SUCCESS OF FELDER’S TRANSPORTATION LAW
As his after 4 pm school bus program entered its second year, Senator Simcha Felder attended a workshop for non-public schools to discuss how the state’s education budget impacts the non-public school community. Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and Assemblyman Dov Hikind joined him.
Approximately 70 schools were represented at the meeting, which was held at Ateres Chaya Hall in Borough Park.
Last March, the New York State Legislature passed Felder’s historic legislation, which made public, private and parochial schools, that hold academic classes from 9:30 am or earlier until 4 pm or later, eligible to receive pick-up and drop-off bus service within 600 feet of their students’ homes.
An initial allocation of $12 million had been earmarked for this initiative, but due to the program’s popularity, a total of $23 million in permanent funding has been made available.
“Getting this legislation passed was not only a matter of safety for me, but of equity,” Felder said. “For far too long, the city and state had denied our children bus service. My legislation has resulted in direct savings to parents and yeshivot.”
Senator Felder also addressed the education tax credit bill he is championing. “Yeshivot as a whole would have received $75 million in funding in the first year had it been implemented. That number would increase to $113 million and $150 million in the second and third years under the tax credit proposal,” he said.
“There’s still a glimmer of hope that we may get the education tax credit bill passed before the end of session. I will continue to fight until it is signed into law, and tuition-paying families get some of the relief they deserve,” he concluded.
FATAL COLLISION
Two vehicles collided in Marine Park, resulting in the deaths of Philbert Martin Williams, 20, and his 18 year old passenger, Christina Wipper.
The accident happened at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U, shortly before 6:40 pm. Williams’ car collided with an SUV that was making a turn. He was driving nearly 100 mph heading south on Flatbush Avenue and ran a red light at the intersection. The SUV was turning left onto Avenue U from Flatbush.
Williams passed away at Coney Island Hospital, Christina Wipper died at the scene of the accident. Two occupants of the SUV suffered minor injuries. They were taken to Kings County Hospital.
A horrific video, recorded by a security camera, provided a clear view of the intersection. Williams’ car flashed into view for a split second before the terrible impact. Afterwards, the car spun out and hit a telephone pole. Firefighters had to use tools to cut into the roof of the mangled car. Shortly thereafter, the NYPD announced that police officers would be cracking down on speeding drivers, citywide.
ENDING GUN VIOLENCE IN CONEY ISLAND
Councilman Mark Treyger was joined, at the corner of West 31st Street and Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island, by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Kransy, Council Member Jumaane Williams, the Coney Island Anti-Violence Collaborative and concerned residents. The gathering was to denounce the gun violence that continues to plague the community.
Two individuals had been shot in that very spot, the day before, in broad daylight. “The fact that yet another shooting occurred in the middle of our community—on a weekend afternoon—is another reminder of the need to make ending gun violence in Coney Island a major priority for our city. We have a crisis that needs to be addressed through better education, job opportunities, security initiatives, expanded community programs and other resources. I will continue to stand with my partners in Coney Island, as we work to provide all residents with alternatives to crime and violence. We must end this epidemic,” said Treyger.
He went on to highlight his wide-ranging initiatives and proposals to help greatly reduce gun violence in Coney Island. He is calling on a number of city agencies to come together and create a comprehensive, all-out campaign to reach this goal, including more police resources, additional Parks Enforcement Officers dedicated to Coney Island’s boardwalk and amusement area, to relieve pressure from the 60th Precinct and allow its officers to focus on the residential areas.
Councilman Treyger is forming a neighborhood clergy council to bring together religious leaders from throughout Coney Island to develop programs and strategies to end the violence. The launch of this effort will be expedited in light of the recent shootings.
“We need to stop the flood of guns onto our streets. I don’t believe that this is a reflection on the community of Coney Island or Brooklyn. This rally shows that everyday citizens are coming together to say they don’t accept what happened. This is a signal that Coney Island is not going to accept these acts of violence,” said Brooklyn Borough President Adams.
“We need to show our kids that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have so many great organizations in Coney Island,” added Assemblyman Brook-Krasny.
More than 25,000 runners participated in the 34th Annual Brooklyn Half Marathon. The race began in Prospect Park; participants walked, jogged, and ran to Ocean Parkway, then continued to Coney Island.
There was tight security, and plenty of volunteers were on hand to help those overcome by exhaustion. All was going well, until an unidentified man collapsed at the finish line. On-site medical practitioners tended to him, then he was taken to Coney Island Hospital. Sadly, he passed away some time later. His name was not released and there is no word as to what caused his death.
IMPROVING TRAFFIC SAFETY
At the reopening of the rebuilt Hamilton Avenue asphalt plant in Brooklyn, alongside his commissioner of Design and Construction Feniosky Pena-Mora, Mayor de Blasio said he will repave 1,000 miles of streets and repair more than 400,000 potholes, to improve traffic safety in the city.
“This is a major investment in infrastructure,” he said. The $25 million rebuilt plant will help increase the Department of Transportation’s asphalt production and recycling capacity.
De Blasio has allocated more than $226 million in capital funds to repave city streets, and $670 million to completely reconstruct streets in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Officials acknowledged that filling potholes serves as a temporary fix until the street is completely reconstructed, but, de Blasio added, “in many cases a pothole being filled is the right answer.”
