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Community News from Assemblyman |
| 2007 Year End Wrap-Up |
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| Steven | |||
| Cymbrowitz | |||
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Dear Neighbor, I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and spirits. Much has happened this past year. In late July, the Assembly met in special session to deal with congestion pricing that would charge drivers for entering the southern half of Manhattan. The Assembly very responsibly voted to create a 17-member commission that will solicit public comment at hearings and evaluate the mayor’s proposal for congestion pricing, as well as all other traffic mitigation plans. The commission is mandated to recommend a plan by January 31st, and the Legislature must then consider the commission’s plan by March 31st, after it’s approved by the City Council. I encourage anyone with ideas on how to better deal with Manhattan’s traffic nightmare to contact the commission at either congestion_mitigation_commission@dot.state.ny.us or 212-383-7234. Earlier this year, I conducted a hearing in my capacity as Chairman of the Assembly’s Subcommittee on Shoreline Protection looking into which government agencies are responsible for Sheepshead Bay. We found that NYC’s Department of Small Business Services was the “owner” of the bay’s underwater land, but more importantly, what came out of the hearings was a greater willingness on the part of several city agencies to work together to address the needs of this beautiful waterway. I am also happy to report that New York City revised its hurricane evacuation plans to comply with recommendations made by my subcommittee to more adequately address the realities of our community and New York City’s other at-risk neighborhoods. Much has happened in Albany in 2007. Most recently, the Governor withdrew his attempt to give driver licenses to illegal aliens after hearing the public’s outcry. Locally, I have been busy working on community issues. Please take a take a few minutes to read through this newsletter to learn about some concerns that affected residents in our community. As I am preparing for a new legislative year, it is important for me to know what you think. Please don’t hesitate to share your views about issues and legislation. Please feel free to email, call, write or drop by my community office. Knowing your opinions helps me more effectively represent you.
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Joins Community in Celebrating Victory over Developer
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz applauded the NYC Buildings Department’s decision to reverse its previous determination that the foundation of a would-be condominium on Avenue S and East 16th Street was completed before the new, stricter zoning laws went into effect. What this means is that the developer cannot build a large building on the three plots formerly occupied by private homes. The Assemblyman said that, “This decision which is most positive for the community, was brought about in great part by their persistence. This project’s neighbors understood the law, knew that a large condominium was not in the best interests of the community, and were determined to make sure that the City did what was right.” |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Working With NYC DOT to Keep Traffic Moving
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz discussing traffic concerns brought to him by community members with representatives of the NYC Department of Transportation at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Avenue P. (Photo Taken by Butch) |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Cleans Up Sanitation Enforcement Mess Assemblyman Cymbrowitz came to the aid of the residents of the 2500 block of East 15th Street after the entire block received Sanitation summonses for placing their trash cans out on the proper day. When Sanitation Enforcement officials basically told complaining homeowners to “tell it to the judge,” the Assemblyman contacted Sanitation Department brass and within hours, the Department’s Enforcement Unit took corrective action, sending a supervisory officer to the office to collect the tickets in the Assemblyman’s possession and going door to door on the block to retrieve the remainder of the summonses. The summonses were dismissed without further inconvenience to the homeowners. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Discusses Community’s Needs with Managers of New Supermarket
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz (center) with the management team of the new Metfresh Super Center, (L-R) Dan Mazzara and Anthony Giani, before it opened on East 15th Street (between Kings Highway and Avenue P) after meeting with them to discuss the needs of our community. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Makes Things Easier for His Constituents
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz with Department of Motor Vehicles staffers during a brief break from providing services in his community office. “I am happy to say that DMV’s professional staff was able to handle my constituents’ needs for non-driver ID’s and other documents in a quick and courteous manner.” The DMV will return to the office in the spring of 2008. Please call to find out the exact date and to make an appointment. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz is Working Since first being elected, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz has made improving the health of his constituents a top priority. He continues to sponsor free health screenings that are conducted in his community office and provided by Beth Israel Medical Center’s Kings Highway Division and Maimonides Medical Center. Also, the fourth Annual Lena Cymbrowitz Community Health Fair was a big success last May, on Emmons Avenue. Over a thousand people received health screenings and obtained stay-healthy information from the 40 participating health organizations and practitioners. This year, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz has already provided hundreds of flu shots and several different health screenings. The following screenings will be held in the Spring. Please look through the schedule and call Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s office to make an appointment for any screenings that interest you.
