4 SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
CONEY ISLAND BUSINESSES
RAISE $27K FOR HURRICANE
HARVEY
A bevy of Coney Island businesses and organizations
– big and small – banded together in the wake
of Hurricane Harvey and have raised over $27,000 for
Houston through various collection projects.
Participating businesses included Applebee’s Grill
& Bar, the Brooklyn Cyclones, Coney Island Brewery,
Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Gargiulo’s
Restaurant, Luna Park, Nathan’s Famous, the New
York Cosmos, Paul’s Daughter and Totonno’s.
Proceeds raised by local businesses will be donated
to the Greater Houston Community Foundation’s
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, while the proceeds
raised by the Brooklyn Cyclones will go to the Minor
League Baseball Charities’ relief efforts.
CITY TO INTRODUCE ELECTRIC
VEHICLE CHARGING HUBS
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday,
September 20 plans to expand significantly access to
electric vehicle (EV) charging for residents under the
development of new fast charging stations across the city.
In hopes of making 20 percent of motor vehicle registrations
in New York City electric by 2025, the city will
invest $10 million to develop these hubs, which will have
up to 20 chargers per site. Beginning in 2018, the city
will partner with Con Edison to identify at least one site
in every borough – these five hubs having the capacity
to charge more than 12,000 electric vehicles every week.
This, the mayor said, is his next step in his climate
action agenda.
The city hopes to have 50 fast-charging hubs citywide
by 2020, among other EV advancements.
—Meaghan McGoldrick
Photo courtesy of El Grito de Sunset Park
Collecting supplies to donate to both Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Sunset comes together to
help Puerto Rico and Mexico
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
Sunset Park has stepped
up in a big way to aid both
Puerto Rico and Mexico in
a great time of need.
Following Hurricane Maria
— the category 4 storm that hit
Puerto Rico on Wednesday,
September 20 and which left
the island flooded, without
power, and with limited water
and resources — as well as the
7.1 magnitude earthquake that
struck Mexico City and other
portions of the country just a
day earlier, resulting in over
300 deaths, several local organizations
sprung into action to
form a massive relief effort.
On Saturday, September 23,
El Grito de Sunset Park held an
Earthquake Hurricane Relief
effort at 4906 Fourth Avenue
with the help of Assemblymember
Felix Ortiz, the 72nd
Precinct and others. Hundreds
of local volunteers showed up
to collect massive amounts of
donations.
Dennis Flores, founder of
El Grito de Sunset Park, was
amazed at how successful the
relief effort was, although it
was announced with short
notice. “It was overwhelming,”
he said. “Many of us here, myself
included, had to sit back
and take it in. We saw the best
of humanity in Sunset Park.
Everyone is pitching in and
even people that are poor and
going through rough times
came out here and gave the
little that they can. The effort is
so great, it’s really remarkable.
I’m just overwhelmed with
emotion.”
In fact, the success was so
great that extra space was
needed to store items. “We
have collected so much stuff,
the location we had filled up
numerous times,” Flores explained.
"We created a chain to
Saint Andrew’s Church across
the street where the pastor
opened his doors and we filled
up the church.”
The Muslim Community
Center of Sunset Park, 5224
Third Avenue, also collected
donations.
According to Flores, what
are most needed are medical
supplies, boxes and big rolls of
shrink wrap. “We are working
with community organizations
on the ground,” he said. "We are
going to make sure we deliver
the supplies to the different
spots of the island."
The group, along with Ortiz
and others, is now in the process
of organizing the supplies
to make sure they land safely in
both Puerto Rico and Mexico.
According to Ortiz, the
container required to ship
materials to Puerto Rico has
arrived, and is expected to ship
on Sunday, October 1.
Adding to what has been
collected in Sunset Park, Assemblymember
and mayoral
candidate Nicole Malliotakis
will be contributing supplies
collected at both her Staten
Island and Brooklyn offices,
including flashlights, batteries,
toiletries, first aid materials,
school supplies and food.
Because of the outpouring
of support, the donation center
at 4906 Fourth Avenue
will remain open to continue
receiving supplies from 10
a.m.-9 p.m.
“We need to stay active and
this is a way we can organize
ourselves to make sure that our
folks, our families back home
don’t fall through the cracks
and get ignored,” said Flores of
Puerto Rico. “We are in fear that
it’s what’s happening. There
are towns where that haven’t
had communication. There are
towns where they haven’t heard
from the mayors. It's so extreme
that you wouldn’t believe that
could happen in a place that is
U.S. territory.”
On the same day as the El
Grito drive, Mayor Bill de Blasio
was at Engine 201/Ladder 114,
5113 Fourth Avenue, to encourage
people to donate. “Now it’s
time for us to step up for an island
that’s done so much for all
of us and for people who need
us more than ever," he said.
HURRICANE RELIEF DONATION
DRIVE
The Home Reporter, 9733 Fourth Avenue, will be a drop-off
spot for a Hurricane Relief Collection Drive being conducted
by the Virgin Islands Clergy Peace Coalition, to benefit the
U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
Tarpaulins, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant,
mosquito repellent, baby formula, diapers, wipes, laundry
detergent, flashlights, garbage bags, feminine hygiene products,
non-perishable food items, new socks and citronella
candles can be dropped off at the newspaper office, or at
Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street; Mt. Zion
Church of God 7th Day, 203 East 37th Street; or the office of
Assemblymember Diana Richardson, 330 Empire Boulevard
through Monday, October 2.
Hours for drop off at The Home Reporter are 9 a.m.-5
p.m., weekdays. Drop-offs at the other locations can be
made between noon and 6 p.m.
For more info, call Pastor Gilford Monrose, 718-284-
4375, 718-802-3761 or 646-779-6767, or email pastormonrose@
gmail.com.