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What’s News, Breaking: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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FACTION AT CHABAD SELLING SHOVEL PINS IN SUPPORT OF TUNNEL

CROWN HEIGHTS — MEMBERS OF THE CHABAD LUBAVITCH SECT HAVE BEGUN SELLING shovel-shaped lapel pins at the group’s historic Eastern Parkway synagogue, reports Forward, as a way to indicate support and raise money for the internal faction that was discovered to be surreptitiously digging to expand the synagogue’s basement level in January. The expansion effort, which included spaces hollowed out behind the basement’s walls and a tunnel dug to a nearby unused building, became infamous after the discovery of the digging by Lubavitch leadership led to multiple arrests after a chaotic confrontation with repair workers and police called to secure the unpermitted construction site, which some feared could endanger the structural integrity of the building.

Some in the Lubavitch sect believe that former leader Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who passed away in 1994, commanded the group to expand the synagogue – words interpreted very literally by the younger members who took up shovels.

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SOLIDARITY RALLY ORGANIZED FOR UNION
RETIREES FIGHTING MEDICARE PLAN CHANGES

CITYWIDE — THE NYC ORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREES, which last week publicly expressed solidarity with a retirees group related to DC37 after it was taken over last week, has scheduled a rally and press conference for Wednesday, March 6, 11 a.m., at 75 Maiden Lane in Lower Manhattan. The NYC OPSR, in a statement denouncing the takeover, declared, “For years, we’ve fought tirelessly to defend traditional Medicare, only to face betrayal from those who once swore to fight for us.” The statement also charges that the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) followed through on its threat to place DC37 Retirees in receivership after its members continued donations to help its fellow retiree group.

Marianne Pizzitola, president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and the FDNY EMS Retirees Association, accuses the AFSCME of hypocrisy, declaring, “AFSCME, once a champion for Medicare alongside Dr. Martin Luther King and President Johnson, now allows its largest district council to force retirees into a privatized, for-profit plan.”

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UPBRAIDING FDA ON FOOD ADDITIVES, NY LEGISLATORS
INTRODUCE TWO BILLS TO BAN THESE CHEMICALS

ALBANY STATE CAPITOL BUILDING — LEGISLATORS PLANNED A PRESS CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 5, TO INTRODUCE TWO BILLS aimed at protecting New Yorkers from dangerous food additives. State Senator Brian Kavanagh — who until redistricting had represented much of Downtown Brooklyn — joined his colleagues, and a pediatrician from the Mount Sinai Health Network, the Environmental Working Group’s policy director, representative from the NY State Council of Churches and others in Albany to introduce the bills. The first bill would prohibit the use of seven dangerous food additives still used in foods. The second bill would require companies to notify New York State when they introduce chemicals into food without notifying or seeking review from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The participants in Tuesday’s event believe that “the Food and Drug Administration has failed to protect New Yorkers and other Americans from seven dangerous food additives used in commonly consumed foods and drinks. The FDA also fails to adequately monitor or review newly introduced food chemicals when companies take advantage of loopholes allowing secrecy.”

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NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL NETWORK
UPDATES KOSHER VIRTUAL VISITATION POLICIES

CITYWIDE — ENSURING THAT VIRTUAL VISITATION IS ACCESSIBLE TO STRICTLY-OBSERVANT JEWISH PATIENTS WAS THE CORE OF AN INVESTIGATION that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, which has Brooklyn medical complexes as part of its network. HHS, along with the Office for Civil Rights on Tuesday, March 5, finalized its work with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to ensure virtual visitation is accessible to Jewish patients, after these federal agencies received complaints about failures to accommodate these patients with kosher electronic devices for virtual visits. As federal law prohibits Medicare- and Medicaid-funded hospitals from restricting patient visitation in a manner that discriminates on a religious basis, OCR reviewed NewYork-Presbyterian’s policies and practices and worked with the healthcare system to update its policies and procedures to ensure full compliance with federal law.

