COUNCIL APPROVES LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY KOPPELL RENAMING A QUEENS THOROUGHFARE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN WAY

 

   At its Stated Meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2013, the Council approved a bill, co-sponsored by Council Member Oliver Koppell, to permanently change the name of “South Road,” between Merrick Boulevard and Remington Street in Queens, to Tuskegee Airmen Way and to amend the New York City Map accordingly.

The Tuskegee Airmen were African-American pilots who fought in World War 11 and were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces.  In total, 996 pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama from 1941 to 1945 with approximately 445 men deployed overseas.

The Tuskegee Airmen, who were known as Red Tails because of the distinctive red paint predominately applied on the tail section of their aircrafts, had an impressive combat record. They were credited with 15,533 combat sorties and 1478 missions flown. 150 Tuskegee Airmen, including 66 pilots, lost their lives in accidents or combat, and 32 fell into captivity as prisoners of war. They received numerous awards and decorations for valor and performance, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

Koppell said, “Not only have the Tuskegee Airmen been recognized for their bravery, they have  also been recognized for helping spur the desegregation of the United States Military and their contributions during the Civil Rights movement.”

Surviving members still take part in educating and inspiring youth at the Queens Library Center in Jamaica and at York College.  In 2009, York College opened an exhibition consisting of photographs, a replica of the Congressional Gold medal, a replica of the P-51 Mustang with its distinctive “Red Tail” and a life-sized statue of a Tuskegee Airman.   

“I feel privileged to have as a constituent Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, a Tuskegee Airman and former President of Bronx Community College. He is someone of whom I have always been very proud and I am pleased that the Council has voted to acknowledge his service and that of his fellow airmen by naming a street in their honor,” Koppell said.

 

 

NYPD BEE EXPERT REMOVES HIVE AT KOPPELL’S REQUEST

  

Council Member Oliver Koppell moved quickly to protect residents from being stung by bees swarming from a hive nested in a tree overlooking the playground at 3901 Independence Avenue.   A mother, whose son had been stung, indicated to Koppell that the Board President had called 311 three times about the problem but nothing had been done.

“I was concerned,” Koppell said, “because, in addition to being painful, bee stings can be extremely dangerous to people who are allergic.”

Koppell turned to the NYPD, where for the past 18 years, Officer Anthony Planakis, known as “Tony Bees,” has been charged with removing bee swarms throughout the Metro area. It’s well known throughout the city that “wherever they are, if it’s got to do with bees, you gotta call Tony Bees.” Tony, himself, is a passionate beekeeper with a bee farm in Newtown, Connecticut.   He began his beekeeping activities as a teenager, learning from his Cypress born-father, who also kept bees since he was a boy. 

“I wanted an expert to remove the bees without harming them or the people in the neighboring area,” Koppell said.  “I am happy that the NYPD was able to provide this expertise.”

It appears that that has been an increase in bee swarms in the city.  As well as Mr. Planakis, residents with a bee problem can call on two bee rescue teams: New York City Beekeeping and the New York City Beekeepers Association.

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News From Councilman Koppell

KOPPELL HAILS HIGH COURT DECISION ON TAXI SERVICE

Council Member Oliver Koppell hailed the unanimous decision of the state’s highest court to reverse a lower court ruling and allow street hails for car services in the outer boroughs and above 96^th Street in Manhattan, where yellow cabs rarely visit.   

Within a month, a fleet of “apple green” livery taxis will be available for street hails in those neighborhoods where livery cabs were formerly not allowed to respond to passengers hailing cabs from the street.  The city will be allowed to issue up to 18,000 “hail licenses” over 3 years for these taxis, which will have a roof light, meters and the capacity to accept credit cards, making their services equal to those of yellow cabs.  One fifth of these cabs will be wheelchair accessible.

