bay_currents_01-02_2010 by Design2Pro

Sheepshead Bay • Brighton Beach • Marine Park • Manhattan Beach • Coney Island • Flatbush • Gerritsen Beach • Mill Basin • Bergen Beach

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Vol. 6 No. 11, Jan. 31 - Feb 14, 2010

BAY CURRENTS EXCLUSIVE

This is a ‘maintenance-free’ boardwalk? Parks Department’s new planks already in need of repair • Salt M ars closed u h trail ntil fall • State o f the City • Save C oney Isla nd! • Graves end wom an healthy a f t e r 5 transpl ants • Emerge ncy chick en • I. Fried in: Integr ity endange red

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de:

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Member of the New York Press Association Writers Kateryna Stupnevich Christina Pisano Heeyen Park Eric Lima Michael Schlager Olga Privman

David J. Glenn Publisher

Suzanne H. Glenn Editor

Arthur Melnick Associate Editor

Contributors I. Friedin Matt Lassen Dale Neseman Kelly Donelli Jacqueline Donelli

Patrick Hickey Jr. Sports Editor

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Publisher’s Notebook David J. Glenn

State of Bloomberg

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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! To continue to be the independent and effective community newspaper we are, we need to hear from you. We want to know your concerns, opinions, suggestions, praises, and criticism.

Write to us at: letters@baycurrents.net or LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bay Currents 2966 Avenue U, Suite 108 Brooklyn, NY 11229

When Mayor Bloomberg gave the first State of the City address of his third term (see Page 9), no one really expected any earth-shattering initiatives. They were not proven wrong. No grandiose promises. No lofty vision. No uplifting metaphors. Normally, that would be refreshing. The problem with grandiose promises and lofty vision is that they seldom materialize (just compare President Obama’s inaugural address with the reality a year later). But it’s a disappointment in Bloomberg’s case. After all, he manipulated the City Council to get the chance to run for a third term, and spent more than $100 million to squeeze out a 5 percent margin over his lackluster challenger – one or two grand ideas and a little vision wouldn’t be out of order. We need a speech like that now. Two many New Yorkers are still out of work. Too many are facing foreclosure

VISIT OUR NEW HOME!

and homelessness. Too many small businesses are faltering. Too many stores are closing. “We will continue insisting that government remain on the side of every hard-working New Yorker,” Bloomberg declared. Well, Mr. Mayor, how exactly are you going to do that? Up to 1,000 families will get $10,000 grants to refinance their mortgages. Fine, but isn’t that the proverbial drop in the bucket? Debt-crushed New Yorkers who vow to handle their money better could get no-fee bank accounts. That’s just great. They could save, what, $30, $40 a month? Not exactly a life-changing sum. $750 million to help apartment-building owners avoid foreclosure is a good idea, but it all depends on how this is actually done. If it just gives slumlords the chance to hold onto their rat-infested, dilapidated buildings, it’d be better to just give the money to tenants to find a decent place to live. Sorry, Mike, but your address was about as strong as your lead over Bill Thompson.

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Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

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Stations reopened The Coney Island-bound side of the Qtrain stations at Avenue U and Neck Road are reopened at last. They had been closed for more than a year for track rehabilitation. Now the hassle of skipped stops will be switched to the Manhattan-bound side of the stations to continue the track work. Southbound straphangers needing to get off at Avenue H or Avenue M will still be inconvenienced -- work is continuing there until the fall.

New rides for Coney The city has chosen an operator to bring new rides into the decreased, 7-acre amusement area of Coney Island. Zamperla USA, which currently operates the kiddie park at the Wollman Rink in Central Park, reportedly won the biding for Coney Island. Neither the price, nor how many other bids were submitted, was disclosed. Nor is the company telling what kind of rides it will bring in. Attractions that Zamperla offers include the Vertical Swing, a high-speed ride 125 feet up that has some intreresting resemblance to the iconic Parachute Jump; the Disk-O Coaster, a spinning roller coaster; and the Flash Tower, offering a 120-foot free-fall.

Coney strongman killed by van

Lanza. He even had a bit part in the 1954 classic, “On the Waterfront.” Friends said Rollino, a decorated World War II veteran, was the epitome of health – he didn’t drink or smoke, and exercised every day. He would have been 105 on March 19.

Don Quixote The Israel Ballet

Folk Feet 2010 Brooklyn Arts Council’s seventh annual Folk Feet showcase will kick off the organization’s year-long project Black Brooklyn Renaissance: Black Culture/Black Performance, 1960-2010. Featuring a range of African American, Afro-Caribbean and West African dance and music styles, this free concert traces diverse dance traditions – Trinidadian, Ivory Coast, Panamanian, Puerto Rican, African American, Guyanese, Senegalese and others – that represent the rich heritage of black culture in Brooklyn. Sunday, February 28, 2 p.m. Matinee Admission is free, first-come, first served. For more information or tickets, call the box office at 718-951-4500 or visit www.brooklyncenter.com

Nature Center trail closed for repairs The U.S. Corps of engineers and the city Department of Parks and Recreation have started a project at the Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park to its historical habitat by removing “invasive” species of plants and replanting native species. The project is scheduled to end by the spring, at which time the Nature Trail will reopen Ongoing Programs at the Salt Nature Center Early Morning Birding – Saturdays, 8 a.m. Adult Woodworking Workshops – Tuesdays 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Yoga – Thursdays, 9 a.m. Photography Workshop- Thursdays 9 a.m. For adults 55 years and older For more information on these and other programs at the Nature Center, call 347-701-8674.

Ease up on the salt! Coney Island councilman Domenic Recchia has called on the Department of Education to reduce the amount of salt in school meals, which reportedly exceeds suggested daily allotments. “Steps should be taken to reassess the menus as soon as possible,” he said. Nutrition information on school breakfast and lunch is posted on the DOE’s school food website, www.opt-osfns.org.

ography by the Russian Imperial Ballet Master Marius Petipa. Sunday, February 21, 2.p.m. Matinee Walt Whitman Theatre

At the Y Making their first U.S. tour in 25 years, the Israel Ballet performs one of the most beloved full-length ballets in the classical repertoire, Don Quixote, featuring chore-

The Kings Bay YM-YWHA on Nostrand Avenue in Marine Park offers art classes on Sundays for children ages 5 to 10 - drawing, painting, art history, and self-expression Contact Daniel at 718-648-7703 ext. 223 or info@kingsbayy.org

At Brooklyn Center Ellen McLaughlin’s

The Trojan Women

Joe Rollino

There wasn’t very much that could hurt Joe Rollino, the strongman who once lifted 3,200 pounds at Coney Island and was still bending quarters with his fingers at age 104. He was finally taken out by a minivan. The 104-year-old died Monday Jan. 11 shortly after he was struck by the vehicle as he crossed Bay Ridge Parkway and suffered a broken pelvis, head trauma and broken ribs. Police said the driver wasn’t speeding and had not been drinking. The driver wasn’t charged except given a summons for a defective horn. During his storied life, Rollino hobnobbed with Harry Houdini, watched Jack Dempsey knock out Jess Willard and was friendly with ’50s Hollywood great Mario www.BayCurrents.net

Directed by Ekysa Marden A Mainstage Production Inspired by Euripides’ classic anti-war tragedy, THE TROJAN WOMEN, written by acclaimed actress and playwright Ellen McLaughlin (“Angel” in Angels in America) explores the final moments of the great Trojan civilization as the invading Greeks pillage and rout the city. Queen Hecuba, the slave-concubine Andromache, and the mythic Helena, come together and walk among the ruins and together find spiritual strength and power in the midst of the horrors of war and enslavement imposed on them by the gods and by men. February 18-21; February 26-28 Thursday through Saturday Evenings 7:30 Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

Page 3

COVER STORY

New boardwalk, old problems

Wood or concrete?

How do local users of the boardwalk feel about the boardwalk project? Bay Currents writer Heeyen Park took a sampling of the pros and cons on a cold January day along the boardwalk:

No to concrete!

“When it rains, snows, or ice melts, the wood absorbs water and cracks. The application of that type of hardware is wrong.” By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

While much of the boardwalk is changing, some things apparently will stay the same – like re-occurring damage.

long several newly-renovated areas of the boardwalk, with concrete planks taking the place of wood, there already are screws popping up and planks coming loose, causing all too familiar hazards. While the Parks Department says this is only happening to a small percentage boards, others speculate that the entire redevelopment plan may be flawed. “They’re not addressing the real issues, they’re creating more of the same issues,” said Michael Greco, a 48-year-old electrician and construction designer who warned months ago that this would happen. “The planks are coming up because of the [police and Parks Department] cars and the ice formation, which leaves the water with nowhere to go. It’s just poor planning all around.” Philip Abramson, a spokesman for the Parks Department, said the real problem was the installation of the boards and the screws. “Screws were originally inserted directly into the concrete substructure, leading some of them to pop out,” he said. “During the current work, we are inserting the screws into wooden pieces which are embedded into the concrete structure.”

