Good Morning, Brooklyn: Wednesday, October 26, 2022

October 26, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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MAIMONIDES MEDICAL CENTER AWARDED RECOGNITIONS FROM HEALTHGRADES: Healthgrades, a leading online platform for finding a doctor and in health care transparency, has named Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery and Surgical Care, as well as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery. Maimonides Medical Center is the only hospital in New York State to receive the 2023 America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Care Award™ and the only hospital in New York City to receive the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery Award™ for two consecutive years (2022-2023).

Maimonides Medical Center also received Five-Star Distinctions in: Valve Surgery, Defibrillator Procedures, Pacemaker Procedures, Total Knee Replacement, Hip Fracture Treatment, Prostate Removal Surgery, and Treatment of Diabetic Emergencies.

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BROOKLYN METHODIST HOSPITAL WINS AWARDS: New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (Park Slope) has also earned Specialty Clinical Quality Awards from Healthgrades, a resource platform for finding reputable and leading doctors nationwide. NYP-Brooklyn Methodist hospital received America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award™ (for 2023 and 2022) for superior clinical outcomes in prostate removal surgery and transurethral resection of the prostate; and the Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award™ (for three consecutive years (2023, 2022, 2021), for superior clinical outcomes in bariatric (weight loss) surgery

Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance using objective quality measures including clinical outcomes and patient safety, as well as patient experience.

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PUBLIC HEARING FOR VICTIMS OF DEED THEFT: Homeowners who have been victims of deed theft will have the chance to testify at a hybrid public hearing (https://www.nysenate.gov/events) that State Senators Brian Kavanagh (D-26) and Zellnor Myrie (D-20) are convening Thursday, October 27, at 10 a.m. in the Senate Hearing Room at 250 Broadway, Lower Manhattan. Deed theft (stealing the ownership title of a house) also known as title fraud, is a predatory practice that targets gentrifying communities, and involves forging a homeowner’s signature on documents without their knowledge or tricking them into signing over their property under false claims of financial relief.

Senators Kavanagh (chair) and Myrie serve on the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction, and Community Development.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL SECURES RESTITUTION FROM COMPANY WITH NO-RETURN POLICY: Customers of Hy Cite Enterprises, LLC — which uses door-to-door marketing of kitchenware — who were denied refunds of the merchandise will receive their money back, thanks to an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who secured $300,000 from the company, which targeted predominantly Spanish-speaking communities, including Bushwick. Hy Cite failed to clearly disclose their refund policies in their contracts with thousands of consumers, instead informing them that they had only three business days to return products, in violation of the Door-to-Door Sales Protection Act, which requires companies without a refund policy to give consumers 20 days to make a return on door-to-door sales.

Hy Cite, which sold pots, pans, and other kitchen-related goods through door-to-door marketing by distributors, must also pay a $300,000 penalty.

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BROOKLYN CHAMBER HOLDS ‘BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS’ NETWORKING: The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce holds its next free Business Before Hours event this Thursday, October 27, as part of this regular series. Attendees can begin their day networking with fellow and prospective Chamber members over coffee, breakfast and a view of the New York City skyline, as this takes place at the WeWork location at Dock 72.

This event is also geared to business owners who are considering membership in the Brooklyn Chamber. Register via https://brooklynchamber.zohobackstage.com/BusinessBeforeHourshostedbyWeWorkDock72

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NEW TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM LAUNCHES: Governor Kathy Hochul has launched the Empire State Teacher Residency Program through the New York State Department of Labor. This program will provide matching funds for local public school districts and/or Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to create two-year residency opportunities for graduate-level K-12 teacher candidates, offering $30 million in funding to subsidize master’s degree or teaching certification programs for qualified residency program candidates.

Funded programs would involve the State University of New York (SUNY), the City University of New York (CUNY), and/or private colleges partnering with public school districts and/or BOCES to provide reduced or free tuition for teaching candidates, including books and fees, resident wages and fringe, and stipends for living expenses.

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$2.5 MILLION SECURED FOR GRAVESEND LIBRARY RENOVATION: The Gravesend Library, which was built 60 years ago and is part of the Brooklyn Public Library system, has received $2.5 million that City Councilmember Ari Kagan (D-47) secured for renovations. Councilmember Kagan visited Gravesend Library earlier this week to read stories to the Library’s young patrons, including The Starry Giraffe by Andrew Bergmann, a New York- based author and illustrator. He also presented a ceremonial check to Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of Brooklyn Library, representing $2.5 million for upcoming renovations at the branch.

The renovation will include both interior and exterior upgrades to help modernize the branch for the next generation. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.

City Councilmember Ari Kagan presents a $2.5 million ceremonial check to Linda E. Johnson (at right), president and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library
Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library

Councilmember Ari Kagan reads to children from The Starry Giraffe by Andrew Bergmann, a New York-based author and illustrator.
Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library

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HUGE GRANTS FOR BROOKLYN ARTS INSTITUTIONS: Several Brooklyn arts and educational institutions received funding totaling $32 million statewide, as part of the New York State Council on the Arts. Grants to increase access to vital arts funding in local communities and provide critical support to organizations still in recovery was awarded to 1,032 organizations including state community regrant partners, arts partnerships, and arts organizations throughout the State. Among the Brooklyn organizations were BRIC Arts, the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, the Brooklyn Book Festival, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum Corporation, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy.

Last month, Governor Hochul announced a record $150 million in capital funding available through NYSCA’s Capital Projects Fund. This unprecedented investment includes $100 million in new, multi-year funding to facilitate large-scale capital projects that prioritize community development and placemaking.

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SUMMIT FOR ASPIRING FILMMAKERS: Empire State Development (ESD) held the sixth annual New York State Multicultural Creativity Summit, an in-person and virtual interactive conference that guides content creators of diverse backgrounds to better understand and advance their careers within the film and television industry. Hosted by the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (MPTV) and the Motion Picture Association in partnership with the New York Latino Film Festival, the event displays New York State’s commitment to promote the inclusion of diverse voices in the entertainment industry.

The interactive summit featured panel discussions that provided advice and guidance for diverse content creators looking to advance their careers in the film and television industry.

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GODSQUAD LAUNCHES ‘SINGLE PARENTS UNIVERSITY’: GodSquad/67^th Precinct Clergy Council has officially launched its widely-anticipated Single Parents University (SPU) with a Kick-Off Brunch & Chat where we welcomed single parents of the first ever SPU cohort. SPU, which provides single parents and guardians with the tools and strategies needed to achieve their goals, foster family relationships, and develop essential connections, will offer its first online session covering “Personal Development” on Tuesday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. (registration via https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjC9fq8avO-PRWGz7tPnaIpKCQ_3hB6DPLgMAdGJq3aCsoFQ/viewform)

The attendees on Sunday included City Councilmember Rita Joseph (D-40th District/Flatbush/Ditmas Park), who pledged her support for this program.