What’s News, Breaking: Friday, February 16, 2024

February 16, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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FOLLOWING ALEXEI NAVALNY’S DEATH, REP. JEFFRIES
URGES PASSAGE OF BIPARTISAN BILL SUPPORTING UKRAINE

CAPITOL HILL — AS THE NEWS OF RUSSIAN DISSIDENT ALEXEI NAVALNY’S DEATH IN PRISON circulated on Friday, a key Congressional leader from Brooklyn mourned the loss and urged the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to pass national security legislation to support Ukraine. Alexei Navalny, Russia’s top opposition leader against corruption in the Russian government, and President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe, died in prison on Friday, Feb. 16, according to a statement from the Federal Penitentiary Service, that the Associated Press covered. House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-8) declared on Friday, “The House must stand with the Ukrainian people in their courageous fight against Russian aggression. Those who do not risk forever being tarred in history as accomplices to Putin’s tyrannical regime.”

Jeffries said, “I once again urge House Republicans to join us in urgently passing comprehensive national security legislation to support Ukraine and our other democratic allies throughout the world,” and he demanded that the bill be brought to the floor immediately for a vote.

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SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ALITO PUTS
BOY SCOUTS SETTLEMENT ON PAUSE

NATIONWIDE — A GROUP OF SEX ABUSE CLAIMANTS ARE PRAISING THE FRIDAY, FEB. 16, U.S. SUPREME COURT MOVE to temporarily pause the Boy Scouts of America’s $2.46 billion settlement of decades of sex abuse claims, report Reuters and other news agencies. This issue centers on “whether the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy plan can stop certain survivors from pursuing lawsuits against Boy Scouts councils and chartered organizations,” according to Jeff Anderson Associates, which advocates for the abuse survivors. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito halted the settlement, which a group of more than 100 abuse claimants is appealing so that the court has more time to decide a request that the claimants submitted on Feb. 9.

The survivors allege that the settlement will unlawfully block them from filing lawsuits against organizations that are not bankrupt, including houses of worship that offered Boy Scouts programs, and insurers who underwrote liability policies for the Boy Scouts.

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TRUMP: $364M PLUS 3-YEAR CORP. BAN, IN LANDMARK VICTORY FOR A.G. JAMES

NEW YORK — IN A MAJOR VERDICT ON FRIDAY JUDGE ARTHUR ENGORON RULED that former president Donald Trump and the Trump Organization must pay more than $364 million in damages. Engoron also barred the former president “from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or other legal entity in New York for a period of three years.” The ruling, likely to be appealed, follows a months-long civil trial in which Trump and others were accused of financial fraud by New York Attorney General Letitia James, numerous outlets including the Washington Post reported.

New York Attorney General Letitia James was set to give remarks on her landmark victory in New York City at 6 p.m. Friday. (The press conference livestream may be found at ag.ny.gov/livestream.)

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BAD KARMA FOR BUDDHIST TEMPLE ROBBERY SUSPECT IN FLATBUSH

FLATBUSH — POLICE HAVE ARRESTED ONE OF SEVERAL SUSPECTS connected to the robbery of a Buddhist temple in Flatbush, abc7ny reported Thursday. Cops said they tracked down one of the thieves in Virginia — where another Buddhist temple was also targeted. During the Flatbush robbery, four men armed with large screwdrivers forced their way into the Watt Samakki Temple on Rugby Road and ransacked it, while holding a group of monks in a room. They walked out with two old iPhones and $60 from a donation box.

Detectives believe the suspects are part of a gang of thieves who are targeting Buddhist temples in an ongoing multi-state spree that stretches from Virginia to Kent, New York, abc7ny said.

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ATLANTIC TERMINAL MALL BANS TEENS WITHOUT ADULT CHAPERONES

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — THE ATLANTIC TERMINAL MALL IS ONCE AGAIN REQUIRING anyone under the age of 18 to be accompanied by an adult, WABC reports. According to management company Madison International Realty, a chaperone policy has actually been in place for several years now to “foster a safe environment for individuals, families, and retailers.” WABC quoted some teens saying they understood the recent clampdown. “They just be like destroying the store and stuff,” said one young shopper. The mall enforced the rule as far back as 2010, the New York Times reported at that time.

In a discussion on Reddit, some commenters blamed unruly behavior on the lack of resources for teens, especially in the winter. “Kids shouldn’t feel like they need to hang out at Target when school lets out,” one said.

