Tradition Home Care and Canarsie Adult Living Day Center have partnered to deliver care packages and PPE items, like masks, to seniors in East Brooklyn. Staff members of both organizations are doing their part to make sure seniors in their area have the supplies they need in order to stay safe during this COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on when they will be making their next deliveries you can contact the organizations at the telephone numbers below.
All Brooklyn community leaders and residents are encouraged to join the discussion; ask questions and comment live. The discussion will include police brutality, protests, curfews, the newly proposed Elected Civilian Review Board (ECRB) and other important community issues.
Photo of a Black Lives Matter demonstration in 2016 by Nicole Baster on Unsplash
Today Mayor De Blasio imposed an 8pm-5am curfew starting today June 2 through Sunday June 7. With this imposed curfew there were no guidelines set for people who have to go to and from work or for those who might find themselves trying to get home by 8pm but find themselves delayed by traffic or NYC transit.
DeBlasio says there will be additional NYPD officers where needed.
Monday night’s 11pm curfew didn’t help much as Macy’s and other stores in Midtown had their windows broken and merchandise stolen.
Some people are fearful that an 8pm curfew might open the doors to police violating and arresting innocent people who may be going to and from work, or those who might find themselves out after 8pm due to missing their train or bus. Neither De Blasio or Cuomo discussed any guidelines or strategy on making arrests or enforcing the curfew.
Applications are now available for 206 NEWLY CONSTRUCTED Apartments at 2858 Linden Boulevard (Linden Terrace), East New York, Brooklyn Amenities: Outdoor Terraces, Community Room, Children’s Playroom, Bike Room, On-site card operated Laundry*, parking*
No application fee • No broker’s fee • Smoke-free building
This is under New York City’s affordable housing program.
The Deadline to Apply is JULY 21, 2020 – APPLY HERE!Please follow the directions and take your time filling out the application. You will have to register on the NYC website before you apply. Once you are registered you will be able to apply for multiple new developments.
In yesterday’s one on on interview, on VOICES of East New York, (see the full interview below) with a representative of the Campaign for an Elected Civilian Review Board, reference was made to how the NYPD use tactics taken directly from the days of Slave-Catching. When you look at how the NYPD “police” New Yorkers of color, while “protecting” white New Yorkers, you can see the slave catching mentality at work.
If you are a black boy, man, girl or woman, police are too comfortable asking us questions in an attempt to get us to pull out your “papers”. Sounds familiar? During slave catching days you had to pull out our papers to show you were free. Nothing has changed. Whereas white New Yorkers get a smile and an “is everything ok”. This is why white folks have no problem literally spitting in the face of a police officer. They know they will not get shot, slapped or cursed at. They might not even get a ticket.
A white woman on my block in liberal Clinton Hill asked me what can “we” do about racism? Really? What can “we” do about racism? I told her to tell her friends and family to stop being racist. What else can I tell her? The problem is your white friends don’t know that they themselves are racist. If your white friends think Trump is good in any way then you have your answer right there, that person is in fact a racist because Trump stands for racism. That is his entire platform. Let’s be clear. Some of us have white friends who claim to be liberal and in support of the black cause but they like Trump. Really? You can’t be racist sometimes. Either you are or you aren’t.
Don’t get me wrong I’ve actually heard black “brothers” say “hey Trump’s not bad, he speaks what’s on his mind”. This is the hatred of yourself that the media has banged into your head over the years. For a black person to think Trump does anything that is good for black people is total insanity and sad. I feel sorry for you and your children, if you have any.
Let’s take a look at the media and how it hurts us everyday right here in NYC with Cuomo’s daily rants. Count how many time this man combines “black, minorities and poor” as if they are all one in the same. These words are powerful. He’s telling the world on national television everyday that “blacks, minority and poor” are synonymous. Is he doing it on purpose? I don’t know but I would have thought one of his black “friends” would have pulled his coat on this by now. Have you ever heard him say “minorities, poor, Jews” or “minorities poor Italians” or “minority, poor, Russians”? But guess what people there are poor Jews, Russians, Italians, African Americans, Caribbeans, etc….
We have to call out everyone who says anything that is racist, on any level. Don’t be scared of telling Cuomo that he’s speaking racist language. If you sit in these city agency and Corporate meetings as a black person but afraid to call racism out then YOU are part of the problem. Stop being scared. Be strong for your children and grandchildren.
Enough said…..for now. Watch the video below to find out about the Campaign for an Elected Civilian Review Board. Don’t let this board get created without your input. At one point during the interview the representative hits it on the head when she says the police use slave catching tactics to police black people. No time to be scared and no time for tears. This is the time for strength, strategy and thought.
