Secretary of Interior Kenneth Salazar called Jamaica Bay “one of the great urban parks of America,” but asked caretakers to think creatively about the parkland’s future.
Salazar made the statements during a July 26 harbor summit, hosted by National Parks Service and the Harbor Conservancy. Regional leaders gathered to discuss how government, nonprofit and industry can work together to achieve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hudson-Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan, which includes Jamaica Bay.
“I believe that America is at a time when we can embark and embrace a new agenda for conservation for America,” Salazar told the audince. “And I think that here in New York and New York Harbor we can move forward and create what will be a star relative to the great urban parks of America in the 21st century. I think the assets are here, I think the vision is here I think the New York Harbor Conservancy has done a lot to move us all forward.” Keep reading about Salazar’s statements.
I’ve written before about the controversial method of “hydrofraking” near New York City’s watershed, and the State Legislature has finally put the brakes on business proposals until it’s been thoroughly studied. Absent from the discussion, though, were Sheepshead Bay’s two state senators – Marty Golden and Carl Kruger. Here’s a report from the Bay Ridge Journal, with information drawn from Brooklyn Eagle.
The New York State Senate, in what has been called a historic move, has passed a bill, S8129B, temporarily halting natural gas drilling permits in the state’s watershed until May 15, 2011.
The moratorium is believed to be the first in the country.
The moratorium buys the state time to assess the risks involved in the controversial natural gas drilling technique called “hydrofracking” or “fracking”.
The state assembly is expected to approve its version of the bill, A11443, in September, officially enacting the moratorium.
State Senate Majority Leader John Sampson, a Democrat representing Brownsville, Canarsie and East New York, co-sponsored the bill, joined by Brooklyn Democratic Senators Eric Adams, Velmanette Montgomery, Kevin Parker, Diane Savino and Dan Squadron.
According to a poll taken by Senator Sampson, the majority of New Yorkers favor a ban on hydrofracking.
Democrat Carl Kruger abstained from the vote. Republican Marty Golden was MIA.
Brooklyn Assembly Members Jim Brennan, Alan Maisel and Janele Hyer-Spencer support the Assembly version of the bill.
After Brooklyn Tea Party activists failed to get a response from Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz regarding the Sheepshead Bay mosque – primarily because it’s not in his district – the group fired off another open letter. This time their target is Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, who represents the blocks around the proposed mosque site.
Much of the letter’s contents remain the same, though its tone is notably more aggressive. The author, Brooklyn Tea Party President John K. Press, points out the assemblywoman’s absence at the June 12 rally, and tries to head off a presumed response to “deny jurisdiction.”
There are a few new tactics recommended in this latest letter, too. The Tea Party is urging Assemblywoman Weinstein to publicize the “need to know about the foreign funding” so they can assure compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a 1938 statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals to disclose the relationship. They’re also asking the local pol to put pressure on Community Board 15 (which has no say unless there is a request for variance or special permit), and to seek government relief by pursuing eminent domain on the property.
A life-long Manhattan Beach resident is looking to improve the balance of gender-based autism research with a study targeting fathers of affected children.
As a doctoral candidate in the School and Community Psychology program at Hofstra University, Nora Abend Fayerberg discovered a heap of information about stress and emotional effects in mothers of autistic children. But for the men in the family, there was hardly a word written or a study produced.
Fayerberg’s looking to fix that.
“So many people give up on those kids because they find it difficult to form a social/emotional connection,” Fayerberg said. “I find that the greatest rewards come from advocating for individuals who can’t advocate for themselves. Since fathers of children with autism are so underrepresented, I wanted to fill that void in the literature by giving them a voice.”
The event kicked off at noon on July 9, stretching throughout the day until the last band played the final note just before 8 p.m.
Jamsterdam took place at Asser-Levy / Seaside Park, and was hampered by the hubbub around the proposed amphitheater. Because of the ban on amplified sound that is being enforced for the first time in years, organizers were denied use of the band shell just days before the event. They were given permission to set up a makeshift stage at the other end of the park.
LoSapio said the event was a success and she’s looking forward to doing more cultural events in the area to benefit various causes, including a possible comedy show in the near future. If you’re interested in getting involved with this terrific grassroots effort, drop us a line and we’ll get you in touch with the Jamsterdam crew.
Brooklyn Tea Party activists issued an open letter to Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, calling on the Sheepshead Bay politician to create obstacles for the proposed 2812 Voorhies Avenue mosque.
John K. Press, president of the Brooklyn Tea Party, writes:
The Board and Standards and Appeals Chair, Meenakshi Srinivasan, has promised to render, “decisions that respect the character and context of neighborhoods.” A large proportion of the residents on Voorhies are Jewish. Having an organization that preaches hate against Jews move into the neighborhood would greatly disrupt the neighborhood character and quality of life for the current residents.
