Brooklyn Politicians Hold Forum On Affordable Care Act

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Joan Millman and several of their Brooklyn colleagues are holding a forum on the Affordable Care Act this Wednesday, October 2nd from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street.
Speakers and representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New York State Department of Health, NYC Department of Human Resources and several health networks will be on hand to answer questions pertaining to the coming changes to the health care system.

Please rsvp by contacting Senator Montgomery's office at 718 643 6140.

Read more

Schedule A Free Bone Density Scan At Assemblywoman Millman's Office

Assemblywoman Joan Millman is providing free osteoporosis screenings courtesy of University Hospital of Brooklyn at LICH on Thursday, April 12, from 10 AM-1 PM. The screening is at Millman's office, 341 Smith Street, but you must call to make an appointment 718-246-4889. 

Spaces are limited, so please call soon.

Read more

Assemblywoman Millman Collecting Donations For Brooklyn Family Justice Center

As in years past, Assemblywoman Joan Millman has organized a foo collectiond and toiletries donations for domestic violence victims and their families served by the Brooklyn Family Justice Center. Assemblywoman Millman’s Brooklyn office, located at 341 Smith Street, will be accepting donations through February 17th. 
Suggested items for donation include canned fruits and vegetables, powdered drinks and milk, juice boxes, peanut butter and jelly, packaged crackers, cookies, pretzels and other snacks, baby food and formula, diapers and baby wipes, shampoo and soap.

The Family Justice Center offers a wide variety of services to victims of domestic violence in the areas of housing, public assistance, criminal justice and counseling. 
It is located at 350 Jay Street on the 15th Floor. Telephone 718 250 5113.

Read more

Columbia Waterfront Residents Get Opportunity To Meet New Red Hook Container Terminal's Stevedore

On February 9th, Columbia Waterfront residents will have the opportunity to meet with Phoenix Beverage Company, the new stevedore of the Red Hook Container terminal at a community meeting to "help build and maintain a good relationship between the port and its neighborhoods."

This past fall, the beverage distributor replaced American Stevedoring, Inc. (ASI) as the group responsible for operating the Red Hook Container Terminal on behalf of the Port Authority.

This meeting has been organized by the Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association (COWNA), Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Councilmember Brad Lander, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblywoman Joan Millman as well as Community Board Six.

The is an opportunity to talk with about building and maintaining a good relationship between the port and its neighborhoods.

Meet The New Stevedore!

Thursday February 9, 2012, 6:30 pm

Postgraduate Center for Mental Health

177 Columbia Street at Degraw Street

Read more

Impressions And Testimonies From Tuesday Night's Hearing On Proposed Success Academy Co-Location At IS 293

IS 293 on Baltic Street

I was unable to attend Tuesday night's hearing on the proposed co-location of at the Success Academy Charter School at IS 293 at 293 - 284 Baltic Street in the Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill neighborhood.  The school building currently houses School for Global Studies and School for International Studies building. The proposal has generated quite a bit of controversy.
My good friend C, a current public school mom, who is incredibly well informed about all matters pertaining to education, was at the hearing and agreed to share her impression on the meeting.  
She writes:
"I think that District 15 parents (not all of whom have children in the Baltic St. site) and community members are upset about the lack of courtesy displayed by the Department Of Education along with a lack of process. As I understand it, this charter application was originally made in Districts 13 and 14. Its intended purpose was to serve high needs children in failing schools. From last nights testimony, it did not seem that there was any meaningful search to find a suitable site in either of those districts. According to the SUNY Charter Institute attorney, since the application was already approved by them Success Charter Network is free to take the application to any district in the borough since the public outreach requirement was already fulfilled in other districts. Theoretically, Success Charter Network could take the application to Marine Park. I guess this means that parents who have children in failing schools in Districts 13 and 14 will not be getting the charter they were promised.

It seemed difficult for the Community Education Council (CEC) to elicit plans for the charter school. The purpose of the application seems to be amorphous. Even the name keeps changing. It isn't clear whether this charter will be a K-5 or a K-8. In any event, the DOE projects that once the the charter enrolls a fourth grade the building will reach 108% capacity. To paraphrase District 15 Community Education Council member Jim Devor - are we going to have a group of fifth graders wandering around Cobble Hill in search of classroom. If the DOE has an additional site in mind for the fifth graders they certainly are keeping it a secret from the community. Of course by that time in 2016 Bloomberg and most of Tweed suits will be long gone so what do they care.

