BROOKLYN MOURNS DEATH OF SLAIN NYPD OFFICER DILLON STEWART

The thoughts and prayers of all Brooklynites and New Yorkers go out to the family of Police Officer Dillon Stewart, a son of Brooklyn by way of Jamaica who was murdered November 28 in Brooklyn. “Officer Stewart was so deeply committed to protecting the public that he gave chase even after he was wounded by gunfire,” said Marty. “There is no higher calling, and all of Brooklyn is deeply saddened by his passing. As we honor his memory, our hearts go out to his loved ones. We can only hope that the criminal who committed this heinous act will be punished to the full extent allowed by law.”

MARTY AND BOROUGH HALL STAFF BRIGHTEN THANKSGIVING FOR THOUSANDS OF BROOKLYNITES

On November 21, Marty gave away over 950 turkeys, more than 1800 pounds of apples, 1800 pounds of collard greens, 1500 pounds of baking potatoes and 1000 pounds of sweet potatoes to representatives of 90 Brooklyn community groups, including senior centers, soup kitchens, churches, and women’s shelters. “Our Thanksgiving food distribution will feed thousands of struggling Brooklynites this year,” said Marty. “We thank our generous sponsors for helping those families who otherwise might not be able to share in the joy of a turkey feast this Thanksgiving.” The food was graciously donated by Fresh Direct, Health Plus, Fulton Mall Improvement Association and the Korean-American Brooklyn Association of New York.

MARTY JOINS ASSEMBLY MEMBER HIKIND TO CONDEMN NEO-NAZI TEENS’ MESSAGE OF HATE

On November 21, Marty joined Assembly Member Dov Hikind’s protest of the message of hatred expressed by thirteen-year-old twin sisters Lamb and Lynx Gaede in their band, Prussian Blue. They were joined by Assembly Member Nick Perry, State Senator Kevin Parker, State Senator John Sampson, State Senator Diane Savino, City Council Member Letitia James, and Rabbinical Alliance of America President Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum. Prussian Blue’s lyrics endorse white nationalism, racism and anti-Semitism and the band was set to be featured in Teen People magazine. “In 2005, to see young girls who clearly don’t know any better taunting those who have suffered, and profiting from it, whether survivors of the Holocaust, people of color, or anyone of any faith, ethnicity, or background — it is reprehensible,” said Marty. “I would be the last person to call for censorship. But I am calling on Time Inc. to exercise corporate responsibility and forgo this article in Teen People for the greater public good.” The magazine canceled its plans to publish the article.

MARTY SUES EXXONMOBIL FOR NEWTOWN CREEK OIL SPILL

On November 7, Marty and City Council Members David Yassky and Eric Gioia filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil for violating the federal Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The international petroleum giant is being sued for its role in a 17 million gallon oil spill that stretches for 55 acres beneath Brooklyn. Fifty years after the spill occurred, oil continues to leak into Newtown Creek, polluting Greenpoint’s soil, groundwater, the Creek, the East River and the whole of Brooklyn’s waterfront. The spill courses through industrial, commercial, and residential property, affecting an estimated 100 homes and dozens of businesses. “ExxonMobil has a moral obligation to Brooklyn and America to clean up this disgusting pool of toxic oil,” said Marty. “The company is making record profits from high gasoline prices, yet they are shirking their responsibilities to this community. Brooklyn’s waterfront is one of our most precious resources, and ExxonMobil must thoroughly and permanently remove the oil and stop the leak so that residents can live in the neighborhood without fearing for the health of their families and their environment.”

ROBINSON/REESE MONUMENT UNVEILED AT KEYSPAN PARK

On November 1, Marty and Mayor Michael Bloomberg unveiled the Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument at KeySpan Park in Coney Island, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. The privately financed monument commemorates the courageous and noble friendship forged between the two players. In May 1947, at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, Robinson endured racist jeers and death threats from fans at his third base position. Reese, the Dodgers’ captain and shortstop, walked over to his teammate and stood by his side, silencing the crowd’s taunts. “When Pee Wee Reese threw his arm around Jackie Robinson’s shoulder, these two legends showed America and the world that racial discrimination is unacceptable, and un-American,” said Marty. “Pee Wee and Jackie had the courage to stand up for equality in the face of adversity, which we call the Brooklyn attitude. It is a moment in sports, and history, that deserves to be preserved forever here in Brooklyn, proud home to everyone from everywhere.”

