Gentile Allocates $1.2 Million In Initiative & Discretionary Funding

For the City Council’s 2017 fiscal year — which began on July 1, 2016 — Councilman Vincent Gentile has allocated more than $1.2 million in local initiative and discretionary funding to more than 80 groups, including agencies which keep our streets clean, ensure our youth practices arts and sports, and provide senior services.

Gentile said he also plans to announce new capital projects that will have a profound impact on our parks, libraries and transportation system in the near future.

Initiative Highlights include:

Cleanup NYC is a New York City Council initiative that funds cleaning services such as street sweeping, litter pickup and graffiti removal. With an increase of $50,000 from last year’s funding,Gentile is looking to expand coverage areas. Currently, the following schedule is in effect:

Trash pick-ups by the Department of Transportation (DSNY) are twice per day on the following routes and days.

Street sweeping and trash bagging by Wildcat Service Corporation are at the following locations on the designated days. In addition, Wildcat will be deployed during snow storms for snow removal duty.

2. Cultural After School Adventure (CASA)

• This initiative has now expanded to eleven schools for great after-school enrichment programs. For example, through CASA, students from P.S. 170 and P.S. 185 in Bay Ridge will experience the Intrepid Museum’s educational after-school programs and Inside Broadway will continue to shine at P.S. 176 in Dyker Heights, P.S. 102 in Bay Ridge and will be coming for the first time to P.S. 200 in Bath Beach!

• Midori & Friends will continue to lead guitar instruction at P.S. 163 in Bath Beach and expand to I.S. 259 (McKinley) in Dyker Heights.

3. Neighborhood Development Grant Initiative (NDGI)

Council Member Gentile has allocated this funding to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to finish implementing a new Business Improvement District on 13^th Avenue which will be a big boost towards revitalizing the commercial strip.

4. Senior Services

• Lunches For Seniors — With this funding, the Bay Ridge Center can restore its brown bag lunch program for senior citizens thanks to Council Member Gentile.
• Healthy Aging Initiative & Digital Inclusion & Literacy Initiative — NIA Community Services Network will conduct health workshops and computer training classes at local community senior centers and Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) will direct computer classes at the Fort Hamilton Senior Center.

Discretionary Funding Highlights Include:

In addition to funding all local senior centers and several community arts programs, Gentile has allocated funds for:

• NIA Community Services Network will provide after-school, veteran, and senior programming as well as producing community events in District 43.
• The Salvation Army will run the Bay Ridge Basketball League for young adults in District 43. There will be three separate eight-week basketball leagues with four teams per league, with each league reaching 32 teens and young adults.
• Ridge Chorale will continue to bring Broadway performances to Bay Ridge.
• Four youth groups in the district will get an assist in funding so that baseball and soccer can continue next season!
• Five food pantries in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst will continue their humanitarian work by distributing food, employing staff and acquiring additional resources for their services.

“I have always been a purveyor of enriching our youth through arts, sports and education,” said Gentile. “At the same time, we cannot forget the profound impact our seniors have had through their hard work and dedication to the betterment of our communities for the duration of their lives. As long as I am in office, I will always ensure that their quality of life continues to improve through various initiatives and support from me and the City Council. I look forward to seeing these programs and initiatives come to light over the course of the year and I am excited to announce shortly the new capital projects that will break ground in the near future.”