(l. to r.): Mary Powell, Pastor Ron Weinbaum of the King's Chapel, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Ed Jaworski at MMHCA's 2009 Holiday Party
Mary Powell, the long-time president of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, passed away on February 12 at Beth Israel Hospital/Kings Highway Division as a result of a stroke suffered on February 9.
Born September 17, 1918 , Brooklyn native Mary Quinn Powell set an example of dignity and dogged determination that was inspirational to all who knew her throughout her 91 years.
Early suffering did little to temper Powell’s spirit. As a child, she survived a bout with tuberculosis and being in a coma after getting hit by a car. At 11 years old, she lost her beloved oldest brother to blood poisoning after a strep infection. Still, she graduated from Manual Training High School (now John Jay) and went on to attend community college while she began working in New York. When her family moved upstate, she stayed in Brooklyn to work and carve out a life of her own, despite family protests of a young woman living alone. She was not alone for long, as she married within the next few years and began to raise a family while continuing to work at companies like Lederle Labs.
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Mary Powell, the longtime president of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, suffered a severe stroke yesterday morning. The 91-year-old activist is now on a respirator in Beth Israel Hospital/King’s Highway Division. Powell is a staple of local community organizing and an advocate for integrity at all levels of government. Our thoughts are with her and her family.
We will have more information on this situation as it becomes available.
The first meeting of the 2009-2010 season for the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting kicks off at the King’s Chapel on Quentin Road and East 27th Street. Representatives of city agencies and elected officials have been invited, and you can bet the organization will discuss their ongoing fight against negligent developers. For further information, call (718) 934-8214.
A Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association boardmember is fuming over proposed legislation that may give real estate developers a free pass on their neighborhood obligations.
Ed Jaworski, Executive VP of MMH Civic, is a well-known figure in the local development scene. He’s frequently seen at Community Board 15 meetings burdened by a stack of files. Within the folder: a veritable catalog of blighted land. Developers who have lost financing, who fail to maintain safety standards, who skirt laws – developers who are just outright abusive.
His latest outrage comes as the City Council is considering a law to extend building permits for two years, in order to accomodate developers who have lost financing in the down economy. According to a New York Times article on the issue, permit extensions will require property owners to maintain their properties and reduce safety and quality-of-life issues in the areas surrounding the sites.
According to Jaworski, the plan goes to far in favoring developers, and allows their recklessness to go unpunished. Here’s a letter he wrote to NY Times’ editors in response to the article: Continue Reading »
There’s a lot of voter outrage towards the mayor these days. The term limits fiasco, challenges to the mayoral control of schools policy, increased taxes and a crumbling of the political infrastructure statewide (okay, not sure if we can blame him for that one) – the challengers have a lot of ammo. Bloomberg, though, has even more bucks, and that means the other mayoral candidates will be kicking their campaigns old school: meet and greets.
“There is a Choice in the 2009 NYC Mayoral Election” is the main topic for the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association’s meeting on Thursday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium of the King’s Chapel, Quentin Road and East 27 Street. Announced Democratic Party candidates Comptroller William Thompson and Councilmember Tony Avella have been invited to make statements and take questions. So bring your questions about their community and citywide initiatives, especially about important local issues like mayoral control, development and economic recovery.
This is Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic’s final general meeting of the season. Also in attendance will be representatives for the 61st Police Precinct, the Department of Buildings, and elected officials.
When: June 18th at 7:30 p.m.
Where: King’s Chapel, Quentin Road and East 27th Street
Ed Jaworski, the executive VP of the Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, sent us the following announcement:
The Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, following a winter break, resumes its meetings on Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m., at the King’s Chapel, Quentin Road and East 27 Street. The speakers and topics for the meeting include: Paula Rice, representing the Altzheimer’s Association, will discuss “Understanding dementia and where to go for help,” and Iggie Terranova, Director of Inter-governmental Affairs for the Department of Sanitation, will discuss regulations and take questions. The meeting is free and open to the public; for information or to join, phone 718-934-8214.
Ed doesn’t mention it because he’s pretty modest, but I’m not: there are usually free Dunkin’ Donut munchkins and coffee at these types of things. In these harsh economic times, how irresponsible do you have to be to turn that down?
The Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association is having a meeting and party all in one next week and everyone is invited. You will have an opportunity to meet your neighbors, community leaders, and 61st Precinct representatives. Since all local elected representatives have been invited, you may have a chance to meet a few politicians, as well. This party-meeting is free and you are welcome to bring friends and relatives.
Here’s the information and some fine print from the flyer.
Holiday Party-Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 18th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Kings Chapel
Quentin Road and East 27 Street (Enter at E. 27 St.)
We invite neighbors to stay informed, ask questions, become dues paying members–$10 annual/per family, payable to Madison-Marine Civic Association, please bring dues to meeting or send to: M.M.H.C.A., PO Box 432, Homecrest Station, Brooklyn, NY 11229. For information, 718-934-8214. Join e-mail list, send your e-mail to: GMEP123(at)verizon(dot)net.