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REP. CLARKE APPLAUDS ACCORD TO COMBAT AI, DISINFORMATION IN 2024 ELECTIONS

CENTRAL BROOKLYN — REP. YVETTE CLARKE (NY-9) APPLAUDED ON FRIDAY an international accord to combat the deceptive use of AI (artificial intelligence) in 2024 elections, announced at the ongoing 60th annual Munich Security Conference. “This year will be the most consequential election year in world history. Over 4 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — will head to the ballot box,” Clarke said in a statement. “Unfortunately, these are voluntary commitments,” she added.

Rep. Clarke has taken a lead in Congress on the threat of misinformation, disinformation, and deceptive AI-generated content, including sponsoring the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act, which requires creators to digitally watermark deepfake content, and the REAL Political Ads Act which would require a disclaimer on political ads that use images generated by AI.

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A.G. JAMES WARNS NYC LAW FIRM TO STOP SCAMMING UBER & LYFT DRIVERS

ALBANY — NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES WARNED NYC LAW FIRM HELD & HINES LLP to immediately stop attempting to get Uber and Lyft drivers to pay a fee for their share of the settlement funds secured by her office. Held & Hines has been posting “deceptive ads” on social media and driver chat groups claiming the firm would obtain drivers’ share of the settlement for a 15% fee, when in reality the process is simple, free and does not require a lawyer, James said in a statement Friday. “Asking hardworking drivers — many of whom are immigrants and people of color — to pay a fee for their rightfully earned wages is unacceptable,” James said, adding that the law protects people from fraudulent business practices such as false advertising. “We will not allow them to get away with it.”

Uber and Lyft drivers can submit claims from March 1 to May 30, 2024. Drivers should contact Rust or NYTWA for free assistance.

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GOLDMAN BILL WOULD BAN PARAMILITARY GROUPS FROM DRILLING & MOBILIZING WITH WEAPONS

WASHINGTON, DC — REP. DAN GOLDMAN (NY-10) JOINED MARYLAND REP. JAMIE RASKIN AND MASSACHUSETTS SEN. EDWARD MARKEY on Friday to introduce the ‘Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act’ to protect citizens from intimidation and mass mobilizations of paramilitary groups. This legislation would federally prohibit those in private paramilitary organizations from conducting activity with firearms, such as “publicly patrolling, drilling, or engaging in deadly paramilitary techniques, interfering with or interrupting government proceedings, interfering with the exercise of someone else’s constitutional rights, falsely assuming the functions of law enforcement and asserting authority over others, and training to engage in such behavior.”

“Paramilitary groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers use guns to terrorize communities and threaten our national security,” Goldman said in a release. “These groups were intimately involved in the planning and execution of the January 6th insurrection and pose an existential threat to our democracy and the rule of law from within our borders.”

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DIRTY DETERGENTS MIGHT GET DROPPED

CITYWIDE — ON THURSDAY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JAMES GENNARO INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO SELL or distribute any detergent pods or laundry detergent sheets containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA or PVOH). The goal of the bill is to reduce the amount of microplastics entering New York’s waterways. Companies like Proctor & Gamble (makers of Tide Pods), True Earth and Dropps have pointed to the US EPA’s seal of approval on the product. But that doesn’t mean it is biodegradable. PVA is still derived from fossil fuels and requires precise conditions in wastewater facilities in order to break down effectively — conditions that currently do not exist, according to an article from Bloomberg.

In 2023, a group of 15 climate change and anti-plastic pollution nonprofits petitioned the EPA to revisit its position on PVAs. The group wanted the EPA to find independent studies on the plastic, but the EPA denied the petition.

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DEADLINE FOR COMMUNITY BOARD APPLICATIONS NEARS

BROOKLYN — THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING TO JOIN BROOKLYN’S 18 COMMUNITY boards is almost here, Borough President Antonio Reynoso reminded the public this week. Brooklynites ages 16 and up have until Monday, Feb. 19, to submit applications to join the 50-person advisory groups in any neighborhood where one works, lives, attends school, owns property or otherwise has interests. Members are required to attend monthly meetings on topics of interest like development and planning, city budgeting, municipal services and other local issues; community boards serve as a forum for the public to weigh in on city government, and in particular, are responsible for offering input on land usage and zoning proposals.

Applications can be submitted online or in person at Brooklyn Borough Hall until 11 p.m. Feb. 19; Reynoso noted that his office is seeking “people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply – from construction and retail workers to educators and students 16-years-old and up, as well as planners and small business owners.”

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BROOKLYN MUSEUM INVITES ARTISTS TO TAKE PART IN BICENTENNIAL EXHIBIT

EASTERN PARKWAY — BROOKLYN ARTISTS IN ALL MEDIA FORMS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A MAJOR UPCOMING EXHIBIT THAT WILL CELEBRATE THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM’S BICENTENNIAL this fall. The Brooklyn Museum will present The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, a major group show of work by Brooklyn artists, honoring the wide-ranging creativity of the borough. Artists for the exhibition will be selected in two rounds: first, by invitation from the Artist Committee, and second, by a public open call in which participants will be chosen anonymously. To qualify for the open call, artists must have maintained primary residence and/or an art studio in Brooklyn during the past five years (2019–24). Applicants can register to compete via Submittable.

