TOWN HALL TONIGHT ON AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN: “Help Is Here,” says U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, in announcing two Town Hall meetings to explain and discuss various components of the American Rescue Plan. One of the Town Hall events takes place tonight, August 10 at 7 p.m. at Brooklyn Sports Club on 1540 Van Siclen Ave. in East New York, and will focus on Child Tax Credit, tenant and homeowner assistance, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program and more topics.
Constituents will also have the opportunity to ask Congressmember Jeffries questions about his work in Washington. The second Town Hall, geared for senior citizens and programs affecting them, l takes place Thursday, August 12, 5 p.m., at Restoration Plaza on Bedford-Stuyvesant.
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PUSHBACK ON MTA CASHLESS SYSTEM: The Metropolitan Transit Authority’s plan to transition to a cashless system and remove station agents is meeting resistance from those representing needy commuters. A group of lawmakers and transit union officials are giving a press conference today, Tuesday, August 10, at the Van Sinderen Avenue entrance to the Broadway Junction station in East New York. They will point out that many mass transit users are unbanked or underbanked, and others do not have access to mobile phones for necessary apps, and will warn that high rates of poverty in New York City and the surrounding areas must be properly taken into account when converting to a cashless system.
The advocates also protest the elimination of station agents, a step they say will reduce both rider safety and access to MTA staff who can assist non-English speaking commuters.
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POP-UP EVENTS FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Good Shepherd Services, one of the largest youth services providers in New York City, will host a series of pop-up events to help community members in pandemic-related financial hardship apply for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Good Shepherd will host the pop-up events on August 14 and August 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Prince Joshua Avitto Community Center at 876 Schenck Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11207, in collaboration with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Legal Hands, and United Community Centers. Good Shepherd is also working with Brooklyn Community Board 5 (CB5) to offer application assistance to community residents at the NYPD Community Center.
Renters seeking assistance can also book an appointment by calling Good Shepherd’s ERAP Call Center at (929)-552-2248, which is open seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, or by visiting Good Shepherd between 9 AM and 3 PM at either of two sites: 692 Blake Avenue, or 876 Schenck Avenue, both in zip code 11207.
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EMERGENCY ALERT TELECOMMUNICATIONS TESTING: Some cellphone users will see or hear a systemwide alert this Wednesday when FEMA and the FCC conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests will begin at 2:20 p.m. ET on Aug. 11. The Wireless Emergency Alert portion of the test, the second one being conducted nationwide, will be directed only to consumer cell phones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive test messages.
The Emergency Alert System portion of the test, the sixth being done on a national level, will be sent to radios and televisions.
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CALLING ALL PANELISTS: The Brooklyn Arts Council is seeking help in evaluating applications for its Community Arts Grants and Creative Equations Fund for the 2022 Grants Cycle. Panelists for this paid opportunity need to have experience in the field as an artist, administrator, consultant or curator in film, visual arts, performing arts (dance, theater, music), literary arts, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or folk arts.
The commitment includes pre-evaluating applications online and participation in a Zoom discussion as one of a small group of panelists this fall. Interested applicants can nominate themselves or another person, before the October 1 deadline, via https://brooklynartscouncil.submittable.com/submit/198782/grant-panel-nomination-form-cycle-2022
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NEED MORE FUNDING TO ELECTRIFY TRANSIT: Believing that the current bipartisan Infrastructure Deal falls short of the necessary investments needed to build out a nationwide charging network, two NYC members of Congress, including Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-9th District) led 26 of their colleagues in urging House and Senate leadership to include $85 billion in funding for charging infrastructure. Their letter reads, in part,“…As we make this transition to a zero-emission vehicle future, equity must be front and center in how we build out a nationwide charging network.”
The letter stated, “Our current transportation sector is inequitable and unjust, and we cannot allow ourselves to repeat the mistakes of our past.”
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BANKING DISTRICT APPLICATION: Brooklyn Community Board 7’s Economic Development-Waterfront Committee will convene via Zoom on Tuesday, August 24, to discuss Popular Bank’s application for a banking development district at 4502 5th Avenue in Sunset Park. Interested parties can register in advance for this webinar via
Community Board 7 covers Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace.
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SCHOOL SAFETY AGENTS WANTED: The NYPD is currently accepting applications for School Safety Agents. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, US citizens and residents of New York City. The exam registration runs through August 24 via nyc.gov/oasys.
Benefits include paid vacation, medical plan and paid vacation, overtime and night shift differential.
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