What’s News, Breaking: Tuesday, April 30, 2024

April 30, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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NYC COUNCIL TO GRILL ADAMS ADMIN ABOUT
OFF-PUTTING MEETING REQUEST FORMS

CITYWIDE — AN UNHAPPY CITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING an oversight hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday on the Adams administration’s newly established Elected Official Agency Engagement Request Form, which requires that all elected representatives — from councilmembers to U.S. Senators — complete the form in order to meet with any city commissioners, executive directors or senior agency staff. Councilmembers said the new procedure “could have the detrimental effects of slowing response times, stifling requests for information, and undermining the strong relationships necessary across government by funneling communications through a single clearinghouse.”

The City Hall committee-room hearing (also livestreamed) will be led by Brooklyn’s Councilmember Lincoln Restler, chair of the Committee on Governmental Operations, State and Federal Legislation, and joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, other councilmembers and the public. Tiffany Raspberry, director of the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, is in the hot seat.

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GILLIBRAND APPLAUDS DEA MOVE TO
RECLASSIFY MARIJUANA

NATIONWIDE — U.S. SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND applauded on Tuesday the Drug Enforcement Administration’s move to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance, noting that she has consistently urged this reclassification. “I’m grateful that the DEA is heeding my call to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III substance,” Gillibrand (D-NY) said in a statement. “As most Americans realize, marijuana is simply not comparable to other Schedule I substances like heroin and LSD.” She added that she continues to believe that marijuana should be descheduled entirely.

Gillibrand cosponsored the Marijuana Justice Act, legislation that would legalize marijuana, and the SAFE Banking Act, which would ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to critical banking and financial services.

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COMMUNITY MEETING ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL
BROOKLYN SKATEPARK ON WED, MAY 1

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING on a controversial planned skatepark — the Brooklyn Skate Garden at Mount Prospect Park — will take place online Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m., Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday. The meeting will focus on input into details of the project, including design and skate elements. The mayor said the project “will ensure that Mount Prospect Park can be used in all the ways it is today — for picnicking, dog walking, and more, as well as be utilized as a cultural home for wheeled sports in Brooklyn.” Some parkgoers said the skatepark would take away green space from a park already heavily used by the community.

“It’s about green versus concrete; what do we want?” Isabelle Broyer, president of Cultural Row Block Association, Eastern Parkway, told the Brooklyn Eagle in February. “Do we want this park or commercial construction? Is it a public space or a commercial space?”

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MAJOR FELONIES IN SUBWAY SYSTEM DOWN, PETTY LARCENY UP

CITYWIDE — MAJOR FELONIES IN THE SUBWAY SYSTEM were down 6.4% in the first four months of 2024, according to the New York Daily News. The reduction is largely due to a 25% drop in robberies and a 5% decrease in felony assaults from the same Jan. 1 to April 28 period last year. “What a difference a few months make,” Norman Grandstaff, deputy chief of the NYPD’s Transit Bureau, said Monday at a meeting of the MTA’s board. Grandstaff said the city’s decision to put more than 1,000 more cops into the system made a difference, according to The News.

However, murders are up, with four so far this year compared with two last years. And misdemeanor petty larcenies — thefts of less than $1,000 in value — are up 38% in the subway system.

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A.G. JAMES: FACEBOOK’S AI CHATBOT IS FALSELY ACCUSING NYS OFFICIALS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

STATEWIDE — NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES fired off a letter on April 27 to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, demanding answers about the company’s AI chatbot fabricating of completely made-up allegations of sexual harassment against state lawmakers, City & State reported. In her letter, which cites City & State’s original breaking story, James wrote that her office tested the chatbot and found it “yielded similar results, including citations to fabricated source articles” purportedly from sources including The New York Times and CBS, but actually nonexistent. The chatbot invented fake stories of sexual harassment allegations, investigations that never took place, and consequences — in particular, being stripped of committee assignments — that never occurred, City & State reported.

“We are deeply concerned about the creation and dissemination of such misinformation, which is likely to harm the reputation of New York State officials and mislead New York residents,” James wrote.

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GREENPOINT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MEETING WEDNESDAY

GREENPOINT — GREENPOINT RESIDENTS will have the opportunity to speak with developers, city agencies and elected officials about major construction projects happening across Greenpoint at a meeting of the North Greenpoint Construction Task Force on Wednesday, May 1. Officials from the offices of Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and Councilmember Lincoln Restler will be there.

The event takes place at 6 p.m. at the Polish Slavic Center, 176 Java Street.