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Gets When frustrated, tired residents living on East 15th and 16th Streets right along the Q and B Line tracks could not resolve an overnight noise problem with trains parked practically in their backyards, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz contacted MTA NYC Transit. Because of much-needed renovations elsewhere on the line, the trains had to be parked overnight between the Neck Road and Sheepshead Bay Stations. Assemblyman Cymbrowitz worked out a compromise with NYC Transit agreeing to shut the trains’ compressors and lights, enabling residents to once again enjoy the quiet of the night. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Welcomes Classes to his Office
In addition to visiting classes in local schools, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz invites classes to come to his community office. “It’s important for students to actually see government. It’s one thing to read about the legislative branch of government in their textbooks, it’s so much more meaningful for them to witness it in action. I enjoy answering the questions posed by the students,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz said. Classes also visit the Assemblyman’s Albany office when the Legislature is in session. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Checks on Sheepshead Bay Bulkhead Repair Progress
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Poverty Hits Close to Home, But There is Help
Many of us would be surprised to learn that about 22 percent of New Yorkers live in poverty, including many people in our own community. To see how one organization, Met Council on Jewish Poverty, is working to alleviate some of the effects of poverty locally, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz visited the Kings Bay Y. Parked out front was the organization’s Machson Mobile, a clothing store on wheels that provides free, new and used clothing to New Yorkers in need. After talking with individuals waiting to enter the well-stocked vehicle, Assemblyman Cymbrowitz helped Met Council on Jewish Poverty and Kings Bay Y staffers distribute food packages to a long line of recipients. |
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Local Perspectives with Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Continues Cable TV Run
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s weekly cable television program Local Perspectives with Assemblyman Cymbrowitz has started its fourth season on Brooklyn Community Access Television’s (BCAT) Channel 56 (Time Warner Cable) and 69 (Cablevision), Wednesdays at 2:30 pm and 10:30 pm. “This program enables me to explore various issues and topics that are of interest and importance to my constituents and provide them with the local perspective,” Assemblyman Cymbrowitz explained. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Sheds Light on Kings Highway’s Beautification
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz presenting a check for $218,663 to the Kings Highway Beautification Association’s (L-R) Irene Mamiye and Linda Ebani for the purchase and installation of “antique” street lights along Kings Highway from Ocean Parkway to McDonald Avenue. The Association, a group of concerned and dedicated local residents, was instrumental in having the zebra-striped traffic triangle where East 5th Street, Kings Highway and Avenue R meet transformed into a paved, plant-filled area and continue to work closely with Assemblyman Cymbrowitz, Councilman Domenic Recchia, Jr., the Sanitation Department and shopkeepers to improve the look of this commercial strip. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Made Thanksgiving More Cheerful for Seniors and the Needy
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz presented gift cards to the lucky winners of the “Turkey (gift card) Raffles” he sponsored at senior centers in his district. Here he is pictured with a winner at the Council Center. He also provided over 100 turkeys to police, fire and local organizations for distribution to neighborhood needy families that they became aware of over the past year. Assemblyman Cymbrowitz appreciates the community spirit demonstrated by Health Plus, Stop & Shop and Forrest City Ratner Companies for making the turkey and turkey gift card giveaways possible. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Makes Sure Holocaust is Remembered
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz surrounded by some of the winners of his Seventh Annual Holocaust Art, Essay and Poetry Contest. Being a second generation Holocaust survivor, the Assemblyman knows the importance of perpetuating the lessons of the Holocaust and sponsors this contest to encourage students throughout southern Brooklyn to explore Holocaust history and then share what they have learned through their favorite artistic form. Over 1,000 entries were received from public schools and yeshivas. The prizes were presented during the Holocaust Memorial Committee’s annual Holocaust Gathering in Holocaust Memorial Park with survivors, local elected officials and the public present. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz Wants Hospitals to be Designated “Comprehensive Stroke Centers”
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz is working with the New York State Commissioner of Health and local hospital officials to define the minimum requirements for hospitals to be designated as “Comprehensive Stroke Centers.” Ambulance personnel and patients would then know that a facility with this designation has both the advanced equipment and highly trained staff available around the clock to provide the all-important immediate critical care necessary to not only save the life of a stroke patient, but to preserve the quality of their life. Over 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke annually and in New York State alone, in 2004, 6,855 patients died. |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ Office is Here to Help You Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and his staff have assisted thousands of people, answering questions, alleviating bureaucratic runarounds, completing forms, and helping with community concerns and personal problems. They are here to help you too. His office is open Monday to Thursday from 9:30 to 5:30 and Friday from 9:00 to 4:00. No appointment is needed. You may also either call (718 743-4078), email (cymbros@assembly.state.ny.us) or write (1800 Sheepshead Bay Road, Brooklyn, NY 11235-2719). |
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Assemblyman Cymbrowitz on a ladder looking over the uncompleted foundation of a
“would-be” condominium during a rally protesting the development last spring.
(Photo Taken by Butch)
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz fielding questions from students visiting his community
office during a discussion about current events.
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz making a point during discussions with representatives
from the City’s Economic Development Corporation and engineers from Turner
Construction about the repairs underway to Sheepshead Bay’s bulkhead.
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz was assured that the work, from the pedestrian bridge
to Holocaust Memorial Park, was on schedule and every precaution possible was
being taken to make sure homeowners in the area will not be disturbed by the work.
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and Met Council’s Valeriya Beloshkurenko help load the
organization’s Machson Mobile with donated coats that were cleaned by Madelaine
Cleaners. The coats were collected and cleaned in a coat drive sponsored by
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz and then added to the Machson Mobile’s inventory for
distribution in the cold weather.
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz sharing a light moment before taping a program exploring
the benefits that a reproductive endocrinologist can provide for patients with Dr. Richard Grazi,
Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at Maimonides Medical Center.
