SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Yoseph Robinson, Source: haaretz.com via facebook

Councilmember Jumaane Williams wants to honor the tragically slain Yoseph Robinson, a former hip-hop artist turned Orthodox Jew, by renaming the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue J in his honor, according to a press release.

Robinson, who was murdered on August 19, 2010, while working as a liquor store clerk in Midwood, left behind an inspirational story and thousands of mourners across Brooklyn. Council Member Williams reflected on Robinson’s legacy and the pain left in his tragic death:

“Yoseph Robinson was a true role model for the Caribbean and Jewish communities of Flatbush,” said Williams. “I live just a stone’s throw from where Yoseph worked and ultimately lost his life, and I can speak to the impact his loss has had on this tight-knit neighborhood … Now, we must take the next step to memorialize his legacy for future generations.”

Robinson’s remarkable journey from Spanish Town, Jamaica, to Midwood, Brooklyn, was set on a rocky road. As a teenager, Robinson was a budding hip-hop artist caught up in criminal activity like drug dealing. Looking to reform his life, he converted to Orthodox Judaism at age 23. Never giving up music, he began to mix Torah passages into his lyrics while making a living working as a clerk at MB Vineyards located at 2388 Nostrand Avenue.

While trying to protect his girlfriend, Robinson was gunned down by Eion Klass as Klass tried to take her jewelry. Klass was eventually sentenced to 35 years in prison.

“Yoseph’s life bridged the cultures of our neighborhood and showed us all the individual capacity to rebuild one’s life and restore one’s potential,” said Williams.

To join those wishing to rename the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue J in Robinson’s honor, you can visit MB Vineyards and sign the petition there. According to the press release, several notable rabbis and civic leaders have already pledged their support for the commemoration.

“Bullet Points” is our format for Community Board 15 meeting coverage, providing takeaways we think are important. Information in Bullet Points is meant only to be a quick summary, and some issues may be more deeply explored in future articles.

Neighbors Demand Board Rescind Support For Drug Counseling Center: Residents of East 17th Street near Kings Highway rallied at last night’s Community Board 15 meeting, demanding the Board rescind a letter of support for a proposed drug treatment facility at 1670 East 17th Street.

Led by Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association President Ed Jaworski, a group of residents took to the podium, claiming that the Board failed to inform the community that the issue would be discussed and voted on in December.

“The City Charter and the Community Board bylaws say that the Community Board should serve the community, should communicate within the community, should act as a liaison agency, should review services, should develop plans for the community. None of this was done regarding the drug center being located on East 17th Street,” Jaworski said. “What took place at the November meeting was a shortcut. It was cutting the community’s input.”

The center, One World Counseling, received a letter of support from Community Board 15 in November with a 31-4 vote. Dmitri Oster, a rep for One World, told the Board then that they intended to target immigrants in the Sheepshead Bay area who have turned to drugs to cope with cultural integration. They would offer only counseling and would not distribute medication.

Keep reading about this story, and summaries of other actions from last night’s Community Board 15 meeting.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The New York Daily News released an in-depth analysis of the attendance records and bill creation frequency of Brooklyn’s local politicians, citing both high and low marks for several of Southern Brooklyn’s lawmakers.

Those leading the charge of civic responsibility include Flatbush Councilman Jumaane Williams, who came in second overall in bill creation with 19, and third in best attendance, missing only 6.9 percent of scheduled meetings.

Councilman David Greenfield of Borough Park and Councilman Domenic Recchia of Coney Island were also cited for their vigorous bill contribution and high attendance ratings. Greenfield introduced 18 bills and Rechhia introduced 25.

On the negative side of things, the Daily News pegged Councilman Michael Nelson of Sheepshead Bay as one of the least active politicians, having only introduced two bills since 2011, and having missed 14 percent of his meetings.

Councilman Lew Fidler was also cited for a low attendance record, but the Daily News failed to report Fidler’s medical problems and subsequent hospitalization in February, which sidelined him for some time.

The King’s Chapel. Source: kingschapelnyc.org‎

It has long been the belief that the best way to effect positive change in your community is to get involved. To that end, the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association is hoping to inspire residents to get involved during its first meeting of the season, October 18 at 7:30 p.m. inside the King’s Chapel, corner of Quentin Road and East 27th Street.

