SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz issues a press release this morning, commending the state Department of Environmental Conservation for their fast response to Friday’s oil spill in Jamaica Bay.

Below is the press release:

In the wake of Friday’s oil and gas spill in JamaicaBay, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), a member of the Assembly’s Committee on Environmental Conservation, is praising the state agency charged with overseeing the investigation for its quick response and asking to be kept informed as the probe into the spill moves forward.

According to published reports, National Grid was cementing an “older pipe” on the evening of September 28 when 1,100 gallons of natural gas condensate, compressor oil and turbine oil discharged into Jamaica Bay.

Inspectors from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEC) and Coast Guard responded, and an environmental response contractor hired by National Grid has been working to suck the water-oil mixture out of the area to prevent further environmental damage.

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The following is a press release from the offices of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes:

Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes has received $103,000 in public protection funds from Brooklyn State Senator Martin J. Golden that will provide support the District Attorney’s existing alternative to incarceration programs for at-risk youths and to victims of domestic violence cases pending in Brooklyn’s Domestic Violence Court parts.

“Brooklyn is the only county in New York State with two separate Integrated Domestic Violence Courts,” said DA Hynes.  “Thanks to this generous grant, for the first time, we will have one dedicated social worker who will not only assist victims in the two courtrooms, but will also form the bridge connecting the court parts to the Brooklyn Family Justice Center.”

“I am proud to have secured more than $100,000 in public protection funds to support programs offered by Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes,” Senator Golden said.  “I am confident that through his office, this funding will be used to create better opportunities for youth and family justice in Brooklyn.”

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Source: Senator Storobin’s office

The following a press release from the offices of State Senator David Storobin:

As of last month, Brooklynites can enjoy a cleaner Avenue U, thanks to the efforts of State Sen. David Storobin (R-Brooklyn).

After opening his District Office at 22-01 Avenue U in June, the Senator noticed garbage being dumped illegally on the street, which is one of Brooklyn’s most vibrant commercial strips. The Senator reached out to the local DSNY supervisor, requesting that new trash cans be placed on the avenue at strategic locations where dumping had occurred.

“I urge residents to use the new trash cans only for litter from shopping at the wonderful small businesses here on Avenue U,” Storobin said. “By working together, we can keep the street clean for businesses, shoppers and strollers alike.”

Household garbage cannot be placed in the cans, or they may be removed once again.

Wait, did he just threaten us? Well, we hope it works out better than our Garbage Theory…

The following is a press release from the offices of State Senator David Storobin:

Senator David Storobin (R-Brooklyn) may be away in Israel this week. But his District Office is working harder than ever to serve constituents back home in Brooklyn. Beginning tomorrow, the Senator’s office will be open extended hours.

Each Wednesday, the Senator’s District Office, located at 22-01 Avenue U in Sheepshead Bay, will be open until 7:30 p.m. instead of the usual 5:00 p.m. This assures that constituents who are unavailable during standard business hours can visit or call the office for any of the services the Senator’s office provides.

Additionally, the office will hold special weekend hours on the first Sunday of each month, when it will be open from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. This allows constituents to visit the Senator’s office after church or before the beginning of NFL football games.

“My office is here to serve you,” said Storobin. “Many of my constituents work long hours are busy with their families and their lives. They don’t always have the time to call or drop by during regular office hours. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the same quality service from their elected leaders.”

The Senator’s experienced constituent services team handles issues of a wide variety for constituents, ranging from concerns dealing with health, housing, taxes, the MTA, public safety, and much more. For assistance during the extended hours, or anytime, constituents may call (718) 743-8610.

“You don’t have to fight the bureaucracy of state government on your own. That’s why we’re here,” Storobin said. “My staff and I will help you cut red tape and get the answers and services your tax dollars pay for.”

Source: Google Maps

It’s lies, damned lies!

That’s the response offered by the owner of Z-Best Car Wash at 2784 Coney Island Avenue, which has received thousands of dollars in violations from the city, in addition to earning the ire of a local politician calling for it to cease operations.