To date, the Parks Department has reconstructed some of the most heavily used areas of the worn-out boardwalk. The Steeplechase Pier and the north side of boardwalk between West 10th Street and Stillwell Avenue were rebuilt last year; the south side is currently being worked on. While some areas, such as the front of the Coney Island amusement park, won’t be renovated and will retain the traditional wood decking, other areas will be renewed using concrete decking, which the department says will look like real wood. “Before you fix something, you have to know why it broke. I don’t think they’re fully aware of the use that boardwalk gets,” said Greco, referring to heavy foot traffic, vehicle travel, and seasonal environmental changes. “When it rains, snows, or ice melts, the wood absorbs water and cracks,” he said. “The application of that type of hardware is wrong.” Greco suggested to the Parks Department the use of galvanized steel beams and “through-bolting” the top of the planks for permanent, unbreakable results and easier maintenance, but they declined his proposition, claiming to be bound by contracts. Parks officials suspected Greco, as a construction designer, had some vested interest in making his suggestions, but Greco insisted to them, and to Bay Currents, that he was not pursuing any contract. “I just want the boardwalk to be preserved,” he said. “If you don’t put love into something from the beginning, you’re not going to get love out of it.”

Galina Panora, 62 “I like wood boardwalk, I like it wooden, I just want it to be fixed. I want only the middle path to be concrete because it would be good just to have a path for those who bike.” Maria Yabloska, 55 “The wood is better.” Kazimir Nelson, 60 “I feel wood is more preferable than concrete. It’s softer and more comfortable. It is more traditional – unless you have the condition we have now. They may want to use concrete to save money on repairs.” Alex Petrov, 55 “It is ridiculous. The people who are thinking to do this [replace the wood with concrete] absolutely don’t know the purpose of the boardwalk. The San Diego Company doesn’t care about Brighton Beach residents – they just want to make money.” Diana Verv, 56 “True wood is better for health, but concrete is not good for health.” Igor Kalinin, 42 “It will be no longer be a boardwalk, it will be a concrete walk. The real solution is fewer Parks Department vans and police cars traveling across the boardwalk.”

Ly Nguyen, 47 “I like it wood.” Morris Aziak, 60 “Wood for sure. In the summer, oceanside is the place for me very every day because my kids love it. But my family and I go to Long Island in the summer because it has a soft and comfortable wooden boardwalk. Harvey Schwartz, mid-40s “Keep it wood, and maintain it instead of taking tax payers money.” Jennifer A, 38 “Concrete is not the traditional of the boardwalk.”

Yes to concrete! Rita Tobak, 70 “I like that it is going to be in concrete because it is safer for the people.” Gann Avezner, 50 “I like that it is going to be in concrete because it is safe.” Visman David, 62 “Concrete is better, because no one is going to fall down and concrete will be better for running and walking.” Michael Grossman, 32 “It is good because wood is cracking – but why take it away the boardwalk instead of fixing the broken parts?”

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Page 4

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

www.BayCurrents.net

COVER STORY

Why San Diego? By CHRISTINA PISANO pisano@baycurrents.net

Area residents and loyal visitors to the boardwalk wonder why a company 3,000 miles away from New York – T.B. Penick & Sons and its affiliate, Triton Structural Concrete in San Diego – was awarded the $13.7 contract to reconstruct the iconic walkway. “What I can tell you is that Triton was awarded the project because it was the lowest responsible bidder after a vigorous competitive process open to all qualifying companies,” said Barbie Thompson Lee, a Triton spokeswoman. “We are very proud and pleased to have the opportunity to perform on this historic project.” “Triton had never worked for Parks Department before,” said Cristina DeLuca, a Parks Department spokeswoman. “Like all other bidders for this contract, they received the publicly available Request for Bids and submitted a sealed bid.” DeLuca said the bidding followed the same rules that apply to all Parks Department capital contracts – awarding a contract to the best bidder that offers the lowest bid. Several city agencies must give approval before the contract is executed, she said. She didn’t indicate how many bids were

received. Acknowledging that using a non-city based company may raise questions, DeLuca said that procurement rules forbid limiting contract recipients to any geographic area. “We are very proud and pleased to have the opportunity to perform on this historic project,” said Lee. DeLuca confirmed that work is set to begin on Feb. 1 – a short time to complete a renovation before the summer weather welcomes another open season at Coney Island. “The contract will remove the existing, deteriorated boardwalk between West 37th and West 33rd Streets, West 15th Street and Stillwell Avenue and Ocean Pkwy and Brighton 1st Street. A new concrete structure will be installed over the existing structural piles between West 37th and West 33rd Streets and Ocean Parkway and Brighton 1st Street,” she said. “Wood decking will be installed over a concrete substructure from West 15th Street to Stillwell Avenue. Components such as utility lines, railing, benches, lamp posts, drinking fountains, stairs, ramps, etc. in these areas will be replaced with new.” Lee said that local union labor would be hired for various trades on the project. “The wood decking will be replaced in the historically sensitive areas of Coney Island with new concrete boardwalks that are designed to be reminiscent of the wood

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from tropical rainforests – a source the City is actively trying to avoid abusing. Concrete boardwalks will require less maintenance, will last longer and will not burn, splinter, and collapse under the weight of emergency vehicles or develop holes where decking boards rot.”

Turning an icon to stone By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

When the Parks Department begins turning the legendary boardwalk into a concrete-walk, it will eradicate a large chunk of Brooklyn history.

Rise Above It All

www.BayCurrents.net

boardwalk,” said DeLuca. “The move to replace wood is motivated by concerns of safety and sustainability. “Wood boardwalks do not last nearly as long as concrete structures, and the oldgrowth hardwood species needed for their high density and strength are only available

ver since the boardwalk was completed in Coney Island in the early 1920s, it was a key cultural attraction of New York City. With its location at the Coney Island amusement area, it quickly grew to be one of the leading tourist locations in the United States. Now, nearly 90 years later, the wooden boardwalk still stands as a representation of Brooklyn history, culture, and spirit. Even before the Cyclone and the New York Aquarium, Coney Island was as a major resort attraction, filled with hotels, bathhouses, and entertainment sights. In 1921, Brooklyn Borough President Edward Riegelmann helped allocate $3 million for beach improvement and boardwalk construction along the shore, parallel to the hotels. Two years later, the project was complete and Coney Island was transformed once and for all. The boardwalk contained 7,700 cubic yards of reinforced concrete, 120,000 tons of stone, and 3.6 million feet of wood for flooring. The construction formed an 80foot wide and 14-foot tall boardwalk, officially named after Riegelmann, which stretched from West 37 Street to Ocean Parkway. In 1926, an additional mile of the boardwalk was extended to Brighton Beach; but in 1932, a fire started under the boardwalk, destroying about 1,000 feet of it, along with other buildings, and causing over $1 million worth of damage. For decades to come, “under the boardwalk” would serve as a love nest for teenagers, a cover for lawbreakers, a campsite for the homeless, and a darkened respite

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

from the summer heat. It remained a place of mystery and escapades until the Army Corps of Engineers filled the gaps with sand, leaving “under the boardwalk” to exist only in the classic song. In 1938, The New York City Parks Department, led by Commissioner Robert Moses, took over jurisdiction of the area, and invested another $3 million into expanding the beach and the boardwalk. Parts of the boardwalk were reconstructed and it was extended even further, along Brighton Beach to Corbin Place. The entire boardwalk was composed of about 1.3 million wooden boards and more than 15 million screws. Over the course of the next seven decades, portions of the boardwalk have been reconstructed several times. The Parks Department says that oceanfront environments, heavy foot traffic, and consistent vehicle travel wears on the boardwalk, requiring an excessive amount of costly maintenance. In the past, sections of the 2.7mile boardwalk were built from Bethabara, Cumaru, and Ekki timber, among other treated wood. In efforts to find a more durable and cost-efficient solution to the constant maintenance, the Parks Department is now reconstructing it using concrete decking. Parts of the historic boardwalk have already been rebuilt, while others are awaiting their renovation. The Parks Department reports that this modification will “spare approximately 390 square miles of the rainforest every 20 years,” and will save the city “time and money in the long run.” Critics counter that exchanging wood for concrete will destroy the character of the icon, and, as evidenced by a trial patch already installed, will require its own maintenance and repairs. They stress that domestic wood could be used instead of rainforest wood, and that if the Parks Department didn’t run its own vehicles across it, that would go a long way toward preserving it longer. Page 5

“All we can do now is pray”

Transmitting to Hell By DAVID J. GLENN publisher@baycurrents.net

People crowded into the small reception area of Radio Soleil (“Sun Radio” in French) at 1622 Nostrand Ave in Flatbush Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, two days after a horrific earthquake devastated the Caribbean homeland of tens of thousands of Brooklynites.

olunteers staffed telephones and microphones linked to sister station Radio Soleil D’Haiti in Port-au-Prince to transmit to the Hell on Earth left by last week’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake. With most landlines, cell phones, and the Internet inoperable in the nation, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, it was just about the only communication left in the impoverished country, which has had more than its share of natural and manmade disasters. “I have no idea where they are or how they are,” Francoise Casy, 60, said of his mother and three sisters in the all-but-destroyed capital city.

He was waiting at the radio station with Mikel Manijat, 29, of Foster Avenue, who was trying to get word of his aunt. “All we can do now is pray,’ he said. Augla Pierre, 25, who had come to the U.S. from Haiti with her parents when she was a toddler, was volunteering at the storefront station, fielding calls and taking down names of relatives from the fearful people steaming in and out of the cramped office. One man told her he was talking to a relative on the phone in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday when the woman screamed into the receiver, “Oh my God, it’s the end of the world!” and the line went dead. Pierre, too, didn’t know of the fate of relatives. “I wish I knew if he was all right,” she said as she pointed to a website photo of an uncle. If she finds out her family is OK, Pierre, a nursing student, is ready to travel to her homeland to help. “If they need me, I’ll go,” she said. Another volunteer, 25-year-old Medjie Desir, fearing for her five aunts and three uncles, said hundreds of people had come in and out of the station by early afternoon Thursday. “We’re all waiting, and praying,” she said.“We’re all waiting, and praying,” she said.

