Other Art returns to Greenpoint for fall fair
Shines spotlight on the work of local, women artists
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, Brooklyn Community Foundation
After an extensive search by the board, Brooklyn Community Foundation now has a new president and CEO.
I have spent much of my career working on behalf of New York City families, and specifically Brooklynites,” said Dr. Jocelynne Rainey after it was announced she would lead the organization. “Joining Brooklyn Community Foundation at this moment in the history of Brooklyn and New York City is truly the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Brooklyn Community Foundation is the first and only public foundation solely dedicated to Brooklyn’s charitable community, working in partnership with generous donors and community leaders to invest in racial justice and community-led change.
Since its founding in 2009, the foundation has provided over $60 million in grants to nonprofits throughout the borough.
“I am excited to collaborate with the Foundation’s staff, board of directors, donors, incredible grantees, and Brooklyn communities to advance racial justice and community-led change in the borough,” Rainey said.
Rainey brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership to the Foundation, having served previously as president and CEO of Getting Out & Staying Out (GOSO) and executive vice president and chief administrative officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC). She is a long-time Brooklyn resident.
As CEO of GOSO, a nonprofit that empowers young people to avoid involvement in the criminal justice system through educational achievement, meaningful employment, and financial independence, Rainey increased the budget from under $5 million to over $7 million as she led the strategy, finances, fundraising, and operations of the organization.
Rainey already has a connection to Brooklyn Community Foundation. She served on the Spark Prize Committee, attended and contributed to numerous annual events, and is a donor advisor of a scholarship fund administered by the foundation.
I am humbled to be taking the helm of this iconic institution that serves my beloved Brooklyn through a racial justice lens,” she said. “This is my life’s work.”
Removing Tom
Dear Editor
The weak argument for the removal of Thomas Jefferson’s statue from City Hall is that he was a slave owner. The argument is based on the moralities of these present times.
Examining the moralities of people who lived hundreds of years ago by today’s standards is ridiculous.
Up to the 1800s, slavery was acceptable all over the world. In colonial America, anyone who was successful had a slave. Saves were expensive to buy and expensive to keep, as they had to keep their investment fed and healthy.
So if people want to destroy our forefathers for the morals of today, they will have to destroy the majority of all early Americans.
We have Thomas Jefferson to thank for so much. Many books have been written about him, and I would hope the ignorant people that want to remove his statue read them.
I believe the real reason for removing Jefferson’s statue is not slavery, but because he believed in individual freedom and small government, as well as the responsibility that goes with those freedoms.
The de Blasio administration is full of Communists who want to dismantle the founding fathers and our constitution in order to transform us
Sincerely,
John Procida
Flushing
Twitter wisdom
Dear Editor,
I saw this on Twitter and felt it was worth sharing.
“Just to set the record straight,
this is what the average American wants:
We don’t want money for nothing;
We want jobs that pay enough for our basic needs.
We don’t want free healthcare;
We want our taxes to pay for it, not for more wars.
We don’t want a free place to live;
We want affordable housing that costs no more than 30 percent of our income.
We don’t want corporations to be unprofitable;
We want them out of the political, electoral,
regulatory and policy-making processes.
We don’t want the wealthy to pay for everything;
We just want them to pay their fair share.
We don’t expect elections to deliver the results we want;
We just want to be able to vote and we want our votes to count.”
I can’t imagine that any reasonable person would disagree.
Sincerely,
Linda Imhauser
Whitestone
Support our vets
Dear Editor,
As the nation prepares to celebrate Veteran’s Day next week, Americans should all be grateful for the sacrifices these brave men and women have made in the past and continue to make for our nation.
Our veterans need our support now more than ever, and government must help them and their families. Instead of worrying so much about the illegal immigrants who continue to cross into our country, the government should be taking care of our veterans.
Thank you for your bravery, service and dedication protecting this country.
Sincerely,
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
Happy connections
Dear Editor,
Happy Anniversary to R line subway service via the Montague Street Tunnel between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The original construction of this tunnel by the old Brooklyn Manhattan Rapid Transit (BMT) company cost slightly less than $10 million. To build the same tunnel today would probably cost several billion dollars. Work began on October 12, 1914.
There were 65,000 pre-COVID-19 riders from Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights and other neighborhoods benefitting from a direct subway connection to Manhattan, along with communities along Broadway and Queens Boulevard in Queens.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Good luck Eric!
Dear Editor,
Congratulations to mayor-elect Eric Adams. We all need to offer our support for the incoming mayor, even if we did not vote for him.
Adams will have a lot on his plate. He has many issues to address, like crime and guns on the street, affordable housing, homelessness, mental health issues, rising food costs, vaccine mandates, and much more.
Adams is a blue-collar worker who fully understands the problems of the poor and the issues facing the common men and women of this great city. As a retired captain of the NYPD, I think he will support our Finest.
I hope he succeeds for the good of us all.
Sincerely,
Frederick R. Bedell, Jr.
Bellerose