the Residents of the 41st Assembly District
Helene E. Weinstein
I strongly believe that one of my most important responsibilities is to listen carefully, answer questions and help solve your problems. Along with my experienced community office staff, I can assist you with a variety of important services and help to resolve community problems.
Unemployment Secured
Mr. and Mrs. B, elderly constituents, spent years attempting to secure 5 months of unemployment benefits he was entitled to. The Assemblywoman began lengthy correspondence with the Department of Labor on their behalf and after many months, and after multiple appeal hearings, the unfair decision to terminate his unemployment was overturned and he received the much needed benefits he had wrongly been denied.
Sabbath Summons Overturned
Ms. R received a sanitation violation for litter that blew onto her property on her Sabbath. She was unable to clean it up without violating her Sabbath restrictions. She called Assemblywoman Weinstein and was assisted on how to go about pleading not guilty to the ticket. As a result of that assistance she was able to get the ticket dismissed.
Access-a-Ride Application
Mr. M, a Cantonese-speaking elderly constituent, desperately needed to apply for Access-a-Ride so he could get to important medical appointments. The Assemblywoman’s multilingual staff was able to help him fill out the application, schedule a physical examination appointment and confirm he was indeed approved for the program.
Tax Refund Returned
Ms. B, an elderly woman, visited the Assemblywoman after her Income Tax Refund was delayed. As Russian was her primary language, the Assemblywoman called the Department of Taxation and Finance, requested a callback from a Russian interpreter, and just a few days later, a check was mailed to Ms. B.
Electricity Restored
Ms. A’s electricity was shut off due to failure to pay. She was concerned about the wellbeing of her small children especially during the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday so she contacted Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office. Staff was able to contact Con Ed to restore her electricity as well as assist with setting up a payment plan.
Abandoned Car Towed
Mrs. S had called 311 and the NYPD to remove a suspicious vehicle without license plates that had been parked in front of her home for weeks. After no action was taken, Assemblywoman Weinstein intervened and had the NYC Department of Sanitation, the agency entrusted with removing plateless vehicles, remove the vehicle that same week.
Gerritsen Avenue DOT Visit
Assemblywoman Weinstein arranged a site visit with DOT Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Keith Bray, Councilman Alan Maisel, Community Board 15 Chair, Theresa Scavo and various local community groups to demand reconsideration of the repeated denial of requests for a left turn signal at Gerritsen Avenue, Southbound and Avenue U.
Sandy Recovery and Project Build It Back
Andrew Olsen, Brooklyn Borough Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery met with Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Councilman Chaim Deutsch and residents of Sheepshead Bay to update them on Sandy recovery and Project Build It Back status for the Plumb Beach Courts.
Weinstein’s Community Office Programs
During the monthly Half-Fare MetroCard Program, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein informed a constituent about the other programs and services available through her community office.
Helene Weinstein brings the Half-Fare MetroCard Bus to the Community Office on the third Thursday of every month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Site Visit with DOT
Businesses near the intersection of Utica and Foster Avenues were upset when vital unloading space was eliminated due to the new SB46 bus lane. At the Assemblywoman’s urging, following a site visit with DOT, a new Truck Loading/Unloading was authorized just down the block.
Assemblywoman Weinstein secured special funding in the state budget to support programs that provide essential services for residents in our community, including senior citizens, and social services programs listed below. Additional funding was obtained for after-school tutoring, early literacy, arts, sports, anti-violence, citizenship, multicultural and intergenerational programs in addition to school technology, equipment upgrades at various school and youth programs. If you want additional information on any of these programs, please call the Community Office.
