MARTY HAILS CRUISE LINES AGREEMENT

On April 19, Marty was thrilled to hear that Brooklyn's waterfront will be joining the borough-wide renaissance, with the announcement by City and Norwegian and Carnival Cruise Lines that they will build a cruise ship terminal on the Brooklyn side of the East River in the coming years. Marty commended Mayor Bloomberg for sharing his enthusiasm to make Brooklyn an Eastern Seaboard port-of-call of choice for cruise passengers. “I, along with all Brooklynites who love to cruise as much as I do, will be able to embark right here in Brooklyn without taking an airplane to Florida or even crossing our beloved Brooklyn Bridge,” said Marty. The exact location of the terminal hasn’t been determined, but the announcement means Brooklyn is one step closer to establishing a proper use for its waterfront. The terminal will also benefit Brooklyn’s small businesses by showcasing Brooklyn as a top tourist destination.

BROOKLYN EXPRESS BUS SERVICE CONTINUED

On April 19, South Brooklynites breathed a sigh of relief when State Senator Martin Golden secured state funds to continue MTA weekend express-bus service on the X27, X28 and X29 lines for another year. When the MTA threatened to discontinue the weekend bus service following the return of full subway service over the Manhattan Bridge, Marty joined Senator Golden and City Council Member Vincent Gentile in demanding that the bus service continue. The express-bus lines serve residents of Southern Brooklyn communities underserved by subway service, such as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Fort Hamilton and Bath Beach. Marty says, “Kudos to Senator Golden!” for securing $1 million in state funds to maintain this valuable service for Brooklynites. “The elimination of weekend express bus routes is counter to our efforts to increase transit use and make our society more mobile,” said Marty. He also joined Senator Golden and Council Member Gentile in calling for the MTA to make weekend express-bus service permanent in the future.

MARTY CONVINCES CITY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR 20 HENRY STREET TENANTS FACING EVICTION

On April 28, Marty announced that, at his request, the City has developed a plan to provide alternative affordable housing to the tenants of 20 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights. The building's tenants have either recently moved or will be forced to move soon, because they face eviction due to the building landlord's buy-out from the Mitchell-Lama housing program. The residents who are adversely affected by the recent buyout include some of the finest artists in the Brooklyn Heights community."Fighting to build and preserve affordable housing has always been my top priority," said Marty. "Mitchell-Lama tenants must be protected from buy-outs. I am pleased that in this case we were able to agree on a solution that allows 20 Henry Street's residents to find new housing in their neighborhood that they can afford, but the fight continues to preserve and create much-needed affordable housing."

MARTY JOINS THE EUROPEAN UNION AND BROOKLYN CULTURAL LEADERS TO LAUNCH “BROOKLYN EUPHORIA”

On April 30, Marty joined Ambassador John B. Richardson, head of the delegation of the European Commission to the United Nations; Gerald Staunton, Deputy Consul General of Ireland (representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU); numerous other dignitaries representing more than 25 countries; and Brooklyn cultural leaders to toast the European Union’s enlargement and to inaugurate Brooklyn EUphoria. Brooklyn EUphoria, a festive arts celebration, took place at Williamsburg venue Volume and Fort Greene’s BAM Cafe on May 1, the day when the European Union officially celebrated its enlargement to 25 members with the addition of ten new member states: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Brooklyn was chosen to host this celebration in recognition of its role as the cutting-edge cultural and artistic capital of the United States, as well as for its rich cultural and ethnic diversity and its renowned history as a home for European immigrants. “Because Brooklyn is home to everyone from everywhere, we embrace the many nationalities that bring us this extraordinary day of music, theater, dance and the visual arts,” said Marty. “By choosing Brooklyn for this celebration, our European partners have recognized Brooklyn as the ‘new’ New York and as an international cultural destination.”

PUBLIC ADVOCATE BETSY GOTBAUM AND MARTY POINT THE WAY TOWARD $2.17 BILLION IN UNCLAIMED STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS

On April 30, Marty joined Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum to highlight the availability of $2.17 billion in unclaimed state and federal funds. In October 2003, Public Advocate Gotbaum released a report indicating that New Yorkers are eligible for an estimated $2.17 billion dollars in state and federal aid to help pay for food, utilities, prescription drugs, and health care. According to Gotbaum, much of the money goes unclaimed because City agencies can do a better job of making New Yorkers aware of the programs or of dispelling the stigma attached to government aid. “If the mayor suddenly discovered $2.17 billion dollars in extra money for the City, we'd probably throw him a ticker tape parade down Flatbush Avenue,” said Marty. “So when I found out that so much money in federal and state government funds — which means your tax dollars, and your money — was being left unclaimed, I wanted to climb up to the roof of Borough Hall and scream to everyone to come and get it — this money is rightfully yours!

BROOKLYN MOURNS

Grace Agard Harewood, the generous longtime supporter of the Fort Greene Senior Citizens Council, passed away. Brooklyn lost one of its most giving citizens, and Grace will be sorely missed.

Dr. David Kliot was an OB/GYN extraordinaire and a Flatbush activist. He will be missed.

Mrs. Lexie Short served as President of the Lincoln Civic Block Association and was a pillar of the Crown Heights community. We mourn her passing

Tom Stofka, Brooklyn’s Director of Forestry for the New York City Parks Department, started as a park ranger 25 years ago, and was a great, green Brooklynite.