Koppell, a longtime proponent of more available and accessible taxi service for all New Yorkers, said, “This decision will bring safe, reliable taxi service to all five boroughs, something people in the outer boroughs, such as the one in which I live, have wanted for a very long time. Further, by ensuring that a fifth of these cabs are wheel-chair accessible, the plan makes taxi service more available to disabled individuals.”

The court ruling further increases taxi accessibility by clearing  the way for the city to auction off 2,000 medallions for wheelchair–accessible yellow cabs, which will command prices of $700,000  to  $1 million, generating as much as $1 billion in revenue.  It is expected that the yellow taxi medallion sale will begin in October.

“The increase in wheel-chair accessible taxis brings us closer to my goal of requiring that all taxis be accessible to disabled individuals. Although I will continue to pursue the goal of an all accessible taxi fleet, I am heartened by today’s court decision that brings livery cab drivers out of the shadows and expands taxi service for all New Yorkers,” Koppell stated.

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KOPPELL URGES INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CITY BUDGET 

Petitions for Permanent Funding for School-Based Health Centers

As negotiations between the Mayor and the City Council concerning the NYC budget for the next fiscal year begin,  Member Oliver Koppell, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Disability Services, urged Speaker Christine Quinn to restore and, if possible, to increase the funding for mental health initiatives cut by the Mayor’s Executive Budget.

Koppell specifically urged funding for three mental health initiatives that he considered of prime importance, Geriatric Mental Health Services, the Children Under Five Mental Health Initiative and the Autism Initiative.

“There has been a tremendous demand by users of these services and non-profit providers for additional funding to meet the needs of their clients,” Koppell said. 

Locally, geriatric mental health services are provided by the Riverdale Mental Health Association, in partnership with Riverdale Senior Services.  The Early Childhood Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine  has a large Children Under Five Mental Health Program, administered by Susan Chinitz, a Riverdale resident and The Jewish Board of Children and Family Services, in addition to conducting a program for Autistic children and their parents, also provides services to children aged five and younger.

“Given the limitations in funding in the last few years, we have been unable to add any significant number of new providers for these services and existing providers have unmet needs, Koppell said.  “I am, therefore proposing a 25% increase in funding for these three initiatives.”

Advocates for Permanent Funding For School-Based Health Centers

Koppell also requested $5 million in permanent funding for school-based health centers and mental health clinics and the restoration of $937,377 in funding for the four school-based health centers cut in the FY ’14 Executive Budget, one of which is in the Bronx at  the Roosevelt High School Campus. 

“Schoo –based health centers are being recognized at a national level for their critical service to children, especially those from low-income families, and I have seen the benefits to students at schools in my own district,” Koppell said.

With respect to mental health services, studies have shown that by removing barriers to care, school based mental health programs increase student utilization relative to non-school-based programs.  Over 95% of students referred for mental health services in a school setting will follow through compared to only 13% of those referred to community health centers.

“The tragedy in Newtown has made us keenly aware of the need to provide mental health services to young people. School-based health centers play an essential role in delivering these services, and I am urgently requesting that they not be subject to the vagaries of the budget process, but be given permanent funding to assure that they receive adequate support,” Koppell concluded.

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POLICE POSTED AT 235TH STREET & JOHNSON AVENUE

At Councilman KOPPELL’S REQUEST
 

After Council Member Oliver Koppell received complaints that school kids were causing disturbances near Starbucks on Johnson Avenue and 235^th Street, he requested a police patrol in the area.

Koppell informed the precinct that the recent incident on May 7^th when a large crowd of school kids gathered and had to be disbursed, was only one of many instances of disorderly conduct at that location, including reports he had received of fighting, smashing bottles, cursing, and public indecency. Koppell reminded Deputy Inspector Burke that there had been a police patrol about two years ago that successfully discouraged kids from “hanging out” at that location.

