A Message from Jumaane

Dear Friends, I hope you are having a great Black History Month! This is a time to celebrate the great strides we have made as a city and a nation and to recognize the great shoulders on which we stand. We should use this opportunity to gain the inspiration that will fuel our continued struggle for true civil rights. Pay special attention to the Update from City Hall, which outlines upcoming dates for the next round of participatory budgeting neighborhood assemblies. We are just weeks away from your first chance ever to vote on how you would like to spend $1 million of my discretionary capital budget. This is truly democracy at work, and for it to work at its best, we need your voice! The latest One-on-One with Council Member Williams is my version of a State of the District address. Check it out to review some of my upcoming priorities at City Hall and here in the 45th, as well as my review of what accomplishments we have already achieved together. Sincerely,

WHATS HAPPENING AROUND THE 45TH?

Problems With Policing and Proposals For Reform Thursday, February 16th. 6:00 PM-8:00 PM. LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th Street. Flag Raising Ceremony for St. Lucia Independence Day Wednesday, February 22nd. 10:00 AM-10:30 AM. Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street. Joint Outreach Session on Property Taxes Monday, February 27th. 6:00 PM-8:00 PM. Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street.

Want to add an event to a future newsletter? E-Mail: ssanchez@council.nyc.gov

On January 7th, Council Member Jumaane D. Williams held a rally with over 150 people, including Council Members Letitia James and Melissa MarkViverito and District Leader Rodneyse Bichotte at Grand Army Plaza to recommit community efforts in the new year to the police accountability movement.

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams

February 16, 2012 E-Newsletter

Update from City Hall

Just as Mayor Bloomberg has released his preliminary city budget, the 45th District is gearing up to vote on how $1 million of its own dollars will be allocated. Participatory budgeting has been a popular success thus far, engaging residents who were previously inactive in their community. Volunteer budget delegates met in issue committees beginning in December to sort through the ideas suggested in the first round of neighborhood assemblies. Working together with experts from city agencies, these ideas were winnowed down, fleshed out and transformed into proposals that are ready to be presented to the public for consideration. The second round of neighborhood assemblies will be held at the end of February. The first will be held Monday, February 27th from 6:30 PM-9:00 PM at the TOP Civic Center, located at 1098 Utica Avenue. The second will be held Wednesday, February 29th from 6:30-9:00 PM in the Gold Room, located on the 6th Floor of the Brooklyn College Student Center, East 27th Street and Campus Road. Please attend one of these assemblies to learn about the proposals that will be up for a vote at the end of March. Your money, your voice, your vote!

JUMAANE IN THE NEWS

On January 29th, Council Member Williams was recognized alongside Council Members Erik Martin Dilan, Lew Fidler, David Greenfield and Domenic Recchia with the JCC of Marine Parks City Legislative Award at their annual legislative breakfast.

Heroes of the 45th

Marilyn Pierre, Executive Director of the Haitian Family Resource Center
1) What work do you do in the 45th? I serve the Haitian-American community. We provide attorneys on site that offer pro bono services to immigrants. We also assist with job training, adult education, food stamp applications and mental health support. 2) Why did you decide to get involved in the community?

On January 17th, Council Member Williams joined Russell Simmons, as well as other VIPs and community activists, to launch the 3rdannual NY Peace Week, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s legacy of non-violence.

I was involved in helping this population years ago. After the earthquake, the opportunity arose to help again. People were flooding into my church, and there was space in that church to facilitate help. 3) Tell me a valuable experience you had in your service. The families that I have helped reunite through our legal clinics have been very meaningful. It is also great to provide information and tools to people that didn't know that information was out there. 4) How can people get involved?

Since our funding is ending in March, any financial assistance that can be provided to help us continue our specialized case management services will be the best way to help us help our own.

On January 22nd, Council Member Williams spoke to the crowd at the Calypso Competition at Mahalia Jackson High School, as part of the celebrations leading up to Grenadas Independence Day on February 7th.

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams

February 16, 2012 E-Newsletter

HELPFUL CONTACTS FOR THE 45TH DISTRICT

Citizen Pruner Care Course: TreesNY (212) 227-1887 Emergency Food Stamps Hotline: Human Resource Administration (HRA) (877) 472-8411 Family Court Assistance: Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT) (212) 343-1122 Legal Aid (718) 722-3100 First Time Home Buyers: Midwood Development Corporation (MDC) (718) 376-0999 Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of East Flatbush (718) 469-4679 Foreclosure Defense: Erasmus Neighborhood Federation (ENF) (718) 462-7700 South Brooklyn Legal Services (718) 237-5500 Foreclosure Prevention: CAMBA Legal Services (718) 287-0010 ext. 40240 Erasmus Neighborhood Federation (ENF) (718) 462-7700 Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of East Flatbush (718) 469-4679 Midwood Development Corporation (MDC) (718) 376-0999 Immigration Services/TPS: Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) (718) 254-0700 CAMBA Legal Services (718) 287-0010 CUNY Citizenship NOW! at Medgar Evers College (718) 270-6292 Information and Non-Emergency Services: 311 Job Training & Placement: CAMBA Workforce Development (718) 282-0108 ex. 79301 The Hope Program (718) 852-9307 Workforce1 (718) 246-5219 Landlord/Tenant Issues: Erasmus Neighborhood Federation (ENF) (718) 462-7700 Flatbush Development Corporation (FDC) (718) 859-3800 Midwood Development Corporation (MDC) (718) 376-0999 South Brooklyn Legal Services (718) 237-5500 Rental Arrears: Housing Court Answers (212) 962-4795 Vulnerable Adults: Adult Protective Services (212) 630-1853 Water Bill: NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Customer Services (718) 595-7000 Want to be added to this list? E-Mail: sringel@council.nyc.gov

GET ACTIVE!
Learn how to protect your family and neighbors during emergencies! Become a volunteer member of your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)!A free 10-week training course on Tuesdays from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM begins March 6th at 165 Cadman Plaza East. You will receive hands-on training from professionals, participate in a simulated disaster situation and get a free CERT equipment bag with tools and a CERT T-shirt. If you are interested, over 18 years of age and live within Community Boards 14 or 17, contact Glenn Wolin at (917) 3481014. If you live elsewhere, call the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) at (718) 422-8933.

Neighborhood Highlights
On January 11th, Council Member Williams co-hosted International Humanitarian Outreach Ministries (IHOM)s 2nd Annual Interfaith Memorial Service for Haiti. Approximately 150 people attended and paid tribute to the theme of this years service, Hope, Healing and Haiti. On January 25th, the National Labor Relations Board filed an petition in federal court seeking an injunction to end the illegal lockout at Flatbush Gardens. Council Member Williams continues to stand behind SEIU 32BJ and its workers in this struggle, seeking a restoration of good faith negotiations. On January 27th, Council Member Williams recognized National Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day. The goal is to spotlight this financial opportunity that is worth up to $5,751 for eligible taxpayers. For more information, please visit www.eitc.irs.gov. Want to add news to a future newsletter? E-Mail: sringel@council.nyc.gov

One-on-One with Council Member Williams

Stay In Touch with Council Member Williams

District Office:
4517 Avenue D Brooklyn, NY 11203 Phone: (718) 629-2900 Fax: (718) 451-2136

City Hall Office:

250 Broadway, Room 1882 New York, NY 10007 Phone: (212) 788-6960 Fax: (212) 442-1564

Check out Jumaane D. Williams Council on Facebook! Follow JumaaneWilliams on Twitter! E-Mail: info@jumaanewilliams.com

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams

February 16, 2012 E-Newsletter