News

Swastika found at Greenpoint Playground

Matthew Fischetti on March 1, 2023

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

A swastika was found defacing one of the trees at American Playground in Greenpoint this past Sunday.

“This is one of the most wonderful spots for kids in our community,” Councilman Lincoln Restler, whose office was first alerted about the vandalism, said in an interview with the Greenpoint Star. “And I was deeply disturbed to learn of this hateful imagery appearing in the park.”

The councilman said that he turned the hateful carvings into a square with a key when he first went to check on the Franklin Street park, between Milton and Noble Street, on Sunday Feb. 26.

The councilman then alerted the local precinct and parks department about the issue, he said.

“Unfortunately, we have experienced anti semitic incidents in Greenpoint over many years. And a number of anti-semitic incidents across the city has grown exponentially over the last few years,” Restler said. “From swastikas being scraped, painted or drawn to physical attacks against Jewish people, and we need it to stop. Unfortunately, the anti-semitic attacks have been disproportionately targeted towards Orthodox Jews, who are more obviously Jewish, based on their dress and custom.”

The United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Restler said that creating cross cultural engagement opportunities with various community leaders and developing curriculum for schools are part of the solution to battling anti-semitism across the district.

Shortly after his election, Restler participated in neighborhood canvases along with Jews for Racial & Economic Justice in order to address anti-semitism, as the Jewish-Telegraphic Agency first reported.

There have been no arrests at time of publication.

Black Veterans for Social Justice receives $1M in funds

Matthew Fischetti on March 1, 2023

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

Over 70 people packed into the halls of Black Veterans For Social Justice last Friday to witness the unveiling of a $1,000,000 donation to the group.

The Bed-Stuy Veterans Resource Center and Community Organization was founded in 1979. The 665 Willoughby Avenue location helps connect veterans returning home from combat with resources and helps place veterans with benefits such as housing, benefits, employment and more during their transition back to civilian life.

“Serving Black veterans – people who have fought in wars, to lift up to the principles of American freedom, liberty and justice for all, equal protection under the law, protecting democracy – you all have been a part of that black history and that American history. And were so thankful for you and your work,” said U.S. minority leader and Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who delegated the funds, at the announcement.

The funds were made available through Community Project Funding, a program where congress members can appropriate funds to their district.

After the announcement was made, Veterans and attendees were able to connect with a series of government offices in a veteran resource fair: including the Veterans Justice Outreach Program, which helps connect veterans with Veteran Administration benefits; the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program; the Jobs to Build On Program, a city program that helps unemployed people with job preparation and placement; among many others.

“That’s what today’s veterans resource fair is all about – continuing that work. To make sure that our veterans upon their return can live a decent, comfortable life. Having sacrificed for us, we should always be there for them,” Jeffries said.

Army Veteran and member of Brooklyn CB-2’s Veterans Committee, Andre Parker, 65, said that he came to familiarize himself with the services and check on some of his personal benefits.

“When you get out of the military, they don’t really give you too much information,” Parker explained. “But if you look at the benefits, or if you’re looking for like medical issues – this place here is good with job placement, housing, and it’s just not widely available.”

Parker emphasized that resource centers like Black Veterans for Social Justice are especially important for younger veterans, who may have recently left and not know what kinds of benefits they qualify for.

“I think it’s good – especially since we have our congressman leading the way. That was a good thing. As you can see, it was pretty packed downstairs,” Parker noted about the recent $1 million in funds that BVSJ can now tap into.

BVSJ President and CEO Wendy McClinton said that the funds would go a long way in providing programming and services for formerly incarcerated veterans coming home.

McClinton said in an interview that the program aims to engage veterans in the 90 day period that veterans re-enter society after incarceration.

“The veteran must be engaged within those 90 days, and then set up with those wraparound services, which may mean little basic things like clothing, job readiness, employment, making sure their mental status is correct, and tying them into other wraparound services,” she said.

