Brooklyn's Progress
December 2006/January 2007

ACCESS NYC Launched
The Bloomberg administration announced the launch of ACCESS NYC, a free online tool that brings 21 different city, state, and federal programs into a single website. ACCESS NYC allows users to pre-screen, anonymously, for 21 programs across eight agencies in any of seven languages, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Haitian-Creole, and English. By entering basic household information, residents can receive a list of the programs for which they are potentially eligible, print partially-complete application forms and find office locations. Users of ACCESS NYC can remain anonymous or create an account to save their work. The tool and its integrated approach to human service benefit delivery follows a recommendation of the Mayor’s Commission for Economic Opportunity and fulfills a commitment the Mayor made in this year’s state of the city address. The Commission report highlights ACCESS NYC as an example of using technology to simplify, streamline and automate the delivery of government services. A link to ACCESS NYC is available on http://www.nyc.gov/.  

LIU Opens Nursing Center
Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and health fair on Dec. 7 at the preview celebration of the Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn B'32 Academic Nursing Center, 161 Ashland Place, Downtown Brooklyn. Community residents joined local elected officials and University President David J. Steinberg, Academic Vice President Jeffrey Kane, Brooklyn Campus Provost Gale Stevens Haynes and School of Nursing Dean Dawn Kilts for the event. The first of its kind in Brooklyn, the Center is being established with the support of the Heilbrunn family, an important contributor to the vibrancy of Long Island University. Responding to the significant health care needs of Brooklyn’s many uninsured and under-insured residents, the Center will begin offering preventive health services, education, counseling and referrals free of charge in January 2007. For more information, please contact the Office of Public Relations at 718-488-1015.

AALDC Window Design Competition Winners
The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC), together with the merchants and restaurants of Atlantic Avenue, from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue, presented the Annual Atlantic Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of the Belarusian Church in Boerum Hill on Nov. 30. At the event, officiated by Councilmember David Yassky, the winners of the Annual Atlantic Avenue Holiday Window Design Competition were announced. Among this year’s winners were Brooklyn Chamber Members Floral Heights, 107 Atlantic Avenue (First Place) and Acorn - A Brooklyn Toy Store, 323 Atlantic Avenue (Honorable Mention for "Best for the Small Fry"). The annual competition is based on artistic merchandising and creative window display. The award is given to merchants for their aesthetic contribution to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn and Boerum Hill. For more information, call the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation at 718-875-8993 or visit the Web site at http://www.atlanticave.org/.

McLaughlin Park Gets Facelift
Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, City Council Member Letitia James, other local officials and members of the varsity baseball team from the Brooklyn Friends School broke ground on the reconstruction of McLaughlin Park in Downtown Brooklyn. Funding for the $3.005 million project was allocated by Mayor Bloomberg and Council Member James. The new park design includes two basketball courts with bleachers and recreational lighting, a reconstructed handball court, areas designated for exercise equipment, a spray shower with a steamboat theme, and a synthetic turf multi-purpose area for softball and soccer.  In addition, the reconstruction includes new benches, fencing, drinking fountains, and a variety of plants, trees and shrubs. The park is named for Hugh McLaughlin, Jr. (1823-1904), a local civic leader with tremendous influence in Brooklyn politics. He served three terms as the Registrar of Kings County and was a vigorous opponent of Tammany Hall and the incorporation of the City of Brooklyn into the City of New York.  McLaughlin Park was acquired by condemnation in 1884 and named for McLaughlin, one year after his death, in 1905.

