Borough President Adams took to the steps at Brooklyn Borough Hall to join LATEST INITIATIVES forces with the Fair Futures coalition in standing up and speaking out on behalf of Enacting a rule to allow Access-A-Ride capital budget investment in participatory how the City’s money is spent, while enhanc- success-seeking youth who age out of the (AAR) vehicles in dedicated bus lanes is just budgeting (PB) for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). ing civic engagement, eective government, foster care system. common sense, said Borough President In the democratic process, Brooklynites and fiscal transparency. Photo Credit: Erica Krodman/Brooklyn Adams in a statement commending the New voted to determine how millions of taxpayer BP’s Oce York City Department of Transportation dollars would be allocated for FY20 capital Borough President Adams submitted (DOT) for enacting the ruling on May 2nd. projects throughout Brooklyn, including testimony to the State Senate’s Standing The rule, worked on in partnership with Borough President Adams’ annual commit- Committee on Housing, Construction, and Council Member Diana Ayala, is an ment to increasing constituent input in the Community Development as part of a outgrowth from Borough President Adams’ PB process. At locations across the borough, hearing on May 16th at Medgar Evers “Barrier-Free-BK” initiative, launched late including Brooklyn Borough Hall, tens of College in Crown Heights, calling for an last year and made up of Borough President thousands of Brooklyn residents cast ballots extension of the City’s rent regulations and Adams’ recommendations to make mass during the 2019-2020 PB cycle voting an expansion of tenant protections. Borough transit, parks, public venues, and on-demand period, which took place between Saturday, President Adams’ testimony, presented to rides more accessible to those with disabili- March 30th and Sunday, April 7th. Borough the committee chaired by State Senator ties. The rule, which was first proposed on President Adams’ capital budget contribution Brian Kavanagh, focused on a variety of March 8th, was then followed by a public was equally allocated to winning projects policy recommendations aimed at combating hearing on April 11th. Its passage now means voted on by the 11 council members in the New York City’s aordable housing crisis, that for the more than 150,000 New borough who are participating in this year’s including putting an end to preferential rent Yorkers with disabilities who rely on AAR as PB. Projects that won funding include Real and vacancy decontrol loopholes, the their means of transportation, their Time Passenger Info (RTPI) bus countdown creation of the Home Stability Support commute can be quicker, safer, and more clocks around the 45th Council District, (HSS) rent supplement, the passage of “good BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT reliable, while preserving the expediency and playground renovation at PS 58 The Carroll cause” eviction legislation, and the reform of quality of bus lanes for the general public. in Carroll Gardens, Upgrades to Harmony the look-back rule for investigating rent The rule change, nestled within the City Park and the Tompkins Houses Community overcharge complaints. He also called on the Administrative Procedure Act, ocially Center in Bedford Stuyvesant, and a creative committee to continue examining how ERIC L. ADAMS’ took eect on May 30th. lab at Automotive High School in Williams- rent-burdened households can find relief in OF THE burg (visit brooklyn-usa.org for a full list of the aordable housing lottery process. A full On May 13th, Borough President Adams awards). By putting democracy into action, transcript of Borough President Adams’ MESSAGE MONTH announced the impact of his $1,155,000 residents were empowered to directly decide testimony can be found at brooklyn-usa.org. WHAT’S UP AT BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL? UPCOMING EVENTS Elder care took center stage in Brooklyn ¡Viva México! The idea of celebrating Cinco de Island University. The ceremony, held at throughout the month of May when several Mayo was so nice that Borough President Barclays Center, celebrated the accomplish- senior-centric events were hosted at Brooklyn Adams did it twice! On Friday, May 3rd at ments of the university’s nearly 3,000 gradu- VARIOUS DATES SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND SUNDAY, JUNE 9TH Borough Hall. On Tuesday, May 7th, Borough Brooklyn Borough Hall, in partnership with the ates. Borough President Adams appeared again VARIOUS TIMES 9:00 AM 1:00 PM Brooklyn Borough Hall – Room G-80 American Veterans Memorial Pier, 68th Street and Columbus Park President Adams, in partnership with Age Women from Puebla Association of Brooklyn, at Barclays Center on Thursday, May 30th FREE Legal Services for All Shore Road Turkish-American Heritage Celebration Friendly Bay Ridge and Bay Ridge Center Borough President Adams hosted the annual when he addressed Brooklyn College’s graduat- Reach for the Stars Walk & Run NNORC, welcomed senior residents to come celebration commemorating the date (May 5th) ing class, oering words of advice and encour- EVERY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH and experience hands-on technology that