If you want to ask me a question personally, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Especially young people. Understand the media and its power, understand racism when you see or hear it and understand the part you play in making people respect you.
Although most of us are preoccupied with COVID-19 and protesting against rogue police officers, there is still an election that will take place in New York City in June. Absentee Voting is happening now, early in-person voting begins June 13 and election day is Tuesday June 23, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic everyone can vote via absentee ballot. See the options below.
IMPORTANT VOTING DATES
Tuesday, June 16: Last day to send in your absentee ballot application via mail, email or fax (Request Your Absentee Ballot) Monday, June 22: Deadline to postmark absentee ballots
Saturday June 13 – Sunday June 21 – In-person Early Voting at polling sites.
Tuesday, June 23 – Election Day In-person voting at your polling locations
To prevent the community spread of COVID-19, all registered voters may apply for an Absentee Ballot to vote in the upcoming
June 23, 2020 elections.
If you are affected by COVID-19, please check the box for “Temporary Illness” on the application. The definition has been temporarily expanded to include those affected by COVID-19 and/or the potential of contracting the virus.
This website can be used only by registered New York City voters to apply for an Absentee Ballot for the June 23, 2020 Elections.
Please enter your information exactly as it appears in your voter record. Failure to do so may result in a “Record Not Found”.
Let me start by saying I am not an attorney but I believe I have common sense, just like the majority of black people in New York City.
Police Officers continue to violate the rights of black people in many ways, even to the point of murder. As we all know, this is happening around the country, with New York City being one of the biggest culprits in the violation of civil rights and people’s rights, in general.
Police continue to violate because they are rarely disciplined on any level. The Mayor and Governor can talk all they want about how bad this is, but they will never truly side against the police in a way that is meaningful. I don’t remember deBlasio or Cuomo ever asking for an officer to be arrested, have you? Talk is very cheap. What’s not cheap is hitting people in the pockets. If cops of the NYPD and the Police Union are hit with lawsuits, fines, firings and prison then we will absolutely see change.
Here’s a list of suggestions (feel free to add your suggestions). Let’s seriously find elected officials who will agree with these suggestions and back those people. This has to happen through legislation by elected officials but the people have to demand it and make the discussion real.
If an individual officer is found to have violated the rights of any citizen that officer can be sued personally by the individual who has been violated, with the individual getting a part of the officer’s pension, salary, house or whatever. The other officers who are with the offending officer should also be hit with the same financial punishment. Three strikes and the officer is fired on the spot. This is for basic offenses like what they did to the woman on the train station with her young child.
If an officer kills someone without cause then the Police Union should be sued and hit with massive fines, as well as the officer being sued personally. The officer goes to prison as well as all officers who were with that officer because they did not stop the violation.
Two deaths in any one year at the hands of the police then the Police Commissioner gets fined and fired.
Four wrongful deaths at the hands of the police in a year then the Mayor gets fined and fired.
If I missed anything please add to this list and let’s ask candidates where they stand on these issues.
While we are being distracted by garbage, the Republicans are putting judges in place on all levels, including the Supreme Court, and the courts are the places where these issues are decided. You know, like when it was legal to own a slave and illegal for a slave to run away. Yeah, that was done in the courts people.
In other words we have to watch the people who have the power to nominate judges. Want to know why Republicans are quiet although they know Trump is an idiot and a buffoon? It’s because they can deal with his incompetence and ignorance as long as he’s putting judges in place who will do their bidding.
So how do we get this done?
Ask every candidate where they stand on these issues, and watch how they vote when they get in office. Force them to write legislation, or let’s do like Corporations and write the legislation for the politicians.
Everyone should talk about this concept everyday with friends, family, elected officials. Make this the topic of importance.
Pay attention to ALL judge races on the local level. Yes judges on the local level are voted in.
Pay attention to the Presidential races and the Supreme Court nominations.
Start asking candidates now how they feel about this concept and let’s hear what they say.
The term that keeps people from winning lawsuits against police officers, personally, is “Qualified Immunity“, a legal doctrine in United States federal law that shields government officials from being sued for discretionary actions performed within their official capacity.
People like to use the phrase “Stay Woke”, but are we really “Woke”? We are distracted by reality TV shows, Trump’s incompetence, consuming products, and just overall nonsense.
The bottom line; hitting police officers in the pocket and having them truly face prison time will in fact lead to less killings at the hands of the police. Let’s all make it a point to bring this discussion to every person we know and let’s put political candidates on the spot by asking them how they feel about this concept.
