BP Announces More Than $2.5 Million for Brooklyn Housing Development Fund

     On Monday, July 8th, the BP announced that he is allocating an additional $500,000 in capital funds for the fiscal year 2003 to the Brooklyn Housing Fund. This is in addition to the $2 million that the Borough President announced that he was directing to the Brooklyn Housing Fund at his June 27th Housing Summit. The $2.5 million will lead to the creation of more than 500 units of affordable housing. "Having a home of your own is something that many Brooklynites have only dreamed about. This initial investment will help make that dream a reality for hundreds of Brooklyn families. But this is just the beginning. Brooklyn is the greatest place in the world to live, and I just want to make sure that people can afford to stay here," Marty said. Additionally, these homes will include one or two rental units that will create brand new, quality housing that is affordable to area residents. Among the neighborhoods receiving these funds is Saratoga Square/Ocean Hill where over 340 units will be built in separate projects by Full Spectrum and by Loewen Development. The Fifth Avenue Committee will construct 47 homes in Red Hook and 14 units of affordable senior housing in Park Slope. 150 homes will be built in Bedford-Stuyvesant in two separate projects by the TNS Development Group, Ltd. and by Delight Construction Corporation. Also in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the Bridge Street AME Church is upgrading 23 apartments. Finally, 47 homes are being built by Brownsville New Foundation Homes in East New York.

Sinatra Comes Back to Brooklyn

     On Thursday, July 11th, Frank Sinatra Jr., backed by a 35-piece orchestra, opened the 24th Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series in Brighton Beach. Before Sinatra wowed the crowd with many of his father’s classic tunes, Marty made a very special presentation to an incredibly talented Brooklynite. 87-year-old Bill Miller played piano for 40 years for Old Blue Eyes and has continued working for his son. Miller, who was born in Bensonhurst and now lives in Burbank, CA, loved playing in Brooklyn and still gets a kick tickling the ivories for a second Sinatra. "I enjoy working with Frank Jr. because he doesn’t try to imitate his father – he just does his own thing. It’s great. It’s fun. I’ve gotten to do what I love," said Miller. "The songs are a tribute to his father, but he has his own style." Sinatra also enjoyed the Brooklyn crowd. "Brooklyn has become a place of American folklore. The people have always been very good to us. They have always been wonderful," Sinatra said. The Seaside Summer Concert Series continues every Thursday Night at 7:30pm at Seaside Park at 5th Street and Surf Avenue in Brighton Beach, across the street from the New York Aquarium. July 18th is Class Rock Explosion Night. The public can bring their own chairs or they can be rented for $5 per chair. Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-469-1912 or 718-802-3700.

Martin Luther King Jr. Concerts are in Full Swing

     The 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concerts are every Monday Night until August 19th at 7:30pm at Wingate Field, which is located between Winthrop Street and Kingston Avenue opposite Kings County Hospital. The Isley Brothers and Roy Ayers will be performing on July 22th. There’s a possible rain date on Tuesday night. The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs because seating is limited. Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-469-1912 or 718-802-3700.

Marty Helps Open BAM Park

     Every bit of open space is important to Brooklyn’s residents and the opening of a new public park is always cause for celebration. On Thursday, July 11th, Marty took part in the reopening of the BAM Park, which will be open to the public on the weekends from 9:00am to dusk. "The BAM LDC did a wonderful thing for the neighborhood when it transformed this site from a dangerous blight of abandoned buildings to a green and flowering oasis," said the BP. "I want to thank Jeanne Lutfy and the LDC for taking the next important step and responding to the desire of neighborhood residents to have this lovely park available for their use." BAM LDC Chairman Harvey Litchtenstein, Councilman James Davis, Assemblyman Roger Green and a group of local children were also on hand for this special event.

ZAGAT’S in Brooklyn

     We’ve always known that Brooklyn has some of the best restaurants, nightlife and shopping around and now Zagat’s is going to let the rest of the world know too. On Thursday, July 11th, Tim and Nina Zagat, co-founders of the Zagat Survey, invited Marty to The Grocery on Smith Street for the introduction of Brooklyn – its first guide devoted to Brooklyn’s incredible attractions, restaurants, nightlife and shopping. The guide lists 140 restaurants, 75 hot spots to go check out at night and 150 shopping venues. "Zagat’s has proven once again that there never is any reason to leave Brooklyn because everything you can possibly want is right here. I also hope that the guide will attract more tourists to check out the fourth largest city in America. Bravo Zagat’s!" Marty said.

English Version of Lighten Up Brooklyn

     Nidderdale, England, a small rural town in North Yorkshire, contacted Marty to let him know about Slim to Swim, a community effort to lose weight and raise money to help build a swimming pool and a fitness center. Niddedale native Biddy Noakes saw a story about Lighten Up Brooklyn on the BBC in April and wrote Marty a letter about his town’s innovative program. We are happy to report that Nidderdale will soon be getting its own swimming pool! Marty was pleased to hear that Lighten Up Brooklyn resonated all the way across the Atlantic. "Kudos to Nidderdale and all the other communities, across the country and around the globe, who are trying to lose weight by eating sensibly and exercising more. Who knows I might end up swimming laps in Nidderdale one day. Keep up the good work!"