Allegations that the business is skirting zoning laws and making too much noise are “completely false,” said Z-Best’s owner, Rusell Shern, who added that the car wash is being “treated unfairly” by Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz.

Asked to elaborate on the violations and the business’ relationship with neighbors, Shern declined further comment.

The controversy erupted last week, when Cymbrowitz demanded the city issue a cease-and-desist order against the car wash’s operations, claiming that they have refused to reform despite more than a year of complains from neighbors.

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Source: Google Maps

The following is a press release from the offices of Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz:

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn) says a Sheepshead Bay car wash calling itself ‘Z Best’ is actually ‘Z Loudest’ – and he’s supporting a city agency’s petition for a cease-and-desist order against the “noisy neighbor” business.

Cymbrowitz, who represents the community where the Coney Island Avenue car wash is located, says his office has been flooded with calls during the past year from residential neighbors complaining about the constant racket coming from the business’s machinery, “interrupting their sleep and their daily lives.”

He contacted the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, which has issued numerous violations to the car wash for excessive noise. Commissioner Carter H. Strickland, Jr. of DEP told Assemblyman Cymbrowitz that if the noise complaints persisted, his agency would ask the city’s Environmental Control Board to issue a cease-and-desist order.

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The following is a message from the offices of Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz:

In a push to punish those responsible for hate crimes, including the latest epidemic of anti-Semitic crimes plaguing our community, as a member of the Assembly’s Codes Committee, I called on the City’s District Attorneys to immediately seek the maximum penalty for defendants accused of hate crimes and asked Judges to impose the maximum sentence allowed upon conviction.

We are seeing an increase in the frequency of anti-Semitic incidents. Those who commit these abominable crimes must realize that there is a real penalty to pay for their actions. Most of these offenses are property-based, but the recent physical assault upon a Jewish man walking home from Sabbath services, by teens who hit him in the face and shouted derogatory epithets about his obviously religious appearance, highlights the critical need for harsher penalties.

Those who choose to act on the hatred in their hearts must know that they can expect to receive the maximum penalty that our Penal Code allows. We need to show the perpetrators of these offensive acts that there is no place for their hatred in our civilized society. We as legislators intended that the penalty for the commission of a hate crime be harsher than other crimes.The judiciary must now use its power to carry out our legislative intent.

I am working with law enforcement officials in an effort to swiftly bring those who commit these and other hate crimes to justice. As the son of Holocaust survivors and a representative of one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors, I am concerned over the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services’ annual “Hate Crimes in New York State” report, showing a 27 percent increase of hate crimes throughout New York City (350), while hate crimes in New York State dropped by 14 percent. The 2011 report also revealed that Jews were the most frequent targets of hate crimes and that, nearly 70 years after the end of the Holocaust, swastikas are still being placed on property throughout New York State. (Please see below a copy of a letter sent to our Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes. Also note similar letters were sent to all our Borough’s District Attorneys).

Read a copy of the letter Cymbrowitz sent to DA Hynes.

The following is a press release from the offices of Councilman Lew Fidler:

Council Member Lew Fidler along with Assembly Members Alan Maisel and Helene Weinstein expressed outrage and shock over the recent escalation of anti-Semitic vandalism and assaults in their Brooklyn communities.

The most recent incident occurred yesterday, when a swastika was discovered on the sidewalk adjacent to a synagogue in Marine Park. This follows numerous recent hate crimes, which include swastikas or anti-Semetic words that were discovered at several locations throughout Borough Park, Kensington and Williamsburg, and the beating of a an orthodox man as he returned from Shul last week in Sheephead Bay. While the group of thugs brutally beat their victim, they shouted “dirty Jew” and “Kike”.