NYCHA has simplified its Rent Hardship Policy to make it easier than ever for you to reduce your rent during the COVID-19 crisis.
Who Can Apply for Rent Hardship?
If your hours have been cut at work, or if you have lost your job, please fill out an Interim Recertification application immediately.
As a public housing resident, your rent will always be 30 percent of your household income.
If you have no income at this time, your rent will be ZERO.
There is NO waiting period to report loss of income to NYCHA. Please do not delay.
The standard two-month waiting period normally required to apply for an Interim Recertification has been suspended.
What You Need to Apply for Rent Hardship
Until further notice, NYCHA residents may SELF-CERTIFY their income loss.
This means that supporting documents such as pay stubs, a letter from your employer, and/or verification of unemployment benefits, which are usually required to submit the Interim Recertification, are not required at this time.
We will still accept these documents if you have them. We will also accept a handwritten letter from your employer and/or emails, as well as a telephone call from your previous or current supervisor, as verification of your loss of income. However, if none of these items are available at this time, you may provide them to NYCHA at a later date.
With or without these documents, you can SELF-CERTIFY your loss of income, submit your application, and receive a reduction in your rent.
How to Apply for Rent Hardship
For your convenience, there are THREE different ways you may apply for an Interim Recertification:
Step 2: Identify the person in the household who has lost income.
Step 3: Provide the dates of employment for the job where income was reduced or lost; previous salary; and current salary, if income has been reduced.
Step 4: Provide the type of income that has been lost or reduced.
Step 5: Photograph and upload documents (if available).
Step 6: SELF-CERTIFY and submit.
This online application uses Google Translate to access the application in over 100 languages.
2. Call the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at718-707-7771 (Option 5)
Residents can now call the CCC at 718-707-7771 (option 5) to complete the Interim Recertification application over the phone. A NYCHA customer service representative will guide you through a brief set of questions; you can SELF–CERTIFYyour income loss and submit the Interim Recertification application over the phone.
Residents who require translation services will be simultaneously connected with the Language Helpline, which will assist throughout the process.
3. Contact Your Property Management Office
Residents may also call their Property Management Office to request a paper Interim Recertification application.
You may provide supporting documents with your paper application or take a picture/upload/scan any documents and email them to your Property Management Office.
Once you have completed and submitted the application, you will be contacted by your Property Management Office to SELF-CERTIFY.
You may use the translated application to review the questions in the language of your choice, but you must complete and submit the English application.
When Will the Rent Reduction Go into Effect?
Your rent will be adjusted for the month following the submission of the application. Any rent adjustment that does not take place immediately will be retroactive to the first of the month after you initiate the Interim Recertification request.
If you do not see a change in your rent immediately, NYCHA will accept partial rent payments until the application is processed.
It is no secret that there are officers on the NYPD who are out to “police” entire communities, while “protecting” members of other communities. This practice is the reason for the existence of a Civilian Complaint Review Board, which by all accounts, has been useless in stopping abuses by officers of the NYPD.
There is a proposal being presented to New York City to do away with the CCRB and replace it with the ECRB (Elected Complaint Review Board).
According to an article in City and Statethe Campaign for an Elected Civilian Review Board had testified for the need to completely do away with the CCRB, which is politically appointed, and replace it with an agency consisting of publicly elected members instead. The group even drafted changes to the city charter that would establish that elected board, which the commission did not utilize.
This Sunday, May 31 at 9am there will be an open discussion about this newly proposed Board and its effectiveness, on VOICES of East New York with Nikki Lucas. Community members throughout New York City are invited and encouraged to join the live discussion.
Ana Santiago will be a guest on the show to answer questions about the Elected Civilian Review Board and how it plans to hold rogue police officers accountable.
KOTA The Friend, a globally recognized Independent Hip-Hop artist from Brooklyn, posted an important message on his Instagram page today. KOTA highlights the need for black boys and men to come together at a time when police departments around the U.S., including right here in NYC, continue to kill black boys and men.
KOTA’s song, For Colored Boys, from his first album, FOTO speaks to black boys, men, girls and women. His lyrics are powerful and relevant for the current time. It’s not hard to see why FOTO racked up over 100 million streams and his current album, EVERYTHING, shot to #1 on the iTunes Top 40 hip hop albums chart and has remained in the top 10.
This song is a letter to my son and all the little black boys that may not have someone to teach them these things. we gotta come together and build each other up. They don’t care about us so we have to care about each other.
KOTA lives what he preaches, as he remains 100% Independent, although he has been offered deals by all of the major record labels. He owns his own apparel line (FLTBYS), purchased his own building and truly believes in black boys and men being independent.