Burden Eased on City Employees Enrolled in Military
The Bloomberg Administration announced that City employees serving in the armed forces who participate in the City’s Extended Military Benefits Package (EMBP) will no longer have to repay military food and housing allowances to the City. Currently, those enrolled in the program receive both a City and military salary, and agree to repay the City the lesser of those two salaries upon their return.  Military food and housing allowances were included in the “military pay” that returning City employees were required to repay the City (if their military salary was less than their City salary). Now, City employees can still enroll in the program, but food and housing allowances will not be counted as military pay, so participating employees will only have to repay the City their base military salary upon their return.  This voluntary program allows City employee reservists to continue to receive the City’s salary and benefits when they are called to active military duty for more than 30 calendar days or 22 working days. The program also keeps the employees on City payroll in full-time status, allowing them to continue to contribute toward their pension and deferred compensation. The City also makes pension and welfare fund contributions on their behalf.

Lutheran Breaks Ground for New Senior Facility
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Department of Housing and Urban Development staff rolled up their sleeves and grabbed their shovels at Lutheran HealthCare’s ceremonial groundbreaking for Brooklyn’s newest senior housing community, Sunset Gardens. The event celebrated the availability of new and affordable senior housing in Brooklyn and recognized the significant financial contributions from HUD and the Brooklyn Borough President. Sunset Gardens will be a unique community for seniors 62+ years of age. The 80-unit facility will provide seniors with affordable high quality housing. It is slated to open in 2007.

Lutheran Staffer Pat Ruiz Honored
Pat Ruiz, Lutheran HealthCare’s Community Relations Associate, was the recent recipient of two Hispanic Heritage Leadership awards. New York State Senator Martin Golden and Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes honored Ms. Ruiz for her leadership and dedication to Lutheran HealthCare and the Sunset Park community. Ms.Ruiz received the Senate Hispanic Heritage award from State Senator Martin Golden and the Leadership award from Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes for her role as President of Boricua Festival. A Sunset Park resident, she has worked in Lutheran HealthCare’s External Affairs Department for fifteen years.

Prospect Park Aglow
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Daily News Chairman and Publisher Mort Zuckerman stood by as Mr. Zuckeman’s daughter flipped the switch that lit the entrances of Prospect Park. The Prospect Park in Lights holiday installation consists of more than 600,000 lights.  The eye-catching illuminations will be featured at four of the Park’s entrances, viewable every evening through Jan. 7, 2007.  This temporary public display was sponsored by the New York Daily News.   A series of community celebrations are taking place at different Park entrances through Dec. On Saturday and Sunday evenings there will be free trolley bus service around the Park for viewing the lights.  On New Year’s Eve Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will sponsor a fireworks display over the Park and entertainment at Grand Army Plaza.

Lutheran Receives National Medal of Honor 
Lutheran Medical Center received a National Medal of Honor for its commitment to organ donors, from the Department of Health and Human Services at the Second Annual National Learning Congress in New Orleans. Lutheran Medical Center was the only Brooklyn hospital and one of only three other area hospitals to receive an award acknowledging its leadership and commitment to organ donors, donor families and the nearly 93,000 patients on the national transplant waiting list. Hospitals with eight or more potential organ donors during the 26-month award period ending in Jun. 2006 were eligible for the Medals of Honor. All winning hospitals had to achieve and sustain a donation rate of 75 percent or more from among eligible donors for at least a year. One of the Nation's most pressing public health issues is the widening gap between the supply and demand for organs and tissues.

Employers Who Hired Disabled Workers Honored
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Borough President’s Advisory Committee on Disability Issues marked the 16th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act and National Disability Employment Awareness Month by honoring Brooklyn employers who hire workers with disabilities. Thirteen Brooklyn employers were honored for their commitment to hiring Brooklynites with disabilities. This year’s honorees are as varied and diverse as Brooklyn, they are the Bushwick Salvation Army Center, Connors and Sullivan Law Firm, Costco Wholesale, Foodtown, Home Depot, Kingsborough Community College, Kings County Hospital, Lassen & Hennigs Catering, Mercy Home Care & Medical Supplies, New Generation Learning Center, Staples, Stop & Shop, and Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church. Borough President Markowitz said he is proud to honor Brooklyn businesses that have made the commitment to invest in individuals of all abilities so every Brooklynite might know the satisfaction of being a wage earner.