Hate crime victim Michael Sandy (courtesy of Michael Sandy Foundation)
More than three years after the fatal beating of a gay man at Plumb Beach, the victim’s family members, friends, and advocates are one-step closer to securing a memorial in his honor.
Community Board 15 voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow the erection of a memorial stone for Michael Sandy near the Plumb Beach parking lot.
Sandy was killed after a botched robbery-turned-hate crime in October 2006. His murder led friends of Sandy to form the Michael Sandy Foundation, which along with the his parents began seeking a tribute to victims of hate crimes everywhere.
“I would like to thank everyone involved who has had the opportunity to say ‘yes’ to putting this memorial up,” said Tony Bruce, the executive director of the Michael Sandy Foundation, during an interview with Sheepshead Bites. “In some part, by saying ‘yes’ to this they’ll be doing something small that may change someone’s mind about hate violence.”
Read more about the monument and see video of CB15 discussing the tribute
Community Board 13 is demanding the Department of Education begin taking toxic chemicals in schools more seriously.
Responding to recent reports that some Brooklyn schools contain the toxic Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), the board wants the city to host public hearings on the issue and improve communication with parents and educators about the substances.
PCBs were recently found in area schools including Sheepshead Bay’s P.S. 52 (2675 East 29th Street) and P.S. 288 in Coney Island. The chemical was used in construction materials, especially around windows and door frames, before being banned in the 1970s. It has the potential to cause cancer, as well as a variety of other adverse health effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system.
“It is in the best interest of everyone if the Department of Education takes a proactive approach to keeping everyone informed and addressing the concerns of students, parents, teachers and members of the general public,” boardmember Brian Gotlieb wrote in a letter to schools Chancellor Joel Klein. Gotlieb is the chairperson of the board’s Education, Library and Youth Services Committee.
[via Yournabe.com]
With the influx of Sheepshead’s latest liquor establishments, Sheepshead Bay’s thirst for a frosty brew need not be quenched.
Senators Marty Golden (R) of Bay Ridge (aka the bar capital of Brooklyn) and Sheepshead’s Steven Cymbrowitz (D) fearing the decline of the mom-and-pop liquor store and the heightened teen accessibility to booze, united the unlikely pair in an effort to oppose Governor Paterson’s proposal to “legalize win sales in 19,000 new outlets.”
Although no one can predict how fast the Bay would be running to 7-11 for an ‘85 Merlot, is there any real reason to increase the amount of places one can buy alcohol to begin with? According to the World Health Organization, 1.8 million deaths a year are attributed to alcohol usage, 1/3 of that alone being accidental. That’s not to mention the staggering rates of drunk driving in Sheepshead Bay.
With the State Liquor Authority having “only 38 inspectors statewide regulating 70,000 license holders,” Cymbrowitz notes that “To increase the inspection team’s workload by almost one-third is a recipe for disaster.”
We can already buy beer in corner stores and grocery stores have a less than humble selection of beer and prepackaged frou-frou drinks. Maybe a staggering four blocks seems like a ways away up in Albany, but down by the bay, our cup runneth over. Enough already.
Related articles:
Cymbrowitz Blasts Gov On New Booze Plan
Sheepshead Bay Is Sauced
In addition to break-ins and thefts, Sheepshead Bay residents need to worry about out of control drivers at night. One reader sent in these photos of cars that were struck by traffic. The BMW was hit as recently as Sunday night on Coyle Street and Shore Parkway, while the van has sat at Avenue Y near Bedford Avenue for more than a week. We’ve seen dozens more like this in the area. Sheepshead Bites is reminding you to park in a well-lit section of the street whenever possible, and avoid the corners. Not only will it protect you from break-ins, but cruddy drivers will have an easier time seeing you.
See more photos of overnight accidents
As a Sheepshead Bay bankruptcy attorney, there are numerous instances where I have clients that do not want to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in the area. Instead, they have one or two unpaid bills that are now in the hands of collection firms like Rubin & Rothman, Pressler & Pressler, Cohen & Slamowitz and others.
Here’s the constant problem that they have: they get these absurdly harrassing phone calls from these companies, the client gets scared, and ultimately they give up a crucial piece of information, like a social security number or a bank account number.
At that point, good luck.