Station volunteer Medjie Desir views a Web photo of one of the thousands missing in Haiti. Bay Currents photo

TEXTING Text ‘Yele’ to 501501 and make a $5 contribution to the relief effort by cell phone The Clinton Foundation: Text “Haiti” to (Be wary of any solicitors who call you or ap- 20222 to donate $10 or go to clintonfoundaproach you on the street–disasters like this bring tion.org. out the best and the worst in people. American Red Cross: Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES ONLINE OR ON THE PHONE These can be brought to the offices of: Save the Children: Donate at www.savethechildren.org or make checks payable to “Save the Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein Children” and mail to: Save the Children Income Processing Department, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, 3520 Nostrand Ave. Conn. 06880 UNICEF: Visit www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake City Coucilman Lew Fidler th online or call (800) 4UNICEF. 1402 East 64 Street American Red Cross: Visit redcross.org or call (800) REDCROSS. Assemblyman Alan Maisel Direct Relief International: Donate online 2424 Ralph Ave. at directrelief.org. World Food Programme: Visit wfp.org/ Also: donate/haiti. Midwood Senior Center Mercy Corp: Visit mercycorps.org or mail 4815 Ave. I checks to Haiti Earthquake Fund, Dept. NR, PO Box 2669, Portland, Ore. 97208, or call (888) 256Marine Park Senior Center 1900 rd Avenue U and East 33 Street New York’s Catholic parishes will take a collection this weekend and forward the money to Bergen Beach Senior Center Catholic Relief Services for aid work in Haiti. 2335 Bergen Ave. The Caribbean-American Federation of Chaplains is accepting medical supplies, nonFor more information on food collections, perishable food and water at its office, 1452 call Fidler’s office at 718-241-9330 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn.

How you can help

Page 6

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

The Haitian Consulate of New York: Deposit funds at Chase Bank in account No. 761549039. The consulate is also looking for doctors to go to Haiti – call (212) 697-9767. The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City will forward donations to the appropriate agencies. Call 311 or go to nyc.gov. The Orthodox Union has joined in the call for help – it has emailed this statement: “It is difficult to comprehend the enormity of the devastation in Haiti. Jews are described by the Talmud as “rachmanim b’nei rachmanim,” a particularly compassionate people who are sensitive to the suffering of all, and we cannot sit by and ignore this terrible drama of human suffering and misery. Through our website, the Orthodox Union is serving as a collection point for donations, which will be directly forwarded to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The JDC has already helped to send an Israeli relief team of medical; search and rescue; and post-trauma counseling experts to assist survivors and will continue to assist with the help of our (your?) contributions. Your support is needed immediately. Visit www.ou.org to donate. Please be generous.” The U.S. State Department has set up a tollfree number to call for information about friends and family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747. The State Department has also set up links on its website for donations to disaster relief agencies. www.BayCurrents.net

Save Coney Island! By KATERYNA STUPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

A local non-profit group is determined to help restore and revitalize iconic Coney Island while preserving its historical and cultural value, even if it means going up against the city itself.

he organization, with its mission in its name: Save Coney Island, was founded in the spring of 2008 as the first group to respond to the city’s interest in redeveloping the area that has come to be known as “the playground of the world.” “Our organization was a reaction to the feeling that Bloomberg’s administration didn’t really care about Coney Island,” said Juan Rivero, a spokesman for Save Coney Island. “Since then we have responded in arguing that the area is too small for the plan of the city.” Since its establishment, Save Coney Island has been fighting the city’s rezoning plan by promoting its cause around the community – conducting rallies and raising awareness about the future of Coney Island. When the redevelopment plan was approved by the City Council anyway, Save Coney Island filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that a proper environmental review of the area was not conducted according to the required legal standard. “[The city’s] plan erases Coney Island’s past and sacrifices its future,” said Rivero. “New Yorkers don’t want a small amusement park walled off by high-rise towers. They want extraordinary Coney Island, worthy of

its name and history. The lawsuit keeps that dream alive.” The city’s proposed rezoning plan includes a 12-acre outdoor amusement park, and a 15acre hotel and indoor entertainment area. The advocacy group says that the designated amusement area is too small to accommodate all the rides and the estimated 3.5 million people projected to visit Coney Island. They also say that the proposed high-rise hotels along Surf Avenue will ultimately “create a wall” and cast shadows over the amusement park. Save Coney Island has also been fighting the city’s proposal to redevelop the few historical buildings in the area that have not been landmarked, and can therefore be altered or even destroyed. The advocates say that buildings like Nathan’s Famous and the Bank of Coney Island are a vital part of Coney Island’s history and culture, and are “worthy of preservation.” The organization is currently fighting to have the amusement area expanded, rather than diminished, even if it means having to purchase additional land. They also hope to have the projected hotels relocated north of Surf Avenue and west of Keyspan Park, so that they won’t overshadow the heart of Coney Island. Despite the struggles, Rivero says that Save Coney Island will continue urging the Bloomberg administration to fix the redevelopment plan and preserve the historic value of Coney Island. “The effort is in mitigating the problems that we’re challenging,” said Rivero. “We’re concerned with articulating a vision for a greater Coney Island.” For more information on Save Coney Island visit www.saveconeyisland.net.

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Community boards:

Seizing to еxist By KATERYNA STPNEVICH stupnevich@baycurrents.net

Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s plan to convene a Charter Revision Commission has many community board members shaking in their boots as they speculate about their future – or lack thereof. oard members say that the Bloomberg administration intends to restructure term limits for local politicians, divesting board members of their zoning rights, and perhaps even pushing for complete elimination of the public advocate’s and borough president’s offices. “If everything goes as [the Bloomberg’s administration] plans, we are looking at losing our borough president; our public advocate; and our community boards,” said Theresa Scavo, Chair of Community Board 15. “Basically, whoever is left that will represent the community won’t be on a community level.” Scavo says that should a Charter Revision Commission be seated, community boards will likely be purged of their say in zoning and

development issues. As it stands now, community boards are just one element in a three-step zoning process. All land use applications are also reviewed by the borough president and the Department of City Planning. “We’re just one piece of it and we don’t have a final say,” explained Marion Cleaver, Chair of Community Board 13. “Originally, community boards were created to deal with land use matters, but it appears that’s no longer viably considered.” The growing concern about the decrease in the responsibilities of community boards has many members predicting that local representative bodies will cease to exist under the rule of the Bloomberg administration. “When you start stripping the community boards of certain things, little by little you’re taking away the use of the boards,” said Scavo. “Now you have 311 and 511, so [the administration] feels that the community doesn’t need the boards.” Aside from power limits, the existence of community boards is also threatened by the lack of funding. “What I’ve been seeing is a tremendous reduction in funding of

community boards,” said Cleaver. “Every year we’ve been getting cut, but if the money is not restored [this] year, you will see a reduction in personnel.” Borough President Marty Markowitz, on the other hand, promises that if the charter is revised, he will push for independent funding of community boards and the public advocate’s and borough president’s offices. “It only stands to reason that the independence of these boards and offices is better protected when yearly budgets are not dependent on the whims of a mayor or city council,” he said. Despite rumors that the Bloomberg administration may be planning to eliminate the borough president’s office, Markowitz says he will advocate for a stronger, more vital role for borough presidents in land-use decisions and educational policies, among other things. While some community board members dread what the future may hold for local government, others feel that speculation about the agenda or outcome of the revisions may be slightly premature. Todd Dobrin, a community activist and CB13 member, says that if the administration made their plan public, it could be handled accordingly. “It should be a public, open plan and local officials should be involved in it. If the administration comes out with their whole plan and makes it public, then we can definitely make an accurate assessment.”

Statement from Borough President Marty Markowitz

hould a charter revision commission be seated – and I will definitely call for borough presidents “S to have a voice on that commission – among our top priorities in Brooklyn will be that community boards, the public advocate and borough presidents have independent sources of operational funding determined by formula each year, in the same way that the borough presidents’ capital budgets are today. It only stands to reason that the independence of these boards and offices is better protected when yearly budgets are not dependent on the whims of a mayor or city council. Certainly I would also advocate for the city to beef up the role of borough presidents. Among other things, borough presidents should have a stronger voice in land use decisions, and in terms of education policy, borough presidents’ offices should be centers of the city’s parental involvement efforts.”