McClinton also said that the funds would help hire more individuals to work on the program, which could have up to nine staff people in order to help reduce veteran recidivism and “learn that time served means new beginning.”

“We can employ more veterans, with the right background and credentials, peer to peer, to make sure that these formerly incarcerated veterans transition back into society with a veteran, with tender love and care and a listening ear,” McClinton said.

U.S. Army Corps hosts resiliency town hall

Matthew Fischetti on March 1, 2023

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger

Over 100 Greenpoint residents packed into the Triskellion Arts Center last week in the neighborhood to attend a town hall co-hosted by the North Brooklyn Parks Association and U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez to address draft plans from the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers for creating a more resilient waterfront.

While the town hall was attended by mostly Greenpoint residents, the event marked the first time both representatives from the Queens waterfront neighborhoods along the Newtown Creek were working cooperatively over the issue. Elected officials franging from Sunnyside Assemblymember Juan Ardilla to Greenpoint Councilman Lincoln Restler were in attendance last Thursday to discuss the draft plans.(Queens residents were able to log-on and attend the meeting virtually as well to voice their concerns.)

The tentatively selected plan would include sea walls along the coastline and storm surge barriers as well as raised promenades as mitigation measures.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer representative Byrce Wisemiller emphasized that the Army Corps main focus was reducing storm surge risk.

“Some refer to our view on storm surge as somewhat myopic. But that is the impact that has caused 10s of billions of dollars of damage and has the greatest life safety threat of all those risks,” Wisemiller said.

Many residents who spoke out at the town hall were concerned with proposed renderings for a 17 foot tall sea wall in Greenpoint, stretching from Kent Street to Newtown Creek. At the Town Hall Wisemiller noted that the rendering was five feet too high and emphasized the designs are subject to change following the public comment period.

“But the bottom line of what we’re really trying to communicate is this neighborhood goes as unaddressed, severe coastal storm risk – as you probably all know that way better than me having lived here. We need to do something,” Wisemiller said. “Maybe the seawall, bigger flood wall, maybe the location needs to change. But this is not something that cannot be addressed.”

Willis Elkins, the executive director of the Newtown Creek Alliance, raised concerns about how the plan will affect the remediation of the creek and how the current plan could limit connection between the East River and the Newtown Creek and cast aspersion on storm surge gate would adequately protect the area.

“But for us more than anything, the exchange between Newtown Creek and the East River is incredibly vital to the health and the remediation of Newtown Creek, we have strong current flows that are coming in and out twice a day,” Elkins said, referencing the proposed clean-up of the creek which is supposed to happen within the next five years. “And anything that’s going to inhibit the flow of that water is going to have, in our opinion, strong impacts on the water quality of Newtown Creek and how Superfund remediation is going to happen.”

Elkins’s presentation also noted that he believes the storm surge gate as it ignores other causes of flooding like sea level and groundwater rise.

In a Feb. 17 letter addressed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance also had several critiques of the draft plan ranging from that is cuts access to long fought for waterfront parks; that the plan doesn’t protect the Williamsburg waterfront; that the sea gates will restrict water flow and lead to increased combined sewer overflow, thereby slowing down the Superfund clean up; and not having enough “natural and nature-based solutions.”

“In summary and conclusion, the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance feels it is incumbent on the USArmy Corps of Engineers plans to fully incorporate community feedback and visions; employ an environmental justice framework; consider the potential impacts of past, current, and future New York City and State projects; and clearly address existing environmental conditions—especially where hazardous toxins, contaminated sites, and greater risk of flooding are involved,” the letter reads.

During the question and answers point of the town hall, western Queens Councilwoman Julie Won raised equity issues with how Queens and Brooklyn are getting their flood protections.

“We have had the least amount of public and social infrastructure investments in all five boroughs. And Brooklyn is not too far behind that,” Won said at the meeting, noting that Manhattan has received funding for flip-up barriers, a type of flood protection that would leave pedestrian spaces unimpeded.

Construction for the project would start around 2030 with a duration of 14 years.