The Brooklyn Museum had its origins in Brooklyn Heights, starting in August 1823, when Augustus Graham founded the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library at the corner of Henry and Cranberry Streets. The Museum’s current home was formally opened on Oct. 2, 1897.

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POLICE SEEK ANTISEMITIC SPITTER

BOROUGH PARK — POLICE ARE ASKING FOR HELP IDENTIFYING AN UNKNOWN man suspected of a hate attack on a teenager in Borough Park in October. On the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 17, near the 50th Street D train station, a 13-year-old male victim was walking on the sidewalk when an unknown individual approached him, made anti-Jewish statements and then spat in the victim’s face; the suspect is described as a male wearing a gold hat and green jacket.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website, or on X (Twitter) @NYPDTips.

The individual suspected of spitting on a Borough Park teenager in October. All calls are strictly confidential.

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‘QUIET’ ROLLOUT OF BULLETPROOF VESTS CATCHES SCHOOLS, PARENTS OFF GUARD

CITYWIDE — BULLETPROOF VESTS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL, as part of a new safety policy that the NYPD quietly initiated this year, reports Chalkbeat. The lightweight vests are now part of the uniforms for most school safety agents in the city’s public schools, an initiative that was originally announced last summer after a spike in neighborhood youth gun violence, and because the school safety agents do not carry guns. However, the safety vests’ arrival was conducted so quietly that educators, parents and even the safety agents were caught off guard. They are now discussing how to handle questions and worries coming from the students themselves.

Other safety measures being rolled out at schools over the past year include changing the frequency of school safety agents’ radios for more direct connection with police precincts, and an anticipated 2024 rollout of door locking and camera systems at all elementary schools.

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NEW SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ANNOUNCED FOR CITY-OWNED VEHICLE FLEETS

CITYWIDE — A NEW APPROACH IN ADDRESSING TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY WAS UNVEILED ON THURSDAY, FEB. 15, as Mayor Eric Adams today issued Executive Order 39, which lays out new requirements for city-owned vehicles. For the first time in NYC history, city contractors will have new safety requirements, which include preparing fleet safety plans. All city contractors will be required, starting July 1, to develop fleet safety plans, train and enroll drivers in the State License Event Notification System and report all crashes that occur while doing business on behalf of the city. The executive order also requires telematics and the installation of 360-degree cameras on new trucks that the City of New York procures for use by its employees. The 360-degree cameras or high-visibility designs are meant to mitigate the impacts of visual impairments for operators.

The executive order will affect an estimated 5,600 contracted trucks. The city operates nearly 7,500 trucks and 10,000 contracted school buses, resulting in safety enhancements for over 23,000 trucks and buses traveling daily throughout the city.

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CITY ADDS TRAFFIC FATALITY DATA TO NYPD COMPSTAT ONLINE RESOURCE

CITYWIDE — THE NYPD’S ADDITION OF TRAFFIC FATALITY DATA TO ITS COMPSTAT 2.0 ONLINE DASHBOARD, which Mayor Adams announced in November, has now taken effect, according to an announcement released from City Hall on Thursday, February 15. CompStat 2.0 online dashboard is a resource that provides New Yorkers with weekly statistics reflecting the administration’s progress on fighting overall crime and promoting traffic safety. The new category — itemized according to patrol borough, precinct, day of the week and time of day — now puts traffic violence on par with violent crime and elevates the administration’s efforts to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths in every neighborhood.

The now-launched NYPD online Traffic Data section contains statistical information about moving violation summonses, motor vehicle collisions and instances of leaving the scene of an incident. It provides access to the NYPD’s raw feed of traffic-related data used to populate the searchable “Traffic Safety Forum.”

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BISHOP BRENNAN CELEBRATES LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH LEADER OF DIOCESAN CHINESE APOSTOLATE

FLUSHING — AN ASIAN PARISH IN THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN CELEBRATED THE LUNAR NEW YEAR by hosting Bishop Robert Brennan, who led a bilingual Mass (English and Chinese) last Sunday, Feb. 11. Father Vincentius Do, who is head of the Chinese Apostolate for the Diocese of Brooklyn, also pastors St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Flushing, where the Mass and festivities took place. Following Mass, they participated in an Ancestors Veneration Ritual ceremony, a Lunar New Year tradition in which Chinese people give thanks to God and their ancestors. The rituals include nine bows to God, the offering of fruits, flowers and incense, and the exchange of New Year greetings among the faithful. The Lunar New Year celebration also featured cultural singing, dancing and a special martial arts performance.