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WALL STREET JOURNAL

www.BayCurrents.net

State of the City In the first State of the City address of his third term – delivered on Thursday, Jan. 21 before hundreds of government and civic employees and leaders at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens – Mayor Bloomberg outlined several steps he said his administration would take to “continue insisting that government remain on the side of every hard-working New Yorker.” The plans include: giving $10,000 grants to up to 1,000 families to refinance their mortgages offering GPS bracelets to seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and children with special needs to help keep track of them authorizing 750 million to rescue apartment buildings facing foreclosure help debt-ridden New Yorkers who want to better manage their money with no-fee bank accounts consolidate certain city services to save 10 percent of office space

· · · · ·

Here is the full text of the address as prepared for delivery: “Thank you all so much. “And thank you, Tony Benedetto of Astoria, for those kind words. I hope he meant them – and isn’t just trying to be a guest on my new late night show on NBC. Tony and his wife Susan really are amazingly loyal and generous New Yorkers. They’ve done so much for this school and this City. I don’t care what Tony said about leaving his heart in San Francisco, he’s always saved his greatest love for his hometown. And we couldn’t be more proud or more grateful. “Speaker Quinn, Public Advocate de Blasio, Comptroller Liu, borough presidents – especially our host Helen Marshall – our District Attorneys, and distinguished guests: It’s great to be here today – at the new home of the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. Led by a dynamic principal, Donna Finn, this building really is filled with the kind of bright, talented students who can make it here, or make it anywhere. “Among those joining us on the stage today are some people from the local neighborhood who are as responsible for the progress in this community as anyone. And really, the progress that we see here in Astoria and northwest Queens exemplifies how far our entire City has come over the past eight years. Not only is there a beautiful new school here with a graduation rate of 97 percent, crime in the local precinct is down 41 percent thanks to the dedication of officers like Chief Diana Pizzuti of Queens North. There are new jobs at new shops and businesses in the neighborhood, from Kristie’s Fashions, owned by Kristie Foster to Water Lillies Food, a manufacturing firm owned by Taiwanese immigrants and represented here today by Tina Lee. “Of course, there are also new jobs at Kaufman Studios, just down the street. Thank you, George. There are new ball fields and facilities at Queensbridge Park, new housing will be going up at Hunters Point South, and there is even a new charter school in Long Island City, named Growing Up Green. “Across the City, we’ve seen similar progress, and more: Record low murders and fire fatalities, record high life expectancy, record high graduation rates, record amounts of affordable housing being built, record investments in job-creating infrastructure. We’re even planting a record number of trees. www.BayCurrents.net

Work lies ahead “But in talking with the residents of Astoria and in talking with New Yorkers across the City and listening to their concerns, I know how much work still lies ahead of us. The national recession has hit hard all across America and it has not spared us. I know how worried people are, worried about losing their homes to foreclosure or finding a good-paying job, or keeping their kids out of trouble. “The faces up on the banner behind me are people I’ve met in visiting every community and every borough. Their stories reflect the unequaled progress we’ve made and the unfinished business that we still face. “That’s the State of our City. “Strong in a time of struggle, and determined to keep charging ahead. And that’s how the people I’ve met feel. We’re proud of our progress but fully aware that it’s not enough. “We are New Yorkers, always striving, and we know we have more work to do. “And that’s how the people I’ve met feel: Proud of our progress but fully aware that it’s not enough. We are New Yorkers, always striving, and we know we have more work to do.

sight. We are the state’s economic engine, and balancing the budget on the backs of the five boroughs will only run the entire state into the ground. The year ahead “The school we’re at today – like all our schools – represents the future of our City. And that’s where I’d like to focus my remarks today. Not on what we’ve done in the past, but what we’ll do in the year ahead. “This is a new term, and as someone once said: ‘We’re going to make a brand new start of it.’ We’re going to do more than ever – more than any City has ever done – to find innovative new ways to improve people’s everyday lives. “Our goal is simple: To make the strongest possible recovery from the most severe national recession our country has faced in the post-war era. “As we all know, a strong and speedy recovery is not inevitable. It won’t happen on its own. But with the right strategy, there is no doubt in my mind that we can help lead the national recovery, and lift our City to new heights. That is the great challenge facing us, and you have my word: We will not fail. “Today, I want to tell you about the ambitious strategy we’re going to follow to make it happen. To begin with, we’ll continue doing the fundamentals well. Just like our Super Bowl bound New York Jets. Hey, those kids weren’t even born the last time the Jets were in the Super Bowl. “Doing the fundamentals well means doing all the things that support and strengthen our economy, and that starts with finding even more new ways to make our City safer. “This year, we’ll continue finding new ways to target high-crime areas, illegal guns, domestic batterers. as well as the repeat lowlevel offenders who threaten our quality of life. We’ve come so far in creating the safest big City in the nation, and we aren’t going to let anything or anyone stop our progress. No way. “We’ll also expand the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative into Midtown. The NYPD and its federal partners have thwarted more than a dozen terrorist plots over the years, but 2009 saw more domestic plots than in any recent year. So we must continue giving our officers the best possible tools for protecting our City and our country. “And at the same time, we’ll continue pushing to keep redevelopment of the World Trade Center site moving ahead and keep the memorial on schedule to open next year.

Painful cuts “So let me make this commitment to you, as we begin this new term: We will continue demanding and achieving progress in every area – every day. We will continue going full tilt – full time. And, even as we face difficult budget choices, which will require painful cuts, we will continue insisting that government remain on the side of every hard-working New Yorker. And we will not forget our responsibilities to our less fortunate neighbors. “The sobering cuts the City faces in the proposed State budget released yesterday are not going to make our job any easier. The fact is, because we prepared for the national recession by saving for the future and making the hard decisions, we are now an easy target for the State, which faces a much more severe fiscal deficit. But we cannot be penalized for making the right and responsible decisions leading up to this moment. “We understand the challenges our State leaders face, but it’s critical that the Democrats and Republicans, in both the Senate and the Assembly, protect our City. That’s their job. And we’ve got to help them do it, and hold them to it. New York City residents deserve to be treated with fairness and fore-

Doing the fundamentals “Doing the fundamentals well also means improving our mass transit system by working with and helping Jay Walder, the new head of the MTA, implement the reform agenda we share. “It means making our air cleaner by greening the heating fuels used by schools and large buildings. It means expanding our arts and cultural community by opening new facilities in all five boroughs, including a major expansion of the Museum of the Moving Image, right across the street.

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

“It means fighting poverty and homelessness with more innovative new ideas. It means working with our partners in labor and in Albany to achieve the budget reforms necessary to save our children from debts they won’t be able to pay, and that our City can’t afford. “It means finding new ways to improve the services we offer New Yorkers, which is exactly why we’ve re-assigned every first deputy commissioner to another agency for the next three weeks, something no government has ever done before. And it means continuing to lead the nation with innovative education reforms that give parents more first-rate public school options and give all children the skills they’ll need to get their diplomas, and follow their dreams. “Of course, these are not the only fundamental responsibilities of government, and in mapping out a strategy for the strongest and fastest possible recovery, we’re going to zero in on some of the most pressing challenges that these men and women, and millions more New Yorkers, confront every day.

Four questions “The challenges center on four questions that – with the economy still so uncertain – cry out for answers now more than ever. They may not be the four questions that some of us had to ask at Passover seder when we were growing up, and they certainly aren’t the only ones we’ll concentrate on during 2010. But they are essential to our recovery, and we’re going to confront them head-on. “The first of the four questions is the one that communities across the country are asking: How can we help those who’ve been hit hardest by these hard times? “We’ll do it by connecting more people to good-paying jobs, helping more people get their finances in order, and providing more housing assistance to troubled homeowners. “But let me start answering that question by telling you about Inna Goldshteyn. Inna is 45 years old and lives in the one and only Coney Island. She was laid off last May from a bookkeeping job that paid $15.75 an hour. After several months of searching for work without any luck, she visited our Workforce1 Center and enrolled in a computer training program. After six weeks, she earned her certificate, and we placed her in a bookkeeping job that pays $24 an hour, plus benefits – a more than 50 percent salary increase. Inna, congratulations. “Inna is not alone. She is one of 25,000 New Yorkers our Career Centers placed in jobs last year – a record – but this year, we aim to top it. People like Inna are the essence of our City, and this year we’ll find more ways to create more middle-class job opportunities for them. For instance, our Health Care Career Center at LaGuardia Community College, which is just down the road, will give hundreds of New Yorkers the chance to begin careers as medical technicians, nurses, and EMTs. Our Manufacturing Career Center in Brooklyn, which just opened this month, will serve machinists and metalworkers, who, in today’s market, need math and computer skills as sharp as their power tools. And all of our Career Centers in all five boroughs will provide a level of training and support that no other City in the country is offering. “The job market can be particularly tough for entry-level workers and those with limited English skills, and that means many immigrants have been hit particularly hard by the national recession. So as we push for comprehensive immigration reform in Washington, we’ll also do more to help struggling immigrants right here in our own backyard because all of us have an interest in seeing immigrants succeed. Continued on p. 13 Page 9

STARS

IT'S IN THE ‘No place to look for life’ A new, powerful NASA telescope has spotted two new objects in deep space that remain mysterious. They are circling around stars, but at 26,000 degrees Fahrenheit, they’re simply too hot to be mature planets. he heavenly bodies, viewed by the Kepler telescope launched in March, are even hotter than the stars they orbit. They have much higher temperatures and are larger than any planets in our Solar System, NASA says. “The universe keeps making strange things stranger than we can think (of ) in our imagination,” Jon Morse, head of astrophysics for NASA, told the Associated Press. NASA researcher Jason Rowe – who discovered the objects through the telescope named for

the 17th century astronomer Johannes Kepler – calls them “hot companions.” Rowe theorizes that since very young planets are very hot, these objects are probably newborn planets, but Ronald Gilliland, of the Space Telescope Science Institute, says they could be far older-white dwarf stars in their death throes. The Kepler telescope’s threeyear mission is to scan some 150,000 stars in a small section of the visible universe to search for planets similar to Earth. The latest discoveries are anything but. In the first weeks of its mission, the Kepler telescope spotted five “exo-planets”– planets orbiting stars other than our own. All of them were orbiting close to their suns, causing them to have temperatures in the thousands of degrees. “Looking at them is like looking at a blast furnace,” Borucki said. “(They’re) certainly, no place to look for life.”