Comments are available until March 7th about the proposed design. Readers interested in voicing their position can email their comments to nynjharbor.tribstudy@usace.army.mil.

Brooklyn Community Mourns After U-haul Attack

Iryna Shkurhan on February 23, 2023

Mayor Eric Adams joined other local representatives to express condolences.

By Iryna Shkurhan | ishkurhan@queensledger.com

Bay Ridge residents gathered for a vigil on Monday night in honor of the victims of the deadly U-Haul rampage that killed one person and injured eight last week.

On the corner of Bay Ridge Parkway and Fifth Ave in Brooklyn, several city officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, joined community leaders to express their condolences and offer support.

On the same corner, 44 year-old YiJie Ye, a food delivery driver for Uber Eats, was intentionally struck by the assailant who violently pummeled through the streets of the city and drove onto sidewalks in a rented U-Haul truck. Ye sustained a severe head injury and died hours later in NYU Langone Hospital. According to his family, he was a hard-working single father to three teenagers and lived just blocks away.

“His American dream was not supposed to end on this street corner,” said Andrew Gounardes, State Senator of District 26. “The American dream of his children was not supposed to end in a nightmare on this street corner.”

The alleged assailant, Weng Sor, was charged with one count of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder. Police said that the 63-year-old was experiencing a mental health crisis and reportedly saw an “invisible object” approaching him before he took off on the 48 minute rampage before his capture by police in Red Hook.

“Never did I think that this could happen,” said Janice Schiavo, 74, a Bay Ridge resident for over 23 years. When she heard about the vigil she encouraged about ten of her neighbors to also show up in support of the families affected.

It was not lost on the attendees that several of the victims were riding electric scooters and bicycles, a commonality with food delivery workers. And as many pointed out, almost all of the victims were also immigrants.

Mohammed Zakaria Salah Rakchi, another food delivery bike driver, survived the attack but remains hospitalized in critical condition. The 36-year-old father of two dropped off his daughter at school the morning of the attack. His wife attended the vigil but chose to not make a statement at the time.

The attack “left truly a trail of terror in this neighborhood that is haunting a lot of people to this day and has a lot of people on edge,” said Councilman Justin Brannan. “So all we can do is come together and be with each other and make sure these families know we’re here for them.”

For some residents, the attack evoked memories of a similar violent attack involving a U-Haul truck in 2017 where the driver fatally struck eight people in Manhattan. But closer to home, and less than a year ago, a man opened fire on a crowded train in the neighboring area of Sunset Park.

“Something like this could happen anywhere, but it’s shocking when it happens so close to home,” said Kay Chow, 30, a Bay Ridge resident who attended the vigil in support of the families affected.

Some community leaders offered solutions alongside condolences. Steve Mei, Director of Brooklyn Community Services at Chinese-American Planning Council, called on the city to invest in more mental health services for elderly adults.

“I can’t help but acknowledge the perpetrator happens to be an older Asian male,” said Mei and recalled two recent mass shootings in California that were carried out by elderly Asian men in their 60s and 70s.

“Part of the reality is for a lot of people in our community, there’s a cultural impact where we suffer in silence, especially older asian males,” Mei said. “We worry that by speaking out, or speaking of, we are burdening everyone else, and that becomes problematic.”

“We light these candles to honor the grief and the loss felt by so many of us gathered, and to honor the memory and the life of YiJie Ye,” said Karen Tadros of Bay Ridge Cares.

Several volunteers with the organization walked through the crowd to light the candles held in the hands of attendees as the press conference concluded.

“My heart is warmed because I know when one of us is hurting, Bay Ridge comes together in support,” said Marwa Janini, Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York based in Bay Ridge. “It also aches because we lost one of our own and a Brooklyn family is hurting more than ever, the family of Mr. YiJie Ye.”

Pol Position: Progressive Caucus Fallout?

glendaleregstg on February 17, 2023

Last week, The New York City Progressive caucus lost 15 members of its caucus after debating over language surrounding police reform.