I implore you to step into this process in any way you can to slow down the permit granting process. This will allow you time to vet the buyer. And, if the concerns about the MAS prove baseless, we recognize that they should be welcomed as good neighbors.
But the focus of the letter’s opposition to the Sheepshead Bay mosque revolves around its connection to the Muslim American Society, not development issues, and includes links to the http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Israel/Muslim_American_Society.htm about anti-semitic themes in MAS.
A staffer from Cymbrowitz’s office said they are mulling over an official response, but nothing has been decided yet. Cymbrowitz’s district ends at Voorhies Avenue and East 23rd Street; the proposed mosque will be in Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein’s district.
“[The Assemblyman is] dedicated to his community, as opposed to what’s happening other places, in terms of focusing his efforts,” the staffer told Sheepshead Bites.
Vince Martell has headlined every BayFest in recent memory. It's time for a change.
Last night’s BayFest 2011 planning meeting kicked off without a hitch, but with only four people in attendance the group’s challenges for the “biggest BayFest ever” were clear.
Most of the evening was spent discussing how to rival their 10th anniversary bash. In 2001, the group had hundreds of members and more than 50 volunteers cobbled together to throw the biggest event Sheepshead Bay had seen in generations, with the entire waterfront down to Ocean Avenue shut off to traffic as tens of thousands of attendees flooded the streets. Fifteen bands played along the piers and the main stage, and entire blocks were dedicated to vendors, street performances and live demonstrations.
“Standing on the stage and looking all the way down to Lundy’s and seeing a sea of people” was an extraordinary feeling incomparable to recent events, said Bay Improvement Group President Steve Barrison.
Chicks with guitars are hot. Expect to see this and more at Jamsterdam. Photo courtesy of Circadian Clock
We let organizer Samantha LoSapio tell you all about Jamsterdam yesterday. But for those not paying attention, Samantha put together an extraordinary showdown of local bands to rock the outdoor venue of Asser-Levy Seaside Park tomorrow. The festival kicks off at noon, and we got the entire schedule of bands here.
Remember – this is a benefit concert to raise awareness of autism, supported by Autism Speaks. It’s a great cause, and all the bands deserve to be recognized for coming together for this purpose (not to mention Samantha, who put it together against all odds).
Remember Samantha LoSapio? Sam wrote several articles for Sheepshead Bites, and over the last few months she’s been busy organizing Jamsterdam, a benefit concert for Autism Speaks. The free show will take place in Asser-Levy Seaside Park on Friday, July 9, featuring ten bands representing several genres.
But that’s not the whole story: this awesome concept of bringing good local music to the neighborhood and raising awareness of an important cause was almost squashed by the ongoing legal debacle surrounding BP Markowitz’s Seaside Summer Concerts. But enough of my yammering, we’ll let Sam tell you the story.
We all know Sheepshead Bay’s music scene is less than a blip on the radar. With the scene booming just about everywhere else, it’s hard to believe we don’t have a single reliable venue.
Despite that, some of us just refuse to give up on the idea – even when threatened by lawsuits. My brother, Cory, and I are organizing a concert to take place July 9 in Coney Island’s Asser Levy/Seaside Park.
Jamsterdam, a benefit concert for Autism Speaks, will feature eight NYC bands and two bands making the special trip in from Pennsylvania, and has been funded entirely by us and Vile, from headlining band Circadian Clock. We had bartered for a PA from Brooklyn Audio Rentals, helping ease costs, up until we were smacked with near-devastating news: the court order giving Marty Markowitz’s Seaside Concerts a headache would be the very same one to threaten Jamsterdam.
This came in from Borough President Marty Markowitz’ office. We’re not sure if “other routes” includes the B4, which serves many elderly residents and will see weekend service eliminated, but we thought we’d pass it along for those who may be interested:
BP MARKOWITZ, ELECTED OFFICIALS, DISABILITY ADVOCATES TO PROTEST MTA CUTS TO B51, B39 AND OTHER BUS ROUTES
Student MetroCards saved, but not service for seniors and riders with disabilities
4:00 P.M.
TUESDAY, JUNE 22
BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL
209 JORALEMON STREET
BETWEEN COURT AND ADAMS STREETS
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
On Tuesday, June 22, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will join elected officials, seniors, riders with disabilities and disability advocates at a press conference to denounce MTA service cuts, including the elimination of the B51 and B39 bus lines and cuts to other routes that service passengers who are elderly or have disabilities.
