East 57 Street Block Party At East 57th Street Block Association’s Annual Block Party Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein presented Certificates of Merit to students for academic excellence as Morgan Gabriel, Block Association President, looked on.

Security Deposit Problem

Mr. and Mrs. C. called the Assemblywoman for help in getting back their Security Deposit from their landlord after they moved. The Assemblywoman called the management company, and was able to get the check sent to the elderly couple immediately.

Services Delivered Dilemma

Mr. C. visited the Assemblywoman to get assistance in obtaining a refund for promised services not performed by a major electronics superstore. The Assemblywoman helped Mr. C establish an official case with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and shortly thereafter Mr. C received a refund in full.

Insurance Inconsistency

Mrs. K came to Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office to help restore her life insurance policy which was wrongfully cancelled. Despite having paid all premiums, the company claimed she owed prior years’ premiums. The Assemblywoman contacted the New York State Department of Insurance which started a probe, soon thereafter; Mrs. K received a letter restoring her policy in full with an apology and no obligation to pay future premiums.

Medicaid Mess-up

After Mr. T switched from regular Medicaid to an alternative provider, he was denied coverage for life saving scheduled surgery which was allowed under Medicaid. The Assemblywoman called the Human Resources Administration requesting that he be switched back onto regular Medicaid. Shortly thereafter HRA switched him back to Medicaid and he was able to have his surgery covered.

Cutting Red Tape

Ms. H called the Assemblywoman after trying to no avail to receive confirmation of her disenrollment from Oxford Healthcare. She had made a number of calls to Social Security and was told repeatedly that she was still enrolled. She had switched because Oxford was too expensive. The Assemblywoman made a phone call to Social Security and was able to arrange for her disenrollment from Oxford retroactive to the date she attempted to do so originally.

Lease Problem Fixed

Mrs. T visited the Assemblywoman after a number of failed attempts at getting her change of name reflected on her lease. The Assemblywoman spoke with the Management Assistant, identifying the documents needed to make the change. Within two weeks the documents were gathered and her new name was placed on the lease.

Weinstein Fights for Safer Streets After numerous traffic accidents and years of fighting for a traffic signal at the intersection of Avenue V and Brigham Street, DOT finally responded positively to Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and Councilman Lewis Fidler’s requests and installed the much needed traffic signal.

Social Security Card Snafu

Ms. A came to Assemblywoman Weinstein following a number of failed attempts to replace her Social Security Card after losing all of her vital documents. The Assemblywoman, working with the Social Security Administration was able to identify alternate documentation Ms. A could present. Equipped with this new information Ms. A was able to visit the Social Security office and received a new card the same day.

Paper Work Assistance

Mr. and Mrs. R came to Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office to obtain help starting an automatic payment plan with their insurance company. Assemblywoman Weinstein spoke with their insurance provider, had the necessary forms faxed to her office, and assisted the elderly couple in filling them out and direct monthly payments from their bank were scheduled.

Nursing Home Refund

Mrs. H came to the Assemblywoman seeking assistance in obtaining a reimbursable security deposit following her husbands discharge from a nursing home. The original check from the nursing home bounced and her bank charged a service fee. After Assemblywoman Weinstein interceded with the nursing home a check was reissued for the original amount plus the bank’s service fee.

This year, as in past years, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein secured special funding from the state budget for senior citizen, social services, school and youth programs to provide recreational, educational, cultural and social services in our community. Additional funding was obtained for after-school tutoring, early literacy, school technology, equipment upgrades, sports, antiviolence, multicultural and intergenerational programs. If you want additional information on any of these programs which Assemblywoman Weinstein has funded for the following organizations, call the Community Office.