The Kepler telescope’s

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Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

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SENIOR CURRENTS

Your mother was right about breakfast! With all the publicity about Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, many seniors may start to worry if they forget where they put their car keys.

his, of course, is an unfounded concern. Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other forms of senility are much more profound than simply forgetting what you had for breakfast. Actually, whether or not you remember it, what you have for breakfast could be very important for short-term memory, a Canadian study suggests. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, shows that some simple changes in the way seniors eat may improve, or at least maintain, short-term memory. In the study, 22 men and women aged 61 to 79 years drank, on an empty stomach, one of four beverages every morning for four days: drinks made up of pure protein, carbohydrate, or fat (each with the same

number of calories), or a calorie-free placebo as a control. The seniors were given word-recall and attention tests 15 and 60 minutes after they drank the beverages. The results suggested that consuming calories (regardless of the source) after an overnight fast improved the results of mental-function tests. In addition, each nutrient had specific positive effects on different aspects of memory function. The key message of this study reinforces what your mother always told you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Earlier studies had found that children who ate breakfast had better scores in mental performance compared with those who did not. This study suggests that the same is true for seniors. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not in the habit of eating breakfast, or you define it as a cup of coffee, here are a few quick and easy ideas: If you have access to a blender, blend together a banana, a single serving carton

of yogurt, orange juice and other assorted fruits Top a bagel or English muffin with cottage cheese or a slice of melted mozzarella or Swiss cheese Make a breakfast banana split â&#x20AC;&#x201C; empty a single serving carton of yogurt into your

Âˇ Âˇ

cereal bowl. Top with a high-fiber cereal and a sliced banana Cook instant oatmeal in the microwave and top with some raisins At the beginning of the week, hard-boil a few eggs. Enjoy them over several mornings with a piece of fruit and slice of bread

Âˇ Âˇ

Âˇ

Is it absent-mindedness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s? As we described in another article in this edition of Senior Currents, many older people worry about losing their memory. The first time they forget some little thing, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m getting Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s!â&#x20AC;?

etâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clarify a few things: Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, named after German physician Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906, is only one form of dementia, a class of brain diseases which cause serious changes in personality, behavior, memory, or combination of these. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s caused by the damage or death of some of the millions of neurons, or nerve cells, that make up the brain. What exactly causes this is still not known for certain. Symptoms may include asking the same questions over and over again; getting lost in familiar places; being unable to follow directions; becoming disoriented about time, people, and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. People with dementia lose their abilities at different rates. Dementia mainly affects seniors, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll automatically get dementia as you get older. In fact, current medical research shows that most people remain quite mentally alert as they age. Sometimes older people have emotional problems that can be mistaken for dementia. Feeling sad, lonely, worried, or bored may be more common for older people facing retirement or coping with the death of a spouse, relative, or friend. Treatment in these cases is not medical â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the support of family and friends is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed. Symptoms of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease usually begin slowly and become steadily worse, leading to serious impairments in thinking, www.BayCurrents.net

judgment, and the ability to perform daily activities. Eventually, patients may need total care. In another key form of dementia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; multiinfarct dementia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a series of small strokes or changes in the brainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood supply can kill brain cells. The symptoms can be mild or very serious, depending on which parts of the brain are affected.. In many cases, high blood pressure is the cause. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worried about memory loss or disorientation, you should see your doctor. There are many tests that can show any early stages of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or other dementia, and although there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any cure to date, there are treatments that can slow its progress or reduce the severity. Family members and friends can be invaluable in helping. People with dementia should be kept up-to-date about the details of their lives, such as the time of day, where they live, and what is happening at home or in the world. Some families find that a big calendar, a list of daily plans, notes about simple safety measures, and written directions describing how to use common household items, and even a â&#x20AC;&#x153;current eventsâ&#x20AC;? posting about the family are very useful aids. There is ongoing research to develop new drugs that may slow, reverse, or prevent the damage caused by Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease and multi-infarct dementia. In the meantime, people who have no dementia symptoms can try to keep their memory and mind sharp. Reading, keeping up with a hobby, keeping physically in shape, staying away from very much alcohol, all can help. For more tips and information, call the Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s 24/7 Helpline, 800272-3900, or visit alz.org. Also online, you can search under â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Diseaseâ&#x20AC;? for an array of sites dealing with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other forms of dementia.

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Page 11

Battered women caught in deadly cycle By DOMINIQUE CARSON info@baycurrents.net

As state Senator Hiram Monserrate and former NY1 anchor Domenic Carter made headlines for the way they treated their partners,, thousands of Brooklyn women continued suffering in silence at the hands of their significant others.

Hiram Monserrate

attered women often allow themselves to enter a psychological cycle of fear and denial, and unless they get help, they may exit the cycle in a wooden box, experts warn. They do not report the abuse because they start to believe they are not capable of surviving without their abuser. “A lot of women who were victims of domestic violence will say ‘Hey, it’s only a husband and wife dispute that got a little out of hand,’” said Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes. “When they say these statements to you, they are denying that they are being abused.”

Domenic Carter

One reason they continue to stay with their partner, is that they are convinced he is more powerful than they are. Often they fear they couldn’t financially be on their own, especially if they have children. There are four stages once a woman is exposed to the battered women syndrome – denial, guilt, enlightenment, and responsibility. In stage 1, she denies her partner’s abusive behavior and will make excuses for him because he tells her that it will never happen again. When it inevitably does happen again, she blames blame herself. “Battered women will question their own characters and try harder to live up their partner’s expectations and instructions,” said domestic violence survivor Sarah. “We are trying our best to please our loved ones so they will not see a black eye or a busted lip.” The woman enters the enlightenment stage when she finally realizes that no woman deserves to be beaten. She now knows that it’s the man who has the problem, and she must walk away. “When a women finds the strength to leave her partner and never looks back, she’s

taking the necessary step begin a new life,” said Jenny, another survivor. There are domestic-violence cases in which the woman is the abuser, Hynes said, but the number of these pales compared to the number of women who are victims. “When I took office in 1990, I wanted to create a Domestic Violence Bureau so we can have great strides in raising the consciousness of the entire community, and especially the law enforcement community, in acknowledging and responding to domestic violence,” said Hynes.

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State of the City Continued from p.9

Helping Haiti “So, we’ll expand job-preparation classes in English-as-a-second-language for an additional 5,000 of our newest New Yorkers. We’ll increase summer job placements for students who are learning English. We’ll help immigrant small business owners weather the economic downturn by holding financing fairs with lenders who speak their language. And, most urgently, because of the terrible tragedy that has recently shocked the world, we’ll create a public-private partnership – with law firms, philanthropies, and community organizations – to provide the legal and administrative support that Haitian New Yorkers will need in applying for Temporary Protected Status. That will allow them to find legal employment here, and allow more money to find its way back home to their loved ones. “So many New Yorkers have given generously over the past week. In fact, the Mayor’s Fund has collected more than half a million dollars – most of it coming from people calling 311 and asking how they can help. All of us can help this Friday, when just across the street at Kaufman Astoria studios, Wyclef Jean will host a Hope for Haiti Global Telethon on all the major networks. And in the weeks and months ahead, I promise you that the City of New York will continue doing everything possible to help with the recovery in Haiti, and to heal the wounds that have broken our hearts. “Even as we give thanks for our good fortune, there are other ways we will help struggling New Yorkers. All of us know people who are stressed out about their finances. Many are drowning in credit card debt at huge interest rates, or turning to payday lenders and loan sharks, or being hit with steep overdraft fees. “The City can’t manage anyone’s personal finances, but we can make it easier for New Yorkers to manage their own –and we will. We’ll start by helping more New Yorkers get out of debt with a new public-private loan pool that will offer them a fresh start if they commit to sound financial practices. And to help more families protect their earnings and build savings, our Department of Consumer Affairs has found five banks and five credits unions that have volunteered to launch bank accounts that will be the first of their kind in the nation. “We’re calling them ‘NYC Safe Start’ because they won’t require minimum balances, and they won’t charge hidden fees. If you want overdraft protection or other services, you can opt for a traditional account, but with NYC Safe Start, you can’t withdraw more than you’ve got so you can’t be penalized for forgetting your balance. “With Albany’s approval, we’ll also strengthen neighborhood-friendly credit unions, which reach out to customers who may have never had a bank account. We’ll seek to deposit $25 million in City tax dollars in federally insured and regulated credit unions that pay the same interest rate as commercial banks. “It’s a relatively small amount of City resources, but it will have a big impact by allowing credit unions to make more loans to more low-income families. We’ll also help open credit unions serving public housing residents, like the one Bishop Taylor is opening in Long Island City this spring. Bishop: You are one banker who truly is doing God’s work. “As we help New Yorkers keep more of their money in their pockets, we’ll also help www.BayCurrents.net

more families keep their homes. Thankfully, the level of foreclosures here is much lower than in many other Cities, and our Center for New York City Neighborhoods has played a critical role in keeping that number low. Preventing foreclosures “This year, we’ll go even further, by launching the most ambitious home foreclosure prevention effort of any city in the nation. We’ll start by setting up a $10 million mortgage assistance fund that will help up to 1,000 middle-class families refinance their mortgages on reasonable terms. The fund – half of which will come from private sources, and half from the Battery Park City Authority – will provide those families with a onetime grant, which we will recover when they sell their homes. “This will make them eligible for more of the loan modifications that are essential to stabilizing the housing market and allow them to keep their homes. We’re the first

City in the country doing this. “We’ll take an even bigger step by moving $750 million that is already in the capital budget for our New Housing Marketplace plan into a rescue fund for distressed apartment buildings. This will help us reach our goal of constructing or preserving 165,000 units of affordable housing and we’ve already seen how well this approach can work. “A few months ago in the Bronx, we learned of a landlord who was defaulting on the mortgage and allowing the apartment building to fall into a state of disrepair. This was a very bad situation for the building’s nearly one thousand tenants and it was only going to get worse. “So we arranged for the building to be sold to a nonprofit developer headed by former New York Met, Mo Vaughn. I’m glad to report that, thanks to him, repairs are already being made and maintenance at the building has significantly improved. “Gotta go to Mo! Thank you! So you can’t say the Mets didn’t give us any good news last year! “As we find new ways to help struggling New Yorkers, we’re also going to stay focused on the bigger economic picture. And that brings us to the second of our four questions: How can we make it easier to open and grow businesses, especially small businesses?

