Brownsville News
Health

Hundreds of Seniors And Families Participate in 2nd Annual HealthyNYC Expo in Brooklyn

Sep 14, 2018

(See video at the bottom of the page.)

The 2nd annual HealthyNYC Expo (Brooklyn) was a success by all measures. Hundreds of seniors and families participated in activities, and they left the event with important information on healthcare, vegan options, exercise tips, and more.

The day opened with performances by the Berean Drumline (Berean Baptist Church) and the PATHS Dance program from the Thomas Jefferson HS Campus.

Alwayz Fit 4 Lyfe provided a total body workout, which was enjoyed by everyone.  Fruit, water and refreshments were provided throughout the day. GameOver held a basketball clinic outside on the courts of the Brooklyn Sports Club.

“Having families, and nearly 400 seniors come out on a Saturday afternoon was great”, stated Vernon Jones , Sr, CEO of JIG Media. “This is only the second year of the HealthyNYC Expo, in Brooklyn, and we expect it to continue to grow.  We had 38 vendor partners this year, and we already have additional companies on our list for next year. Watching the total body workout session was incredible. People talk about how hard it is to get families together, well I think this event showed that it can happen, all in one healthy setting. I have to give Fidelis Care a special thanks for being our title sponsor this year.  They brought healthcare information and provided face painting booths for the kids.”

PATHS Dancers, Alwayz Fit 4 Lyfe Team, and JIG Staff in front of Fidelis Care tent

The next HealthyNYC Expo is Saturday September 29, 2018 at Governor’s Island.  Register Here.

For Vendor Opportunities Contact [email protected] or Call 718-285-9351.

List of HealthyNYC Expo (Brooklyn) Sponsors

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Politics

2018 Noteworthy NYC Primary Results Plus List of Losing IDC Senators

Sep 14, 2018

Below are the noteworthy results from the 2018 Primary Elections.

Senators that joined the Senate Independent Democratic Conference, the group of breakaway Democrats who once partnered with Republicans to share control of the chamber, lost big in the NY primaries.  See “IDC” next to their names.

GOVERNOR

Andrew Cuomo (D) 66% 

Cynthia Nixon 34%

 

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Kathy Hochul 53% 

Jumaane Williams 47%

 

ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMOCRAT

Letitia James 41% 

Zephyr Teachout 31%

Sean Patrick Maloney 25%

Leecia Eve 3%

 

STATE SENATE RACES

District 11, Democratic Primary

John Liu: 50.68% ​​​

Tony Avella: 45.31% (IDC)

 

District 13, Democratic Primary

Jessica Ramos: 50.73%

Jose Peralta: 41.74% (IDC)

 

District 17, Democratic Primary

Simcha Felder: 63.25%

Blake Morris: 32.69%

 

District 18, Democratic Primary

Julia Salazar: 54.09%

Martin Dilan: 38.37%

 

District 20, Democratic Primary

Zellnor Myrie: 51.30%

Jesse Hamilton: 43.44% (IDC)

 

District 22, Democratic Primary

Andrew Gounardes: 51.75%

Ross Barkan: 37.64%

 

District 23, Democratic Primary

Diane Savino: 60.05%

Jasmine Robinson: 18.34%

Brandon Stradford: 11.01 %

 

District 31, Democratic Primary

Robert Jackson: 52.88%

Marisol Alcantara: 36.39% (IDC)

Tirso Pina: 3.78%

Thomas Leon: 1.39%

 

District 34, Democratic Primary

Alessandra Biaggi: 53.11%

Jeff Klein: 44.48% (IDC)

 

District 38, Democratic Primary

David Carlucci: 53.23%

Julie Goldberg: 42.51%

 

District 42, Democratic Primary

Jennifer Metzger: 57.56%

Pramilla Malick: 36.90%

 

District 53, Democratic Primary

Rachel May: 50.47%

David Valesky: 46.66% (IDC)

 

ASSEMBLY RACES

District 18, Democratic Primary

Taylor Raynor: 50.06%

Earlene Hooper: 45.10%
District 20, Democratic Primary

Juan Vides: 45.92%

Jack Vobis: 41.91%

 

District 30, Democratic Primary

Brian Barnwell: 57.44%

Melissa Sklarz: 31.97%

 

