6 APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2013 Partying before the parade BY LINDSEY ELLEFSON [email protected] Norwegians rejoice! The May 17th Parade this year is going to be a hit, thanks in part to the great turn-out at this year’s fundraiser. The fundraiser was held on Sunday, April 7, at the Salty Dog, 7509 Third Avenue, with each $20 ticket covering a light buffet, dessert, raffles and door prizes. The proceeds go towards funding the annual 17th of May Parade, a Norwegian tradition. Arlene Rutuelo, general chairperson of the Norwegian-American 17th of May Parade Committee, stated, “We had a really great event with a couple of hundred people in attendance. We raised almost $5,000 for the parade, so everyone is happy.” She also stated that there was a great outpouring of community support from Norwegians and non-Scandinavians alike. “This brought back the life in our community, Norwegian and American, and it’s bridging support lines,” Rutuelo added. “People from all over Brooklyn came to support us.” She has great expectations for the parade this year, given the amount of support the fundraisers have gotten. It will take place on May 19 at 1:30 p.m. kicking off at 80th Street and Third Avenue. BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by SB News City Councilmember Vincent Gentile, center, stopped by to enjoy the festivities. Water rates poised to go up BY MELISA STUMPF AND JAY SHIN [email protected] Calling it the lowest increase in eight years, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) proposed on Friday, April 5, to increase water rates yet again, this time by 5.6 percent. “Today we are able to propose a rate lower than we anticipated thanks in large part to our continued commitment to be more efficient and cut costs without sacrificing the quality of the services we provide to New Yorkers,” said DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland. The raise would mean that a typical single-family homeowner would see an increase from $939 to $991 a year for water and sewer bills, a change which stirred outrage locally. “You may hear the DEP boast that this is the ‘lowest increase’ we’ve seen in years, but ask just about any homeowner and they will tell you their water bills are much too high! In fact, overall water rates have skyrocketed 78 percent since 2005! So the term ‘lowest increase’ is somewhat of an oxymoron,” said Justin Brannan, press secretary to Councilmember Vincent Gentile. State Senator Martin Golden concurred, calling it “unconscionable” to think that the rates need to be raised again. “Water rates have gone from $1.44 in 2003 to $3.39 in 2013 per 100 cubic feet,” he stressed. “That’s 2.4 times the price it was just 10 years ago. It is getting harder and harder for our middle class families to afford a day in New York City, and all this rate increase would do is bring even more burden onto our families and businesses.” City Comptroller John Liu was amongst those who disagree with the raise. “City Hall’s proposal to hike water prices yet again is another blow to struggling New Yorkers’ pocketbooks. After the astronomical rate rises of the past seven years, it is cold comfort that the proposed hike is ‘only’ 5.6 percent. Citizens should protest this proposed hike at the coming hearings,” he said. People in the streets of Bay Ridge agreed. “Everything’s going up,” said Armand Toledo; although he does not own a house, he’s worried his rent is going to increase as a result of the increase. “I don’t like it. Things are crazily high,” concurred Many Sanduels, from Long Island City. Strickland said that he’s aware that raises can be a burden to New Yorkers, but contended that they’re getting the best possible water and wastewater services “at most affordable rates.” The New York City Water Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. at IS 228, David Boody, 228 Avenue S. Elected officials including State Senator Marty Golden and Congressmember Michael Grimm, as well as Golden staffer John Quaglione, joined the party-goers at the Salty Dog. Kenny Grande and Harry Hawk from Leske’s, which supplied the pastries, with Arlene Rutuelo. Micah Miles and Bob Carlsen.
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