Parents and teachers from both Global Studies and International Studies spoke about the negative impact this would have on their children's education. How would the supporters of the charter school feel if their middle school child's gym class suddenly increased from 60 to 100 students because the DOE decided to co-locate a school. Will the librarian have to adapt her library to accommodate elementary school students and therefore lose space that is dedicated to middle and high school students. Will Success Charter be providing their own school psychologist or be using one who has more experience with adolescents? Parents also had concerns about cafeteria usage and the fact that the last lunch period will end at 2:30 which is of particular concern to parents of children who have IEPs.

The students who spoke gave the most compelling testimony of the evening and they did not hesitate to call out Marc Sternberg who is in charge of school closings and c0-locations. (Note: This summer Marc Sternberg sent an email to his DOE colleagues inviting them to a Happy Hour at the Tribeca Tavern to celebrate a court ruling that the DOE could close 15 schools and open co-locations. Can you imagine if you were a student at student at one of the closing schools and heard that DOE employees were celebrating your school's closing?). One student told him that in school students are taught to double check and asked Sternberg if he had double checked the space in the building. No one from the DOE has even visited the school building to see how space is being used. Another student said she had seen "Waiting for Superman" and visited co-located charters and that it seemed to her that the DOE took from those with the least when instead the DOE should be reaching into their pockets and providing needed funding to the existing schools.

I ran into a parent I know from my elementary school parent days. The DOE placed their child in International Studies for sixth grade even though it wasn't one of the listed choices. They stuck it out and it turned out to be such a positive experience that the child decided to stay for high school. The parent could not say enough positive things about Principal Fred Walsh and his dedication to his students.

There were only a handful of parents that spoke in favor of the charter school. One parent who spoke has a child in the new Upper West Success. He claimed that space is not an issue and that the student performance at the high schools has improved since Success Charter has been there. Of course space isn't an issue. Yet. Brandeis will be graduating its last class this year and the three other schools are still adding grades and have not reached their full enrollment. Upper West Success only has a Kindergarten and first grade as of now. I am not sure what criteria is being used to measure high school student performance unless it is anecdotal and one of the new high schools is highly selective.

Both Councilmember Brad Lander and Assemblywoman Joan Millman gave excellent testimony. I was chatting with someone outside during Councilmember Steve Levin's testimony so I missed it but I heard it was also very good.

Dennis Walcott made a brief appearance and tucked himself away in a corner seat where hardly anyone noticed him. Eva Moskowitz showed up for five minutes and then left.

And in yet another display of the disregard that the DOE has for District 15 families, the DOE has relocated the Panel for Education Policy meeting where this proposal will be voted on to Corona. As of this morning, there was nothing on the PEP's agenda pertaining to Queens."

I would like to thank C for taking the time to report on this very important meeting. I value her well-informed opinion on this matter.

Below is the testimony given by Assemblywoman Joan Millman at the same meeting.  She has come out against the co-location of the Cobble Hill Success Academy in IS 293.