“We will do everything we can to reduce the size and scope of the NYPD and the Department of Correction, and prioritize and fund alternative safety infrastructure that truly invests in our communities,” the passage that caused the tension read, according to the Daily News.

While the loss of members generated a few days of bad headlines, the new membership roster might actually make the progressive caucus a more functioning one.

In previous BQE Media reporting, co-chair of the caucus Lincoln Restler told this newspaper that he was operating a “big-tent progressive caucus”. To more seasoned observers of the New York City Council, this didn’t make a lot of sense. Operating under a “big-tent” philosophy is fine for a party which naturally has different ideological wings, but for a caucus, which is supposed to represent certain interests – it seemed odd and possibly counter productive.

Beyond the new membership roster, the progressive caucus is instituting new bylaws reform, stating that members must co-sponsor at least 75 percent of the legislation debuted in the Progressive Caucus agenda, attend ⅔ of caucus meetings and support broad statement of principles, per a release sent out last Friday.

While the police funding language lost the caucus 15 members, they may be able to gain one with Harlem Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan.

“I was hesitant to engage with what felt like a vague agenda in the beginning but am excited to see where the Progressive Caucus is at now. While it is disappointing that some members have left over this pledge, I believe a smaller and more disciplined caucus could wind up making more meaningful change for all,” a screenshot of an email, which Councilwoman Richardson Jordan posted to instagram, addressed to Progressive Caucus co-chairs Lincoln Restler and Shahana Hanif reads.

Opinion: Shut up Councilman Salamanca

Brooklyn Star on February 17, 2023

In the progressive caucus fallout, Bronx City Councilman Rafael Salamanca Junior took to Twitter trying to slam Brooklyn Councilmembers Lincoln Restler and Shahana Hanif for their position on “defunding the police.”

“I challenge far left dems @LincolnRestler & @CMShahanaHanif (representing the wealthiest communities in NYC) to come to Hunts Point/Longwood & address my community on how defunding @NYPDnews @NYPDPBBronx is a positive thing to ensure their safety. #cometothesouthBX,” the February 8th tweet reads.

This critique relies on demonstrably false cliches that do nothing but try and negate one side of the conversation from happening at all.

A 2014 report from the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, based off of data stemming from 2009 to 2013 found that 29.3 percent of people in 33rd council district (currently represented by Lincoln Restler) earned below the federal poverty level. More recent data from the city, measured by community districts, found that Greenpoint and Williamsburg found that 40.3 percent of residents live at or near city poverty levels.

Salamanca tweets were nothing more than mindless pandering. If there’s a discussion, have it. In earnest. If you really cared about them showing up, you probably should have sent an email rather than score internet points.

Otherwise you can shut up with the snarky tweets before you try and write off our communities.

North Brooklyn Pols Slam State’s BQE Plans

Matthew Fischetti on February 15, 2023

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

NorthBrooklyn elected officials and advocates slammed the state on Monday, after the State Department of Transportation told Streetsblog that Hochul administration has no intention of addressing the state portion of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Earlier this year, the Adams administration announced a public engagement session for redesign of the BQE due to funds available from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The BQE is split into two major parts: one dubbed BQE Central, the city owned part which stretches from Atlantic Ave. to Sands St; and the second being BQE North and South which is under state purview.

The officials took their frustration to Jaime Campiz Playground on Marcy Ave, more commonly known as “Green Grass”, which lies right across from the BQE.

“This is not about division. From Greenpoint to Brooklyn Heights. From Bay Ridge, down further south – we are unified. And we are all claiming that we want to see a corridor-wide plan. And it needs to happen now,” Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said at the press conference.

On Thursday, after Streetsblog broke the story over the state’s lack of plans, 18 elected officials across Brooklyn released a statement condemning the state’s decision to just provide technical assistance rather than a full redesign.

For years, the city and state has considered different ways to redesign and fix the crumbling highway. The BQE was originally designed to carry 47,000 vehicles a day but carries an estimated 150,000 vehicles per day now, according to Curbed.

