INSIDE: GET THE RIGHT RESULTS WITH OUR CLASSIFIEDS SECTION Yo u r World — Yo u r News BrooklynPaper.com • (718) 260–2500 • Brooklyn, NY • ©2017 Serving Brownstone Brooklyn, Sunset Park, Williamsburg & Greenpoint AWP/16 pages • Vol. 40, No. 26 • June 30–July 6, 2017 • FREE DOING PENANCE Brooklyn diocese launches new fund for abuse victims By Colin Mixson tween 2007 and 2015 on lobby- Brooklyn Paper ists to combat statute of limita- The Diocese of Brooklyn es- tions reforms, according to a New tablished a fund to compensate York Daily News report . victims of sexual abuse at the The Diocese of Brooklyn — hands of clergy, its bishop said which oversees 211 churches and on June 22. 186 parishes in Brooklyn and The settlement program — Queens — identified 280 victims which offers money in exchange of clergy abuse dating to 1934 as for immunity from prosecution, and part of “phase one” of the settle- was announced by Bishop Nicholas ment program, and is in the pro- DiMarzio days after the state Sen- cess of inviting them or their fam- Associated Press / Mark Lennihan ate killed a bill that would open the ilies to apply to it, according to Christopher Wallace, better known as Notorious B.I.G., accepts his awards for rap artist Catholic Church to a f lood of law- Erstad. and rap single of the year at the Billboard Music Awards in 1995, two years before he suits — offers immediate recourse Those who participate are not was shot and killed in 1997. to victims as lawmakers in Albany required to sign a confidentiality continue to twiddle their thumbs, agreement but must waive their according to a lawyer portrayed right to bring their cases to court, in the Academy Award-winning where they could stand to receive film, “Spotlight.” larger settlements and force the NO B.I.G. DEAL “It’s certainly beneficial for church to reveal information in- some victims, who enter the fund cluding the identities of abusive with the hope of gaining valida- priests and sealed records show- Opponents cry foul over pol’s proposal tion, healing, and moving on with ing church officials ignored vic- their lives,” said Mitchell Gara- tims’ complaints, according to an bedian, who represents 13 victims attorney who represents victims to name b’ball courts after slain rapper of sexual abuse in Brooklyn. “Oth- throughout the city. ers will wait for the legislature “It effectively hides the truth,” By Lauren Gill Cornegy acknowledged Wal- to change the statute of limita- said Jeff Anderson. Brooklyn Paper lace’s lyrics are misogynistic, but tion laws.” And while the diocese’s repu- They’re dead wrong. pointed out that he has helped tons The Brooklyn fund is modeled tation suffered under past leaders Clinton Hill residents op- of kids posthumously through the after one established last year by who sheltered abusers, its work un- posed to naming the basket- Christopher Wallace Memorial the Archdiocese of New York, both der Bishop DiMarzio to prevent ball courts in a neighborhood Foundation, an academic orga- of which are administered by a further attacks is commendable, park after native hip-hop leg- nization founded by his mother pair of attorneys that oversaw the according to a Brooklynite who end Biggie Smalls should bury with the slogan “B.I.G.: Books September 11th Victim Compen- was abused and plans on apply- their issues with his controver- Instead of Guns.” sation Fund. ing to the fund. sial lyrics and tough-guy rep- Another resident said he and The diocese established the pro- “It’s done a complete 360,” said utation and honor the rapper his friends hailed Wallace for his for his far-reaching influence, gram after witnessing the success File photo by Jori Klein Anthony Hughes. “There are no musical genius, and that people of the archdiocese’s fund, not in Downtown’s St. Boniface Catholic Church is among those in ifs, ands, or buts about it — they the chairwoman of Community should not be so quick to dismiss response to the push for legisla- the Diocese of Brooklyn, which recently established a fund do everything right.” Board 2 said at a June 19 Parks lyrical content in hip-hop that also tive reform, according to a spokes- for victims of sexual abuse by clergy. But no amount of money will Committee meeting. exists in other genres. woman who said the Child Victim erase the painful memories vic- “Let’s give it a break folks. “We didn’t think about the Act — a bill to relax the statute tims carry, according to Gara- I don’t want to say forget about Photo by Jason Speakman drugs, we thought about the art of limitations on child abuse that stacles in Albany for years. it’s pretty obvious that is