City Councilmember Brad Lander also spoke against the proposed co-location as well.  Below please find his testimony:
"Good evening. I am grateful for the opportunity to present this testimony to representatives of the Community Education Council of District 15, the Panel for Educational Policy, Chancellor Walcott and the Department of Education, and the SUNY Charter School Institute. I am a New York City Councilmember representing most of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, and a substantial portion of District 15. While I do not represent IS 293 (the eastern boundary of my district in Cobble Hill is at Court Street), this issue is of great concern to my constituents. I am also a District 15 public school parent, with kids at PS 107 and MS 51 in Park Slope.
I am opposed to the co-location of a Success Academy Charter School at IS 293, and I urge you to reject it.
I am not universally opposed to charter schools, and I am not here tonight to raise particular complaints about Success Academy. Where public schools are consistently failing to meet the educational needs of the full range of students in our communities, then it is appropriate for us as a city to explore a wide range of options to make sure those needs are met. Our responsibility to meet the educational needs of the citizens and leaders of tomorrow is one of the sacred trusts of a democratic society.
However, our first goal should be to guarantee a successful, appropriate, high-quality public school option for all our kids. Brooklyn’s District 15 has an extraordinary track record of providing just that. PS 29, PS 58, and PS 261 (and many more) serve the proposed area with excellent neighborhood public schools. Non-zoned schools like the Brooklyn New School and the Brooklyn Children’s School provide options for parents looking for particular educational approaches, including diversity and inclusion. And programs like the ASD/NEST programs at PS 32 and MS 447 offer options for students with special needs.
This did not happen by accident. It is the result of hard work over many years on the part of a dedicated network of administrators, principals, teachers, parents, community leaders, and volunteers. School leaders, district leaders, community school board and CEC leaders, parent leaders, and elected officials across District 15 share a sense of democratic responsibility for meeting the educational needs of all kids in our community’s public schools.
In my opinion, the proposed location of a Success Charter school at IS 293 is a direct attack on that effort. In place of our shared democratic responsibility, the DOE would substitute a laissez faire market approach. “Don’t try to step up as a community and take responsibility for meeting the needs of a diverse range of kids in your public schools,” this siting says. “Instead, let market-mechanisms work their magic, undermine community, promote competition, and hope that every individual can fend for themselves.” Sadly, this is consistent with the DOE’s systematic dismantling of community school districts, which has made it far harder for the educational community of support that exists across our district to meet its goals. To be sure, many community school districts did not rise to their democratic responsibility, and additional approaches to accountability were needed as a result. But in places like District 15 – where the public schools are working, public school innovation is helping to meet a broad range of needs, and principals, teachers, and parents are working together – foisting a charter school, without local roots, over strong community objection, is an attack on democratic public education. That is why you are seeing such strong and diverse opposition.
This is especially glaring in light of the fact that Success Charter did not apply to New York State for charter schools in District 15 and did not undertake community outreach in District 15 at the time of the application – but instead applied for charters and conducted outreach in Districts 13 and 14. This is a clear violation of the spirit, and quite likely the letter, of the State’s Charter School Law. But more than that, it shows contempt for the whole idea that communities matter. Does the DOE, or Success Charter, or SUNY, really believe that every school and every neighborhood is simply interchangeable, that it doesn’t matter what you propose, or where you do your outreach?
To me, communities – and their educational priorities – matter. In District 15, we do need to address primary school overcrowding – but the data shows quite clearly that the key areas of overcrowding are in South Park Slope and Sunset Park. We need at least one additional middle school in the southern half of the district. We need additional options for English Language Learners and students with IEPs. We must address these needs, and we need the DOE’s partnership to do so – but none of them are best met by this proposal.
In addition, I am concerned about the impact of the proposed co-location on the two existing schools in the K293 building. The addition of the proposed charter would result in overcrowding at the building – threatening the education of all children involved. I do not believe there is enough room in the building to accommodate the two current schools plus a K-8 Success Charter School. It would force a substantial increase in class size, compromises to the program that is in place for students with special needs, and severe strains on common spaces like the cafeteria and gym, especially given the challenges of having students from ages 4 to 18 seeking to share them.
Last year, when the DOE proposed the co-location of Millennium Brooklyn High School in the John Jay Campus, I did not oppose it. I asked you to address historic inequities and the well-founded grievances of the existing schools. However – despite a strong community outcry – I did not urge you to reject that proposal. That proposal, while contentious, was rooted in goals that had been expressed by the community – not made up with marketing and push-polling from an outside organization with its own agenda, but instead long-established in the community through dialogue and organizing. Quite simply, that is not the case here.
So I urge you to avoid needless polarization and lawsuits, wasted energy that could be spent instead further improving many other schools, and further harm to the spirit and practice of democratic education that is alive and well here in District 15. Please reject the proposed co-location of Success Charter."

