Marty Announces Appointment of Latino Community Liaison Italia Guerrero

Marty recently appointed Italia Guerrero as the new Borough Hall Latino community liaison. She will cover Community Boards 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7, which encompass the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg-Greenpoint, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Bushwick, Park Slope, Red Hook, Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. Guerrero will attend meetings of the Community Boards, local police precincts and other relevant organizations, and represent Borough President Markowitz as needed. She will also coordinate events at Borough Hall and around Brooklyn. Guerrero's Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian roots will enable her to connect with the thriving Hispanic populations in those areas and across the borough. Raised in Sunset Park, Guerrero attended St. Francis College and Brooklyn College, and most recently worked in the private sector in the customer-relations field. "I am eager to represent the Latino population and to help overcome any stereotypes people may have," Guerrero said. “I hope to open even more lines of communication between Borough Hall and the Latino community.”

Marty Serves Brooklyn’s Senior Citizen Community With CityMeals-On-Wheels

On March 23rd, Marty joined the CityMeals-on-Wheels program to pack and deliver food to home-bound Brooklyn senior citizens. Marty underscored the importance of serving Brooklyn’s seniors' community, and commended the staff of CityMeals-on-Wheels for their efforts in providing food and companionship to the borough’s older citizens. Marty packed food for the day’s deliveries, and traveled with the Meals-on-Wheels crew to deliver food to Brooklyn resident Arthur Peters.

Brooklyn Gets a Kennedy!

In March, documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, the youngest daughter of Robert Kennedy, bought a townhouse on lovely Montgomery Place in Park Slope. Now we have a little bit of Camelot right here in Brooklyn!

Marty Congratulates P.S. 245 On Making State's “Most Improved Schools” List

On March 24th, Marty joined the members of District 22’s Community School Board in applauding Principal Joan Ramsey, former Principal Paulette Knox-Williams and the faculty and students of Public School 245 in Flatbush on its designation as one of the most improved schools in New York State. The honor was granted to schools whose scores on reading and math tests, which are given to 4th and 8th graders, have improved over the last 5 years. At P.S. 245, students showed a dramatic rise in math proficiency, with 91 percent of students now meeting the test's standards, versus 30 percent in 1999. Marty presented a proclamation to the school and a citation to former Principal Paulette Knox-Williams in honor of the occasion. “We should celebrate this distinction, but the true reward is that the environment for learning is improving for Brooklyn’s students,” said Marty. “We all know that if our children are given an atmosphere they can thrive in, they will excel beyond any of our expectations.”

Marty Welcomes The UniverSoul Circus to Brooklyn

On March 26th, Marty joined the members of the UniverSoul Circus at the first of their 10 days of annual Brooklyn performances. Marty applauded the efforts of the circus performers in entertaining Brooklyn residents, and handed out 300 tickets to Brooklyn children. The UniverSoul Circus is the only African-American-owned and -operated circus in the United States. It will host performances in the parking lot at Wollman Rink in Prospect Park for four weeks, from March 26th to April 18th. The Circus will also perform in Betsy Head Park in East New York from April 20th to 25th.

Marty Celebrates Greek Heritage Month At Borough Hall

On March 30th, Marty hosted a celebration in honor of Greek Heritage Month at Borough Hall. At this second annual event, Marty celebrated the rich history, heritage and culture of Greece, and honored extraordinary members of Brooklyn’s Greek-American community. The Greek Flag was also flown over Borough Hall throughout the week as part of the celebration. “Greek culture is alive and well in Brooklyn today,” said Marty. “And Greek Heritage Month is a reminder to us all to appreciate the connections between Brooklyn today and the Greece of ancient times.”

Marty and Borough Board Demand Restoration of Vital City Services

On April 1st, Marty joined members of the Brooklyn City Council delegation and the Chairs of the Brooklyn Community Boards to call on the Mayor to restore a broad range of proposed budget cuts, including spending for libraries, youth programs, senior centers, and parks. The recommendations to restore services, announced at a press conference on the steps of City Hall, were contained in the borough’s annual Statement of Budget Priorities, which the Borough Board discussed and enacted at a meeting in March. "It is critical that we continue to urge the Mayor to maintain Brooklyn's fair share of City services,” said Marty. “With a population of 2.5 million people, reductions to agencies like the Department for the Aging disproportionately impact Brooklyn more than other boroughs." Each year the City Charter requires the Borough Board to outline significant service priorities, as well as how the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget will impact the delivery of these services to the borough. Marty and the Borough Board said they were particularly concerned about cuts that affect firehouses, cultural affairs and express-bus service.

Providence House To Celebrate 25th Anniversary

On June 3rd, Providence House will hold its 25th Anniversary celebration at the Water Club on Manhattan's Eastside, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Most Reverend Joseph M. Sullivan, who is Vicar of Human Services for the Brooklyn Diocese, will the event's Honorary Chair. Providence House provides shelter to the homeless and to abused and formerly incarcerated women and their children, and also teaches the skills needed for leading an independent life.

Brooklyn Mourns

Gloria Reynolds, loving mother of Best of Brooklyn’s Carolyn Greer