One aspect of this update was purchasing kosher tablets for Jewish patients within NewYork-Presbyterian’s hospital network, providing them opportunities for virtual visitation in situations where the patient’s religious beliefs prohibit them from using the non-kosher devices.

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NIGHT MARKET TO RETURN TO INDUSTRY CITY

SUNSET PARK — THE BROOKLYN NIGHT MARKET IS SET TO RETURN TO INDUSTRY CITY for the third year this spring, reports TimeOut New York, with dozens of local food and craft vendors selling their wares every final Monday of the month between April and October. 65 small businesses will be participating in this year’s version, which typically attracts crowds of thousands; while a final lineup of vendors is coming soon. Last year’s market included favorites like “Perros Locos’ fancy hot dogs to HangryDog’s late-night munchies and Jasmine Roti Factory’s Caribbean flavors,” according to organizers.

The first Brooklyn Night Market of the year will take place April 29; the monthly event will take place from 4 p.m. onwards in Industry City, between 2nd and 3rd avenues.

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BROOKLYN DEMOCRATIC LEADER
PRAISES ASSEMBLYMEMBER WEINSTEIN

SHEEPSHEAD BAY TO CANARSIE — FOLLOWING MONDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE STATE ASSEMBLY’S LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER, HELENE WEINSTEIN of the 41st District in Brooklyn is retiring, Kings County Democratic Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn released a statement praising her colleague. “As the longest serving woman in the NYS Assembly, Helene E. Weinstein has profoundly uplifted Brooklyn and immensely elevated New Yorkers for over four decades. The Brooklyn Democratic Party is deeply appreciative and thankful for Assemblymember Weinstein’s selfless and steadfast service.” Bichotte Hermelyn added, “Weinstein was the first woman to head the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee and then became the first female chair of the Ways & Means Committee — and her barrier-breaking legacy will continue to positively impact us and inspire women and girls everywhere.”

First elected in 1980, Weinstein served more than four decades in the state Assembly. Before that, her father, Murray, also served for two years and Helene volunteered in his offices.

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LONGTIME ASSEMBLYMEMBER WEINSTEIN
ANNOUNCES SHE’LL RETIRE AT END OF TERM

CANARSIE — ASSEMBLYMEMBER HELENE WEINSTEIN, WHO HAS SERVED THE 41ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT SPANNING MIDWOOD TO FLATLANDS AND CANARSIE, was inspired to public service since her youth, and credits her parents’ civic involvement, the Brooklyn Eagle reported in a November 2015 article by Paula Katinas. When she first took office, many of her colleagues considered the Assembly position to be part-time since the state’s lower legislative house convenes only from January to June. However, Weinstein distinguished herself by devoting herself to her job year-round, and setting up a full-time district office when fellow Assemblymembers didn’t even have one. Weinstein, who grew up in Canarsie and volunteered at both her father’s district and Albany offices, told the Brooklyn Eagle at the time that policy issues and constituent services drove her the most. She has worked on both sweeping legislation and local issues.

City Councilmember Kalman Yeger (D-44) has announced his intention to run for Assemblymember Weinstein’s seat and has already received an endorsement from Councilmember Farah N. Louis, according to her post on X (formerly Twitter).

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CAFETERIA CUTS DUE TO KIDS ‘EATING MORE’: OMB DIRECTOR

CITYWIDE — RECENT CUTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL CAFETERIA MENUS THAT SAW POPULAR ITEMS ELIMINATED in favor of cheaper “heat-and-serve” meals happened because investments in school cafeterias led to more students using them, according to city Office of Management and Budget director Jacques Jiha, reports Chalkbeat. Jiha was grilled by city councilmembers on Monday over the disappearance of offerings like dumplings and cookies. No clear answers were offered other than the cafeteria space upgrades. While the mayor’s budget slashed $6 million from school lunch funds last year, Jiha testified that this sum had been replaced by federal funds and was not the cause of the lost menu items, but Education Department officials in January reportedly told parents that the menu cuts were indeed related to the budget slashing.