Senior Educational & Recreational Services:
Senior Centers – Bay Senior Center, Good Shepherd Friendship Club, Jay Harama Senior Center, Marine Park Active Adults, Midwood Center for Active Adults, Philip Howard Senior Association, Shellbank Leisure League, Shorefront YM-YWHA and St. Mark’s Senior Citizens
Senior Transport – JCC of Greater Coney Island, and the Kings Bay YM-YWHA
Employment, Legal and Social Services:
Social Services – Alzheimer’s & Aging Resources, Kings Bay YM-YWHA, Masbia Soup Kitchens, Our Place and the Sephardic Community Center
Job Training & Debt Management – COJO of Flatbush and the JCC of Marine Park
Domestic Violence Assistance Services – Caribbean Women’s Health Association, Ohel Children’s Services and Shalom Task Force
Homeowner & Housing Assistance – Brooklyn Housing and Family Services, Flatbush and Midwood Development Corps, and We Care New York
Legal and Immigration Assistance – Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Legal Aid Society (legal services for Brooklyn elderly) and New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
Community, Civic Education & Cultural Activities:
Arts & Recreational Programs – the Bridge Multicultural Advocacy Project, Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Brooklyn College Center for Performing Arts, Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre, and the New York Aquarium
Civic Education – Be Proud Foundation, Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations, New York Association of Holocaust Survivors and the Haitian Family Resource Center, September 11th Families Group, and the World Congress of Russian Jewry
Community Activities – Seaside and Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series, Nieuw Amersfort Community Association – Summer Concert, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ave D Merchants Association Annual Fair & Holiday Lighting Project
Cultural Preservation – Russian American Foundation, and the Russian American Community Coalition
Public Safety – Flatbush Shomrim and Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Schools and Children:
Sports, Arts and Recreation – Brooklyn Academy of Music, Good Shepherd Sports, Interparish Sports Association, Kings Bay Youth Organization, Mr. Bee’s Hornets, NYCHA Sheepshead and Nostrand Houses Tenant Association Family Day Celebration, New York City Center, Roundabout Theater Company and Youth Center at Carmine Carro Community Center
Schools – I.S. 14, I.S. 234, I.S. 381, P.S. 052, P.S. 109, P.S. 119, P.S. 194, P.S. 197, P.S. 206, P.S. 208, P.S. 222, P.S. 251, James Madison High School, Mesores Bais Yaakov, St. Edmund’s Elementary School, Yeshiva Ahavas Torah, Yeshiva Derech Hatorah, and Yeshiva Lev Bais Yaakov
Long in need of a facelift, patrons and staff at the Flatlands Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library were ecstatic to hear that the Assemblywoman secured Capital funding for renovations to the library in addition to funding for a new laptop loaner program to all branches in her district.
2nd Grade students at PS 52 welcomed Assemblywoman Weinstein to their classroom, where she read a book to the attentive class and answered questions about her work in Albany.
Ms. C emailed our office to complain that a Select Bus Service kiosk was broken on Nostrand Avenue and Avenue U for many weeks causing problems for hundreds of commuters. The office of Assemblywoman Weinstein contacted NYC MTA, and after several phone conversations, they repaired the kiosk, which had been damaged by ConEdison during routine maintenance.
Driver’s License
Mr. X was concerned that not having his renewed H1 Visa would prevent him from renewing his driver’s license. Assemblywoman contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles who allowed Mr. X to present proof of payment for his H1 Visa renewal and he was quickly issued a new driver’s license.
MetroCard Issue
Ms. S’ Reduced Fare MetroCard expired and although she was supposed to receive a new one automatically in the mail, weeks had passed and it had not arrived. The Assemblywoman’s staff contacted MTA, cleared up the mix-up and Ms. S was promptly sent her new card. Helene Weinstein brings the Half-Fare MetroCard Bus to the Community Office on the third Thursday of every month.
Appliance Nightmare
Mr. B was fed up when NYCHA failed to respond to his request to replace his broken refrigerator, leaving him without one for weeks. Assemblywoman Weinstein contacted management, and within 48 hours, a new refrigerator was delivered to his apartment.
SBS 44 Kiosk Issue
Ms. C emailed our office to complain that a Select Bus Service kiosk was broken on Nostrand Avenue and Avenue U for many weeks causing problems for hundreds of commuters. The office of Assemblywoman Weinstein contacted NYC MTA, and after several phone conversations, they repaired the kiosk, which had been damaged by ConEdison during routine maintenance.
During a recent meeting of the Flatlands Flatbush Civic Group at Public School 109, the Assemblywoman outlined legislation she was working on as well as programs coming to her Community office.
At a recent meeting of the Marine Park Civic Association, Assemblywoman Weinstein outlined legislation she was working on as well as programs coming to her district office.
Regularly shredding confidential documents containing personal information is one of the best defenses against identity theft. During the Assemblywoman’s recent free shredding program over 8000 pounds of documents were shredded.
