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Marty Leads Brooklyn Tenants to Albany

On May 13th, Marty brought busloads of Brooklynites to Albany to join with the New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition, thousands of tenants and other elected officials at the State Capitol to save and strengthen rent regulations. Marty is demanding that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and the State Senate pass legislation - already approved by the State Assembly - to renew, strengthen and expand rent regulations that cover more than one million New York apartments - including almost 285,000 in Brooklyn. "We cannot let these critical rent protection laws expire on June 15th. But renewing them is not enough," Marty said. "We must also expand and strengthen rent regulations. Affordable housing is something I've been fighting for my entire career, and I will continue to do everything I can to make sure every Brooklynite has a safe and affordable place to live. If rent regulations continue to be weakened, New York City will eventually lose all of its rent stabilized and rent controlled units within ten years. Without this and stronger protection, people will continue losing their homes, which will rip apart communities. And Brooklyn would pay an enormous price." Brooklyn has the highest number of renters in the city, and 145,000 renter households spend at least half of their income on housing.

Brooklyn Sues City to Save Our Firehouses

On May 14th, Marty joined Assemblymember Vito Lopez, Assemblymember Joan Millman, Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Councilmember James Davis, Councilmember Erik Martin Dilan, Councilmember Sara Gonzalez, Councilmember Diana Reyna, Councilmember David Yassky and other elected officials in filing legal action against the City, the Fire Department, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, challenging the FDNY's decision to close five firehouses in Brooklyn and eight citywide. "We don't take lightly the prospect of having to sue, but this action was our last resort. The steps dictated in the Charter were not followed and the Blue Ribbon Com-mission, which could have provided a real opportunity to explore alternatives to closing houses, was merely a political punt. And if that wasn't enough, the fire commissioner totally ignored state and city environmental laws that require that the agency examine the environmental impacts of its actions before implementing them. I can't think of an action that will have more of an impact on people than taking away their life saving fire and emergency protection." There will be a hearing on the case on May 20th.

Brooklyn Bridge to the World Celebration Set for May 24th

On May 14th, Marty announced the exciting schedule of events for the first Brooklyn Bridge to the World Celebration in recognition of the 120th Birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge on May 24th. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Marty are co-hosting the daylong civic celebration and tourism initiative filled with a variety of fun events for everybody throughout the borough. The celebration and tourism initiative will kickoff at 8:00 AM with the BIG Crossing, a coordinated biking, running or walking opportunity for New Yorkers to cross from Manhattan to Brooklyn over the bridge. There will be free bus and guided tours to Brooklyn's unique cultural and recreational attractions throughout the borough leaving from Cadman Plaza Park. There will be live stage shows at the Empire Fulton Ferry State Park featuring music, dance, poetry and many other forms of art reflecting Brook-lyn's incredible diversity of talent, culminating with a spectacular sunset performance of the Brooklyn Philharmonic conducted by Edward Outwater and a special concert by Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge. After the concert, a laser light spectacle will illuminate a six-story, 100 foot-wide screen. Of course, there will be another architectural wonder on this historic day - the official Brooklyn Bridge Birthday cake. For more information call 718-802-3875 or visit: www.brooklyn-usa.org.

Brooklynite Sings A Beautiful Tune

Brooklynite Vickie Natale, a music teacher at Mark Twain Junior High School in Coney Island, blew away the competition during the finals of CBS's Star Search song competition and took home $100,000 and a Sony recording contract. The Bensonhurst native captured her crown by singing a soulful version of Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You."

Brooklyn Mourns

All of Brooklyn is mourning the sudden passing of noted attorney Robert Peak. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition Executive Director Marianna Koval, and their entire family. We also note the passing of Rae Abate, the wife of Community Board 1 member Vincent Abate.