Community Leaders Rally For Return Of Victory Hospital

By on March 14, 2013  Featured story, News
Mar 142013
 
No, that's not a typo - it's merely a reference to Stephen Berger - the head of a state commission that called for Victory Hospital's closure in 2008 (Image source: Michael Fleshman via Flickr.

No, that’s not a typo – It’s merely a reference to Stephen Berger, the head of a state commission that called for Victory Hospital’s closure in 2008. From a rally held last year (Image source: Michael Fleshman via Flickr).

Could the timing finally be right for Victory Memorial to reopen?

Local elected officials and community leaders gathered on March 8, to once again call for the return of ambulance services to the medical center formerly known as Victory Memorial Hospital [699 92nd Street].

Since 2008, after locals waged a two year fight to save the facility from complete closure, the hospital has been limited to an overnight infirmary called SUNY Downstate, notes Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Daily. Read more, including how Stephen Berger screwed Southwest Brooklyn

CB 11 Chair And Ft. Hamilton Advocate Says Sandy Will Save Base From Budget Ax

By on December 12, 2012  Featured story, News
Dec 122012
 

Fort Hamilton’s Community Club (Image source: Wikipedia).

According to one local activist, Fort Hamilton has proven itself to be a vital facility for relief operations in the wake of Superstorm Sandy – leaving no doubt to the Army base’s importance during a future disaster or terrorist attack, as reported by Paula Katinas for Brooklyn Eagle.

Bill Guarinello, chairman of the Fort Hamilton Citizens Action Committee – as well as Bensonhurst’s Community Board 11, was paraphrased by Katinas as saying that the quick action and organization of base commander Colonel Eluyn Gines in the aftermath of Sandy – taken together with the fact that the installation served as a staging and support area for National Guard troops, should save it from the chopping block Continue reading »

Fort Hamilton’s New Commander An Iraq Veteran

By on July 31, 2012  News, Sections
Jul 312012
 

Fort Hamilton Army Base’s new commanding officer Colonel Eluyn Ginés, who had previously served two tours of duty in Iraq, was welcomed during a “Change of Command” ceremony last Wednesday, writes Paula Katinas for the Brooklyn Eagle.

Ginés takes the place of Col. Michael Gould, who presided over Fort Hamilton for the last two years. Gould was recently reassigned to a Pentagon post in Washington, D.C. Continue reading »

Bloomberg’s Last Tango: City’s annual “Budget Dance” ends on a good note for Bay Ridge

By on June 27, 2012  Featured story, Politics
Jun 272012
 

Image source: digitizedchaos via Flickr.

What has been referred to by a skeptical New York media as the annual “budget dance,”  a choreographed clash which begins every year with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s threats of austerity – cutting jobs, closing firehouses, the discontinuation of after-school programs, followed by posturing from city council members and program directors, with all roads leading to an inevitable happy ending – ended this week.

As Mayor Bloomberg’s last year in office passes its halfway point, many – in both the press and in politics – are weighing the pros and cons of this yearly ritual. Continue reading »

Gentile To Hold Rally Tonight In Protest Of Mayor’s Cuts To After School Programs

By on May 11, 2012  Schools & Libraries
May 112012
 

City Councilman Vincent Gentile passionately criticized Mayor Bloomberg’s “severe cuts to  Out of School Time (OST) programs for elementary school students” last week – when he referred to the cutbacks in a press release as an “all-out war on children.”

Gentile plans to hold a rally later today, along with parents, teachers, students and community leaders whose lives and jobs will all be affected by Bloomberg’s budget.

The mayor’s current plan would result in the loss of funds for a host of different after school programs – such as OST, as well as the Beacon Program – in schools throughout Community Boards 10 and 11 – which includes the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, and Dyker Heights.

The rally and press conference are to be held at P.S. 102 the Bay View School [211 72nd Street] at 5 p.m.

Councilman Gentile is urging parents and neighbors to call 311 and write Mayor Bloomberg to let him know exactly how you feel about these cuts. He is also requesting his constituents to send him a copy of any letters written to the mayor.

According to the press release, Gentile will be keeping track of the letters and will arrange their delivery to Mayor Bloomberg, along with an online petition to keep the Beacon program at McKinley active.

Councilman Gentile On OST Cuts: “Bloomberg Is Declaring War On Children!”

By on May 3, 2012  Schools & Libraries
May 032012
 

In a recent press release, Councilman Vincent Gentile criticized Mayor Bloomberg’s “severe cuts to  Out of School Time (OST) programs for elementary school students,” referring to cutbacks to the afterschool/daycare program as an “all-out war on children.” Continue reading »