of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France agement that were in line with the school’s 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM MONDAY, JUNE 3RD 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM improves their quality-of-life and assists with at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico. Traditional motto: “Nothing without great eort.” Brooklyn Borough Hall 6:00 PM Brooklyn Borough Hall daily tasks, featuring everything from comput- costumes, dance, food, and music were all a part Constituent Assistance Center Brooklyn Borough Hall Men’s Health and Wellness Fair er basics to cutting-edge products and services. of the lively festivities. On Wednesday, May Groundbreaking News! Borough President Constituent Assistance Center Walk-In Pride Month Kick-O The Caregiver Expo, hosted by Borough Presi- 8th, Mexican-Americans again embraced their Adams extended his full support and allocated FRIDAY, JUNE 27TH dent Adams in partnership with Circle of Care, hyphen with Borough President Adams during $1,000,000 in capital funding toward the EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH 12:00 NOON – 9:00 PM VARIOUS TIMES 6:00 PM Columbus Park and Brooklyn Borough Hall was held at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Wednes- the Cinco de Mayo & Mother’s Day Parade and development of Caton Flats, Flatbush’s newest Brooklyn Borough Hall – Room G-80 Brooklyn Borough Hall Caribbean-American Heritage Celebration day, May 8th and oered seniors valuable Festival held at Brooklyn Borough Hall, where 100 percent aordable housing and mixed-use SCORE NYC Small Business Mentoring Brooklyn Borough Board Meeting information on how to care for themselves as the spirited revelry and celebration of Mexican redevelopment project, which broke ground on If you have an interest in any of these events, they age, as well as resources available to those traditions lasted well into the night. Wednesday, May 15th. The 255-unit communi- WEDNESDAYS (THROUGH JUNE 19TH) THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH please contact us by visiting brook- caring for a family member or friend. On ty is being developed by BRP Companies, in 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 5:00 PM lyn-usa.org for more information or by Tuesday, May 21st, Brooklyn’s older adults were Borough President Adams brought inspira- partnership with the New York City Economic Brooklyn Borough Hall brooklynartscouncil.org celebrated at the fourth annual Older Ameri- tional words of greeting to the Class of 2019 at Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the Brooklyn Crochets for a Cause: Homeless Outreach Destination Brooklyn grant submission deadline calling our event hotline at (718) 802-2328. Additionally, to stay up-to-date with the cans Month Celebration, in which attendees a number of the borough’s institutions of higher New York City Department of Housing Preser- were invited to “Connect, Create, and learning. On Tuesday, May 14th, he was on hand vation and Development (HPD), and the New WEDNESDAYS (THROUGH JUNE 12TH) 6:00 PM oce, visit brooklyn-usa.org to sign up for 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL Borough President Adams’ paperless notifi- Contribute” through a resource fair, musical to greet and congratulate the graduates at the York City Housing Development Corporation Columbus Park Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) cations, like his Facebook page, and follow performances, swing dance fashion showcases, joint commencement of LIU Brooklyn, LIU School Lunchtime Concert Series Public Hearing @BPEricAdams on Twitter and Instagram. and more. Global, LIU Hudson, and LIU Pharmacy of Long Continued on next page JUNE 2019 WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG JUNE 2019 Borough President Adams proudly paid tribute to the nation’s veterans when he took part in two parades on Memorial Day. First, at the 152nd annual Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade in Bay Ridge, arguably the country’s largest parade of its kind, and later joining some political colleagues in Queens, including Congresswoman Grace Meng, NYC Borough President Adams brought greetings and words of inspiration to scores of graduates Comptroller Scott Stringer, Councilmember Paul Vallone, Queens Borough President throughout the borough this month. Here, he addresses Brooklyn College’s Class of 2019 Melinda Katz, and Councilmember Donovan Richards during their commencement ceremony at the Barclays Center. Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Oce Photo Credit: Jamal Pollard/Brooklyn BP’s Oce Borough President Adams assisted Chef Patricia Drew during a cooking demonstration and Borough President Adams brought the star power when he and some revelers struck a pose shared healthy eating tips and testimonials with seniors at Independence Towers Senior while enjoying the Spanish-flavored sights and sounds at the Latin Professional Spring Center’s Healthy Eating Fair in Williamsburg. Soiree, hosted at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo Credit: Erica Krodman/Brooklyn BP’s Oce Photo Credit: Melanie Best for SmugMug.com COMMUNITY ALERTS Saving Weeksville Heritage Center became an way in which food insecurity is being combated on commit to an annual investment, starting with (HCD).