The civic group will be hosting a panel, which will examine the topic: “Trying To Find New Ideas And New Blood To Address Neighborhood Issues.” The panelists will be comprised of the following:

• Erik Engquist, Assistant Managing Editor, Crain’s New York Business
• Chris Owens, Democratic State Committee Member, 52nd Assembly District
• Rev. Michael Perry, Pastor, Our Lady of Refuge Church
• Jumaane Williams, New York City Council Member, 45th Council District
• Moderator, Jim Ivaliotis, President, Marine Park Civic Association

According to Ed Jaworski, president of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic, “Brooklyn has seen a lot of political turmoil and change recently, and this part of the borough has many concerns. The underlying, essential thought of our forum is the question: ‘Who can we trust to open the windows and let in some new ideas, bring in new blood to address the problems and the tilted system?’”

Captain John Chell, the new commanding officer of the 61st Precinct, will also be introduced.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, call (718) 375-9158.

Around 24 members of the City Council proposed a bill on Wednesday that would produce an office of the inspector general to oversee the New York Police Department and “conduct independent reviews of the department’s policies, practices, programs and operations,”according to The New York Times.

The New York Times said that police departments of other large cities, like Los Angeles and Chicago, are monitored and inspected, as are the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. Likewise, the council members feel that there should be an increase in supervision of the activity of the New York Police Department. This program is meant to refine the New York Police’s use of stop-and-frisks, as well as their scrutiny of Muslims.

The bill has been sent to the Committee on Public Safety. Aside from Jumaane Williams, who helped author the bill, no councilmembers from Sheepshead Bites’ coverage area are among the 24 co-sponsors of the bill.

The amount of power that the inspector general would posses is still unknown. He would be chosen by the mayor and would have subpoena power, but that the office’s finances and workers will be decided by the City Council.

“This kind of independent oversight can act as an early-warning system for a very large agency,” said Richard M. Aborn, president of the Citizens Crime Commission, to the New York Times.

The New York Times believes that Mayor Michael Bloomberg, being that he has defended the actions of the NYPD in the past, will probably not support the institution of such a bill. Therefore, 34 votes in the City Council will most likely be needed for this proposal to actually become law. This bill has been sponsored by Councilmembers Jumaane Williams and Brad Lander.

The Police Department responded to the proposal, and said that this additional oversight of the police department is not necessary.

“The department is probably under more scrutiny than any other police agency, probably in the world,” said Paul J. Browne, the NYPD’s chief spokesman, to the New York Times. “It may sound good to the sponsors on paper, but it appears to the department to be just redundant.”

Browne said that the police department is already overseen by United States lawyers, five district attorneys, the Civilian Complaint Review Board and the Commission to Combat Police Corruption. He feels that additional oversight would be a waste of resources.

Do you think residents would benefit by an additional layer of oversight for the NYPD?

Jumaane WIlliams

It’s no longer about the Super Bowl or World Series fanatics – New York City leaders want real American champions to parade down the Canyon of Heroes.

Southern Brooklyn representatives united in favor of a new resolution that urges the mayor to produce a ticker-tape parade for the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, of District 45, introduced the resolution to give the war veterans a welcome home they rightfully deserve.

Williams’ resolution says the city is passing on an opportunity to uphold tradition and honor the bravest among us.

“Sports champions and near champions, celebrities, foreign dignitaries and veterans of wars and conflicts in World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War, have all marched down Broadway to a cheering crowd and skies full of ticker-tape, confetti, paper streams and the like,” the resolution states.

Councilmembers representing Sheepshead Bay and other Southern Brooklyn neighborhoods agree.

“I have co-sponsored Councilman Williams’ resolution, and am proud to have done so,” said Councilman Lew Fidler. “I have been calling upon the Mayor to have this parade for some time.”

Other’s felt this was long overdue. “I cannot think of a group that is more deserving of being honored with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes than the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Councilman David G. Greenfield. “We owe our freedom to these brave men and women and they deserve to be recognized and thanked for their service.”

Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, representing Bay Ridge and parts of Bensonhurst, also agreed with Williams – stating priorities must be changed. Gentile stated sports teams are honored at large every year, but veterans do not receive the welcome home they deserve.

“Are [veterans] not the real giants here?” said Gentile. “Not only is it the right thing to do and it’s the least we can do for these brave men and women to honor the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our freedom abroad.”

Domenic M. Recchia Jr., the councilman for Coney Island and Gravesend, stated he supported Councilman William’s proposition “100 percent.”

