NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION FUND WILL SPRUCE UP BROOKLYN BLOCKS

On July 26, Marty announced the launch of the Neighborhood Beautification Fund, a new $1 million program earmarked for the planting of new street trees and the installation of new tree guards in residential areas throughout Brooklyn. The Borough President’s office will coordinate the implementation of tree plantings and tree guards with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and neighborhoods will have four tree-guard designs to choose from. “Street trees not only shade our streets, improve the quality of the air that we breathe and beautify our environment, they also make our homes more attractive and more valuable,” Marty wrote in a letter to community representatives. Any block association, civic organization or other neighborhood group can apply to receive funds for trees and tree guards through the Neighborhood Beautification Fund by filling out an application, which can be downloaded from Marty’s web site, at www.brooklyn-usa.org. Applications are due September 15, 2004.

BROOKLYN BEACH BASH SPARKS LOVE AMONG SINGLES

On August 1, Marty hosted this year’s Brooklyn Beach Bash on the beautiful beach at Kingsborough Community College. All singles 30 and up were encouraged to come to one of the most romantic spots in Brooklyn to make new friends and perhaps meet that special someone. “Calling all singles who are seriously looking to meet someone,” said Marty. More than 300 Brooklynites mingled on the beach, as relationship guru Charley Wininger, a Dating Coach dubbed the “Love Doctor” by Newsday, offered relationship advice and helped spark love connections. Wininger also revealed the top 10 places to meet someone in Brooklyn.

MARTY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST MTA FARE INCREASE

On July 30, Marty issued a statement opposing the proposed fare increase announced that day by the MTA. Weekly and monthly unlimited-ride MetroCards would increase from $21 to $24 and $70 to $76, respectively, while bridges and tunnels would go up to $4.25 or $4.50 from $4 and express-bus fares would jump 50% from $4 to $6. “Brooklynites are already paying as much as they can for public transportation,” said Marty. “Any talk of an increase discourages people from using the transit system and has a negative impact on their ability to earn a living. Brooklynites should be receiving more services for their money, not less.”

MARTY DEPLORES GOVERNOR PATAKI’S VETO OF A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

On July 30, Marty spoke out in protest of Governor Pataki’s last-minute veto of a Legislature-approved increase in New York State’s minimum wage, from $5.15 to $7.15, in three increments, by 2007. “That Governor Pataki expects Brooklynites who make $5.15 an hour to survive in the most expensive city in America in 2004 is just unbelievable,” said Marty. “And if Governor Pataki truly believes that the minimum wage will be increased at the federal level by President Bush and the U.S. Congress — who haven’t exactly been allies of the working poor — there’s a bridge in Brooklyn that I can get him a good deal on.” Progress on the minimum-wage is still undecided at the current time.

“NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME” KEEPS BROOKLYN SAFER

On August 3, Marty joined the officers and members of police precincts throughout Brooklyn to commemorate “National Night Out Against Crime.” Marty praised the efforts of New York’s Finest, and encouraged community members to get involved in their neighborhoods crime prevention programs. He visited the “Night Out” activities at the 62nd, 63rd and 84th Precincts, and joined Mayor Bloomberg, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, State Senator Carl Krueger, State Senator Marty Golden, Assemblywoman Adele Cohen and Councilmember Domenic Recchia at the 60th Precinct event at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island. The goals of the annual “National Night Out Against Crime” are to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for local anticrime programs, strengthen police and community partnerships, and most importantly to send a message to criminals that the neighborhoods are organized and
ighting back.

MARTY JOINS JAMAICA CONSUL GENERAL DR. BASIL BRYAN TO CELEBRATE JAMAICA’S 42ND INDEPENDENCE DAY IN BROOKLYN

On August 3, Marty joined Jamaica Consul General Dr. Basil Bryan to host a celebration in honor of the 42nd anniversary of Jamaica’s independence at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall. “Brooklyn is home to the largest population of Jamaicans outside of Jamaica, and is proudly known as the Jamaican capital of America,” said Marty. “So it is fitting that Brooklyn hosts a great celebration in honor of Jamaica’s independence.” The evening included performances by groups that highlighted Jamaica’s culture and history, from colonization through independence, by offering a program of poetry, traditional songs, and colonial folk dance. Jamaica gained its independence from Britain on August 6, 1962,after more than 300 years of colonial rule.

OLYMPICS 2012 GYMNASTICS AND SWIMMING COMING TO BROOKLYN

On August 5, Marty joined Mayor Bloomberg at an announcement of the City’s finalized Olympics 2012 bid at the Queens Museum of Art in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. In addition to creating three “venue clusters,” at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the Bronx Terminal Market and the new West Side Convention Corridor, the Mayor said that the gymnastics competitions will take place at the planned new arena in Downtown Brooklyn, while swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and water polo finals will be held at a new Williamsburg waterfront facility, which will also host the volleyball competition. The potential for high-profile Olympic events in Brooklyn already has the borough buzzing. “Who would have dreamed, even 10 years ago, that Brooklyn would be considered to host the gymnastics competition, one of the Olympics’ most popular sports,” said Marty. “When I heard the news I almost did a back-flip with a double twist myself!” The final decision by the International Olympic Committee on the location of the 2012 Summer Games is expected in July 2005. Other competing cities include London, Paris, Madrid, and Moscow.

MARTY CONGRATULATES NEW BROOKLYN JUNIOR LEAGUE PRESIDENT

Marty was proud to commend the election of Arlette Ferguson Mathis as the new president of the Brooklyn Junior League, on June 1. Mathis, a 40-year-old mother of three, had been a volunteer with the League for the previous eight years. The all-women organization trains volunteers to carry on social programs that help disadvantaged girls and women in the borough, particularly in the areas of housing, domestic violence and children's rights.

BROOKLYN MOURNS

Pat Ratner, who was president of the sisterhood at the Flatbush Shaare Torah Jewish Center for 13 years and a member for 50 years, will be missed.

Robert Stonehill, a founding member of the Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps and an active member of Temple Shalom, was a great Brooklynite.

Sylvanius Williamson, devoted husband of Elzoria Williamson, and longtime owner of Syl's Trophies & Sporting on Nostrand Avenue, will be missed.