Good Morning, Brooklyn: Monday, October 17, 2022

October 17, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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NEW PARKING APP MAKES PAYMENTS EASIER: The city has launched a new ParkNYC app that offers improved functions, making it easier for drivers to pay for parking, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced today. The new ParkNYC app includes a modern and user-friendly interface, featuring the ability to pay-as-you-go for a parking session, and the continued ability to pre-load a ParkNYC wallet.

Many of the same convenient features will still be available: users can check how much time is remaining, choose to receive push notifications when time is about to expire, and extend their time to maximum limit without returning to the vehicle—all without needing to put a receipt on their dashboards.

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FIGHTING THEFT OF VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEMS: New laws that Governor Hochul signed today aim combat the theft of catalytic converters, a key piece of a vehicle’s exhaust system. The new actions increase interagency vehicle and catalytic converter theft enforcements in high-theft areas by targeting unauthorized and illegal vehicle dismantlers, or “chop shops,” and by imposing restrictions on the purchase, sale, and possession of catalytic converters by vehicle dismantlers and scrap processers.

Theft of catalytic converters is costly to auto dealers, as well as the driving public. It can cost a dealer $2,000 to $3,000 to replace a stolen converter in order to fix damage to a vehicle’s undercarriage, fuel line, and electric lines in the process of a theft.

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DON’T PUT OUT THAT TRASH BIN YET: A public comment period has opened for new Department of Sanitation rules that would reduce the number of hours that trash and recycling sits on public sidewalks, Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Sanitation have announced. The new rules, which would push later to 6 p.m. the permissible time to place secure trash receptacles to the curb, and 8 p.m. for trash bags. Likewise, businesses would be allowed to place bags at the curb after 8 p.m. or secure receptacles at 7 p.m.

Currently, trash and recycling may be placed on the curb after 4:00 PM the night before collection — the earliest of any major American city — meaning that in many neighborhoods these items can sit out for more than 14 hours, including during the evening pedestrian rush hour.

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PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED HISTORIC DISTRICT IN FLATBUSH: A block of rowhouses in Flatbush could soon get its own Historic District, with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission’s public hearing set for tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18. The LPC will convene the public hearing on the proposed Melrose Parkside Historic District, a set of remarkably cohesive and intact group of 38 single- and two-family row houses on Parkside Avenue between Flatbush and Bedford avenues that were built between 1909 and 1915. Two of Brooklyn’s most prominent architects, Benjamin Driesler and Axel S. Hedman, designed the rowhouses for developers William A. A. Brown and Eli H. Bishop & Son.

Public hearings provide an opportunity for the public to testify (via https://www.youtube.com/user/nyclpc/featured) before the Commission on proposed landmark designations, with written testimony also accepted The next step will be a public meeting during which the Commission will vote on the designation.

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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: ARBITER NOT NEEDED IN FBI DOCUMENT SEIZURE CASE: The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s appointment of an independent arbiter, Brooklyn federal Judge Raymond Dearie, to review documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate, according to a development late Friday reported by the Associated Press. The Justice Department argued in court on Friday, October 14 that no basis existed to appoint a special master, that former President Trump was not entitled to either a special review or a claim of special privilege, and that therefore,” the special-master review process is unwarranted.”

Although not named in the October 14 story, Judge Dearie was assigned last month by a judge in the state where Trump now resides to inspect the thousands of records taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and weed out from the investigation any that may be protected by claims of legal privilege.

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ELECTEDS WANT TASK FORCE TO HELP PUERTO RICO RECOVER: U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-7^th District) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are calling on the Biden Administration to establish a Recovery Task Force for Puerto Rico, still reeling under the damage from Hurricanes Maria and Fiona. The task force, to be modeled after the successful Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force created by the Obama Administration in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, would have the goal of providing a roadmap for the island’s long-term recovery and ensure greater interagency cooperation.

Though Congress has allocated $80 billion for the island’s recovery, persistent bottlenecks and lack of coordination among federal and more localized agencies have complicated the disbursement of federal disaster funding.

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THEFT AND CREDIT CARD FRAUD RING DISMANTLED: A luxury vehicle theft ring and fraudulent credit card operation in New York has been taken down, State Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced today. Four individuals are charged with 76 counts for their roles in the auto-theft and export operation, following a three-year joint investigation that the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the NYPD’s Grand Larceny Division conducted.

The individuals used stolen credit card information and stolen identifications to steal high-end vehicles from residences and rental car lots in New York and other states, and defrauded luxury hotels and clothing stores in New York City by purchasing thousands of dollars in goods and services using fake identifications.

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NYCHA OPENS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON PRESERVATION TRUST OPTION: The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has released a draft of the voting procedures for the Public Housing Preservation Trust and opens public comment period. The Public Housing Preservation Trust is a fully public entity that will bring billions of dollars in comprehensive renovations to thousands of NYCHA apartments while maintaining residents’ rights (including permanently affordable rent) and keeping NYCHA properties 100 percent public.

Ultimately, NYCHA residents will vote to decide whether or not they want their development to be included in the Trust and its work to fully renovate their developments’ buildings and apartments.