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NEW LESSONS ABOUT HATE CRIMES FOR NYC SCHOOL KIDS

CITYWIDE — SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK CITY will soon be teaching a series of lessons about hate crimes, Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday. The lessons are designed to teach students about hate crimes, bias incidents, and their impact on individuals and communities, Adams said in a release, citing an increase in hate crimes across the nation. The curriculum was designed by the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, with support from the NYC Department of Education, which partnered with the Boston-based nonprofit Facing History & Ourselves. The lessons are available to students in grades 6-12 and are offered as a virtual resource to the public on the Facing History & Ourselves’ websites.

“Our children are at a breaking point, and investing in programming that fosters a greater understanding of diversity and the importance of inclusion is an important way to dam one of the many rivers that feeds the sea of hate,” Adams said.

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TRUMP FINED $9K FOR VIOLATING GAG ORDER

MANHATTAN — JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN FINED former President Donald Trump $9,000 in New York court Tuesday for repeatedly violating a gag order in his hush money trial, CNN and other news sites reported. Trump must also remove seven offending posts from his Truth Social website and two offending posts from his campaign website by 2:15 p.m. ET Tuesday. Trump must pay the $9,000 fine by the end of the week.

Merchan also threatened incarceration if Trump willfully violates the gag order again, CNN said, quoting a written order.

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SHADOWS AND PATHWAYS AT LOTT HOUSE

MARINE PARK — ONE OF BROOKLYN’S OLDEST HOMES, the Hendrick I. Lott House in Marine Park, will be the site of an outdoor exhibition curated by artist Diana Naccarato, opening on Saturday, May 4 from 3 – 5 p.m. Inspired by the perpetual movement within ecosystems, this showcase features intricate charcoal drawings (Pathways) and digital interpretations (Shadows), transforming the 35th Street and 36th Street fences into an immersive artistic journey.

Naccarato draws inspiration from southern Brooklyn’s coastal areas and Marine Park’s salt marshes. The exhibit takes place at 1940 E. 36th St.

Shadows.
Photo courtesy of Diana Naccarato

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ILLEGAL BAY RIDGE WEED SHOP GETS RUDE AWAKENING

BAY RIDGE — AN ILLEGAL POT SHOP was raided in Bay Ridge on Monday a day after an irate worker taunted authorities and boasted he doesn’t “give a f–k,” the New York Post reported. The sheriff’s office and NYPD raided the Gelato marijuana shop on 86th Street after the worker offered a Post reporter a puff of a joint, saying threats to padlock the illicit shops were nothing new. Authorities took cannabis flowers, edibles, pre-rolled joints, illegal vapes and other products, and hit the store with $25,000 worth of penalties.

“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. If you are operating completely illegally, maybe don’t talk trash and taunt the authorities in the NY Post. Just a thought,” area Councilmember Justin Brannan wrote on Twitter/X.

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NYC CRACKING DOWN ON MIGRANT CHILDREN SELLING CANDY

CITYWIDE — NYC WILL BEGIN DISTRIBUTING FLYERS to discourage migrant families from allowing their children to sell candy on the streets and subway, Gothamist reports. The city Department of Homeless Services, the NYPD, the MTA and homeless outreach contractors will hand out palm cards and post flyers stating that unlicensed selling is illegal and can result in fines. Migrant children who sell candy have said they are helping their families earn money to buy basic necessities, such as diapers for their younger siblings, according to Gothamist.

Hundreds of children have left the school system since a 60-day shelter limit went into effect, but it is impossible to tell if they are still in the city or have left, Gothamist says.

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RALLY TO RESTORE PARKS BUDGET CUTS ON MAY 7

CITYWIDE — THE BUDGET FOR NYC PARKS is being cut 5%, which amounts to a loss of $55 million in funding, the elimination of more than 600 positions, and the end of the second-shift program that provides evening trash maintenance, according to the Prospect Park Alliance and the Play Fair for Parks Coalition. The Alliance and the Coalition urge anyone who uses city parks to attend a rally to restore the budget on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. in Union Square Park. Many other city agencies have seen their budget cuts restored, the sponsors add.

The event will celebrate parks and parks workers, and participants can enjoy raffles, games, music and more. More information is available at playfair.nyc

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MTA NOW OFFERS SAME-DAY SERVICE FOR REDUCED FARE PROGRAM

CITYWIDE — “ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS CAN NOW SKIP THE WAIT by applying for and receiving their Reduced-Fare MetroCards at Customer Service Centers in one visit,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey on Monday, April 29. MTA customers aged at least 65 can now enroll in the Reduced-Fare program and receive their new Reduced-Fare MetroCards on the same day at Customer Service Centers across the city. Customers with disabilities can also sign up for the Reduced-Fare program and receive in-person, individualized assistance from a station agent at CSCs and receive temporary Reduced-Fare cards while their applications are processed.