Bishop Brennan told the parish in his homily, “We would be lost if we didn’t have you and we didn’t have all the gifts and the richness of the Chinese culture that you bring.”

Bishop Brennan and Father Do of Brooklyn’s Chinese Apostolate, led an offering of fruits, flowers and incense at the Chinese New Year Mass.
Photo courtesy: John Quaglione/DeSales Media

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SHOCK OVER RISQUE SUBWAY SURFING SPECTACLE: ‘RECKLESS CLOWNS’

QUEENS — THE MTA WARNED AGAIN AGAINST THE DANGERS OF “SUBWAY SURFING” on Wednesday after images went viral over the weekend on X (Twitter) depicting two people apparently having sex while standing up on top of a 7 train in Queens, reports The City. MTA communications director Tim Minton told the outlet, “The only thing dumber than riding on top of a subway train is dropping pants in the process… Those reckless clowns aren’t thinking about the mess cleaners and other subway workers will have to deal with when their stupid stunt goes tragically wrong.” The agency, as well as city politicians, has blamed social media networks for encouraging the dangerous activity in recent years, contributing to a spike in injuries and deaths sustained from riding on the outside of trains; a 14-year-old boy passed away in January after falling from the top of an F train in Midwood in what witnesses later said appeared to be a surfing incident, while a 15-year-old died last February after striking his head while riding atop a J train on the Williamsburg Bridge.

The MTA says it has not identified the persons responsible.

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STATE’S FINANCES HAVE STABILIZED, PROPOSALS COULD LEAD TO RISKIER DEBT; DINAPOLI CALLS OUT MTA

STATEWIDE — NEW YORK STATE’S FINANCES HAVE STABILIZED AND BUDGET GAPS HAVE BEEN REDUCED since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s annual report, released Feb. 15, on the proposed Executive Budget. However, DiNapoli expressed concerns about proposals that would bypass or hinder the Comptroller’s Office oversight of finances. The State Comptroller’s terms and conditions for approval of private sales of State Personal Income Tax and Sales Tax bonds ensure the costs of borrowing are reasonable and appropriate, providing a critical check on poor fiscal management and bond structuring choices that may otherwise occur, explained DiNapoli. However, he cautioned that the budget proposal to significantly curtail this approval would expand the executive’s powers, allowing for costlier and riskier bonding choices with State PIT and Sales Tax bond issues, the primary vehicles by which the state conducts most of its borrowing.

DiNapoli warned also that such budget proposals could be exploited by other public authority bond issuers, and specifically identified the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as an agency with a history of poor debt practices.

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BIDEN SHIELDS PALESTINIANS IN U.S. FROM IMMEDIATE FORCED DEPARTURE

NATIONWIDE — CERTAIN PALESTINIANS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES CAN NOW BENEFIT FROM President Joe Biden’s designating Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for 18 months. Approximately 6,000 Palestinian DED holders will be protected from deportation and receive work authorization for the duration of the designation, which will expire on Aug. 14, 2025. The urgent need for the DED designation stemmed from the current Israeli-Hamas conflict, which began with the killing of more than 1,400 Israelis in October. Since then, 85% of Gaza’s population has been displaced and more than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed. Global Refuge (formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) on Thursday, Feb. 15, joined leading advocates, a coalition of civil and human rights organizations, and allies in Congress.

One such ally is Congressman Dan Goldman (D-10) of Brooklyn, an observant Jew, who, on Nov. 9, 2023, joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and others in urging the Biden Administration to authorize Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians in the United States.

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IN MEMORIAM: FOUNDER OF BOB’S RED MILL FOODS DIES AT 94

OREGON — BOB MOORE, THE ENTREPRENEUR WHO WITH HIS WIFE, CHARLEE, FOUNDED BOB’S RED MILL FOODS in 1978, died Saturday, just five days before his 95th birthday, which would have been today, Feb. 15. According to a New York Times obituary by Alex Williams, Moore said during a podcast years ago that while taking a hiatus from a personal ambition of learning to read the Bible in other languages — including Greek — he saved an old mill that its owner planned to demolish, and started a local artisanal grain company. Named Bob’s Red Mill, the family-run company has produced stone-ground sorghum flour, whole-wheat pearl couscous, soup mixes and, when the need arose, a growing array of gluten-free flours and products.

Moore successfully fended off buyout offers from large companies to protect his values as an observant Christian, instead giving his staff the stock options that would turn his company into an employee-owned enterprise.