MARTY PROTESTS PLANS TO CLOSE ‘L’ STATIONS ON WEEKENDS

On October 31, Marty joined Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, State Senator Martin Dilan, and members of the North Brooklyn business and arts community to protest the MTA’s plan to shut down parts of the L line for construction on several weekends through next summer. The proposed closures are part of a controversial system upgrade that is a step toward eliminating conductors on L trains. The closures would inconvenience local residents and cause economic hardship for business owners. “For L train riders from here in Williamsburg to Canarsie, service disruptions underground have been turning the L train into a ghost on the weekends for too long,” said Marty, referring to the Halloween holiday. “Riders are fed up with these changes haunting their ability to travel on weekends. In light of the Transit Authority’s budget surplus and its decision to provide the treat of holiday discounts, the continued inconvenience and economic hardship caused by L train construction feels like a trick.”

MARTY’S $900,000 GRANT WILL HELP RENOVATE BILLIE HOLIDAY THEATRE

On October 26, Marty joined the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation to announce a $900,000 grant from his capital budget to support the first renovation of the Billie Holiday Theatre in its history. “The Billie Holiday Theatre is more than a cultural cornerstone for Bedford-Stuyvesant — it has also played a leading role in creating the legacy that has made Brooklyn the creative capital of New York City,” said Marty.

BROOKLYN REMEMBERS ROSA PARKS

Brooklynites and all Americans mourned the passing of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks on October 24 at the age of 92. Marty recalled her historic impact at a City Council hearing on making December 1 “Rosa Parks Day” in New York City, in honor of the day in 1955 when Ms. Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus. “Rosa Parks’ modest but heroic act freed us all,” said Marty. “She helped unleash the spirit of racial equality and economic empowerment for blacks in a way that will never be forgotten. And she inspired whites to look inward and recognize that racism in America is systemic, and that by denying one freedom, we deny us all.”

MARTY URGES BROOKLYNITES TO HELP PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

On October 14, Marty joined leaders from Brooklyn’s Pakistani community at Borough Hall to encourage New Yorkers to help those suffering due to the devastating earthquake in Pakistan. “This earthquake may have struck on the other side of the world, but so many of our families, friends and neighbors have lost loved ones or been affected, that it truly hits close to home,” said Marty. “Our motto in Brooklyn is ‘In Unity There Is Strength,’ and in the face of a tragedy like this, we must remain united.” Among the attendees at the press conference were Mohammad Razvi, Executive Director of the Council of People’s Organizations; Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Consul General of Pakistan, New York; Bob Kaplan, representative of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and co-chair of the Borough President's Task Force on the New Diversity; Shahid Khan, General Manager of Pakistan International Airlines; Imam Hafiz Mohammad Sabir of Makki Mosque; Asghar Choudhri, President of the Pakistani American Merchants Association and the Pakistani American Federation of New York; Debbie Almontaser of Women in Islam and Yemeni American Association; and Richard Green of the Crown Heights Youth Collective.

MARTY JOINS BROOKLYN MUSLIMS FOR RAMADAN IFTAR

On October 5, Marty hosted the second Iftar break-fast dinner at Borough Hall in honor of Ramadan, the annual month-long Muslim holiday of forgiveness and purification. Brooklyn Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Yemen, Albania and the nations of the former Yugoslavia gathered at Borough Hall. “Tonight’s Iftar dinner marks the end of the day’s fast,” said Marty. “Coincidentally, sundown also marked the end of Rosh Hashanah for Jews like me. The overlapping of Muslim and Jewish celebrations, as Yom Kippur comes next week, reminds us that in Brooklyn, we are all children of one God.”