Once fully enrolled, customers receive a Reduced-Fare MetroCard valid for two years and customers can reload their cards with either value or time.

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INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA GETS BOOST IN TAX CREDITS

STATEWIDE — LOCAL NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS in New York State are getting a financial boost from the state government thanks to a package of tax credits included in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, according to Assemblymember William Colton (D-47). Colton, who represents parts of southwestern Brooklyn from Bath Beach to Dyker Heights. He explained that the Local Journalism Sustainability Act provides a total of $30 million in tax credits each year for the next three years to qualifying independently-owned local print and broadcast media to help offset the cost of paying journalists’ salaries. Each outlet can access up to $300,000 in tax credits each year, including a tax credit of $5,000 per new reporter hired to ease the financial burden of expanding the outlet’s newsroom.

A total of $4 million has been set aside in the package to cover the credits available for adding journalists to a newsroom’s staff. The remaining $26 million has been set aside to cover the credits available to help offset the cost of retaining existing staff. Half of the credits are being dedicated to outlets with 100 or fewer employees.

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CITY’S PUBLIC HOSPITALS EXPAND FREE, HEALTH-RELATED LEGAL SERVICES

CITYWIDE — NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS IS EXPANDING ITS FREE health-related legal services for its patients in partnership with LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group, the city’s public hospital system announced on Monday, April 29. Patients can access free health-related legal services over the phone or through a referral by a doctor, social worker or community health worker. All Brooklyn locations — South Brooklyn Health/Coney Island Hospital, Kings County Medical Center and Woodhull — are participating. One of the nation’s longest-running and largest medical-legal partnerships, dating back to 2002 and with funding in part from the New York City Council, this service has provided free legal assistance with public benefits, immigration, health insurance, advance planning and housing, among other legal issues.

Nearly 5,000 patients accessed legal services at NYC Health + Hospitals in 2023.

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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS

STATEWIDE — THE APPLICATION PERIOD HAS OPENED for those aiming to secure $7.34 million in Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday, April 29. These grants will support community-based organization projects that engage their communities around environmental justice issues and deploy community-driven solutions, so they can help the communities most vulnerable to the impacts of pollution and climate change address environmental concerns and legacy pollution. Eligible projects must address a community’s exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks and must include a new research component that will be used to expand the knowledge of the affected community. The deadline to submit applications is 3 p.m. EDT on Aug. 7, 2024. For a complete list of guidelines and more information, contact DEC’s Office of Environmental Justice at 518-402-8556, email [email protected] or visit the DEC’s Environmental Justice webpage.

Previous projects awarded by DEC have encompassed public participatory science, community-driven water and air quality monitoring, urban farming, habitat restoration, tree plantings, curriculum development and green infrastructure installation, among others.

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JFK AIRPORT RENEWAL SET RECORD WITH $2.3 BILLION IN CONTRACTS AWARDED TO MWBE FIRMS

NY METRO AREA— Some $2.3 billion in contracts have been awarded to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises doing work on JFK International Airport’s major construction projects, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday, April 29. This is the largest participation of MWBE firms on any public-private partnership project in New York State history. Now that construction of new airport facilities is fully underway, MWBE participation at JFK will continue to break records until the redevelopment is substantially complete, with an expected date in 2028.

JFK redevelopment also demonstrates a significant focus on working with local contractors, awarding more than $950 million in contracts to Queens-based businesses to date.

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FDNY BATTALION CHIEF PROMOTION CEREMONY SET FOR TUESDAY

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — THE FDNY WILL PROMOTE 11 Battalion Chiefs on Tuesday, April 30, with Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, presiding. The ceremony will be held at FDNY headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn. Battalion chiefs, the highest-ranked officers on duty, are tasked with creating work schedules and managing personnel for the fire stations under their command. Before each new shift, battalion chiefs must make sure that there are enough people on duty, and are responsible for scheduling each role in the fire department. They manage vacation time and sick days for dozens of firefighters.

Together, the newly-promoted members represent more than 230 years of experience with the Department. The new chiefs will be assigned to various units throughout the city.

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MAYOR ADAMS JOINS RALLY WITH MEMBERS OF THE SIKH COMMUNITY

QUEENS — MAYOR ERIC ADAMS ON SUNDAY joined members of the Sikh community in South Richmond Hill, Queens, an area with a heavy Sikh population. Sikhs, who often wear turbans, are adherents of a religion that started in the Punjab area of India. The rally was in response to an attack on a 19-year-old who was wearing a turban on a bus and a road-rage attack on a 66-year-old Sikh man.

“I will commit myself to educate, to protect and to continuously be a part of this community. Our Sikh brothers and sisters mean so much to me,” said Mayor Adams.