not the bedian. his lyrics, but I don’t look at his These basketball courts at Crispus Attucks Playground form,” said Jason Salmon, who passed in the state Assembly and “They’ve been debating that motivating force here.” “There’s no victim I’ve ever rep- lyrics now, I look at his contri- works for state Sen. Velmanette was supported by Gov. Cuomo legislation since 2005, and it’s But some challenges to that bill resented who would not in a second butions,” said Shirley McRae. could be named for Biggie Smalls. Montgomery (D–Clinton Hill). “I before dying in the Senate ear- going on 12 years with nothing can be traced to the church, which give back all the money to not be “Why don’t we try to focus on know that art form advanced a lot lier this month — has faced ob- passed,” said Carolyn Erstad. “So spent more than $2 million be- sexually abused,” he said. the good? The man has been of people’s lives — if this was the dead for 20 years, when do you each year since Biggie died, and Rolling Stones, the Beatles, or any say enough is enough?” Cornegy wants to cement the rap- other genre of music would we be Councilman Robert Cor- transportation costs.” ably would have heard them by per’s influence in the neighbor- examining it like this?” The pol acknowledged there now.” negy (D–Bedford-Stuyvesant) hood by branding the blacktop is proposing to name the courts This isn’t the first time Cor- may be community opposition, DeBlasio has not yet ap- with his name. negy — who said he promised but said he has only received one proached Levin about making at Crispus Attucks Playground But some locals argued that the Packing perps! on Fulton Street and Classon Wallace’s mother that he would complaint since the House of D’s the jail bigger, but the council- artist who rapped about woman- Avenue for Christopher Wal- do everything he could to honor 2012 reopening, which was about man said he has had informal con- izing and guns doesn’t deserve lace, better known as the No- the rapper — has tried to name inmates peering into a neighbor- versations with the administra- the tribute, and suggested the Pol open to idea of enlarging torious B.I.G., in an homage courts be named after an iconic something after him. The pol tried hood apartment from the facility’s tion about the possibility. to the former Clinton Hill res- female politician from Brook- to get a portion of St. James Place B’Hill jail to allow closed Rikers rooftop recreation area. And the pol noted that he has ident, who died at 24 after be- lyn instead. co-named after Wallace in 2013, The jail put up netting to block not decided on whether or not to ing hit with four bullets in a “By naming a park after him but dropped the cause after com- By Lauren Gill inmates’ views after that, and support expanding the House of D, drive-by shooting. you are endorsing that he stood for munity outrage over it caused fur- Brooklyn Paper Levin said he has not heard of but said concerned locals should The Parks Committee voted drugs and carrying illegal guns,” ther pain to Biggie’s mother , Cor- He’s betting on the House. any problems since, a sign that consider how their worst fears unanimously to approve the said Fort Greene resident Lucy negy said. A Boerum Hill councilman expansion might not necessar- about it have yet to come true. tribute. Community Board Koteen, who brandished copies The basketball courts will get said he is open to the idea of ex- ily be felt throughout the neigh- “I’m not pre-approving any- 2’s Executive Committee also of Wallace’s lyrics at the meet- a plaque with Wallace’s name and panding the neighborhood’s 800- borhood. thing,” he said. “It’s important voted to approve it at a June ing. “His favorite thing was to put a paragraph detailing his contri- bed House of Detention as part “It’s been five years, my office to note that the experience over 26 meeting. down somebody else. Couldn’t we butions to the community if the of the city’s plan to close the jails is down the street,” he said. “If the last five years hasn’t been the The hoops have hosted an name it Shirley Chisholm Park or tribute is ultimately approved by on Rikers Island. people have complaints I prob- worst case scenario.” annual basketball tournament something?” the city. “I’m in favor of closing Rik- ers, there’s a capacity for jails in our Downtown area, and we’ve below market value instead, to in- learned through the reopening that sure it remains in the horse busi- having a facility there isn’t terribly onerous to the surrounding com- Staying in the neigh-borhood ness, according to the family’s munity,” said Councilman Steve real estate agent.