With all of the positive feedback and support from local Council Members, Williams said it is now up to the mayor to make the right choice.

“A number of my colleagues, including Speaker Quinn, have expressed support for a ticker-tape parade in the past,” Williams told Sheepshead Bites. “I hope they all decide to rally behind this legislation so we can send a strong message of support to our veterans and that Mayor Bloomberg will put politics aside to do what’s right.”

The mayor is opposed to the parade, agreeing with Pentagon officials who say New York City should wait until all veterans have returned safely.

Councilman Michael Nelson acknowledged the timing issue but agreed with Williams’ resolution whole-heartedly.

“While the Pentagon may reason that it is premature to pay tribute to the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, I firmly stand alongside Councilman Williams and many New Yorkers who feel otherwise,” said Nelson. “I certainly cannot think of a more fitting way to acknowledge our most worthy heroes, these brave veterans, than by celebrating our pride ‘New York City style’ – with a ticker-tape parade in their honor.”

Nelson scored a perfect 100 on NYLCV's Environmental Scorecard, and also sponsored two of the bills on which other councilmembers' votes were evaluated.

If you listen to the putzes up in “the city,” our little corner of Brooklyn is full of backwards yokels, intent on destroying the environment through our frequent opposition to bike lanes and our love of automobiles. In fact, another neighborhood website publisher once told us that most other “bloggers” call Sheepshead Bites the anti-bike blog.

Well, I don’t buy it. Never have, never will, and now we’ve got some backup: the New York League of Conservation Voters.

The NYLCV is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that publishes a scorecard evaluating the voting records of elected officials throughout the state. They just wrapped up their New York City Council scorecard, and found that Southern Brooklyn’s representatives are among the most environmentally-concerned folks in the legislative body. And that’s saying a lot – the Council’s average score jumped to 90 this year – up from 68 in 2009 and 45 in 2005 – making it the “most pro-environment Council in recent memory,” the report states.

The group evaluated the votes on 11 bills, including two pieces of legislation introduced by local Councilman Michael Nelson that requires various city departments to make a plan to curb illegal dumping in the waterways, and increased the fines for such illegal dumping.

Speaking of Nelson, he scored a perfect 100. As did Lew Fidler. And Jumaane Williams and David Greenfield.

In fact, the only council person in the vicinity of Community Board 15 that didn’t nail a perfect score was Domenic Recchia, who scored an 82 after missing the vote on Nelson’s waterways bill, and voting against a bill not sponsoring a bill requiring an increase in storm water-tolerant native vegetation in order to reduce combined sewer overflows. [ADDITIONAL INFO PROVIDED BY RECCHIA'S OFFICE BELOW]

In all, 22 of the council’s 51 members received perfect scores. The three worst scores were Councilmembers Helen Foster (36), Annabel Palma (64) and Larry Seabrook (64) – all representing the Bronx.

UPDATE (4/12/2012): Domenic Recchia’s office got in touch to let us know that the bill mentioned above, requiring an increase in storm water-tolerant vegetation, never came up for a vote and so he did not vote against it. “Intro 75 is still laid over in the Committee on Environmental Protection of which Councilman Recchia is not a member and therefore could not cast a vote,” his office told us. His office added that not all of the bills the NYLCV evaluated actually came to a vote, and the ones that did not were evaluated by whether or not the councilmember was listed as a co-sponsor. And since the bill never came to a vote, the councilman was unfamiliar with its contents and so could not say whether he would have voted for it or not.

Jumaane D. Williams

Councilman Jumaane Williams, who represents the 46th district which overlaps portions of Community Board 15, was detained this weekend during the West Indian Day Parade, along with an aide to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. Williams claims the police handled him roughly and unnecessarily, even while he presented his City Council bonafides and explained that NYPD brass had given him clearance.

Today, Williams held a press conference while flanked by scores of other elected officials from around the city and state, stating that he believed the incident occurred because of his skin color and the discriminatory stop-and-frisk protocol tainting enforcement culture.

Below is a statement Williams’ office issued following the conference.

Read the full statement.

Councilman Lew Fidler will host a Home Owners Forum this Thursday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at the Glenwood Senior Center at 5701 Avenue H, between East 57th and East 58th Streets.

Representatives from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will be in attendance and Councilman Jumaane Williams will also be guest speaking.

Some topics for discussion will include housing codes, building permits, water conservation, foreclosure prevention and other important issues.