““New York State DOT’s refusal to commit to participating in NYC DOT’s visioning process for their portions of the BQE is completely unacceptable and irresponsible. This historic opportunity to rebuild the BQE extends beyond the Triple Cantilever and our communities deserve a forward thinking vision that redesigns the entire BQE and addresses the significant environmental justice impacts of the thruway,” their statement read.

Greenpoint and Brooklyn Height Councilman Lincoln Restler did not hold back his words at Monday’s press conference.

“One thing that we all learned when we read the Power Broker is that highways can be racist,” Restler said, referencing the 1,336 page tome that chronicles city planner Robert Moses’s implementation of highways.

“Infrastructure can be racist. The BQE is racist. It has caused enormous harm to communities all throughout Brooklyn,” he continued.

Restler also specifically called to move forward with the BQGreen proposal which would add a decked 3.5 acre park

Williamsburg Councilwoman Jennifer Gutiérrez noted that perhaps Brooklyn needed to remind the state what it means to be an environmental justice community.

“It means that since the BQE, since Robert Moses, it has been our communities that have had to breathe the fumes that have to deal with the environmental issues of this racist highway. It’s us dealing with the risk every single day and not state DOT,” she said. “What it means to be an environmental justice community is to be unapologetic, and what we demand and in the future that we see for all of us, for many of us that are here, the damage is done. We don’t stand here for ourselves. We stand here for our descendants. We stand here for our future.”

While not in attendance on Monday, Emily Gallgher’s Chief of Staff represented the Assemblymember, who’s exchange with the State DOT Commish raised the concern of the state not being interested in a full redesign of the bridge.

“We are not going to kick the can down the road any further,” Andrew Epstein said. “We’re going to tackle this racist infrastructure once and for all and we’re going to bring New York State DOT to the table as soon as we possibly can.”

Editors Note: Emily Gallagher is a former columnist for the Greenpoint Star.

New North Brooklyn Air Quality Report Released

Matthew Fischetti on February 15, 2023

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

A new report studying air quality in North Brooklyn found “concerning but not conclusive results” results.

The study, completed by North Brooklyn Neighbors in collaboration with NYU Grossman School of Health, analyzed the air quality across the neighborhood over a 13 month span, measured from November 2020 to December 2021.

The study measured three different types of air pollutants: Volatile organic Compounds (VOCs), a broad group of chemicals which are typically used as industrial solvents; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), naturally occurring chemicals found the occur from combustion of oil or gasoline; and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), , which are tiny particles or droplets found in the air defined by their size.

The study sampled five sites across North Brooklyn: Satmar Matzah Bakers at 427 Broadway, United Transit Mix 318 Boerum Street, Entrance Ramp to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway at Roebling and South 4th Streets, Scheel Corporation at 28 Franklin Street and McGuinness Boulevard.

The report does note that the testing cannot “positively identify that the contaminants found are attributable to the specific facilities that we tested near” and calls for additional monitoring to have a more comprehensive report.

Every sample collected found elevated levels of Benzene, a type of VOC, above the level the state determines to be a safe standard. Benzene, a common byproduct of the plastics industries, is known to be carcinogenic and cause other serious health effects like anemia with longtime exposure.

The report also found that fine particulate matter, PM_2.5, exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s annual standards in five out of eight cases. PM 2.5 is known to cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system in the short term while long-term exposure is associated with increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease.

The report also notes that while not all samples exceed the state’s guidelines, that residents should be wary about the amount of exposure.

“It is important to note that while presumably based in science, exposure guidelines are also subject to politics. Just as it was once acceptable to smoke inside a restaurant, we now do not accept that as protective of human health,” the report reads “Frequently, when guidelines are updated, levels which were deemed safe become more conservative.”

Assemblywoman Gallagher told the Greenpoint Star in a statement that her office is actively exploring state legislation that “improves air quality data collection, transparency, and mitigation.”

