By Mary Alice Miller
For the first time in recent history, a City Council Speaker made an appearance in East New York’s 42nd Council District. Council Speaker Julie Menin trekked to The Theater at Food Bazaar in East New York. The reception was hosted by Council Deputy Leader Chris Banks.
Banks introduced Speaker Menin, stating, “Madame Speaker, I want to thank you for your leadership during these first 100 days in this council session. In this short time this council has moved meaningful legislation forward, held critical hearings, taken on real challenges especially as we work through a nearly $127 billion budget and confront the affordability crisis that is touching every corner of our city. The 42nd council district has your back and a seat at the table.”
Speaker Menin spoke of how 9/11 led her into politics when her lower Manhattan restaurant was destroyed after the second building fell. In the aftermath, she started a non profit that helped over 600 small businesses stay in the community. She was appointed to Community Board 1 and was chair for seven years after 9/11.
“Community involvement matters,” said Menin. “We successfully sued the Trump administration to get the citizenship question off the Census.”
With Banks on the Council Senior Leadership Team, Menin said “In this $127 billion budget that we are negotiating, we said a hard no to raising property taxes 9.5%. We restored $30 million in cuts to libraries and restored $30 million for cultural organizations.”
Menin continued, “Banks has a deep commitment to public housing. He said it was unacceptable not to have NYCHA residents at the administration’s hearings on housing.”
Community leaders participated in a question and answer session.
Nicole Williams, founder and CEO of Victory Music & Dance Company, asked about multi-year sustained funding for community based organizations.
Menin: “The Council restored $1.5 billion in cuts to discretionary spending for community-based organizations.”
Yolanda Moore, from East Brooklyn Congregations, represented NYCHA by asking about RADPAC.
Menin: ”Banks continues as chair of NYCHA committee. We look forward to having hearings in NYCHA. We are addressing the backlog of repairs. We are concerned about RADPAC displacement.
Banks said, “We will continue to preserve Section 9 NYCHA housing.”
Eleanor Pickney, from East New York Nehemiah Association, asked about benefits to homeowners who are left out of the discussion on affordability.
Menin: “The Council is preparing a package of legislation specifically for Black home ownership, including deed theft bills particularly seniors who are primary victims. We need to give more resources to the Dept. Of Worker and Consumer Protection. We need to be warning seniors and families about the risk of deed theft. One of our bills creates a new office focused on home ownership issues.”
Banks: “Our district is #2 citywide on tax lien issues.” Banks cited the Brown family who lost their home to a $5,000 water lien after being taken advantage of. The Council is seeking remedies to address the issue.
Pamela Lockley, President of Linden Plaza Tenants Association, asked what does naming Banks to the deputy leadership mean for us.
Menin: “He is in the room where it happens and has a major seat at the table. He is also on our budget negotiating team. He is negotiating the budget with me. That has a lot of implications for this community. It decides our priorities. Regarding legislation, we also discuss moving certain bills forward. Our Deputy Leader plays a critical role in the center of power in this City Council. We are an independent, co-equal branch of government. We have oversight hearings over the 70 city agencies to make sure the agencies are doing the right thing.”
Dr. Kabir, from Muna Social Services that has 27 food pantries across the five boroughs, asked about food insecurity with over 406,000 Brooklyn residents – 15.2% of the borough – facing food insecurity and East New York has some of the highest SNAP enrollment rates.
Menin: “We are seeing from the Trump administration cuts to SNAP, which is unacceptable. The Council, as we are negotiating the budget, we are focused on increased aid to food pantries all across our city.”
Menin launched a program in partnership with Rethink Food.
“Why do we keep bringing in catering companies from out-of-state to get the food contracts in our city? Why are these companies from Texas and Connecticut getting hundreds of millions of dollars in city contracts to provide food at schools and shelters all throughout our city?” asked Menin.
Rethink food contracts with local small businesses/restaurants. Those restaurants are then providing the food that is going to our schools and shelters. They were also key during the asylum crisis by helping to provide food.
Banks: “Campaign Against Hunger is based right here in the 42nd Council district. They are building a state-of-the-art facility in the Gateway area. We have Muna which is all across the city.”
Banks closed the event by introducing Willie Kim, VP of Compliance for Food Bazaar.
“Food Bazaar plays an important role in this community. In the beginning stages when we met with Food Bazaar, we said when they were coming into this community they were coming on our terms. We asked them to preserve this theater dedicated to community events. We asked them to host a Culinary School for schools and local community chefs to teach people how to eat healthy. They have a hydroponic farm to cut food costs. They have union jobs here at Food Bazaar,” said Banks. “They have kept their commitment from Day 1.”
It has been almost one year since Food Bazaar launched in the former Magic Johnson Theater. Previously, that area was a literal food desert. Residents of Linden Plaza, and NYCHA’s Boulevard, Linden, and Penn-Wortman Houses has to travel a mile or more to Junius Street or Gateway to access a supermarket.
Kim stated, “Food Bazaar is humbled and privileged to host this reception. We are committed to being a good neighbor in the community for years to come. We are proud to offer this event space for the community.”