Albany - Bklyner

‘We Need a Crisis-level Response’: Myrie, Richardson Call on State to Cough Up More Anti-Gun Violence Funding

State Senator Zellnor Myrie speaks at a press conference outside his office (Image by Sam Raskin/ Bklyner)PROSPECT LEFFERTS GARDENS — Brooklyn-based anti-gun violence groups need more money from the state, local elected officials said Friday. While announcing the allocation of hundreds of thousands in state funds to neighborhood-based anti-gun violence

Borough Park

Felder, Formerly a Republican Conference Member, Joins Dems

Simcha Felder. (Photo: NY Senate)BOROUGH PARK— A partyless Brooklyn lawmaker has picked a side. State Senator Simcha Felder, who represents Borough Park and parts of surrounding neighborhoods including Midwood, is joining the Senate Democrats, The State of Politics reported [https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2019/07/felder-joins-senate-dem-fold/#.XRn5odFCNxI.twitter] Monday.

Central Brooklyn

Catching Up on Speed Cameras—What’s The Latest on Legislation?

With this week’s tragic death of Shaena Sinclair in Canarsie [/canarsie-crash-fatal-mother-son/], the safety of New York streets are once again under scrutiny as residents, community activists and political leaders hope to reduce the number fatal car crashes in the city. Yesterday, the activist group Transportation Alternatives released a statement

fort greene

Operation Safe Shopper Is Brooklyn’s New Eye On Crime

Borough President Adams watching surveillance footage with Rabbi Eli Cohen (Courtesy Patrick Rheaume of the Brooklyn Brooklyn Borough Office)Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams [/?s=eric+adams] has introduced Operation Safe Shopper, a pilot program between civic groups and the NYPD [/?s=nypd] in which security cameras will be installed

fort greene

Roundup: Crotch Wounds, Ocean Parkway, Jerk Chicken, And More

Bucolic Fort Greene Park at its most verdant. (Photo by Francisco Daum [http://www.flickr.com/photos/franciscodaum/]The official start of summer is almost here and the the weather seems to have finally settled into steady warmth, so find a spot in the sun and get caught up on

Announcements

Assemblymember Brennan To Speak At Forum Tonight On Political Corruption In Albany

New York State Capitol Building in Albany. (Photo: Kurtman 518 via Creative Commons)When you hear the word “Albany,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? How closely do you follow state politics? Do you think that our state senators and assemblymembers have the best interests of our

Nonsponsored

Newly-Elected Senator Roxanne Persaud On Guns, Corruption & The Bragg Street Halfway House

Roxanne Persaud at the state capitol. (Photo: Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153026436448571&set=a.10153026436378571.1073741883.824588570&type=3&theater] / Facebook)Roxanne Persaud [https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/roxanne-j-persaud/about] took her seat on the floor of the New York Senate for the first

Albany

Despite New Ban, Golden Spent Campaign Funds On Country Club Dues

Source: Senator Martin Golden’s officesGovernor Andrew Cuomo added new limitations to how legislators could use campaign funds in this year’s budget, but some Republican lawmakers, including Senator Marty Golden, have apparently chosen to ignore them. Specifically, pols are now prohibited from using campaign nest eggs to pay for

421-a

Here’s What You Need To Know About The Rent Regulation Laws That Expired Last Night & What Your Rights Are

Neighbors traveled to Albany last week to advocate for stronger rent regulations. Photo via the Flatbush Tenant Coalition [https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushTenantCoalition/photos/a.851935758213567.1073741872.268117579928724/851938288213314/?type=3&theater] The state’s laws regulating rent increases and eviction policies for the more than two million New Yorkers

Politics

Neighbors & Community Leaders Call On Albany To End Tax Break For Luxury Real Estate Developers

Facing the 23-story development that looms over the row of delis, pharmacies, and other mom-and-pop shops that line Flatbush Avenue, more than 100 people gathered at 626 Flatbush Avenue Thursday morning to protest the 421-a [http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/developers/tax-incentives-421a.page] tax exemption program that neighbors said