A city for entrepreneurs “This is a critically important question for us – because more than any place on Earth, New York is a city for entrepreneurs. People from every corner of the globe come here prepared to risk everything on an idea, an invention, a secret family recipe, and many succeed. In New York, many a thriving business has been built around spicy curries, hot jabeneros, and the perfect pint. “Speaking of which I want to tell you about Brian McNally and Iain Lake. They put their life savings into opening a friendly neighborhood place called the Black Horse Pub in Brooklyn’s South Slope. “But before they could open their doors,

they first needed an inspection from the Fire Department and the Health Department and the Department of Buildings. As well as a plan review from the Department of Environmental Protection. And, they needed all of that to happen in the right order! “The utilities couldn’t be turned on until the Fire Department inspection. The Department of Buildings couldn’t issue a certificate of occupancy until Environmental Protection did its review. And so on and so on. It’s enough to drive a new business owner to look for the nearest pub! “As a pilot initiative we developed with the support of Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council, we stepped in to help. By working with Brian and Iain to coordinate their inspections across all the agencies, we cut at least three months off their waiting time, added three months income to their bottom line and allowed them to start hiring sooner. “I think we can all raise a glass to that! Brian and Iain – here’s to you. “In 2010, we’re going to take this promising initiative citywide, with a streamlined inspection process that will cut red tape for most new restaurants. And about 4,000 open every year! To help them, we’ll deploy a ‘New Business Acceleration Team’ to help small business owners cut months off their waiting times. “To make it crystal clear that this is a top priority, this morning I met with the ten commissioners whose agencies interact with small businesses: Small Business Services, Buildings, Fire, Finance, Information Technology, Transportation, Sanitation, Consumer Affairs, Health, and even Environmental Protection! I directed all of the commissioners to work hand-in-glove to begin cutting through the bureaucracy and improving customer service. “Entrepreneurs are trying to create jobs and business as usual from government is just not acceptable. Almost since the dawn of time, governments have failed to think of the people they serve as customers. People were captive audiences. But now, in an age when people and businesses are more mobile than ever, governments have to be quicker on their feet to keep their customers and attract new ones. Moving generations of bureaucracy won’t be easy, but we’ve never shied away from the tough challenges and we won’t start now! “New small businesses will also be able to find their own ways to speed up the approval process by visiting our ‘Business Express’ website, which tells you everything you need to know about permits and regulations. This year, we’ll expand it to cover nearly every industry sector in the City. “Together, these two steps will help more places like the Black Horse Pub start creating jobs and serving New Yorkers more of the world’s most diverse and delicious meals. Hopefully low in salt and with a published calorie count! “The New Business Acceleration Teams will be part of a broader effort to transform the way all businesses deal with City government, something we’ll again do in partnership with Speaker Quinn and the Council. “We created 311 to give New Yorkers a single front door to City government and now we’ll begin working to create a similar, single point of contact for small business owners and managers. After all, why should they have to go from one agency to another to fill out different applications for permits and licenses – and to make payments? “They should be able to do all of those things in one place or electronically, and we’re going to start making it happen.

Who is succeeding, and who is not… “We want all New Yorkers, in all communities, to succeed. But to make that a reality, we’ve got to face some very sobering facts

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

about who is succeeding and who is not. “Just think about this: Across the five boroughs, Black and Hispanic young men have a poverty rate that is 50 percent higher than White and Asian young men. Their rate of unemployment is 60 percent higher. They are two times more likely to not graduate from high school, far more likely to become a teen father and – most troubling of all – more than 90 percent of all young murder victims and perpetrators are Black and Hispanic. “These statistics aren’t so different from those in other cities, but they are totally unacceptable here. We don’t and won’t accept them! This is New York! We can do better and we will! “As far as we’ve come in creating an equal opportunity society, we still have plenty of work to do in fulfilling Dr. King’s dream of making the promise of that society a reality in the communities where it is too often viewed as a fantasy. “So today, our third question is: How can we connect Black and Hispanic young people – especially young men – to the opportunities and support that can lead them to success and allow them to participate in our recovery? “Over the past four years, our Center for Economic Opportunity has redefined the fight against poverty – and this question is the latest outgrowth of it. To begin answering it, let me tell you the story of one of those young men: Amen Jones, who is 16 years old. “Amen had been chronically absent from school, arrested for drug possession and he recently became a father. Too often, this story does not end well. “But last summer, as part of his probation Amen was ordered to participate in our groundbreaking Juvenile Justice Initiative, which provides intensive services for youth offenders. For Amen, that has meant enrolling in a ‘Learning to Work’ vocational program. “He’s also enrolled in our ‘Fatherhood Initiative’ – a mentoring and support group for new fathers and soon, he’ll be starting culinary training classes. “Amen, we want you to succeed – and we know you can succeed and you can be a role model to your son and to others. Good luck and thanks for joining us. “There are many young men like Amen in our City and this year, we’ll bring together business, philanthropic, government, and community leaders to identify new ways to help them get their lives back on track. “We’ll start by conducting a detailed as-

sessment of all city, state, and federal funding for youth services and we’ll work to connect the people and organizations that are tackling these issues so we can better coordinate our efforts. After all, the New Yorkers in groups like Million Moms against Gun Violence want the same thing as the cop on the beat and the social worker and by bringing these groups and other groups closer together, we believe we can make a real difference. “Today, I’m glad to announce that two outstanding New Yorkers – with a tremendous reputation for getting things done, not just talking about them – will help lead our efforts: David Banks, the President and Founding Principal of the Eagle Academy, an all-boys high school, and Ana Olivera, the President of the New York Women’s Foundation. Page 13

By the Bay Currents staff

ACROSS 2 5 6 9 10 13 16 17 18 20 21

Number of minutes for sunlight to reach Earth Orbiting telescope named after astronomer The ‘m’ in Einstein’s famous equation __ forming, rendering a planet Earth-like Time ____, occurring as light speed is approached Postulated a geocentric universe Percent of light reflected by a heavenly body ____ shifting, moving away from the observer White ____, dying star Declared planets go around the Sun Smallest planet in our Solar system

DOWN 1 3 4 7 8 11 12 14 15 19

Each Bay Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

____ shifting, moving toward the observer Forced to recant sun-centered universe Exceedingly bright star Regions of lower temperature on the Sun The ‘A’ in VLA The ‘I’ in SETI Calculated elliptical orbits ____ hole, theoretical space-time link Largest planet in our Solar system ___ planet, outside our Solar system

Keep fish from smelling – you

ext time you or anyone you know goes fishing in the Bay, here’s some information you might appreciate: Researchers at the Iowa-based Outdoor Technologies Group found that fish generally don’t like and will avoid the smell of certain man-made scents – including perfumes, sunscreens, insect repellent, alcohol, or nicotine. So maybe an effective way to fish in the Bay is to skip the after-shave lotion, risk sunburn, fight off bugs, don’t smoke, and leave the cans of beer unopened.

by Matt Lassen

Page 14

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

www.BayCurrents.net

Is the nest half-empty or half-full? By RIVKI JUNGREIS Special to Bay Currents

Many women, after their children have become young adults and fled home to follow lives of their own, experience a sense of purposelessness and a feeling of melancholy. They no longer have anyone dependent on them daily.