“You have a lot of kids hanging out in cafeterias now and eating more and more and more and more,” Jiha told Councilmember Rita Joseph; no timeline was given for the restoration of the popular menu items.

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META SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
EXPERIENCE WIDESPREAD OUTAGE

WORLDWIDE — USERS OF META PLATFORMS FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, MESSENGER AND THREADS were encountering widespread login problems on Tuesday morning, according to the Associated Press and several other news reports. According to the Associated Press, Internet traffic observer Down Detector is reporting vast outages on several Meta platforms, raising concerns that the outage could be global. Those attempting to access their Facebook account on a web browser got “incorrect password” messages; while mobile Facebook users saw a pop-up message saying their session has expired and were asked to log into their account again. Meta’s head communications officer Andy Stone told the AP that this company is working on the issue.

A Brooklyn Eagle reporter who checked out the outage around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday was able to login on the first try without getting any error messages, suggesting that the problem on parts of the East Coast may have cleared up by then. And in the Southeastern U.S., a news network reported that its customers are again able to log in successfully.

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13-YEAR-OLD SHOT AND KILLED AFTER NETS GAME

CROWN HEIGHTS — A BROOKLYN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT, TROY GILL, AGE 13, was killed in Crown Heights on Thursday night while returning home from a Nets game at the Barclays Center, reports the Daily News. Police said that the crime occurred at 10:40 p.m. at the corner of New York and Bergen avenues, when an unknown person fired multiple shots at the seventh-grader, hitting Gill in the chest and arm. According to his mother, the boy then called her to ask for help while running from the shooter before collapsing near the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, where he was found by paramedics who were unable to revive him. The deadly shooting was one of three in the neighborhood over the last week.

“Troy was such a good kid. He wasn’t part of that gang stuff. He posted on Snapchat last night that he was coming home from the basketball game. He said ‘I’m chilling, just trying to get home.’ He said he was enjoying himself. It’s sad,” a girl in his grade told the Daily News; his family is reportedly in shock.

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SHEEPSHEAD BAY TEACHERS SUING DOE OVER ANTISEMITISM INCIDENTS

SHEEPSHEAD BAY — TWO STAFF MEMBERS AT ORIGINS HIGH SCHOOL ARE PREPARING TO file a civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Education, reports the New York Post, saying that hate has long been a problem at Origins but spiked after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, leading Jewish students to transfer out. Staff members told the Post that students chanted “kill the Jews,” at an Oct. 27 protest, among other incidents. Teacher Danielle Kaminsky expressed fear after receiving insults and death wishes, describing a confrontation where students chased her through the school building, as well as a class trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage canceled over comments to museum staff about desecrating corpses, while campus manager Michael Beaudry alleged that other groups have been targeted as well, describing anti-Black graffiti and a November 2023 assembly about a new LGBTQ club that descended into homophobic chanting.

The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Councilmember Inna Vernikov and ex-Assemblymember Dov Hikind have offered support to Kaminsky and Beaudry, who allege acting principal Dana Kammerman has not adequately disciplined students, filed retaliatory complaints and failed to report incidents. The DOE stated that it has opened a probe and praised Kammerman’s track record.

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BROOKLYN FRIENDS SCHOOL TRUSTEES BOARD VOTES TO ACQUIRE ADJACENT BUILDING FOR EXPANSION

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — BROOKLYN FRIENDS SCHOOL, AN INDEPENDENT QUAKER SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN IS EXPANDING to a new building. The school announced on Monday, March 4, that its board of trustees has approved the purchase of 383-393 Pearl Street, a five-story building on the corner of Pearl Street and Willoughby Street, and directly adjacent to one of Brooklyn Friends’ primary buildings. The building’s acquisition will enable the 156-year-old school to expand upon its footprint and consolidate its operations onto a single campus, thus fostering greater collaboration, educational innovation and community. The decision, reached following thorough evaluation and planning, marks a significant commitment by the school to fulfilling the Strategic Vision developed over the past two years by a wide cross-section of the BFS community and stakeholders.