District 39, Democratic Primary

Catalina Cruz: 48.94%

Ari Espinal: 39.51%
District 104, Democratic Primary

Jonathan Jacobson: 26.40%

Kevindaryan Lujan: 21.23%

Jodi McCredo: 20.05%

Ralph Coates: 15.24%

Alexander Reed Kelly: 11.95%

 

District 136, Democratic Primary

Jamie Romeo: 56.26%

Jaclyn Richard: 22.79%

Todd Grady: 10.83%

 

 

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Features

VIDEO: Brownsville Community Culinary Center

Sep 12, 2018

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DevelopmentHousing

230 Affordable Apartments Plus Commercial Units Coming To Brownsville

Sep 11, 2018

Located at the intersection of Christopher Avenue and Glenmore Avenue, this project will be led by a development team that includes the African American Planning Commission, Inc. (AAPC), Brisa Builders, and Lemle & Wolff.

The development will include approximately 230 affordable homes serving a range of incomes and populations, including extremely low-income households, formerly homeless households and low-income seniors.

It will feature 20,000 square feet of new commercial and community space that will be home to the Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union, as well as a sit-down restaurant, and salon run by a locally-owned beauty products company.

The site will also feature space for the Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (CBEDC), and other partners who will expand their programming for young entrepreneurs and provide services for small businesses and nonprofits.

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FeaturesPolitics

Chris Legree Defeats Brooklyn Democratic Machine’s Attempt To Keep Him Off the Ballot in Brownsville District Leader Race

Sep 07, 2018

Today, in Brooklyn, Chris Legree, candidate for District Leader in Brownsville, defeated the Brooklyn political machine in their attempt to keep him off the ballot. The Brooklyn political machine challenged Legree’s petitions in court, but Legree prevailed. The court issued an order for the Board of Elections to count each petition, and when all the petitions were counted, Legree received nearly double the number of petitions needed to get on the ballot.

Chris Legree, Candidate for District Leader in Brownsville

“This was a battle that we knew we would win. This is not my win, this is a win for the people. We defeated the political machine in the battle, but we are now going to shift gears to make sure we win on Thursday September 13, 2018, when the people have a chance to speak”, stated Legree.

Just weeks ago political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez easily defeated long time Queens Democratic party boss, Joe Crowley, in the Queens Congressional race. Cortez proved that connecting with the people was more important than aligning with the political machine.

Trying to keep candidates off the ballot is a tactic that has been used by the political machine for years. This tactic allows incumbents to keep their seat without a challenge at the voting booth. Legree has a strong base in Brownsville and he is well known, which makes sense that an incumbent would want to keep him off the ballot.  However, in a true democracy elections should be won at the voting booth, not by a challenge that is without merit.

Legree added, “this is a crucial time in Brownsville, with longtime residents facing displacement by gentrification, and seniors are concerned about housing and healthcare. People know that I’ve been working for years with young people in Brownsville, which I will continue to do, but I am very concerned about senior housing. I look forward to working with Councilwoman Alicka Samuel and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, once the final results are in for the primary.”

The primary election is being held Thursday September 13, 2018. Everyone is encouraged to come out to vote for Chris Legree, as the District Leader in Brownsville. The official title on the ballot is Male State Committee.  If you aren’t registered to vote, you can Register Here.

For more about Chris Legree, go to www.VoteChrisLegree.com

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Housing

Brownsville Seniors To Benefit From 1,000 Affordable Senior Apartments Being Built in Central Brooklyn

Aug 28, 2018

This News Sponsored by “Seniors Day” at the Healthy NYC Expo (Brooklyn) Saturday Sept. 8, 2018, in East New York. Seniors are encouraged to attend.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal will finance 1,000 affordable homes for seniors on underutilized land owned by the New York City Housing Authority in Central Brooklyn as part of his $1.4 billion Vital Brooklyn Initiative. The newly constructed, 100 percent affordable housing developments will be made available to NYCHA residents and other seniors, and financed with up to $15 million in Federal 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

“Every New Yorker deserves access to safe, affordable, clean housing — it is the foundation of our comprehensive efforts to address chronic disparities in Central Brooklyn,” Governor Cuomo said. “This investment will seize the potential of vacant properties and help 1,000 seniors move into quality living environments and support our efforts to improve wellness and opportunities in these communities.”

