Councilman Levin's statement on baselining of low-income child care vouchers in Executive Budget

BROOKLYN – Council Member Stephen Levin is applauding the baselining of $12.6 million for low-income child care vouchers in New York City’s Fiscal Year 2016 Executive Budget. Low-income vouchers are an important resource for families throughout the City who depend on them to provide child care for their children. Levin, the Chair of the Committee on General Welfare, has made the baselining of funding for low-income vouchers a top priority during budget negotiations.

 

“The baselining of funding for low-income child care vouchers is a major step for families in need of child care in the communities I represent and throughout New York City. Families deserve high quality child care and by taking this action, we will help to ensure that families throughout New York City have continued access to this important resource. Thank you to Mayor de Blasio and his Administration for including this important funding in the Executive Budget.”

Thousands Benefit from UJO of Williamsburg and Met Council Huge Annual Passover Food Distribution

Williamsburg – The annual pre-Passover food distribution by the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn (UJO) in partnership with the Met Council - that took place today (Sunday) in the Brooklyn Navy Yard – will help feed many thousands during the upcoming Passover holiday.

The UJO’s annual distribution is conducted in a drive thru system, with two rows of open-trunked cars passing pallets of the distributed items, and crews unloading cases of food products into their cars. It was amazing to watch, during the span of many hours, as an endless row of cars kept moving, and each of them emerged from the drive-thru line with a car load of Passover staples.

This distribution is very important in advance of the Passover holiday, when families face a limited and expansive Kosher for Passover food selection, and Hasidic families only eat what they prepare themselves in their own kitchens. It requires purchasing large quantities of the Passover staples, something that many families, unfortunately, cannot afford. The annual distribution assists many of these families to enjoy a happy Passover, and assure that they aren’t going hungry for the eight-day holiday.

The distribution was joined by NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, Assemblymen Joe Lentol and Dov Hikind, Councilmembers Steve Levin, Laurie Cumbo and Rafael Espinal, Mr. Pinny Ringel of Mayor de Blasio’s Community Assistance unit, Mr. Pinny Hikind of Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office, District Leader Nick Rizzo, and many others who came to show support for this mega charitable endeavor.

“This distribution only took place thanks to Met Council. Many thousands of families – in Williamsburg an throughout the City and beyond - will happily celebrate the Passover, and have happier and easier lives year-round, thanks to this important organization,” said Rabbi David Niederman, Executive Director of the UJO. “I want to express our appreciation to Agger Fish Corp. and its president Mr. Marc Agger for providing the warehouse for this year’s distribution. It is a major contribution to the neighborhood. I also want to thank the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the NYPD’s 88th Precinct as well as the volunteers from the Williamsburg Safety Patrol (WSPU), for their assistance with making today’s distribution a success.”

“The Passover Haggadah teaches us to ‘let all who are hungry come to our table,”’ said Met Council CEO and Executive Director David M. Frankel. “With one in four Jewish New Yorkers struggling to feed their families kosher and nutritious foods, Met Council’s extraordinary staff works every day with our Jewish Community Council network — located on the front lines in all five boroughs — and City and State agency partners to provide dignified solutions to hunger. The 2.2 million pounds of food and $430,000 in food cards we distribute prior to Pesach will enable our clients to observe the holiday with a traditional and nutritious meal that otherwise would have been price prohibitive.”

 

“We thank Rabbi Niederman and the UJO of Williamsburg for their tireless efforts to provide for New Yorkers in need, and for all they did to make today's food distribution such a great success," Mr. Frankel concluded.

Cars Driving Thru and Emerging the Line Filled Up

With Assemblymen Lentol and Hikind, and Mr. Eric Munson of Met Council

Products Lined out in the Warehouse

 

 

Borough President Eric Adams Unloads Products into a Car

Councilman Rafael Espinal Unloads Products into a Car

Councilman Steve Levin Borough Unloads Products into a Car

Public Advocate Tish James Unloads Products into a Car

Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo Unloads Product to a Minivan



Volunteers for Shomrim and others assisting for the distribution, with Boro President Eric Adams, Councilman Steve Levin, Captain Peter Fiorillo of the 88^th precinct, Rabbi Niederman Pinny Ringel, senior member of the Mayor’s Community Assistance unit, District Leader Nick Rizzo, and others

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson unloads distributed products, with Councilmember Laurie Cumbo applauding

With Assemblyman Joe Lentol, District Attorney Ken Thompson, and Assemblyman Dov Hikind

Public Advocate Tish James and District Attorney Ken Thompson with Mark Agger, of Agger Fish, who made available his warehouse to serve as the distribution hub




 

Statement by Rabbi Niederman on City's Ending its Cosnent Form Requirement for Metzitzah B'peh

“I’m thankful to Mayor de Blasio and his entire administration, specifically Deputy Mayor Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, the Mayor’s senior aide Avi Fink and the Department of Health, for doing what it is right, eliminating this Consent Form, which was intrusive and violated our freedom of religion and speech,” said Rabbi David Niederman.