Read more

Local Politicians Urge NYC Office Of Emergency Management To Reconsider Evacuation Route Out Of Carroll Gardens

 

New York City Office Of Emergency Management map showing hurricane evacuation zones 

Flooding on Third Street near bridge over the Gowanus, September 23, 2011

During most heavy rain events, Third Street near the Gowanus Canal has a tendency to flood, making it difficult or nearly impossible to drive over the 3rd Street Bridge, towards Park Slope.  Yet, in case of a hurricane or flood, the New York City Office Of Emergency Management  has designated Third Street as the Coastal Evacuation Route for the Carroll Gardens Community. 
I first noticed the Coastal Evacuation sign on Third Street near Smith Street more than a year ago and was immediately struck by the fact that the indicated route directed people to one of the lowest points in the neighborhood. When flood warnings and evacuation orders were given prior to Hurricane Irene in September, I wrote about this badly thought out plan, which potentially could put local residents in harm's way.
Community Board 6 took note, and promised to follow up with the Office of Emergency Management. And just yesterday, State Senator Squadron's office forwarded me a letter sent to Commissioner Joseph Bruno on this matter, signed by the Senator,  Councilman Lander, Assemblywoman Millman and Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz.  It reads:

Dear Commissioner Bruno:The recent evacuation order issued by the City in preparation for Hurricane Irene caused residents across the City to consider their preparedness in the event of an emergency. Several of our constituents raised concerns regarding the current "Coastal Evacuation Route" (CER) out of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
As indicated by the signs posted in the area, the CER is via the Zone A area of Third Street, over the Gowanus Canal. This is problematic because the low-lying streets surrounding the Gowanus Canal are prone to flooding, even during moderate rain storms.
Our top priority is getting people out of harm’s way as safely and efficiently as possible. To that end, we are writing to request that your office reevaluate the evacuation route for this area and provide information as to possible alternative routes.
We look forward to hearing from you and please let us know if we can be helpful in resolving this matter of concern to our constituents.
Sincerely,  Daniel Squadron, State SenatorJoan Millman, Member of the AssemblyMarty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough PresidentBrad Lander, Member Of The City Council.

I am glad and relieved that our elected officials are helping to shine a light on this issue and are asking  for  a re-evaluation.  As far as finding alternate routes,  that may be a difficult task. Most of the local roads leading out of the neighborhood are congested on a regular day. In the case of a stronger hurricane with evacuation of Flood Zones A and B, traffic would probably come to a stand still.

Read more

Carroll Gardeners Honor Veterans On Memorial Day

Mike Pace next to the wreath

Mike Polanski of the Court Street Merchants Association

Assembywoman Joan Millman

No matter if you believe, like me, that not all military interventions are justified, the men and women who gave their lives for this country should be honored, especially on Memorial Day.

A group of Carroll Gardeners set aside some time on Monday to gather in front of the War Memorial in Carroll Park for a short ceremony and wreath-laying organized by the Court Street Merchants, the Friends Of Carroll Park. Assemblywoman Joan Millman also attended and reminded us that we are not ensured our liberty. Rather, freedom is something to be achieved through involvement and through voting in order to preserve our democracy.

It was great turn-out of young and old and the ceremony was very moving.

I cannot think of a better way to commemorate this day than to make you aware of a wonderful, thought provoking interview in The Sun with war veteran Paul Chappell on the need to end wars, entitled "Fighting With Another Purpose." It should be required reading for everyone on Memorial Day.

Read more

Schedule A Free Bone Density Scanning At Assemblywoman Millman's Office

Assemblywoman Joan Millman is providing free osteoporosis screenings in partnership with Long Island College Hospital on Friday, May 13 from 10 AM-1 PM. The screening is at my office 341 Smith Street, but you must call to make an appointment 718-246-4889. Spaces are limited, so please call soon.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Read more

A Good-Bye To Paul Nelson, Assemblywoman Millman's Chief-Of-Staff

Paul Nelson, formerly of Assemblywoman Millman's office

Carlo Scissura of Borough President Markowitz's office with Paul Nelson

Paul with John Raskin of State Senator Squadron's office

Paul with his new boss Councilman Domenic Recchia (standing next to Paul)

Paul, center, and some of the district's residents

Maria Heyer (l) and Assemblywoman Joan Millman(r)

Tamar Smith of Assemblywoman Millman's office with her lovely daughters

Long-time Carroll Gardener Buddy Scotto

As many of you have already heard, Paul Nelson has left Assemblywoman Joan Millman staff to become Coney Island Councilman Domenic Recchia's chief-of-staff. Paul will be missed for his dedication to the district's constituents and for his expertise in community issues, be it bus cuts, alternatives to housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park, noisy bars and the clean-up of the Gowanus Canal.