The Governor’s investment builds off of and credits decades of community-led development efforts in Central Brooklyn to preserve affordable housing and increase homeownership. Community-based organizations like the East Brooklyn Congregations bring together congregations, schools, homeowners associations, and local residents in the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville/Ocean-Hill, Bushwick, Crown Heights and East New York neighborhoods. This local leadership provides an opportunity for residents to have a voice in decision making about what happens in their community.

The 1,000 affordable senior apartments announced by the Governor today, proposed for the underutilized NYCHA property in Central Brooklyn will be reviewed on a rolling basis by HCR as NYCHA makes properties available through its disposition process. Federal regulations require NYCHA to get tenant feedback, and publish disposition plans annually before allowing for development.

After a development is selected by NYCHA for a site in Central Brooklyn and it has received public input and been reviewed, it will be able to apply to HCR for the $15 million set aside of federal 9 percent federal low-income housing tax credits. Tax credits are the primary tool used to lower the financing costs for housing developments to make them affordable.

Since 2011, HCR has provided financing to create or preserve 14,600 affordable homes in Brooklyn with an investment of almost $2 billion in HCR resources.

Senator Roxanne Persaud said, “From affordable homes for our seniors, to healthy food and community gardens, Governor Cuomo is tackling every angle of community revitalization. I look forward to seeing Central Brooklyn grow and prosper as these investments deliver for our community.”

Assemblywoman Latrice Walker said, “Our seniors are essential members of our community and helping them move to safe, affordable homes is certain to help them, and all of our neighbors, prosper. I am thankful that in Governor Cuomo we have a leader who understands how we must approach community revitalization from every angle.”

New York City Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel said, “Addressing the needs of  New York’s most vulnerable  residents requires dedication, commitment  and direct financial investment. Governor Cuomo has proven to be a leader, committed to NYCHA residents and our seniors. I’m glad to see dedicated funding for the development of 1,000 units of senior housing, in Brooklyn, with Low Income Tax Credits and I look forward to identifying the appropriate land with the support, voice and vision of the community.”

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FeaturesPolitics

Brownsville Assemblywoman Latrice Walker Featured on the 2018 Albany 40 Under 40 List

Aug 26, 2018

(Photo by Celeste Sloman)

Courtesy City and State

Brownsville’s Assemblywoman, Latrice Walker grew up in NYCHA’s Prospect Plaza Houses, which were torn down as part of a plan to build new housing in its place. “They came to everyone and gave them this promise of returning to this new community that was going to be built up with townhouses … and everything was going to be beautiful and brand new,” Walker recalls. But the new development was never built, leaving Walker’s mother devastated.

“My mom was forced to sign these documents. She had an eighth-grade education, no formal high school diploma or college, (and) was expected to read this legal document,” Walker says. “I remember her saying to me, I never want to see this happen again to any other families, and I should make sure to go to law school to prevent this,” Walker says.

Read Full 40 Under 40 List on City and State

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DevelopmentHousing

A Look At The Livonia 4 Development To Be Built in Brownsville

Aug 25, 2018

It was announced last week that Brownsville, Brooklyn will be seeing multiple brand new developments being built over the next couple of years.  Here’s a look, specifically, at the Livonia 4 Development.

This project will be developed by a team that includes Radson Development, Community Solutions and Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation. Livonia 4 is a multi-site development comprised of a series of parcels along Livonia Avenue between Powell Street and Mother Gaston Boulevard with an additional parcel at the intersection of Livonia Avenue and Amboy Street that will include over 420 units of affordable housing over four sites that will serve a range of incomes and populations, including extremely low-income households, formerly homeless households and low-income seniors. The largest site will include a new supermarket, café and a rooftop greenhouse that will serve as a new local source of fresh produce for distribution to building residents and the community through the supermarket and café. The remaining three sites will feature additional community gardens, social services, a new senior center and a youth and family recreation facility.

The Brownsville Plan is leading to the creation of over 2,500 new affordable homes, representing more than $1 billion of investment. Over 500 affordable apartments and for sale affordable homes are currently under construction. In addition to new development of vacant City-owned land, including the RFP sites, the plan also coordinates over $150 million in critical neighborhood investments, many of which are under way now or already complete.  