“We must not tolerate this kind of hateful behavior in our neighborhoods.  I am pleased that the NYPD has agreed to our demand for increase patrols and thank Shomrim for stepping up their presence, as well.  It is imperative that the members of our communities feel safe, and we are going to both nip this in the bud and bring these thugs to justice. This recent rash of bias crimes is under investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit, and I am confident that, through the combined efforts of all involved, we will prevail. I have asked Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes to prosecute all responsible parties to the fullest extent of the law.” said Councilman Lew Fidler.

“Once again, we are confronted with the outrageous behavior of a hate-filled person who has no respect for our community or the tradition of tolerance that makes our country great. I am grateful to the NYC Police Department for quickly responding to this hateful incident and doing everything that they can to find those who are responsible,” stated Assemblyman Alan Maisel.

“I am appalled that a hateful act like this was committed just steps from Merkaz Yisroel of Marine Park, a cornerstone of this community. Vandalism like this is an insult to tolerance, a trait imbued by Merkaz Yisroel, founded in 1932 as the Marine Park Jewish Center. I call upon the District Attorney’s office to work with the NYPD and community in apprehending those responsible and use them as examples in order to deter others who wish to disrupt our peace and quality of life” said Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein upon hearing about the most recent incident.

The unified lawmakers are seeking assistance by asking anyone who may have information to please come forward and call the Confidential NYPD TIPS LINE at 1-800-577-TIPS.

The following is a press release from the offices of Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz:

At a press conference in the heart of Brooklyn’s Russian-American community, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn) and State Senator David Storobin (R-Brooklyn) today announced the passage of groundbreaking legislation they introduced that will require all voting materials, including ballots, to be translated into Russian.

Also celebrating the bill’s passage were leaders from the Russian-American community and elected officials including Assemblymembers Alec Brook-Krasny and Helene Weinstein and State Senator Diane J. Savino. The announcement was made outside Tatiana Restaurant on the Brighton Beach Boardwalk.

“This historic legislation marks the dawn of a new day for Russian-speaking New Yorkers who have been unfairly excluded from the democratic process due to a language barrier,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz said. “For the first time, Russian-speaking voters will be able to walk into the polling place on Election Day, look at a ballot, and say, ‘Now I belong.’”

Senator Storobin added, “This legislation is long overdue and will finally ensure that Russian-speaking Americans’ voting rights are protected here in Brooklyn and across New York State. I applaud my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate for taking this necessary action for our community.”

The legislation (A.10609/S.7812) requires New York City and other municipalities with populations of more than a million to provide written Russian language assistance for voters. This includes ballots, signs, voter mailings, employee and volunteer training materials and information on the Board of Elections’ website. In New York City, voting materials are already translated into five other languages.

Besides the press release, Cymbrowitz posted the following statement on his Facebook page:

Today I held a news conference on the Boardwalk in Brighton Beach to announce the passage of historic legislation I introduced that will require the Board of Elections to translate ballots and other voting materials into Russian. Joining me was State Senator David Storobin, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, and several of my legislative colleagues. For the first time, our Russian-speaking neighbors will be able to participate fully in the democratic process without the burden of a language barrier. Equally important, we worked together to make it happen. Democrat, Republican, Russian-speaking, non-Russian speaking, we all embraced the spirit of inclusion that the measure represents. No matter what language you speak, everyone deserves a voice in our democracy. (From left: Assemblyman William Colton, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Senator Storobin, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, and State Senator Diane J. Savino.)

SEAL! (Credit: Melissa Alvarez, Senior Project Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.)

The following was sent to us by Dr. JoAnne Castagna, a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District:

As construction workers maneuver bulldozers and spread sand to restore the degrading marsh island, Yellow Bar Hassock in Jamaica Bay, their work is being closely observed by an area resident.

“For the past few months we’ve seen him on the site. He just keeps doing his thing,” said Melissa Alvarez, a senior project biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.

The resident Alvarez is referring to is a harbor seal who has been seen lying on the dredge pipeline that is delivering the sand and sunning himself as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performs its work.

“I find it so amazing every time we construct one of these island projects how quickly wildlife will use this area.”

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