thers feel energized by their new sense of freedom, and excited at the thought of embarking on a new job or being able, for the first time, to pursue hobbies or other interests. And then there is an increasing number of women who find themselves in a unique category – half a nest. The older children have left, but there are still younger children nesting at home, albeit on a 9 to 5 school schedule. These moms who may be in the throes of a job, be committed to elderly parents, or have new duties as a grandmother suddenly find they face more demands and higher expectations than ever before. They need to deal with new

pressures while needing to spend time with their younger children. But the problem isn’t only time. These parents are confronted with the reality that some of the child-rearing methods they had used in the past no longer serve in good stead. We middle-aged moms reflect on the contrasts between the ways we raised our older children, compared to the younger ones. We wax sentimental about a more innocent era when one-on-one conversation with our children was the standard fare in communication. As younger moms we were able to devote the lion’s share of our time to our toddlers. Story time, game playing, long talks, leisurely car rides, and trips to the amusement park all seemed so effortless. The words “quality time” were not even a part of our vernacular. Now, however, it appears that we are left with quite a different parenting scenario. Due to our increased responsibilities and material needs, we find ourselves on mental overload – we are riddled with guilt that we can no longer parent with the same degree of attention that we had for the older children. So how does the middle aged mom grapple with all this? How

does she balance the obligations she has outside of the home and her paramount function of being the best mother possible to her younger children? The famed psychologist Eric Erikson defined human development as a product of the interaction between the individual and the demands and expectations of the society. Middle-aged moms are smack in the middle of this, and we often feel crushed Once, a married daughter, noticing her mother giving a whole Popsicle (with two sticks) to her youngest sibling, commented, “Mom, when we were growing up you always gave us just a half a popsicle.” Her mother turned to her and said quietly, “When you were growing up, you had a whole Mommy.” The key to navigating the difficulties of middle-aged parenting is awareness. For example, we have to be aware that there are times when communication must be monitored, especially for younger children raised with older siblings. They are constantly in earshot of adult conversations, and often absorb subject matter that is far beyond their emotional grasp. Whether it be the

problems in a marriage, financial concerns, details of a pregnancy, or worries over the physical condition of a grandparent, the younger child is caught in the middle and naturally demands explanations. As parents we feel an obligation to explain and let them into our adult world, but we end up adultifiying our younger children. A big mistake! Research indicates that deep down, children don’t want to be treated as adults, no matter how much they may say they do. They feel more secure and loved when they know that they are children and that their parents are the adults who are in charge. When too much power and control is handed to a child, it frightens him because his parents have seemingly relinquished their role as protectors. It is important for parents to be aware that whatever else is going on, the younger children should be allowed to have their childhood. Mothers also must be aware that time brings along change. She cannot be the mother she once was, but she can still be a very effective role model. She can still try to make time spent with her children a top priority, knowing that it acts as a buffer

against children developing a sense of alienation. Make it a goal to have some family dinners during the week. So many important details of children’s daily lives – their worries, interests and problems – come to the fore. Whether you eat or just sit with them is irrelevant. Communication is the key, the more often the better. As we ponder the tremendous responsibilities that we have as mothers, we must always see the complete picture. While we must be present for our children, work to build their self-esteem and teach them to behave according to solid values, we have other roles, too. We must be a caring wife to our spouse, a good daughter to our parents, a concerned and loving sister to our siblings, and a devoted aunt to our nieces and nephews. It is irrelevant whether we are stay-at-home moms, moms who work from home or moms who leave the home to go out to work. It’s a tall order, to be sure. But we’ve been doing it throughout the history of humankind. Rivki Jungreis MS.Ed, LCSW is a psychotherapist specializing in play therapy and self-relations therapy.

1229 Avenue Y (off East 12th Street) Suite 5C • Phone 718-368-2322 • Fax 718-368-3938 • mairalaw.com www.BayCurrents.net

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

Page 15

New Tax Credits Here are some tax credits for you that you can use when filing your 2009 taxes:

increases the earned income tax credit to forty-five percent of the family’s first $12,570 of earned income for families with three or more children, and increases the beginning point of the phase-out range for all married couples filing a joint return (regardless of the number of children) by $1,880.

THE “MAKING WORK PAY TAX CREDIT”

FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER CREDIT IS EXTENDED INTO 2010 The ‘first-time home buyer’s credit’ has been extended into 2010, so more people will qualify for this tax break. The period for first-time home buyers to purchase a home and qualify for the credit will continue through April 30, 2010. First-time home buyers who have not owned a principle residence for 3 years prior to the purchase of a new home will continue to be eligible for a credit of up to $8,000. For homes purchased after December 31, 2008, the credit will not have to be repaid if the home buyer uses the home as their principal residence for 3 or more years. Those serving in the military will not be penalized if they claimed the credit and then have to deploy and sell their home within three years.

EXPANSION OF FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER CREDIT The first-time home buyer’s credit has been expanded so that more homeowners now qualify for a tax break. People who have owned a home and used it as a principal residence for a 5-consecutive-year period during the 8-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new personal residence may qualify as first-time homebuyers and receive a credit of up to $6,500. To claim this credit, you must have a signed purchase contract for a principal residence in force before May 1, 2010 and must close on their home purchase by June 30, 2010 (this also applies to the up to $8,000 credit). This credit is available for purchases of principal residents after November 6, 2009. Taxpayers who make qualified purchases after December 31, 2008 do not have to repay the amount of the credit if they reside in the home as their principal residence for 36 months after the purchase.

NEW EARNED INCOME CREDIT (EIC) QUALIFYING INCOME LEVELS

The Making Work Pay economic stimulus credit is a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for working married couples for 2009 and 2010. This credit resulted in a decrease in withholding for most taxpayers. As a result, it may also cause a surprise for some taxpayers who discover that they need to adjust their withholding amounts, or owe at tax time. Taxpayers who have more than one job and families with two working spouses may be having too little withheld. Working dependents, pensioners who have earned income, and some employees receiving Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement or Veteran’s Disability payments may also be in this category.

The maximum amount of income that a taxpayer can earn and still get the Earned Income Credit has increased. The taxpayer may be able to take the credit if: They have three or more qualifying children and earn less than $43,279 ($48,279 if married filing jointly). They have two qualifying children and earn less than $40,295 ($45,295 if married filing jointly). They have one qualifying child and earn less than $35,463 ($40,463 if married filing jointly). They have no qualifying children and earn less than $13,440 ($18,440 if married filing jointly).

RELIEF FOR THE UNEMPLOYED, EXTENSION

HIGHER-EDUCATION HELP

OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS The “Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009” provided a 14 week extension of unemployment benefits, and 6 additional weeks of unemployment benefits for those in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 % or more. There’s no extension or increase in the provision for out-of-work Americans to exclude any more than $2,400 of unemployment benefits from total gross income in 2009. (This measure was a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).

DEDUCT THE SALES TAX ON YOUR NEW CAR

· · · ·

The American Opportunity Credit will now allow up to four years of education costs compared to Hope allowance which only allowed for two. The amount of the credit has also increased from $1800 to $2500. You can now write off the cost of books and required software. Other educational credits include: the Hope credit which now allows 100% of the first two thousand in eligible expenses and 25% of the second two thousand for each student that qualifies. The Lifetime Earning Credit has expanded to include computer hardware, software and internet expenses.

HOME EFFICIENCY

If you purchased a car after February 17th, 2009; you can deduct the state and local sales tax on your standard and itemized deductions.

Home energy efficiency and improvements qualify for a credit up to fifteen hundred dollars. The percent of the credit has increased to 30% and can roll over into the next tax year until the amount of the credit is used.

EARNED INCOME CREDIT INCREASES FOR

MILITARY

FAMILIES WITH THREE OR MORE CHILDREN The earned income credit amounts will be temporarily increased for working families with three or more children. This

Military persons stationed out of the country for ninety days or longer between 12/31/2008 and 5/1/2010 are eligible for an extension on filing. Additionally, government retirees and disable vets qualify for a credit of $250.

Emergency chicken

his NYPD Traffic vehicle was parked squarely in front of a fire hydrant on Haring Street and Avenue U in Marine Park for at least Page 16

10 minutes, unoccupied — directly outside the partially filled parking lot of a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet where the traffic officer was

inside placing his order on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 19. Asked whether police officers can legally park at hydrants on non-emergency calls, an

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

NYPD spokesman requested that Bay Currents submit any questions by email. We are awaiting a response. BAY CURRENTS PHOTOS (David Glenn) www.BayCurrents.net

HEALTH CURRENTS

To mothers with PPD: it’s not your fault! New book offers a Jewish perspective on treating the syndrome – advice any PPD sufferer can find useful By FERN SIDMAN info@baycurrents.net

There is little doubt that childbirth can be an ultimate joy for the woman and her family. A new life has entered this world, and there is great excitement and awe.

ut for some women, the days, weeks and months following childbirth can be a personally painful and daunting time, as they fall victim to unyielding hormonal upheavals that result in “the baby blues” – postpartum depression and in some rare cases, postpartum psychosis. In “Delivery Form Darkness” (Feldheim Publishers 2009), the Jerusalem-based authors, Rabbi Baruch Finkelstein and his wife Michal along with certified nurse-midwife and therapist, Doreen Winter, present a most sensitive yet pragmatic guide to prevention and treatment of post-partum depression. The authors make it abundantly clear that PPD and its related disorders are in no way reflective of a mother’s general mental state, nor does it serve as any ominous indication of her abilities to nurture her child. They show that PPD needs to be cogently understood in terms of concrete intervention. The taboo surrounding this most enig-

matic of ailments often causes families a great deal of shame and guilt. In the forward to this book, psychiatrist and author, Rabbi Avraham Twerski says, “Because the symptoms of postpartum depression are behavioral, many people think of them as being due to a mental abnormality. Given the stigma that this carries, the symptoms are often overlooked or explained away.” In some cases women might be genetically predisposed to PPD, the authors point out, but thyroid and adrenal hormones are the major culprits. Support from family and friends and the help of compassionate and educated health care professionals can make all the difference. The book also focuses on the turmoil and pain that husbands often experience as a result of their spouses’ PPD. Several tell their stories in their own words, giving a personal face to the potential tragedy that can result if PPD is left untreated. With an estimated 80 percent of all new mothers experiencing some degree of “baby blues” and 15 to 20 percent being beset with PPD – and in one in a thousand women being diagnosed with postpartum psychosis – the authors sound a clarion call to reach out with urgency to those suffering. Mothers often experience daily bouts of anger, irritability, sadness, and moodiness, and feel