Albany

Neighbors Take To The Streets To Fight For Affordable Housing

Waving signs emblazoned with such phrases as “people over property,” “criminal charges for criminal landlords,” and”stop displacement now,” neighbors took to the streets to fight for affordable housing this past Saturday, when the Flatbush Tenant Coalition and other social justice groups led a march [/blog/events/join-flatbush-tenant-coalition-housing-justice-march-saturday] from Crown

Albany

Sampson Defends Against Embezzlement Charge Saying He Did It Before Statute Of Limitations

Sampson (File photo)State Senator John Sampson’s defense team has taken a rather bizarre approach, practically admitting that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale of foreclosed homes [/john-sampson-threatened-to-silence-witnesses-in-corruption-scandal/] – but that he did it too long ago for him to be prosecuted. The pol appeared in

Albany

Video: Senator Savino Says We Should All Mellow Out About Medicinal Pot

Guys. Hey, guys. Chill out. Light some incense, man. Maybe put on some Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Groove for a minute in that beanbag chair. Then pick up the phone and call your state lawmaker and tell them that their opposition to the Compassionate Care Act legalizing medical marijuana is

Albany

Congresswoman Clarke Tells Albany To Send Resources To BK Neighborhoods Lacking Representation

It’s not often you see a member of one of the nation’s most dysfunctional legislative bodies appropriately shaming members of another dysfunctional legislative body, but that’s what we wake up to this morning. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke is calling on Albany lawmakers to send resources to those Brooklyn

Albany

NY Times: Golden Bill A “Pay-To-Play” Giveaway To Tobacco Industry

State Senator Marty Golden (Source: Senator Golden’s offices)New York Times columnist Michael Powell took State Senator Marty Golden and Sheepshead Bay’s State Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz to task for sponsoring legislation that would have directed millions of dollars to the tobacco industry, and came, Powell writes, at the

Albany

Cuomo Announces Plan To Take On Corruption, Lawmakers Shrug In Reaction

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Source: Philip Kamrass / Times Union)Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to clean up the almost cartoonish level of corruption in Albany by setting up an independent special investigative committee. The New York Daily News is reporting [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/cuomo-vows-clean-ny-capital-post-scandals-article-1.1377646] that Cuomo’s plan

Albany

Op-Ed: Silly Sunscreen Rules Pose A Burning Dilemma

"Tanorexic" New Jersey mom, Patricia Krentcil. Source: Julio Cortez / AP Photo BETWEEN THE LINES [/tag/between-the-lines/]: Some rules are made to be broken, particularly when they lack common sense. Such is the argument with rules that don’t allow students to use sunscreen when participating in outdoor school activities. All

Albany

Video: Storobin Sworn In, Welcomed By Senate Majority Leader

After much hand-wringing, vote-contesting and court-battling, the race to replace Carl Kruger [/tag/carl-kruger/] as the State Senator of the 27th District is finally over [/fidler-concedes-david-storobin-will-be-state-senator/]. Republican David Storobin [/tag/david-storobin/] traveled to Albany yesterday and was sworn in, followed by some welcoming comments from Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

Albany

Senator Golden Welcomes Xaverian Students To Albany

The following is a press release from the office of State Senator Marty Golden: Senator Golden today (Monday) welcomed students from Xaverian High School, along with teacher Marianne Teta, to Albany for a tour of the State Capitol. The trip provided the “Xaverian Clippers” with a chance to meet with

Albany

Opponents of Same-Sex Marriage Ticked At Savino’s Sign

(photo by Gene Cosgriff via silive.com)The above photo, taken by Staten Island Right to Life Coalition member Gene Cosgriff, was sent to the Staten Island Advance last week. Included in the e-mail was a statement from Cosgriff stating that State Senator Diane Savino “seems to have forgotten that