If you’ve been in this situation, you know what comes next. Almost immediately, these collection firms will freeze these accounts. The only way to get your money out of that account is to file an Order to Show Cause with the local court, filing for bankruptcy, or agreeing to a settlement (sometimes this doesn’t even work).
So what’s my advice? Read on to find out.
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz has fired off a statement criticizing Governor Paterson’s proposal to sell wine permits to grocery stores, bodegas, and gas stations. Statewide it would introduce 19,000 new outlets for wine shoppers and bring in millions of dollars in permit sales, but the assemblyman said the increase in underage drinking and drunk driving makes it a bad deal.
What do you think? And how will it contribute to Sheepshead Bay’s problems, which we’ve noted suffers from a ridiculous number of wine and spirit shops and has unusually high drunk driving statistics?
From Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s office (as usual with press releases, just imagine a big, fat [sic] next to the entire thing):
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn) has termed Governor Paterson’s proposal, part of today’s budget message to the Legislature, “a dangerous scheme to raise money at the expense of the wellbeing of New Yorkers. While the initial sale of new wine merchant licenses will realize millions of dollars for the State, it is a onetime revenue raiser that puts our state’s residents at peril for decades to come.
Cymbrowitz was referring to the Governor, once again including a plan to allow grocery stores, gas stations, bodegas, mini-marts and corner delis to sell wine, as part of his budget balancing strategy. “By proposing a plan to legalize wine sales in 19,0000 new outlets, Governor Paterson has once again made a terrible mistake that will only increase underage drinking, lead to more drunk driving, and hurt small businesses across New York State. There is no question that New Yorkers will be put in danger with this misguided attempt to bring in more revenue. Currently the State Liquor Authority has only 38 inspectors regulating 70,000 license holders. Increasing the inspection team’s workload by almost one-third is a recipe for disaster.”
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Despite a nail-biting deadline, Manhattan Beach’s private security force appears to have rallied enough support to continue operations throughout 2010.
Though Beachside Patrol hasn’t yet made an official announcement, leaders from the group say they received last minute pledges that brought them into the black. Beachside Patrol President Albert Hasson has also stepped down, and the force is now at the helm of Ted Kleynerman.
Read on to see how they got last minute support, and Kleynerman’s new goals as president
The Manhattan Beach Community Group posted on its website last week that con-artists posing as Keyspan Energy (a.k.a. National Grid) workers are making the rounds once more.
Several times over the past few years, reports have emerged of “workers” knocking on neighbors’ doors and asking private information or to come into the house. According to MBCG, “Their hustle includes threats of fines if they can not inspect your furnace, etc.”
MBCG and Sheepshead Bites reminds you not to let strangers into your home. Always ask for identification, and even then don’t be afraid to call Keyspan/National Grid and ask for verification before allowing them in or giving them information. Tell your children the same, and call 911 if you have any doubts.
Contact National Grid at (718) 643-4050 if you have any questions.
One of the four thugs that played a role in the 2006 murder of a gay man at Plumb Beach is seeking to overturn his conviction.
According to Gay City News:
Arguing that his lawyer was ineffective and the judge in the case gave the jury insufficient instructions on an intoxication defense, John Fox is seeking to overturn his convictions for manslaughter and attempted robbery as hate crimes in the 2006 killing of Michael Sandy.
Fox, 22, was tried with Anthony Fortunato, 23, though they had separate juries. When testimony was offered that concerned only one defendant and could prejudice the case against the other, the second defendant’s jury was excluded from the courtroom.
The issue in the appeal is whether Fox’s lawyer, John D. Patten, erred when he did not object to Fox’s jury being excluded when Fortunato testified in his own defense.
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Photo courtesy of davidsonscott15 via Flickr
Since Manhattan Beach’s private security force issued an S.O.S. letter two weeks ago, little has changed by today’s deadline and Beachside Patrol is still imperiled.
“I would like to tell you that we had an overwhelming response and Beachside Patrol is back on, but the response has not been what we were looking for,” said Ted Kleynerman, a patrol director.
A letter was sent December 7 to those who subscribe to the service, and later to the larger community, informing people that Beachside Patrol doesn’t have the financial resources necessary to continue operations. Directors said only about 25 percent of households were contributing and the support was not widespread enough. Only about 200 households pay the $400 annual fee.
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