Marty Hosts Emergency Transit Strike Task Force Meeting

On December 12th, Marty hosted an emergency transit strike task force meeting at Borough Hall to let Brooklynites learn more about the City's contingency transportation plans for Brooklyn. Two members from the Office of Emergency Management, the architects of the plans, laid out for the audience what options would be available to them in case of a strike. While the BP praised all of OEM's fine work during this very difficult period, he made a number of recommendations to ensure that Brooklynites aren't underserved. "Brooklyn is blessed with tremendous waterfront access, so we should add more ferries into Manhattan," said the BP. "The Steeplechase Pier, which was used during the summer, and the New York Aquarium, which has ample parking, could shuttle more people from Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Bensonhurst who have very few transportation options. I believe that Floyd Bennett Field would be a prime candidate for emergency funding to allow ferry service and for a park and ride facility because it has thousands and thousands of parking spaces, which would be a tremendous help to the residents of Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Plum Beach and Gerritsen Beach. Ferries could also be established in Northern Brooklyn in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Instituting lane reversals on major roads like Coney Island Avenue and Ocean Parkway would help alleviate congestion during the morning and evening commutes. Finally, I am incredibly worried that Central Brooklyn has not been adequately addressed in these plans. Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Flatbush and other neighborhoods in the heart of our borough have virtually no options. Residents in these areas will have a very difficult time getting anywhere. Neighborhoods like Brownsville, East New York, Spring Creek and Canarsie also have very few options. A concerted effort should be made to provide more desperately needed bus service by utilizing all the buses the City has at its disposal, school buses for example, to help these underserved areas."

Marty Lights Spectacular
Borough Hall Holiday Tree

On December 9th, Marty flipped the switch on a beautiful holiday tree and, for the first time, the entire fa‡ade of historic Borough Hall was decorated for the holidays. The spectacular 36-foot Balsam Fir tree was graciously donated by the Brooklyn Terminal Market Association and decorated by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. Toys, donated by the Fulton Street Mall, were also distributed to a group of children from the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and the North Flatbush Boys & Girls Club. Assemblyman Frank Seddio, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Senator Vincent Gentile, Pastor Harvey Jamison from the Glorious Trinity Baptist Church and Rev. Thomas Boyd of Salem Missionary Church were all on hand for the event. There was also a special performance by the Brooklyn High School of Performing Arts Chorus.

BP Joins Local Dry Cleaners in Clothing Thousands of New Yorkers

On December 11th, Marty, along with the Korean Dry Cleaners Association in cooperation with the Neighborhood Cleaners Association, donated more than 5000 articles of clothing to Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Linda Gibbs. The overcoats, jackets, sweaters and pants were unclaimed clothing that were donated by dry cleaners from Brooklyn and beyond, and will be distributed to four homeless shelters in Brooklyn and others across New York City. "The temperatures may be cold, but Brooklynites and people all over New York definitely have a warm spot in their hearts for people in need," Marty said.

Marty Celebrates Grand Opening of Brooklyn Chinese Family Health Center

On December 11th, Marty joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez at the grand opening of the state-of-the-art Brooklyn Chinese Family Health Center (BCFHC), a five-story, 4,000 square foot health center located in the midst of the largest Chinese population in Brooklyn. "I want to thank the leadership of Lutheran Medical Center and the Primary Care Development Corporation for their vision and commitment to providing comprehensive and culturally competent health care to Brooklyn's rapidly growing Chinese-American community," Marty said. At full operation, the Center expects to provide more than 20,000 visits annually.

Friday the 13th is A Very Lucky Day for Many Brooklyn Kids

Marty and his staff helped make Friday, December 13th, a very lucky day for a lot of kids in Brooklyn when he distributed toys to various Boys & Girls clubs, church groups and youth programs that were donated by everyday Brooklynites and local businesses during Best of Brooklyn toy drives held all across the borough. The toys will then be distributed to needy Brooklyn children. Toy drives were held at schools, shops, restaurants, cultural institutions and civic groups across Brooklyn. The BP was assisted in the toy drive by the Best of Brooklyn, Inc., a not-for-profit charity with the mission to make life better for all Brooklynites by supporting culture, social services, health and education initiatives, tourism and most important, our youth.

Holiday Spirit is Alive & Well All Over Brooklyn

On December 15th, Marty attended Pastor Gary Simpson's Concord Baptist Church for its 11th annual performance of GF Handel's "Messiah." Children from MS 113 and the church's youth choir were just fantastic. The performance was taped and will be broadcasted by the Hallmark Channel. Marty also visited St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Bay Ridge for its annual Christmas celebration. The ISO Symphonic Orchestra and the St. Patrick's Choir sang holiday favorites to a packed house. Msgr. Fursey O'Toole and Father Gerard Sauer organized a beautiful event.