After receiving reports that certain online platforms and consumer apps (like those that track fertility and menstrual cycles) have been collecting and sharing consumers’ personal information, Attorney General James cautions that the data can be shared — without the user’s knowledge — with third parties, which can then use the data against persons seeking abortion care or those who help them.

Attorney General James recommends individuals seeking abortion care take the precautionary steps, such as turning off location services and ad personalization on one’s device, particularly before visiting abortion clinics or other sensitive locations.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL: POLICE JUSTIFIED IN SHOOTING OF ARMED MAN: New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers were justified under New York law when they fatally shot a Brooklyn man last year, according to a report from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation. After conducting a thorough and comprehensive investigation, with evidence including footage from police body-worn cameras, street surveillance videos, and interviews with witnesses, the OSI concluded that Steven Leconte of Brooklyn posed a danger as he was armed with a handgun, had just shot three other persons and was pointing the gun at officers.

Under New York’s justification law, a police officer attempting to make an arrest may use deadly physical force to defend himself, herself, or others from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.

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IPS NEWS: WANTS INVESTIGATION OF TSA IN BREASTFEEDING INCIDENT: U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-12^th District/Northern Brooklyn) wants the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to explain why they forbade a breastfeeding mother from taking ice packs through security to keep her breast milk cool during a flight. The incident, which was shared on Twitter, led to hundreds of women to post similar stories online and prompted Rep. Maloney to ask that TSA investigate this situation and provide a briefing to her and her staff as soon as possible.

Citing the TSA’s own security guidelines that specify, “medically necessary gel ice packs in reasonable quantities are allowed regardless of their physical state of matter (e.g., melted or slushy).” Rep. Maloney pointed out that keeping breast milk cold in order to prevent it from spoiling is certainly within the bounds of what is medically necessary.

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IPS NEWS: GOVERNOR EXPANDS PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS: Victims of domestic violence will be further protected from discrimination, with Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature of Legislation (S.8417B/A.9601B). The new law, which accomplishes one of her key legislative priorities from her State of the State, expands protections for victims of domestic violence to areas of discrimination where they were not previously guaranteed, such as housing, education and public accommodations.

Until now, victims of domestic violence were only covered as a protected class under the employment provisions of the Human Rights Law.

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IPS NEWS: COOLING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OPENS: The 2021-2022 HEAP Cooling Assistance program opened on May 2, according to an announcement from Assemblymember William Colton (D-47/ Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights). Eligible residents wishing to apply for the cooling program, a benefit that helps households buy and install an air conditioner, are invited to visit his 155 Kings Highway Office for assistance or call 718-236-1598.

“Air conditioners are given on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants,” said Colton, who reminds his constituents that applicants are only eligible for a Cooling Assistance benefit once every five years.

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IPS NEWS: FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR FAMILY PANDEMIC BURDENS: Federal pandemic funding of $28 million is being distributed this month to help struggling New Yorkers with children to cover expenses incurred during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund being administered through the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, will provide families on Public Assistance with a child aged 17 or younger in their household with $250 to help pay for housing expenses, bills, and other critical needs.

This assistance follows Governor Hochul’s announcement listing resources for families struggling to obtain baby formula amid recent shortages.

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IPS NEWS: SUPPLEMENTAL SNAP BENEFITS: All New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for May, Gov. Hochul said on Friday. Households participating in SNAP — including those already at the maximum level of benefits — will receive a supplemental allotment this month, resulting in a roughly $234 million infusion of federal funding into the New York State economy.

Those households already near or at the maximum benefit level – $835 for a household of four – will receive a supplemental payment of at least $95, which can also be used to purchase baby food and formula.

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IPS NEWS: ELECTED OFFICIALS SPONSOR MAMMOGRAM BUS: American Italian Cancer Foundation Mammogram Bus will be available for no-cost screenings on June 25 at the Muslim American Society on Bath Avenue, thanks to the sponsorship of State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Councilmember Justin Brannan. Women aged 40-79 years, who currently reside in NYC, and have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months can schedule a free mammogram.

Call 718-238-6044 or 1-877-628-9090 to schedule.