Burke quickly responded to Koppell, indicating that he was deploying a scooter and a school van to 235^th Street & Johnson Avenue during school dismissal hours until further notice.  He further said he had been in touch with the neighboring schools and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“I am grateful for Deputy Inspector Burke’s rapid and positive response to my request for a police presence near Starbucks on Johnson Avenue and his reassurance that he will closely monitor the situation. I have every expectation that the police attention will act as a deterrent to the young people’s rowdy behavior and provide relief to the residents and store owners in the area,” Koppell said.

Editors note: 

  While this is an important quality of life issue, there are many different types of actual lawbreaking that goes on in the 50th precinct that are not covered this quickly or at all, as we have documented previously in this blog. 

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KOPPELL PLEASED THAT“MAJESTIC” UP FOR SALE

Speculates That Actions Initiated By His Office Pressured Landlord to Initiate Sale 

Council Member Oliver Koppell was pleased to learn that Morris Rubin, the owner of 3660 Waldo Avenue, (the “Majestic”) has put the building up for sale.  Because of numerous tenant complaints about lack of heat and hot water, mold, water leaks, elevator problems and other issues, he has been bringing pressure on HPD to enforce the law by requiring that these serious violations be corrected.   

Towards this end, Koppell’s office helped originate a tenant petition requesting a 7A procedure to remove Mr. Rubin and put an administrator in place to manage the building.   Although Mr. Rubin was not removed, HPD brought him to court where the judge ordered him “to abate the conditions  existing on the premises that are dangerous to the occupants’ life, health and safety” in a reasonable period of time.  He was required to repair the elevators, correct lead paint violations, make apartment repairs, replace old wooden stairs and remediate violations pertaining to the building’s facade.   

Koppell speculated that the requirements to make costly repairs no longer enabled Mr. Rubin to “milk” the building and contributed to his decision to sell it.  “I am hopeful that the tenants will see a new day when the building is sold and that the new owner will be more  responsive to the tenants’ right to live in a safe and habitable building,” he said.

 

 

 

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KOPPELL VOWS TO FIGHT CUTS TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

 

Responding to calls and petitions from his constituents about the proposed closing of after-school programs, Council Member Oliver Koppell vowed to fight to restore the funds.  The Mayor’s FY 2012-2013  Executive budget cut $22.1 million for 172 after-school programs citywide and reduced subsidized slots for child care centers.

“Families in my district would be heavily impacted by these cuts which would force the closure of after-school programs at PS 8 and PS 94 in Norwood, at Riverdale Neighborhood House and the Marble Hill Community Center and reduce the number of children who can be accommodated in after-school programs at PS 95 and PS 20”  Koppell said.

According to Don Bluestone, Executive Director of Mosholu- Montefiore Community Center, over 33% of the organization’s Out-of-School Time (OST) funds for after-school programs were cut, a loss of approximately $1,200,000.  Riverdale Neighborhood House lost $280,000 for its after-school programs and The Children’s Arts & Science Workshops, who run the Marble Hill Center, lost $380,000 for its after-school and summer camp programs.   Koppell said, “It is imperative that funds be restored to The Department of Youth and Community Development’s OST program. Without this restoration, thousands of children in my district and throughout the city,  will be deprived of the positive academic and recreational activities these programs offer, putting them at risk of engaging in negative behavior during these unsupervised hours.”

Koppell referred to research that has shown that after-school programs keep kids safe, have a positive impact on self-concept and decision making and promote positive social interaction among students.  Also, he referenced studies by the Department of Education that have shown crimes involving youth usually occur between the hours of 3-6 p.m. “The risk that our community will see an increase in violence,  vandalism, gang activity,  drug and alcohol abuse, as well  as an upsurge  in the number of latchkey children, is virtually inevitable with the closing of these after-school programs,” he said.

Koppell also said it was necessary to restore the cuts for early child care, which has proven to provide academic and social benefits to children stretching well beyond their early years.

“In the upcoming budget negotiations, my Council colleagues and I are determined to do all in our power to protect the child care and after-school programs on which our most vulnerable families depend. I am hopeful that these efforts will produce results and that there will be restoration of funds to keep these programs open.”  Koppell  concluded.

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