ELEVENTH ANNUAL BROOKLYN PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE HAS
FIESTA IN EAST WILLIAMSBURG

On August 9, Marty presented a proclamation to parade organizer Enrique Sandoval, proclaiming Sunday, August 15 “Eleventh Annual Brooklyn Puerto Rican Day Parade Day.” Marty posed for pictures with the organizers and supporters of Brooklyn’s Puerto Rican Day Parade, as they prepared for the big party, which marched down Graham Avenue in East Williamsburg, also known as Avenida de Puerto Rico.

GRAY LINE COMES TO CONEY ISLAND

On August 12, Marty joined Gray Line New York Sightseeing President Thomas Lewis and NYC & Company President and CEO Cristyne Nicholas, and U.S. Congressman Jerry Nadler at a press conference to announce Gray Line Bus Tour’s new weekend day trips to Coney Island. Marty introduced the idea of a Coney Island bus tour to Gray Line, which will mark the first step toward making Brooklyn a tourist destination of choice for national and international visitors. “I'm proud that Gray Line Tours has realized what Brooklynites have known for decades: that Coney Island is truly the most exciting and inviting urban beach in America," said Marty. "And with Coney Island's resurgence adding to Brooklyn's tourism boom, I foresee a day when Gray Line will organize day trips from Brooklyn to the outer borough of Manhattan!” New York Aquarium Director Dr. Paul Boyle, Astroland Amusement Park Owner Carol Albert and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Marketing Director Ken Hochman were also in attendance.

MARTY RAISES PAKISTANI FLAG ABOVE BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL IN HONOR
OF THE NATION’S 57TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

On August 13, Marty joined Pakistani American Merchant Association of Coney Island Chairman Asghar Choudhri and members of Brooklyn’s Pakistani community in a flag-raising ceremony at Brooklyn Borough Hall to commemorate Pakistani Independence Day. (The official day of independence was Saturday, August 14.) Brooklyn has the largest Pakistani-American population of any city or state in America, centered around the Coney Island Avenue/Midwood area. Most come from the province of Punjab, especially the cities of Lahore, Gujarat and Faisalabad. “It is a great honor to be celebrating the 57th Anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence here at Borough Hall, because Brooklyn is proud to be the Pakistani-American capital of America,” said Marty. “No other city, or state for that matter, in the country has a larger Pakistani population than Brooklyn’s 125,000 Pakistani-Americans.” He also noted the importance of America and Pakistan’s continued partnership in fighting terrorism, which he called “critical for every Muslim, Christian and Jew everywhere.” Footage of the flag-raising was broadcast on Pakistan national TV the following today.

GROUND BROKEN ON FORT HAMILTON MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING

On August 11, Marty joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Geoffrey G. Prosch, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations and Environment (whose daughter lives in Williamsburg), in a groundbreaking ceremony for new family housing for military personnel at Fort Hamilton U.S. Army Garrison. Fort Hamilton is located at the base of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Bay Ridge, where it has existed location since 1825, making it one of the oldest Army installations in the United States. The only active Army base in the five boroughs, Fort Hamilton is currently the home of the North Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The new housing project includes the construction of 185 new homes and the renovation of 43 existing homes. “It is our top priority to ensure that all Brooklynites have a roof over their heads that they can afford - and of course that holds especially true for our honorable military personnel,” said Marty. “To our future uniformed Brooklynites of Fort Hamilton’s family housing, we say, ‘Brooklyn will always be your home and we are proud to have you as our neighbor.’ ”

MARTY ASSAILS BROOKLYN HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE CRISIS

On August 18, Marty joined Assemblymember Jim Brennan on the steps of Borough Hall to decry the loss of Medicaid benefits for tens of thousands of eligible New Yorkers and to demand that the Human Resources Administration move quickly to ensure continuous coverage for all eligible New Yorkers. Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham, who has led the fight to address the health-care crisis, also spoke. “Despite tremendous strides by Brooklyn hospitals to improve their facilities and quality of care in recent years, the health care system in our borough is in crisis,” said Marty. “The archaic system at the city’s Human Resources Administration is a tangled web of red tape — it automatically drops a resident’s Medicaid coverage unless he or she re-certifies each year, leaving tens of thousands of New Yorkers who are eligible for Medicaid out in the cold. This is unacceptable. Not only does it deter Brooklynites from getting the care they deserve, but this situation unfairly places an enormous burden on the financial health of our hospitals by forcing them to pay the tab for medical care that Medicaid should have covered in the first place.” Marty’s Taskforce on Equity in State and Local Policy, chaired by Assemblymember Brennan, along with CEO’s from Brooklyn’s voluntary hospitals, met with HRA in July to present detailed recommendations of ways to cut red tape and fast track public health insurance enrollments for eligible New York City residents. Brennan characterized HRA’s response as “inadequate” and said that “a plan needs to be put in place right now. HRA is putting bureaucratic convenience above access to health insurance for the public and compensation for services they have rendered.” Assemblymember Rhoda Jacobs and State Senator Carl Andrews were also on hand to lend their support.

SUMMER HEAT PROGRAM’S STUDENT-EMPLOYEES HONORED

On August 20, Marty joined Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Founder and President Danny Simmons, and Maimonides Medical Center Director of Volunteer Services Alla Zats to honor more than 175 Brooklyn teens who took part in Brooklyn Summer HEAT (Help Employ Ambitious Teens), an innovative program created to encourage both private and non-profit organizations to hire Brooklyn young people, ages 16-18, this summer. This summer, 184 Brooklyn teens worked for nearly 50 employers throughout the borough. “This program gives Brooklyn teens a chance to shine in the workplace,” said Marty. “These students got the lessons of a lifetime showing up for their jobs every morning – learning about discipline, setting and achieving goals, and possibly setting a path for their future.” The program is offered through a partnership between Borough Hall, the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

MARTY COMMENDS BROOKLYN-BASED OPEN WATER FILMMAKERS

On August 20, Marty applauded the tremendous artistic talent of Brooklyn writer-director Chris Kentis and his wife and producer Laura Lau on their hit movie, Open Water, at the United Artists Court Street Stadium 12 Cinema. The film opened two weeks ago on about 50 screens, and is now expanding to more than 2,700 screens nationwide. Open Water was shot off the coast of the Bahamas, but written and edited in Kentis and Lau’s shared Brooklyn Heights apartment on a shoestring budget. “As Brooklyn re-emerges as a national and international film center, like it was in the years after World War II, Chris and Laura are riding that wave and putting our borough’s name back on the marquee where it belongs,” said Marty. “So today, we honor Open Water, Chris and Laura as the newest entries into Brooklyn’s movie Hall of Fame. Because we know you’ve already made a big splash.” Marty added that it’s only fitting that one of this summer’s biggest movies was made by Brooklynites, because the upcoming addition of Steiner Studios will make Brooklyn the East Coast filmmaking capital of America — or as he calls it, “Hollywood East.”

BROOKLYN MOURNS

Roland Hill, a longtime staffer at U.S. Congressman Edolphus Towns’ office, Community Board 15 member, and former owner of Ferry Bank Restaurant in DUMBO, was a great Brooklynite.

Ernest G. Prince, father of Coney Island’s Major Prime Meat Market owner Jimmy Prince, will be dearly missed.

Mrs. Louise Wiltshire, beloved mother of Dr. Michael A. Wiltshire, principal of Middle College High School at Medgar Evers College, will be missed.