 

"From day one, Mayor de Blasio showed an eagerness to work with all communities towards fair policies that will deliver the best results for the entire city. Today’s action is a result of that noble vision and hard work. We are profoundly thankful to the mayor for that, and we are thanking Hashem that our religious freedom prevailed. Today's action rebuilds the trust necessary to work together for the safety of all. It's a victory for religious freedom and a victory for public policy."

At the meeting today with Deputy Mayor Lilliam Barrios-Paoli

December 19, 2014: Department of Health Alert Williamsburg Schools to Shigella Outbreak at Meeting Arranged by UJO and Councilman Levin

The December 19 Column reported on a meeting arranged by UJO and Councilman Levin with the Department of Health and Representatives of Williamsburg Schools to discuss a recent Shigella outbreak.

At the meeting, held at the conference room of Pesach Tikva, Department Officials reported on the newest outbreaks, and relayed important information how the schools, parents and the community can help stem it. The article had important information about the virus, recent outbreaks, and measure to stop it from spreading further. Participants also heard from Dr. Dick, one of the top physicians in the neighborhood. Mr. Pinny Ringel, of the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit, also participated and assisted in following up on combating the outbreak.

The Department officials distributed pamphlets encouraging proper hand-washing, and called schools to assure that children with symptoms are kept home until they symptoms pass. They also discouraged the use of antibiotics for the virus, except in extreme cases.

 

Dr. Balter of the Department of Health shares tips on combating the outbreak

 

Yiddish hand-washing flyers, produced by the Department in conjunction with the UJO during an outbreak over six years ago for the observant community, was distributed to the schools 

 

December 19, 2014, Column: Shigella Outbreak Meeting by United Jewish Column

December 12, 2014 (3): DOT Meeting Re Traffic Improvements on Wallabout Street

The third item of that week announced a DOT meeting regarding the traffic improvements on Wallabout Street to take place the following Tuesday at the Tezlim Yeshiva at  Middleton-Wallabout Street. intersection.

The meeting was arranged by the UJO, in conjunction with Assemblyman Lentol and Councilman Levin to give an opportunity for residents and business owners on Wallabout Street and Flushing Avenues to review and comment on proposed changes to their streets. DOT hopes to implement changes within four months.

For an earlier article on the issue, visit the following link: http://ujocolumn.blogspot.com/2014/06/june-13-2014-column-second-chance-for.html

 

December 12, 2014: TLC Waives Unjust Summons; Social Security Award Letters; DOT Wallabout Meeting by United Jewish Column

December 12, 2014 (2): Important to Keep Social Security and SSI Award Letters for Proof of Income

The second item in the December 12 column, (p.42 on the bottom) alerted Social Security and SSI recipients to store in a safe and easy to locate place their Award Letters mailed to them during the end of the year. One is required to Present these Letters when Applying for Various Government Assistance Programs, as it required for Holocaust Survivors applying for Claims Conference services.


The UJO encourages senior clients with active files at the UJO to bring in a copy of the Award Letter so it can be properly recorded.

December 12, 2014: TLC Waives Unjust Summons; Social Security Award Letters; DOT Wallabout Meeting by United Jewish Column

UJO Honored Today Public Advocate Tish James for being the “People’s Advocate”

Rabbi David Niederman and Mr. Paulino Rodriguez Thanked her Intervening When TLC Impounded a Vehicle and Ticketed Mr. Rodriguez Unjustly

 

Williamsburg – At a meeting today with Williamsburg Community leaders at the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn, Public Advocate Letitia James was hailed and recognized for her tireless advocacy on behalf of the city, and for each and every individual citizen.

Her role, as the people’s lawyer, was demonstrated publicly when an employee in the area, Mr. Paulino Rodriguez, had his vehicle unjustly impounded and was ticketed for $2,000 for erroneously being accused of driving an illegal taxi. After PA James promptly intervened, throughout a weekend, the ticket was immediately nullified and the vehicle was returned.

Today, the Public Advocate visited the Bais Rachel School in the area, and then met the UJO and community leadership. During that meeting, she was presented a plaque by Mr. Rodriguez and Rabbi David Niederman, UJO Executive Director, for her assistance in rectifying the injustice and assuring that Mr. Rodriguez, a hard-working individual, isn’t unjustly fined.

 

Rabbi David Niederman and Mr. Rodriguez presenting the plaque to Public Advocate James

 

The plaque states as follows:              

“On behalf of the Williamsburg Community, we present our recognition and appreciation to The Honorable Letitia “Tish” James, Public Advocate, City of New York, for her tireless advocacy for the residents of this city, our community and the neighborhood for decades.”

“We are especially heartened by her personal dedication to each and every individual, which was demonstrated in her successful advocacy for the dismissal of the unjust ticket and the seizure of the car of a neighborhood business vehicle on December 4, 2014.

“The citizens of the greatest city of the world are fortunate to have PA James as their advocate, and may she continue to succeed as the people’s advocate and in all her endeavors.

“Presented on February 18, 2015, by the, UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn Board of Directors.”

Background: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/12/09/tlc-apologizes-for-seizing-brooklyn-fruit-store-workers-vehicle-calling-it-illegal-taxi/

http://ujocolumn.blogspot.com/2015/01/december-12-2014-tlc-cancels-unjust.html