According to a Google map dated July 2022, the building at 383-93 Pearl St. shares a wall with the main school building at 375 Pearl, and once housed ASA College, an unrelated struggling technical school that closed abruptly in February 2023.

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VIRAL TIKTOK DRIVES SURGE IN RENT HISTORY REQUESTS

CITYWIDE — ONE VIRAL TIKTOK HAS LED TO A SURGE IN RENT HISTORY REQUESTS to the state’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal, reports The City. After Manhattan resident Carla Badami shared online how she was able to recover $6,000 that her landlord had charged her in excess on her rent-stabilized apartment, using official documents showing that previous tenants had paid a far lower rate, the agency says that requests for rent history reports have more than doubled, from an average of 750 a week to more than 2,000. Tenants have the right to challenge rent increases if they believe landlords have overcharged them and can receive refunds and leases with lower rent if their complaints are upheld. While the viral video has led to a backlog with the DHCR, housing advocates told The City that the increased awareness of these rights is a positive for renters, and called for increased funding for the beleaguered agency, which also handles the investigation of these complaints.

The City also offered a guide on how to find rent history information and file complaints, but tenants should be aware that recovering excess fees beyond four years ago may be difficult without proof of fraud.

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CVS AND WALGREENS TO SELL ABORTION MEDICATION

NATIONWIDE — PHARMACY CHAINS CVS AND WALGREENS WILL BEGIN SELLING the abortion drug mifepristone in some states after obtaining permission from the FDA, reports CNN, with CVS set to offer the drug in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Walgreens in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California and Illinois. Both chains said they expect to expand sales further into states where mifepristone can be legally prescribed. The decision comes as the Supreme Court reviews a controversial April 2023 ruling by a Texas judge that sought to ban sales nationwide, which was quickly followed by a ruling by a Washington judge contradicting it; the Supreme Court has allowed sales of the drug to continue unobstructed by the federal government before it releases its final ruling, which is expected this summer.

Governor Hochul on Friday praised the expansion of mifepristone sales on X (Twitter,) calling it “hopeful news for millions.”

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UNDERHILL AVENUE BIKE LANE GOES AHEAD

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON WEDNESDAY ANNOUNCED that the Prospect Heights Underhill Avenue “bike boulevard” project would be moving ahead, despite opposition from Mayor Adams that saw the nearly completed redesign paused for months, reports the Daily News. DOT officials said that there was strong community support for the nine-block bike lane and other proposed traffic-calming measures. When finished this spring, the new street plan will see some sections of Underhill Avenue converted to one-way traffic, parking spaces eliminated near crosswalks for increased pedestrian visibility, and vehicle-slowing additions like planters positioned between traffic lanes. Proponents say these measures will reduce traffic accidents and deaths, although opponents have argued they could complicate access for emergency vehicles.

Streetsblog on Tuesday reported that some local residents took the project into their own hands, moving heavy planters into position at painted spots where the plan calls for the installation of traffic barriers.

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SEN. GILLIBRAND PUSHES FOR PASSAGE OF BILL TO PROTECT FERTILITY TREATMENTS

NATIONWIDE — A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND OF NEW YORK held on Sunday, March 3, at her New York City office pushed for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act, legislation that would protect the right to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology. Introduced on the Senate Floor on Jan. 18 according to the Senate’s website, the bill gained wider exposure since the Alabama Supreme Court decision that declared frozen embryos as children, thus jeopardizing IVF treatment for families wishing to conceive. The bill would establish a woman’s right under federal law to access assisted reproductive technology services, protect a medical provider’s right to provide them and safeguard an insurance carrier’s right to cover them.

The Access to Family Building Act, which has 47 Senate sponsors (Democrats and Independents) would also codify the right to IVF and similar treatments by preempting state and local laws that restrict access to fertility treatments; and allow for the Department of Justice to challenge restrictive state or local laws; among other provisions.