On Wednesday evening, Joan Millman, her staff, representatives from various elected officials, and neighborhood residents came together at Casa Rosa on Court Street to bid Paul farewell and good luck. His new boss, Domenic Recchia, was also in attendance.
Paul was presented with citations from both Borough President Markowitz and State Senator Daniel Squadron.
One of the citations mentioned that Paul has participated in over 30 marathons on all continents including Antarctica. Clearly, there is no stopping him.
Good luck, Paul! And as someone mentioned last night, Councilman Recchia is a lucky man for having you join his staff.

°°°°°°°

Read more

And Here Is Assemblywoman Joan Millman's Statement Regarding Future Of LICH

And Assemblywoman Joan Millman just released her statement regarding LICH's possible closing.

Assemblywoman Millman Statement Regarding

Future of Long Island College Hospital

The news that Long Island College Hospital (LICH) might be forced to close its doors has caused an outpouring of support from across the borough. Currently all of the elected officials

are working together to convey to the state the importance of the HEAL grants for the future of

LICH and SUNY Downstate. I call upon the Governor to expedite the release of this money.

I join all of my colleagues in government to ensure that LICH remains a vital part of our

community.

Related Reading:
Neighborhood To Lose LICH After All?
Councilman Brad Lander Issues Statement On LICH's Potential Closing

State Senator Daniel Squadron Releases Statement Regarding LICH

°°°°°°°°°°°

Read more

Public Park Or Private Enclave? Last Night's Public Hearing On Alternatives To Housing In Brooklyn Bridge Park

i

From left, Seth Pinsky President of New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC),

2nd from left: Paul Nelson For Assemblymember Joan Millman,
3rd from left: a woman sitting in for Robert Steel  

4th from left: Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp.

second from right: John Ruskin of State Senator Squadron's office

Councilman Steve Levin

Councilman Brad Lander

Last night at Long Island College Hospital, the first of two public hearings on alternatives to housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park took place. In front of Regina Myer, President of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, representatives of NY State Assemblywoman Joan Millman and State Senator Squadron, and the Mayor's office, residents shared their ideas on how to generate revenue for the park to fund its operation and maintenance. Most also took the opportunity to voice their frustration with the City's hijacking of a public park for development.
In 2002, New York State and City signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which requires that the Brooklyn Bridge Park "be financially self sufficient with annual operation and maintenance expenses funded by revenue generated from within the project."  In order to accomplish this, five sites within the park were identified for development.  This idea met with immediate resistance from many in the community.
In March 2010, State Senator Squadron and Assemblywoman Joan Millman were able to convince the City to sign another Memorandum Of Understanding which prompted the formation of a Subcommittee on Alternatives to Housing (SHA.)  It also called for two public hearings.
Though some speakers last night supported the idea, many in the audience had worked tirelessly for the last twenty-five years to secure the park along the waterfront and were strongly opposed to residential luxury condos of 15 to 31 stories in the park.  The overwhelming sentiment expressed by the community was that Brooklyn Bridge Park should be a public park and not a "private enclave with tastefully arranged landscaping around it."
Councilmembers Brad Lander and Steve Levin spoke out against the housing as well.


Written testimony will be accepted till Monday, December 13th at 5 PM.  Submit to Bay Area Economics Consulting at bbptestimony@bae1.com


Below are some of the testimonies (and alternatives) given last night.

Read more

Donations Welcomed: Food Drive To Benefit The Family Justice Center In Brooklyn

I know that we are all super busy and that its hard to think of others when we all juggle so much on a day-to-day basis, but here is an easy way of helping those less fortunate.

The next time you walk by Assemblywoman Joan Millman's office at 341 Smith Street, please stop by with a donation of food for the NYC Family Justice Center here in Brooklyn.  Her office will be accepting donations through December 15th. For a list of needed items, please see the flier above.

To read about the services offered to the Brooklyn community by the Family Justice Center, please click here.

ShareThis Read more