Marty Joins Protest in Demanding East River Bridges Remain Toll Free

On February 20th, Marty joined Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, chair of the Brooklyn Assembly delegation, Assemblyman Peter Abbate, Assemblyman Jim Brennan, Assemblywoman Adele Cohen, Assemblyman Roger Green, Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, Councilman Simcha Felder and Councilman David Weprin on the Brooklyn Bridge to strongly protest Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to toll the four East River bridges, which would disproportionately tax Brooklynites who are forced to drive over them every, single day. "Tolls are a job killing tax, as Governor Pataki is so fond of saying, that will drive desperately needed jobs out of New York when unemployment rates are soaring," Marty said. "They are really a commuter tax in disguise on Brook-lynites. Instead of taxing those Brooklynites who are forced to use their cars to commute, we must bring back the commuter tax or other broader based taxes that don't disproportionately hit New York City residents based on what borough they live in. This will also be another blow to small businesses struggling to survive and to the service and manufacturing sectors in Downtown Brooklyn and Long Island City. Cultural venues and restaurants, on both sides of the East River, will lose customers when they are doing everything they can to keep them coming through their doors. The 'no toll booth' technology has never been tested in such a large environment, and it will wreak havoc in any neighborhood with a bridge approach and greatly disrupt traffic patterns. At every City toll facility, the cash lines always are the longest, evidence that many commuters, not just out-of-towners, don't subscribe to EZ-Pass. The City has never done large-scale computer or camera enforcement - a red light camera only does one car at a time in one or two lanes. Here they would have to have dozens of cameras on and spend tens of millions of dollars trying to chase down the thousands of people each day that will continue getting a free ride. And guess who gets stuck with the bill - hard working Brooklynites who can't afford yet another tax. People will always find ways to avoid detection. Plus, with the ridiculously high cost of auto insurance, the number of out of state plates is probably already in the hundreds of thousands in and around the City. We all understand these are incredibly difficult financial times, but nobody should be forced to pay an additional tax based on their address alone. We will never be able to toll our way out of this fiscal crisis. I am extremely confident that Brooklyn's Senate and Assembly delegation will make sure that tolls on these bridges will never happen."

Revitalization of Brooklyn's Waterfront Continues

One of Marty's top priorities is the revitalization of one of Brooklyn's most valuable and underutilized resources - our waterfront. He was pleased to help secure $150,000 this week from the State Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization for two more local projects. The BP's office, in partnership with the United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park, will complete a community based planning process to develop a Greenway - Blueway in Sunset Park. This linked route will maximize public access to open space and recreational opportunities on the water, while meeting the needs of commercial and industrial interests along Sunset Park's working waterfront. Marty's office, in partnership with the Regional Plan Association and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway Task Force, will also complete the initial planning for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. This will extend from the Brooklyn Navy Yard to the Gowanus Canal.

Don't Let Your Services Get Cut - This Is Your Last Chance to Be Heard!!

The Brooklyn Borough Board will be holding three public hearings for residents to testify about the impacts of the Mayor's Preliminary Budget. Wednesday, March 5th - Noon - the Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom at 209 Joralemon Street. Thursday, March 6th - 6:00pm - Kingsbay YM-YWHA Auditorium at 3495 Nostrand Avenue (corner of Avenue V). Monday, March 10th - 6:00pm - Billie Holiday Theater - 1368 Fulton Street (corner of New York Avenue). We welcome your important suggestions for how the City could "do more with less," while still protecting our most vital services. Please register upon entry if you would like to speak at a hearing.

Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee to Plan Events Throughout the Spring

Marty is pleased to announce that his Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Committee is planning events this spring to commemorate the rich, cultural history of Judaism, and its important role in the daily lives of so many Brooklynites. "Brooklyn is the center of Jewish life in America," Marty said. "I know the Jewish Heritage Committee will put together an impressive series of events throughout Brooklyn that will highlight the important role of Judaism, now and for our future, while never forgetting our past." Marty will launch Brooklyn Jewish Heritage Celebration on April 3rd with a Brooklyn Salutes Israel morning event at Kingsborough Community College followed by an evening celebration at Borough Hall in honor of the 30th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and its borough-wide Council of Jewish Organizations. On April 29th, which is Yom Hashoa, a day to remember the millions of victims of the Holocaust, Marty will announce the winners of the Holocaust Memorial Poetry and Essay contest, which is open to all public high school students in Brooklyn. Anybody interested in either joining the committee, adding your special events during April and May to our calendar or if you have any other questions, please call Marty's assistant, Rabbi Daniel Fingerer, at 718-802-3001.

Brooklyn Mourns

Brooklyn is mourning the passing of Jesse Short, who founded the Lincoln Place Civic Association with his wife, Lexie. "He was an extraordinary gentlemen who'll be sorely missed," Marty said.