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terribly frightened, agitated and distraught. An intense fear of dying or going crazy, and a profound loss of control combined with suicidal ideations are also prevalent in some cases, since the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can be all encompassing. In salient detail, the authors describe the origins of hormonal shifts in pregnancy and the post-partum period while also emphasizing environmental causes such as daily-life or financial stress. In some cases, anti-depressants have proven effective, but the authors suggest holistic approaches as well, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, the use of herbs, vitamins and minerals as well as establishing a regime of the highest standards in nutrition and exercise. They also encourage keeping a healthy spiritual mindset. The authors conclude their very helpful book with the advice of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov who viewed depression as “very damaging” but also as a growth stage. “All falls are necessary for the ascent,” he said.

ut no one could tell it was no less than a miracle that she was there. She really should not have been alive. Only eight months before, the 22-yearold weighed 74 pounds; her skin was bright yellow with jaundice. She had a rare condition, intestinal dysmotility, which rendered her digestive organs non-functional. But in a 13-hour operation at New YorkPresbyterian Hospital/Columbia, she received a new stomach, liver, pancreas and large and small intestine – all from a six-year-old Mississippi boy killed in a traumatic injury. The medical team, led by Dr. Tomoaki Kato,” treated me with above-and-beyond care – we are all like family,” Molini told Bay Currents. “Dr. Kato is a miracle worker – and he inspired me to become a doctor.” Molino, frail and dependent on an IV for food, had a difficult wait for a transplant because of her rare AB blood type. When she received a phone call in May that a donor had been found, “I was absolutely shocked and

amazed, thankful, and grateful,” she said. She said she wanted to get to know the family of the Mississippi boy and for them to part of her life. “I want to thank them for my life,” she said. Dr. Kato said that only about 500 operations of this type have been performed worldwide – he has done 50 of them. “Her recovery has been good, relatively fast,” he said. What is next for Molino? “I want to go back to school, go to medical school. Live my life and hangout with my friends like any other 22-year-old girl wants to do”

What is Intestinal Dysmotility? e take it for granted that when we swalW low a piece of food, it will travel easily down the esophagus, into the stomach and then the intestines, being digested in stages along the way. We normally don’t have to worry about it, because these organs use a wave-like muscular movement, peristalsis, to transport the food

Jan. 31 Feb 14, 2010

(it’s why we could eat upside down, although no one’s recommending actually doing it). In Kristin Molini’s case, this movement, or motility, was hampered. Food simply couldn’t be processed by her digestive system. Now she has an entirely new set of digestive organs, and, as long as she takes care of herself, her prognosis is good, her doctors say. Page 17

OPINION

Integrity: An endangered concept By I. FRIEDIN opinion@baycurrents.net

Every person, every institution, every society has its rules and protocols; written and unwritten. Adherence without enforcement indicates integrity, whether by individual or institution. In our society today however, this appears to be an endangered concept.

ertainly institutional integrity is a thing of the past as our major banking institutions plot out strategies like common grifters, preying on individual weakness to reap exorbitant profits. And they are far from the only ones. This column has frequently ranted about the “public be damned attitude” of our former president and current mayor for placing business interests above the needs of the public as so many of our rights and privileges have been sacrificed to the gods of corporate greed. Actions that would place a private person behind bars is simply business as usual for many major corporations and developers; often with active government support. So what are we to do? What chance do we have but to be at

the mercy of these economic monsters? Who is on the side of the average person struggling to get by? Those in government who have remained true to our democratic, egalitarian principles are a minority...but they do exist. There is a hesitation to mention names because, being politicians, even the best often disappoint and it’s only a small number who might be considered to be categorized among the elite few with solid integrity. Even the media, that bastion of integrity long known for confronting the issues and bringing them to public attention, has fallen as large corporations have taken over our major sources of news and solid journalism has taken a back seat to their commercial interests and those of their cronies. This was the media whose vivid display of the injustices of discrimination was so instrumental in creating civil rights reform. This was the media that brought the unjust war in Southeast Asia into our living rooms, providing the criteria that allowed us to make educated decisions. Further in the past, this was the media that brought corruption to the forefront and helped put many in prison where they belonged, including the ultimate symbol of big city sleaze, Boss William Marcy Tweed, in the 19th century. But where are they today as top level corrup-

tion has been patronized, legalized and institutionalized? But there are people and organizations who make the effort to look out for the interests of private citizens. Amidst the steamroller of development, considered progress by those raking in the profits, there are citizens who fight the battles for the integrity of their neighborhoods and of our society. A story seen exclusively here in the Bay Currents about the rebuilding of the iconic Coney Island boardwalk in concrete was initiated by Michael Greco, a private citizen who presented his own professional plan for rehabilitation as an actual boardwalk. Falling on deaf ears, Mr. Greco continues to persevere, becoming a real hero to those who love Coney Island and resent its destruction in the name of greed. The city powers may ignore him but those who believe in preserving our historic icons and institutions, as well as presenting the truth, certainly won’t. Also in Coney Island, fighting a lonely battle, is Save Coney Island. As claimed community leaders have sold out or caved in, this group struggles to bring back the greatness of the past; a greatness still viable, if not quite as profitable. Yet, they fight on, raising funds, creating awareness and recently, serving the city with legal papers to stop the destructive rezoning.

On the edge of Coney Island, affecting neighboring Brighton Beach, the intrepid members of Friends of Seaside Park persevere in their attempt to stop the intrusive amphitheater in Asser Levy, formerly Seaside Park. For years they tolerated the free concerts every summer. After all, it served the public good and was only a few times during the summer season. Their reward is to have a regular “for pay” concert venue in their backyard. But they refuse to give up, fighting the noble cause against the forces that would take down their quality of life and that of their neighbors. A bit further afield, but still in Brooklyn, the aptly named Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn battles the powerful forces of “billionaires for profit at the public’s expense”, fighting against the Atlantic Yards project that would destroy the peace and sanctity of their neighborhood. These are the people who resurrected the area from the dead. They are rewarded by being overrun or driven out. Next door to them, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund continues their effort to return the plan for the waterfront park to the original concept; a world class park for Brooklyn with varied and unique attractions and facilities; rather than the backyard for luxury condominiums it has become under administrations in Albany and City Hall.

And let’s not forget our own Bay Currents which, despite extremely limited resources, brings you the stories purposefully neglected or grossly underreported by others. Where else can you read about the rebuilding of the iconic Coney Island boardwalk in concrete? The major media, to date, has refused to even give it mention. It is a tribute to this paper and to publisher David Glenn who maintains a journalistic integrity becoming ever more scarce. After the social gains made in the first two thirds of the 20th century, we find ourselves once again having to fight the uphill battle for social justice. Today it’s an even more difficult fight for the forces for “profit ahead of people” have learned from the people’s past victories how to overcome the efforts. By the time you will have read this, the Supreme Court, not too long ago a stronghold of justice, will likely have ruled to roll back limits on campaign financing, setting back desperately needed campaign finance reform to the benefit of wealthy interest groups. So what chance do we have? Only if we’re vocal and visible. Those with the integrity and fortitude, keep up the good work. For everyone else, how much does it take before you’re sick and tired enough to join in and speak up?

Mixed signals on underage drinking By ASSEMBLYMAN STEVEN CYMBROWITZ

Here’s a novel idea: Let’s reward the bodegas that are selling illegal vodka drinks called “nutcrackers” to kids with the legal right to sell wine too. Ridiculous, I know, but that is exactly the mixed message that Governor Paterson is pushing.

n one hand, the Governor correctly ordered the State Liquor Authority to crack down on bodegas selling “nutcrackers” in light of the recent news reports on the illegal sales. Never mind that the SLA has just 38 inspectors policing 70,000 license holders statewide, or that a recent report on the SLA found that it is “unable to make prevention of underage drinking a statewide priority.” The Governor had to marshal the limited resources at

his disposal to crack down on bodegas and deserves our support in that effort. But the Governor also is proposing to dramatically add to the SLA’s burden – and risk an increase in underage drinking – by legalizing the sale of wine in every deli, corner store, gas station, bodega and grocery store in New York State. That’s a bad idea that he should shelf immediately. While the “nutcracker” story is shocking to many New Yorkers, the truth is New York State has a serious problem with underage drinking. The State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services reports that the State spends more than $3.2 billion every year to deal with the impacts of underage drinking. That’s a staggering amount of money – in fact it is almost exactly the amount of the State’s mid-year budget deficit this year – and we should be looking for ways to reduce it. The Governor claims legalizing the sale of wine in bodegas and 19,000 outlets is good for New

trict in Brooklyn. York because it will generate more license fees for the state. But that is a one-time gimmick that will have long-term negative impacts on our teenagers and our state. In truth, the long-term costs will far outweigh any benefits. More than 4,500 people will lose their jobs, more than a 1,000 small businesses will close their doors, and underage drinking will increase significantly. So, as we support the Governor’s crackdown on bodegas, I am confident the State Legislature will continue to stand firm in opposition to his efforts to make matters worse by legalizing the sale of wine in 19,000 new outlets. Even better, the Governor should abandon his plans to legalize the sale of wine in 19,000 new outlets and work with the Legislature on ways to crack down on underage drinking at bodegas and everywhere else. Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz represents the 45th Assembly Dis-

The views expressed on the Opinion Page are of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or managers of Bay Currents. Page 18

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