“Greenpoint and Williamsburg have long suffered from poor, sometimes dangerous air quality as a result of a toxic industrial legacy and destructive infrastructure like the BQE,” Gallagher said in a statement. “I am committed to working closely with our federal and local partners to make sure everyone feels empowered with the real-time facts they deserve.”

Editors Note: Emily Gallagher is a former Greenpoint Star Columnist

Outdoor Weddings & Events In Brooklyn Using Tent Rentals

webadmin on January 30, 2023

Do your favorite dates involve hiking, picnics, and spending time outdoors? Then a public park may be the perfect spot for your wedding ceremony and reception. Not only will the natural landscape serve as a beautiful backdrop for pictures, but choosing a park as your venue can also help you save money on an event space, decorations, and more. However, planning a wedding in a public park also comes with a unique set of challenges, like the fact that you need to obtain certain permits and the possibility of bad weather. If you’re thinking about hosting your party, ceremony or reception in a park, here are 10 important things you need to consider first (aside from the fact you will probably end up needing to rent a tent for the party).

How Accessible Is The Location?

Whether you’re considering having your wedding at a small park in your hometown or somewhere within a larger national park, you’ll quickly realize that the most idyllic spots are often located well within the area’s grounds—not on the outskirts. Since more remote locations aren’t easily accessible by car, some guests, including elderly loved ones, may have trouble reaching the destination. Even if it’s easy to drive right up to your preferred spot within a park, you’ll need to consider whether or not it will be feasible for vendors to park and unload, and whether or not you’ll be able to set up chairs for a ceremony.

Are There Associated Access Fees?

Some public areas and national parks require a fee for admission. Determine whether or not wedding guests will have to pay upon arrival, and consider paying for your guests’ fees ahead of time, if so. You could also offer transportation (like shuttles or buses) into the park as a nice gesture.

How Many Permits Do You Need?

Since most parks are public spaces, anyone can use the property, but you’ll likely need to acquire a permit for hosting a wedding. Apply to the permit office as soon as possible to ensure approval and availability. While most permits are free, you may need to pay an application fee, which is usually anything from $20 to $200. Make sure you’ve applied for all necessary permits—you may need one for the ceremony and reception and another for amplified sound.

Are There Rules & Regulations?

Most public parks have regulations regarding noise and time restrictions, alcohol use, permissible guest count, and rentals. Talk to authorities about the rules before the wedding, and understand the consequences for breaking them. If any of these are deal-breakers for you—say, you can’t have live music in your favorite park—then you’d be better off looking for a different venue instead.

What To Do In Case Of Bad Weather?

Does your preferred park have a lodge, covered patio, or gazebo that you could use should the weather turn on you? Will the town’s permit office allow you to put up a rented tent in the event of poor weather? Make sure you understand your backup options before booking. Another important question to ask: What happens to the park in the event of severe weather? Some of these public spaces close in heavy rain, snow, or extreme heat or cold, so you may need a back-up location if this is the case. Just remember, In terms of the actual comfort level of the party tent in hot or cold weather, there is nothing to worry about as special heating & cooling for party tents are a common item at rental companies in Brooklyn.

Will Other People Be Around?

Since public parks are open to anyone, a bride and groom can’t banish passersby from the space. Kids may be playing baseball 50 feet from your cocktail hour, and their parents may sneakily snap a few photos of your beautiful reception. If you can’t welcome the idea of potential onlookers with a happy attitude, find a more secluded spot for your vows.

Does This Space Match My Preferred Dress Code?

Outdoor weddings are usually low-key, meaning that an elegant ball gown may look out of place in a park setting. If you’ve been dreaming of a black-tie celebration, complete with women in gowns and men in tuxedos, a park might not be the right setting for you.

Will The Town Limit My Rentals And Décor?

In order to keep a public park in tip-top shape, some local authorities may forbid certain items, like fire pits or in-ground stakes. Check with the park administration before reserving rentals, and don’t be afraid to get creative with your big day aesthetic. Since parks are naturally beautiful, you can rely on the surrounding scenery as a major decorative element, but if the idea of not having your dream tent makes you upset, start looking elsewhere.