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REPS. DEMAND CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON MTA’S USE OF $15 BILLION: A bipartisan duo serving New York and New Jersey together have formally called for a Congressional oversight hearing and an investigation into what they assert is New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) mismanagement of federal dollars from both the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. Congressmembers Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican representing the 11^th District, and Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat in New Jersey’s 5^th District, said they believe taxpayers deserve answers, under oath, from the MTA on how $15 billion of COVID-19 relief taxpayer dollars were spent and why the MTA wants to impose a new Congestion Tax on commuters.

The Congestion Tax would charge drivers upwards of $23 per day to enter Manhattan south of 60th St. Moreover, commuters entering Manhattan from Staten Island and Brooklyn (within Malliotakis’ district) who already pay more than $10 to cross the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge according to an EZ Pass invoice supplied to the Eagle, would be hit with a double toll.

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DINAPOLI: STATE TAX RECEIPTS EXCEED PROJECTIONS: State tax receipts totaled $58.4 billion through the first half of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23, exceeding the latest projections from the First Quarterly Update by $2.4 billion, according to the September State Cash Report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Year-to-date consumption and use tax collections totaled $10.3 billion, including $9.5 billion from the sales tax, which were 5.3 percent, or $518.2 million higher than the same period last year, and $130.9 million higher than anticipated by DOB.

All funds spending through September totaled $96.2 billion, which was $4.4 billion, or 4.8%, higher than last year for the same period. All funds spending through September was $5 billion lower than DOB’s latest financial plan projections primarily due to lower than anticipated spending for local assistance payments.

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PINK RUNWAY SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: Maimonides Medical Center yesterday hosted its 9th annual Pink Runway fashion show at The Dyker Beach Club. Held each year in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the fundraiser event honors breast cancer patients and survivors in support of Maimonides’ world-class Breast Center and pays tribute to those who support the center’s life-saving work in Brooklyn and beyond, with this year’s honorees being Dr. Kevin Becker, Cancer Center Medical Director & Chief, Division of Hematology Medical Oncology; Dr. Adriana Corben, Vice Chair, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; and Dr. Fleure A. Gallant, Radiation Oncology.

Pink Runway promotes the importance of preventative care measures such as routine mammograms and other early detection procedures, which are crucial in the fight against breast cancer.

Survivors and honorees of the event with Maimonides Health CEO Kenneth Gibbs, at right.
Photo courtesy of Maimonides Medical Center

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BROOKLYN ENTREPRENEUR’S SOREL LIQUEUR TOPS AWARDS: The most awarded liqueur of 2022 is the creation of Brooklyn’s Jackie Summers, an acclaimed author, seasoned public speaker, and serial entrepreneur. The founder of JackFromBrooklyn Inc., Summers was nominated for the 2022 James Beard Media Award for Personal Essay, Long Form, and was also honored among Food & Wine magazine’s inaugural class of Drinks Innovators of the Year for Sorel, the hibiscus liqueur inspired by sorrel, the ancestral Afro-Caribbean beverage.

Sorel marks the first anniversary of its relaunch in October 2021, when the liqueur returned to shelves in October 2021 with the support of Fawn Weaver and the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, which invests in BIPOC/minority-founded spirits businesses.

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NEW LAW LINKS FARMING WITH TEXTILE MANUFACTURING: New York’s textile manufacturing industry has received a boost through economic development programs with a bill that Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law today. The New York Textile Act will help connect farmers who produce plant or animal fibers with the textile industry in ways that support innovation, sustainable development, and new marketing opportunities for plant and animal fibers that are grown in the state.

By leaning into the local demand for textiles, New York-grown fiber from hemp, sheep, goats, alpaca and other sources will create new opportunities for farms and textile producers, through programs that will expand annual farm recognition awards, state procurement process training for small businesses, and the Excelsior Jobs program for related New York products and processes.

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PROPOSED RULES FOR ISSUING FIREARM LICENSES: The NYPD is releasing proposed rules concerning the issuance of firearm licenses and which would amend gun licensing standards in light of the Supreme Court decision earlier this year in N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, and recent statewide legislation governing gun licensing. Specifically, the proposed rules would amend the minimum age to obtain a rifle/shotgun permit from 18 to 21; codify hearing procedures for licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked; update the rules to allow for electronic filing of applications and documents to obtain or renew a firearm license; add state law requirements to receive a carry license, require applicants for a carry license to certify that they completed the training course and live-fire training course as required pursuant to section 400.00(19) of the Penal Law, among other requirements.

If adopted, the proposed rules will make emergency rules issued in August and September of 2022 permanent.

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PROMINENT CHURCH MARKS DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY: St. Paul Community Baptist Church on Hendrix Street in East New York was set to celebrate its 95^th anniversary this Sunday, as this newspaper went to press. Moreover, on this same occasion the Rev. David K. Brawley, reached his 13^th anniversary with the congregation. The Rev. Raymonda Speller, who in 2013 was ordained at the church, was the guest preacher at the Sunday, October 16 service.

Established in 1927 in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, St. Paul Community Baptist Church expanded from only 84 members at one point to more than 3,000 members, moved to East New York, under the leadership of the prophetic Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood, who served from 1974-2009; with Brawley as Assistant Pastor until he was installed as Senior Pastor that year.