BP's Statement on Mayor Bloomberg's Proposed Budget Cuts and Income Tax Reform

"As Borough President, I understand that Mayor Bloomberg has to make some incredibly difficult and painful choices to balance this year's budget, but we in Brooklyn are very concerned that some of these proposed budget cuts will reduce essential services and hurt tens of thousands of Brooklynites. We want to minimize the impact on those most in need. Five out of the eight firehouses targeted for closure are in Brooklyn which could leave many Brooklynites without vital fire protection. Since Brooklyn has the largest number of residents over the age of 60, closing eight senior centers will inflict permanent damage on a very vulnerable segment of our population. The Mayor's proposal for tolls on the East River Bridges is another example of forcing the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn and local businesses to shoulder a much greater economic burden than the other boroughs and could pose a serious threat to our environment. Even though I disagree with the Mayor on some of his proposals, I applaud his idea to reform the City's personal income tax structure to tax non-residents who work in the City and for increased Medicaid reimbursements. These two revenue enhancement measures were something that I called for with the Brooklyn Borough Board earlier this year. I also support the Mayor's call for increasing the productivity of the City's workforce. Additional revenue enhancement measures that I have also previously recommended include streamlining the City's contract and procurement process, a comprehensive review of the City's revenue collection procedures to ensure that every penny is collected and fraud is eliminated, the collection of franchise fees from all telecommunications providers, more efficient billing by the Emergency Medical Service for ambulance services and the re-institution of the Stock Transfer Incentive Fund. All of these measures taken together would provide the City with hundreds of millions of desperately needed dollars. This is not a time for partisan politics. This is a time for New York City to once again come together to devise a far more equitable solution to our budget crisis. We know that the Mayor is a reasonable man and will seriously consider these proposals. We look forward to working with the Mayor and the rest of the City Council to make sure that our 2.5 million residents will continue to receive all of the vital and basic services that this City has always and will always provide."

Marty Welcomes African American Female Leaders to Borough Hall

On November 13th, Marty and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham met with almost 70 African American leaders at Borough Hall to discuss a number of important community issues. After a very lively discussion, three committees were formed. A Health Committee chaired by Dr. Monica Sweeney, Medical Director of Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center, will focus on a Men's Health Initiative and other health issues. There will be a Committee on Mentoring of young women and college students chaired by Safiya Bandele from the Center for Women's Development at Medgar Evers College. Ophelia Perry, President of Church Women's United and a former Borough Hall staffer and current Borough Hall Goodwill Ambassador, will chair a Church Women's Committee.

Marty Joins Con Edison in Announcing Funds for Brooklyn Environmental Programs

On November 14th, Marty joined Con Edison in announcing a Green Grants Program, a new funding initiative intended to support organizations whose activities advance strong, vibrant and stable communities through innovative, Brooklyn-based environmental projects. The company will award a total of up to $300,000 raised through the sale of emissions credits accrued by Con Edison's Hudson Avenue power plant, located in western Brooklyn. A Request for Proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations and schools working in Brooklyn's Community Boards 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 that are interested in applying for funding for projects was also announced. The Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment (BCUE), a renowned local environmental education organization headquartered in Prospect Park, will provide the necessary expertise to the project by facilitating the proposal submission and review process.

Marty Reacts to the Brutal Killing Of College Student in Borough Park

"I am deeply saddened and outraged by the vicious killing of Mohammed Hossain, a freshman at the College of Staten Island, in Borough Park on November 11th," said the BP. "His family immigrated to Brooklyn from Bangladesh six years ago and Mohammed was the first member of his family to attend college. The best way for our Bangladeshi community and the rest of Brooklyn to honor Mohammed's memory now is to remain calm. I want to commend the NYPD for its fine work in quickly arresting two suspects in connection with this heinous crime." On November 15th, the BP's office met with members of the local Bangladeshi community and representatives of the Police Department to talk about the investigation and ways of working together in the future with the community's youth.

Important Economic Development Summit Coming to Brooklyn

On November 25th, Mayor Bloomberg, the BP and the NYC Department of Small Business Services will present the 2002 New York City Economic Development Summit - Best Practices from Brooklyn & Beyond. The Summit will include professionals from the public and private sectors for the day-long event that will focus on major economic development issues and accomplishments. For more information call 718-802-3854 or e-mail bestpractices@brooklynbp.org.