Residents came out in force to a neighborhood cleanup organized by Councilman Jumaane Williams and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein under the Glenwood Road Trestle.
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein often works with the NYC Department of Transportation on issues reported by constituents, to repair and improve dangerous and hazardous street conditions that negatively impact the quality of life and safety for you and your neighbors. Some examples of the improvements made this past year are:
- Installation of “No Truck Traffic” signage at Avenue I and East 32nd
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Installation of an “All-Way” stop sign at Avenue X and East 24th
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Installation of a traffic signal at the intersections of:
- Avenue L – at East 34th and East 37th Streets
- Avenue O and East 21st Street
- Avenue R and East 24th Street
- Avenue X and East 22nd Street
- Installation of Speed Humps on East 22nd Street between Avenues N and O
- Addition of loading and unloading zones for businesses on Utica Avenue (near Foster Avenue)
- Repaving of a 5 mile stretch of Flatlands Avenue from Remsen Ave. to Hendrickson St. (Pictured)
Types of conditions we can help with include:
- Prohibiting parking at street corners; improving visibility at intersections
- Traffic signal and stop sign installations
- Speed-bump installations
- Sidewalk re-inspections
- Street light installation and repair
- Pothole and street repairs
Annual Passover Sanitation Meeting
Among the many subjects brought up at Assemblywoman Weinstein’s Annual Passover Sanitation Meeting was the subject of winter readiness. Following the meeting, the Assemblywoman spoke with sanitation officials and plans to fund the purchase of additional snow removal equipment for Sanitation Districts 15 and 18.
Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corp
At the most recent 63rd Precinct National Night Out celebration, Assemblywoman Weinstein joined members of the Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corp by an ambulance bought through a capital grant from her office. The Assemblywoman is helping the organization purchase an additional ambulance to ensure their equipment is up to date and ready to respond in emergencies.
Thanksgiving Turkeys Distributed
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of two young men, Jonathan and Mike, leaders of Holocaust Survivors and Veterans groups received Thanksgiving Turkeys to distribute to their members. Assemblymembers Helene Weinstein, Steven Cymbrowitz, and Pamela Harris joined in the festivities.
Recently Negotiated Projects
- Brooklyn Public Library – Renovations and upgrades at the Flatlands Avenue Branch
- Brooklyn Public Library – Purchase of laptops for the Flatlands, Kings Bay, Kings Highway, Paerdegat and Rugby Branches
- Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps – New ambulance
- Jewish Community Council of Marine Park – Renovations at their new Quentin Road Social Services Headquarters
- New York City Department of Sanitation – Purchase of winter storm equipment
- Kings Bay Y – Major overhauls to the floors and walls in their swimming facilities
Ongoing Projects
- Historic Wyckoff House Museum – Replacement of weathered and damaged roof
- Harry Maze Park – Installation of security lighting
- Caribbean-American Chamber of Commerce – Establishment of an official Caribbean Trade Center
Assemblywoman Weinstein was able to direct $2 million dollars – part of a larger New York City Housing budget allocation – towards security camera installations and increased lighting at the Sheepshead and Nostrand Housing Developments.
The JCC of Marine Park Machal program feeds hundreds of families who cannot afford the rising cost of weekly grocery bills. At a recent fundraiser and food tasting event, Shea Rubenstein, Executive Vice President of the JCCMP looked on as the Assemblywoman spoke to attendees.
At the Jay Harama Senior Center, Assemblywoman Weinstein joined generations of Asian-Americans as they celebrated the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
Assemblywoman Weinstein joined Captain Faisson of the 61st Precinct, Councilman Deutsch, members of the 61st Precinct Community Council and the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol at a Prayer Vigil to honor the memory of slain Police Officer Randolph Holder.
Captain William Faisson and Community Affairs Officers from the NYPD’s 61st Precinct recently met with Assemblywoman Weinstein at her district office to address various safety and quality of life concerns.
“Our Place” aids hundreds of troubled teens by providing them with a safe and comfortable environment where they receive support from peers and trained social workers. The Assemblywoman stopped in to tour the facilities recently and spoke with Boardmember Joe Yurowitz.
Assemblywoman Weinstein stopped in at the Kings County South Civic Association to receive an award from Association President Kenrick Westcott for her dedication to preserving the quality of life of the East Flatbush Community.