MARTY HOSTS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE

On November 12, Marty joined Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham, the Greater Southern Brooklyn Health Coalition, the New York Center for Community and Coalition Building of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, and Brooklyn Perinatal Network, Inc., at “Translation vs. Interpretation: Beyond Cultural Competency,” a conference to explore ways for government agencies and social service organizations to better meet the needs of their diverse clients. Panelists from a variety of local, state and federal agencies offered critical information about the culturally appropriate and linguistically competent delivery of care and services to the City’s ethnic groups and cultures. “With Brooklyn’s many ethnic groups, religious faiths and cultural differences comes a responsibility for our government agencies, health care providers and community based organizations to constantly educate themselves in order to properly serve our population,” said Marty. “In Brooklyn, we may speak at least 100 different languages — but everyone understands the meaning of respect.”

SELFLESS BROOKLYN MAN DONATES KIDNEY TO WIFE!

On November 17, Marty honored Devon and Jennifer Haynes at Borough Hall for their outstanding bravery and selfless heroism. Mill Basin resident Devon donated one of his kidneys to his wife, Jennifer, on Friday, October 29, two days after their 14th wedding anniversary, ending Jennifer’s 4½ year ordeal of dialysis. Devon and Jennifer have three children, Andrea, Craig and Michael. “Jennifer and Devon Haynes, Brooklyn salutes you for proving that the human spirit cannot be broken and that love conquers all,” said Marty. “You are a true pair of Brooklyn sweethearts and your selfless devotion to each other serves as a shining example to Brooklyn and the world.”

MARTY AND BOROUGH HALL STAFF HELP THOUSANDS OF BROOKLYNITES ENJOY A GREAT THANKSGIVING

On November 22, Marty and the staff of Brooklyn Borough Hall gave away more than 750 turkeys, more than 1800 pounds of apples, more than 1800 pounds of collard greens, more than 1500 pounds of baking potatoes and more 1000 pounds of sweet potatoes at the annual Borough Hall Turkey Drive. Representatives from 70 Brooklyn community groups, including senior centers, soup kitchens, churches, and women’s shelters, came to Borough Hall to pick up the turkeys and fresh produce, which helped feed thousands of less fortunate Brooklynites over the Thanksgiving holiday. All of the food was generously donated by Health Plus, the Fulton Mall Improvement Association and the Korean-American Brooklyn Association, N.Y. Inc., with additional support from Key Food and Foodtown. Mike Weiss, Executive Director of the Fulton Mall Improvement Association; Tom Early, Executive Director of Health Plus; and Kum-Ok Kim, President of the Korean-American Association, joined Marty at the event. “I’m happy to report that this year my Thanksgiving food distribution has grown even larger,” said Marty. “Whether you call it a melting pot, a gorgeous mosaic or a global smorgasbord, Brooklyn remains unique among urban areas in America and in the world, because we play so many notes in the human symphony — and this week we give thanks for the beautiful harmony they make together.”

MARTY CELEBRATES P.S. 287’S STUNNING NEW LIBRARY

On November 23, Marty joined Assemblymember Joseph Lentol, P.S. 287 Principal John Khani, and members of the Robin Hood Foundation, along with students, parents and teachers from P.S. 287, in celebrating the opening of the school’s new state-of-the-art library. The facility was created as part of a public-private partnership between the Department of Education and the Robin Hood Foundation to provide outstanding libraries in our City’s elementary schools. Since the beginning of this “Library Initiative,” 31 libraries have been created citywide with 25 more scheduled to open in Fall 2006. “I’m so proud ofpartnerships like the one between New York City public schools and the Robin Hood Foundation, which is responsible for the magnificent design and state-of-the-art facilities at P.S. 287’s new library and at dozens of other schools around the city,” said Marty. “And I’m hopeful that with amazing new libraries like this one, our schools will be churning out one Brooklyn literary legend after another.”

MARTY SUPPORTS RAISE FOR DAY CARE WORKERS AT CITY HALL RALLY

On November 23, Marty spoke out on behalf of the District Council 1707 Local 205 day care workers, who have been working for the City without a contract since December 2000 and who haven’t had a raise since April 2000. Of the 7 to 8,000 City day care workers, about 40% are Brooklyn residents, and the same percentage of the City’s day care centers are located here as well. “As Borough President I see every single day how valuable day care centers are to Brooklyn’s working families and to Brooklyn's neighborhoods, where so many of you work,” said Marty. “And then I think of how countries in Europe are miles ahead of us in the way they place those who care for our children at the very highest levels of their society. Because they understand that — like all of you — these are professionals who are literally shaping the future of our nation. So today, we are demanding that you be treated with the dignity and respect that you deserve, and that every other city worker receives.”

MARTY HONORS BROOKLYN’S RHODES SCHOLARS

On November 26, Marty honored Brooklyn resident Eugene Shenderov, a senior chemistry major at Brooklyn College, and Brooklyn native Ian Desai, a graduate of the University of Chicago in ancient studies, for winning one of 32 prestigious Rhodes Scholarships. Both scholars will enter Oxford University in England in October 2005. The 32 Rhodes Scholars from the United States were chosen from 904 applicants and will join an international group of scholars chosen from 18 other regions around the world. “How sweet it is that two of this year’s Rhodes Scholars hail from the City of Brooklyn,” said Marty. “Brooklyn is the perfect place to nurture your intellectual curiosity and we are so proud of Eugene Shenderov and Ian Desai for representing the best and brightest Brooklyn minds. I’m confident that these young scholars will excel at Oxford — of course I hope they will return to Brooklyn after their studies to make our great borough even better.”Shenderov was born in the Ukraine near the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and arrived in the United States at the age of 6, suffering from leukemia symptoms. He was home-schooled by teachers from the Board of Education during his elementary years. Shenderov plays varsity tennis, is president of the chess team, and serves on Brooklyn College’s ambulance corps. At Oxford, he plans to earn his doctorate in tumor immunology. Desai was co-founder and executive director of the Chicago Society, a board member of South Asia Watch, and a founder of the Kashmir Project. He spent the summer of 2001 tracing the journey of Jason and the Argonauts through Greece, Turkey and Georgia. At Oxford, he plans to earn his masters in Oriental Studies and European Literature.

BROOKLYN MOURNS

Sgt. Pablo A. Calderon, a Brooklyn native and soldier in the First Battalion, Fifth Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division, in Fort Hood, Texas, was killed in combat in Fallujah, Iraq, on November 30. All of Brooklyn mourns his passing, and honors his sacrifice on behalf of all Americans.

Father Bishop Peter Crisci, Pastor of St. Lucy Old Roman Catholic Church and 15-year member of Community Board 3, was a tireless servant for the residents of Northern Bedford-Stuyvesant.