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CITY COUNCIL: NYC CAN EXPECT $3.3B MORE IN TAX REVENUES TO RESTORE BUDGET CUTS

CITYWIDE — NEW YORK CITY CAN EXPECT $3.3B MORE IN REVENUE FOR UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, SAYS A NEW REPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, according to a story released on Sunday from 1010 WINS and WCBS-88 Radio. The City Council’s report, originally released last Thursday, Feb. 29, claims that Mayor Eric Adams’ Office of Budget and Management (OMB) underestimated tax revenues for the current and upcoming fiscal years by $3.3 billion. This new estimate, which applies to Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, projects even more tax revenue, creating a budget surplus of $1.3 billion for the current fiscal year and $3.53 billion in FY25. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Finance Chair Justin Brannan (D-47) issued a joint statement, pointing out that “…stronger than expected tax revenues allow us to restore the blunt cuts that weren’t necessary in the first place.”

The revenues could restore funding to emergency services, education and libraries.

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SUPREME COURT RULES, 9-0, TO RESTORE DONALD TRUMP TO 2 STATE BALLOTS

WASHINGTON, DC — THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED UNANIMOUSLY ON MONDAY, MARCH 4, that Donald Trump can remain on Colorado’s presidential primary ballot, reversing an extraordinary state court ruling that had deemed him ineligible to run for the presidency on the grounds that he violated a seldom-used provision of the 14th amendment. The SCOTUS ruling also affects a Maine state court’s attempt to keep Trump off the ballot. The SCOTUS’ three liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined the conservative majority in questioning whether a single state can kick a candidate off the ballot, whether Congress must act before states can invoke the 14th Amendment, and whether the president is specifically covered by the Amendment, which had originally been drafted to bar Confederates from holding office following their secession from the Union during the Civil War.

The Supreme Court, in its unsigned opinion ruling a day before the Super Tuesday primaries, indicated that the power to enforce the 14th Amendment rests with Congress.

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CERT TRAINING CLASS HOLDS FIRE SAFETY DRILLS AT BROOKLYN’S RED CROSS PLAZA

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE CONDUCTING A FIRE SAFETY DRILL around rush hour on Monday and Tuesday evenings, March 4 And 5, near Red Cross Plaza on Cadman Plaza East. The alert, broadcast via Notify NYC text messaging, indicates the safety drill is part of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class, and will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on both March 4 and 5.

Readers interested in volunteering with or learning more about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program can visit online.

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GUIDEBOOK GIVES NEW YORKERS VOICE IN DESIGNING THEIR COMMUNITIES

CITYWIDE — THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING (DCP) HAS RELEASED an illustrated guidebook that makes New York City’s urban design principles clear and accessible to the public. Titled “Principles of Good Urban Design,” the guidebook aims to help New Yorkers from all backgrounds utilize the recommendations in their own communities, whether they’re planners, developers, civic leaders, business leaders or residents. This guidebook defines urban design and explains the process of implementing it, taking into account public input, environmental needs to a neighborhood’s history and culture to craft design recommendations that enhance communities.

“New Yorkers know their neighborhoods better than anyone and it’s vital that we supply them with the planning tools to advocate for their priorities,” said Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick.

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MTA EMPLOYEE CHARGED FOR RUNNING G’POINT BROTHEL

GREENPOINT — MTA EMPLOYEE DAVID BLAKIS WAS CHARGED ON FRIDAY for permitting and promoting prostitution in allegedly running an illegal brothel in his Greenpoint apartment, reports the Brooklyn Paper. Police discovered the operation after receiving complaints of “numerous disruptions” from neighbors in the apartment building, according to D.A. Eric Gonzalez. Undercover sting operations in February and November of 2023 resulted in the arrests of at least two sex workers, as well as Blakis, and the recovery of what prosecutors said was evidence of illegal activity, including electronic devices, surveillance footage, suggestive signage, $5,000 in cash, and the belongings of the sex workers stored in Blakis’ mother’s nearby apartment.

The trial is set to begin on May 8.