Helping Senior Citizens, Social Services & Community Activities
Recreational, social services and cultural programs:

• Glenwood, Jay-Harama, Kings Bay, Midwood and Young Israel of Bedford Bay Senior Centers; Philip Howard Seniors, Shellbank Leisure League, Fort Greene Senior Citizens, Marine Park Active Adults, Good Shepherd Friendship Club, Sephardic Community Center, Alzheimer’s & Aging Resources and Brooklyn-wide Interagency Council of the Aging;

• Brooklyn Housing and Family Services, CACCI, COJO of Flatbush, Ohel Children’s Services, Diaspora Community Services, Flatbush and Midwood Development Corps, JBFC Services, JCC of Coney Island, JCC of Kings Bay, Kings Bay YM-YWHA, Glenwood, Sheepshead and Nostrand Houses Tenant Associations, Haitian Americans United for Progress, Shalom Task Force, Heartshare Human Services, Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Met Council and Agudath Israel of America;

• Nottingham Neighborhood Patrol, Flatbush Shomrim, Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps and American Red Cross;

• Russian-American Kids Circus, Seaside and Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series, Brooklyn College Center for the Performing Arts, and Ave D Merchants Association Annual Fair & Holiday Lighting Project, BAYFEST.

Schools, Youth and Education Programs
After-school, tutoring, early literacy, arts programs, school technology and public/civic education programs:

• Kings Bay, Paerdegat and Rugby Libraries;

• P.S. 52, P.S. 109, P.S. 119, P.S. 194, P.S. 197, P.S. 206, P.S. 208, P.S. 244, P.S. 251, I.S. 14, I.S. 285, Madison, Tilden, Sheepshead Bay and South Shore High Schools, Yeshiva Ohel Sarah Pre-K, Yeshiva Derech Hatorah Pre-K, Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel Computer Program and Super Science day at the NY Aquarium;

• Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment, MoCADA, Wyckoff House Museum, Roundabout Theater Company, NY City Center, Russian-American Arts Foundation and the Salt Marsh Alliance;

• CUNY Citizenship and Immigration Project, HIAS and Be Proud.

Youth Sports, Anti-Violence, Anti-Graffiti, Multicultural and Intergenerational Programs:

• East Flatbush Ecumenical Choir and Bergen Basin Development Corp. – CLEAN S.L.A.T.E.;

• Brooklyn Cricket League, Kings Bay Youth Organization, Good Shepherd Sports, NY Junior Tennis League, Mr. Bee’s Hornets Basketball and Mill Basin Mariners Football program;

• Friends United Youth Center, Redemption, Schenectady Avenue Block Association, Sephardic Community Youth Center, COJECO, and Schenectady Avenue Block Association Youth Program.

Major Capital Projects in the Pipeline

• Mammography Machine for Beth Israel Hospital;

• Computer Lab upgrade for the Friends United Youth Center;

• Auxiliary Patrol vans for the 63rd & 67th Police Precincts, bikes for the 63rd, 67th, 69th & 70th;

• State-of-the-art Science Lab for Public School 208;

• Renovations at Kings Bay YM-YWHA;

• Renovations at Kings Bay Youth Organization facilities;

• Met Council – Food pantry trucks;

• Wyckoff House Museum – Barn Project;

• Establishment of the Marine Park Community Center;

• New Kitchen for Homecrest Senior Center;

• Caribbean Chamber of Commerce Trade Center;

• Air Conditioning for Madison High School;

• Renovations at Kings Bay Senior Center;

• New Recreational Room at Glenwood Senior Center;

• Renovation of the East Flatbush Senior Center;

• New Ambulance – Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps;

• Harry Maze Park lighting.

Assemblywoman Weinstein reminds you to file a 2007 federal income tax return before October 15th, 2008 to qualify for the economic stimulus payment. This includes certain Social Security recipients and those receiving benefits, who don’t usually have to file a tax return. Thousands of residents living in the community are eligible and have not yet filed.

Individuals with at least $3000 in qualifying income who file may be eligible for a $300 payment ($600 on a joint return). SSI benefits do not count as qualifying income for the stimulus payment.

Call or visit Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office for a 1040A tax form and more information on how to file.

If your only income is from Social Security, you must file a tax return this year to receive your $300 check.