Are There Public Restrooms?

Most public parks have restrooms or portable bathrooms scattered throughout the grounds. Plan your ceremony and reception near a restroom for convenience. Or, if your ideal spot isn’t close to these facilities, make sure the park allows you to bring in portable toilets. Flush units cost around $300 a piece, while no-flush options run for considerably less (although these aren’t the most elegant options for a wedding).

How Will We Serve Food?

Just like with rentals and décor, parks may have restrictions about outside food, beverages, and cooking equipment. Since they don’t want waste or food containers to harm wildlife, they may ask you to eat only in designated areas. Ask the management about food restrictions, then plan your meals accordingly.

Contributed With Help From Our Brooklyn Downtown Star & Queens Ledger Featured Party Rentals Company: Party Buster NYC 1111 Rogers Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 (718) 789-9200 https://www.partybuster.com/.

Brooklyn second highest county with barriers to well-being: report

glendaleregstg on January 25, 2023

By Matthew Fischetti

mfischetti@queensledger.com

A new report found that Kings County has the second highest overall barriers to well-being in all of the Empire State.

Commissioned by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, the report measures well-being based on 18 different measurements which are grouped into five major “barrier clusters.” The clusters include six major categories like housing, health, education, youth and community.

Kings County also clocked in as the second highest ranking borough in terms of burdens to housing. The housing cluster was measured by tracking how many severely rent burdened households there are (paying over 50% of income on rent), overcrowding rates and the amount of students in temporary housing.

Brooklyn was ranked as having above average barriers in the economic security category (11th highest), education (seventh highest), and community (third highest). The only categories where Brooklyn did not rank as “above average” were in health (34th highest) and youth (20th highest.)

While Brooklyn ranked high overall in the state, most of the individual 18 indices to measure barriers to well being decreased from 2018 to 2020. The only measurement that did increase during that time span were the rates of students in temporary housing increased from 10 percent to 10.7 percent.

“Data are essential for informing meaningful actions that build a more equitable future for New York’s children, youth and families”, Bijan Kimiagar, Associate Executive Director for Research at CCC and author of the report, said in a statement. “Our Child and Family Well-being Index for New York State highlights how barriers to well-being exist in every county across the state, and so do opportunities to overcome these barriers. By focusing where in the state families face multiple, overlapping barriers to well-being, and looking at each county’s unique set of strengths and needs, we hope to spur budget, legislative and programmatic actions to improve child and family well-being both locally and statewide.”

The report indicates support for a number of policies to alleviate the issues that Governor Hochul signaled support for in her State of the State address including indexing the minimum wage to inflation and increasing affordable housing production. But the report also argues that the state most go further and support measure such as funding universal school meals, expanding the Empire State Child Credit to increase credits for lower income families and ensure all who qualify can receive the credit.

“Our state must do more to increase incomes and combat poverty and I urge the Governor to make this a top priority in the upcoming budget,” Queens Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi and Chair of the Committee on Children and Families said in a statement.

“Expanding the Empire State Tax Credit will make a real impact on the lives of New York’s families and uplift incomes. So often child welfare involvement begins not because of abuse or neglect but due to poverty. Uplifting incomes will keep children out of the child welfare system, prevent family separations, and prevent generational trauma,” he continued.

Overall, the report found that the Bronx had the greatest overall barriers while Saratago County has the fewest barriers overall.

The Citizens Committee for Children of New York is a nonprofit that studies childhood welfare throughout the state and releases the report annually.

How Accessible Is The Location?

Are There Associated Access Fees?

How Many Permits Do You Need?

Are There Rules & Regulations?

What To Do In Case Of Bad Weather?

Will Other People Be Around?

Does This Space Match My Preferred Dress Code?

Will The Town Limit My Rentals And Décor?

Are There Public Restrooms?

How Will We Serve Food?

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