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Health

Rent Freeze Information for Seniors at the Healthy NYC Expo in Brooklyn

Aug 25, 2018
Today it was announced that New York City Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit will be partnering with the HealthyNYC Expo, in East New York, to educate seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers about the NYC Rent Freeze Program, which includes the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE). The program helps eligible tenants on a fixed income continue to afford their rent and stay in their home.
The SCRIE program allows seniors and people with disabilities to freeze their rent, ensuring their housing expenses will not increase. Representatives from the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit will be at the HealthyNYC Expo, Saturday September 8, 2018, to help community members learn about the Rent Freeze program and assist interested seniors and people with disabilities complete their enrollment application.
“We are determined to bring resources directly to seniors throughout New York City”, stated Vernon Jones, Sr., founder of the HealthyNYC and New York for Seniors initiatives. “New York City is a great city for seniors, if they know how to navigate the system. Our goal is to assist with that navigation, by educating seniors and caregivers about the city’s existing programs, through our digital media platforms, and events like the HealthyNYC Expo.  We are excited that the PEU has agreed to become a partner in the HealthyNYC Expo, specifically to educate seniors about the SCRIE program. This is what we consider an important resource for seniors.”
If your elderly parent, family member or friend could benefit from the Rent Freeze program, then it is important for you to bring them to the HealthyNYC Expo. You can Register Here. Besides the opportunity to access the Rent Freeze program, the HealthyNYC Expo will include live jazz, blood pressure screenings, giveaways, refreshments, home care information, healthcare information, and additional resources for seniors and the entire family.
Congressman Ed Towns is the host of the ‘Senior Pavilion’ section of the HealthyNYC Expo, Councilman Rafael Espinal is a supporter, and sponsors include Fidelis Care, Healthfirst, Kings County Hospital, United Healthcare, Bare snacks, Tradition Home Care and more.

To become a vendor, community partner or volunteer of the HealthyNYC Expo, contact Kym Swain at [email protected], or call 718-285-9351.

 

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EventsHealthPolitics

Congressman Ed Towns To Host Seniors at the HealthyNYC Expo Saturday Sept 8

Aug 21, 2018

Congressman Ed Towns might be retired, but he is keeping himself very busy. It was recently announced that he will be hosting his 2nd Annual Charity Golf Classic, in support of a Brooklyn youth organization, and it was just confirmed that the retired Congressman will be hosting seniors at the HealthyNYC Expo, Saturday September 8, 2018 at the Brooklyn Sports Club in East Brooklyn. This is a FREE event for families and seniors, as part of the HealthyNYC initiative.

“We are happy to have the Congressman on board as the host of our ‘Senior Pavilion‘ section of the HealthyNYC Expo”, stated Wayne Jordan, Director of New York for Seniors. “The Congressman is a great speaker and truly exceptional when it comes to connecting and engaging with seniors. His presence adds another level of support for the HealthyNYC initiative. The fact is, seniors love him, and they always have.”

Seniors, caregivers and Senior Center Directors are encouraged to Register Here to be a part of the ‘Senior Pavilion’ at the HealthyNYC Expo, or Contact Wayne Jordan at 718-285-9351 or [email protected].  If your senior center would like to request printed flyers to distribute to your seniors, contact Wayne Jordan and someone will drop them off to your center.

The Healthy NYC Expo series of events are designed to create excitement and engagement around the topic of health care. By galvanizing community influencers, elected officials, families, and health care professionals, we are able to equip New Yorkers with the tools necessary to live their best life possible.

Some partners include Fidelis Care, UnitedHealthcare, MetroPlus, WellCare, Healthfirst, MediGap Life, Alwayz Fit 4Lyfe, New York for Seniors, Councilman Rafael Espinal, Brownsville advocate Chris Legree, Tradition Home Care, and a host of NYC agencies and companies providing refreshments and healthy snacks.

Event Activities Include:

  • Giveaways
  • Live Jazz (In Senior Pavilion)
  • Family Full Body Exercise Class by Alwayz Fit 4 Lyfe
  • Medical Screenings
  • Exercise Stations
  • Senior Pavilion Section
  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Family Activities
  • Youth basketball clinic

For Information About Becoming an Vendor, Sponsor, or Community Partner, Contact JIG Media at 718.285.9351 or send an email to [email protected]

Date: Saturday Sept. 8, 2018

Time: 10am-3pm

Location: Brooklyn Sports Club – 1540 Van Siclen Ave., Brooklyn NY 11239

Cost: FREE

Become a Sponsor: Contact [email protected] or call 718-285-9351

 

 

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