Marine Park Civic Association

Now that the original Congestion Pricing plan has been put to rest, we must move forward to address the critical issues, but with a new approach. The true goal of sustaining our transportation system, cleaning our air and reducing traffic congestion throughout our region must now be addressed, with a different slant.

The problems that the former plan sought to address remain very much real. Though in the end congestion pricing truly morphed into a plan that was just about the money, the initially stated goals were all laudable: reducing traffic congestion throughout our region, cleaning our air and raising the critical revenue to support regional transportation.

As we roll up our sleeves and put some thought into these problems---before we put the necessary energy into solutions---we ought to acknowledge at least three critical truths about moving people in our area. The first is that this is a regional issue requiring a regional solution. We move people from both the City and surrounding counties to New York’s central business district and to other places of business. The solutions---and the burdens---ought to be regional in nature.

Second, people will move about and necessarily so, by bus, by train and by car. The absence of any one of these three would cause the other two to collapse. No one can shoulder the burden of moving millions of people to diverse locations alone.

Third, someone has got to pay for it. The needed infrastructure for all three is massive and in constant need of upgrading and repair. And the corollary of that is that the method of paying for it has to be both fair and effective.

Whether you commute by car, bus, train, ferry or bicycle, a sense of mutual goals has to emerge. And whether you were for or against congestion pricing, a sense of mutual cooperation and respect needs to develop, together with a measured sense of urgency.

There have been many alternative proposals to congestion pricing that do not involve the objectionable practice of allocating access to the core of our city by who can and cannot afford it. I have offered mine, and it is a proposal with a decent level of support from among my colleagues on the Council. It might be a good starting point for discussion. I will keep you updated as alternative plans are discussed.

As always, please feel free to call upon me if I can be of assistance. My District Office is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM and on Wednesday evenings until 9PM. Please feel free to come by or call us at 718-241-9330 regarding any questions or concerns you may have.

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Contact: John Quaglione
(718) 238-6044 or (917) 232-2966

SENATOR GOLDEN OBTAINS $220 MILLION TO SUPPORT MAJOR CONSTRUCTION AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE

Brooklyn- State Senator Marty Golden (R-C, Brooklyn) is today announcing that he has secured, as part of the State Senate budget, over $220 million dollars to support major construction projects to enhance and improve the campus of Brooklyn College.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “Since classes began in 1930, Brooklyn College has been a premiere place to pursue a degree in higher education. Over the years, so many students have earned highly respected degrees as well as a foundation for life at Brooklyn College. The students of Brooklyn College have become the best in business, in law, in stage, in education, in health care, as well as others, and they have made our society a better place to live, to work and to raise a family. I am proud to have secured this record level of funding for Brooklyn College, so that the many students, who will learn there in the future, will have the very best of opportunities.”

Senator Golden continued, “In these difficult times, my colleagues and I worked hard to ensure that our City colleges will receive the to continue to provide our students with a quality education.”

Brooklyn College President Dr. Christoph M. Kimmich stated, “The work Senator Golden put into this budget season has yielded extraordinary results for Brooklyn College. The fundamental decisions reflected in this capital budget have set the College firmly on the path to modernizing and transforming the campus. We would not be where we are without his help. We're enormously grateful.”

Senator Golden honored women who have made a difference in our community at an event at the Salt Marsh Nature Center, Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.

Senator Marty Golden stated, "Each year, the country marks the month of March with a celebration of Women’s History Month, a time for our nation as a collection of communities to highlight and honor those women who have brought about change through their untiring efforts, and to pay tribute to the women who have made a difference. I am proud to honor these outstanding women of our community and pay tribute to all they have accomplished." A similar event was held at the Bay Ridge Manor recognizing women from other areas of Brooklyn.

Agnes Catalano - Sheepshead Bay
Carol Cooney - Marine Park Gardens
Alicia Hamill - Marine Park Civic Association
Marianne McLinden - Gerritsen Beach Property Owners
Theresa Scavo - Chairperson Community Board #15
Elvera Steckler - Good Shepherd Seniors and Girl Scouts

However, as a result of a degenerative kidney disease, this once energetic 41 year old, New York City school teacher, is in dire need of a kidney for transplant.

He has dedicated his life to educating hundreds of Brooklyn children at the neighborhood school - I.S. 278, Marine Park on Stuart Street for over 12 years as Mr. “G.” He would like to continue to provide his knowledge and skills for years to come.

If you know of anyone who is blood type “O”, in good physical and mental health, please ask him or her to reach out and help.

Frank is quickly approaching end stage kidney failure, so time is crucial. Please help us spread the word to help and make a difference by giving the gift of life.

Marine Park Scholar
Brooklyn College Senior Works Hard to Make a Difference.

Along with taking 21 credits last semester, studying at Oxford University in England and recently being named a finalist for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, senior Mary Pennisi has also founded a non-profit coalition to help immigrant Brooklyn College students get acclimated.

During an internship with New York Rep. Edolphus Towns, where she worked in constituent services, she was "struck by how many immigrants needed help but weren't aware of what services were available to them."

So Pennisi, who double majors in political science and philosophy of law, co-founded the non-profit Coalition for Government and Community Resources with noted Brooklyn College alum Ryan Merola, who is also a Marine Park resident and a winner of both the Harry S. Truman Scholarship and the New York City Urban Fellowship. The coalition hosts a series of workshops in which they bring in government officials and people from grass roots organizations to educate immigrant students on services available to them. The coalition also sponsors a volunteer program that partners students from the Honors Academy with English-as-a-Second-Language students from the adult literacy program.

"I come from a family of immigrants," says Pennisi, a future immigration lawyer whose family is from Italy. "I grew up in a household that had a different cultural perspective from the mainstream." Born and raised in Marine Park, Pennisi holds dual citizenship with the United States and Italy. She speaks English, Italian and French and is currently learning Spanish and Czech. She also has a passion for European politics, one that was cultivated when she studied abroad at Oxford the summer after her freshman year.

"In the future, what I would really like to do is set up a think tank with a social outreach program similar to the Coalition for Government and Community Resources," she says. "It would be part think tank and part social outreach organization."

After graduating from Brooklyn College this spring, Pennisi will go on to law school.

Photo & article in part from www.brooklyn.cuny.edu
Submitted by Proud Grandpa Dominick Castellano

Trash Collections & Concerns…. Over the last two months the M.P.C.A. Hot-Line has received a number of calls regarding trash pick up. This was largely attributed to the number of holidays between early November 2007 & the New Year. The type of calls received were missed, skipped or no pick up, when is our pick up?, trash falling and blowing all over the place.

There are NO garbage or recycling collections on the following Department of Sanitation holidays:

Neighborhood News . . .
Congratulations to Ken & Mary Chiusano, two long time resident of Marine Park, on the acceptance of their son Mark into Harvard University. Keep up the hard work & good luck with your venture!

Call 311 - To report past crimes and to learn more about the NYPD Graffiti Reward Program

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