At an average savings of over $3,000 per homeowner, sidewalks like the one pictured above will be repaired at no cost to the homeowners thanks to Assemblyman Perry’s Sidewalk Repair Program.

Although the city funds its own sidewalk heaving repair program that covers all five boroughs, the amount the city allocates annually can only go towards fixing the very severely damaged sidewalks that score at the top of the range set by the city to qualify for repair.

The city evaluates requests and damaged sidewalks are judged on a 1-100 scale. If your sidewalk isn’t rated at over ninety, it’s unlikely they will ever get to your request.

By funding the heaving program, just for the homeowners in the 58th Assembly District, Assemblyman Perry hopes to eventually help homeowners fix all the sidewalks damaged by city-owned trees in the district. It is estimated that this will cost over half a million dollars, so the current allocation of over $300,000 should provide a real significant savings to homeowners who can still call in and get their sidewalk added to the list, and approved for repair.

With the funding process almost complete, contracts should soon be signed to begin repair work in the spring of this year.

Working for You: Assemblyman Nick Perry with elected colleagues and local community leaders at a meeting with NYC Commissioner of the Department for the Aging Edwin Mendez-Santiago. From L to R, Councilman Kendall Stewart, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, CB 17 Social Services Committee Chair Renee Smith, CB 17 Chairman Lloyd Mills, Commissioner Mendez-Santiago, Assemblyman Perry and CB 17 District Manager Sherif Fraser.

For more than two years senior citizens living in Community Board 17 were forced to do just that, because of situations that forced the closing of centers previously serving the community and the relocation of the last remaining center to another district.

The need to correct this inequity was made a primary issue by Community Board 17, and brought to the attention of Assemblyman Nick Perry during a meeting with Community Board 17 member Renee Smith. Assemblyman Perry responded immediately, using all the influence and pressure that could be brought from his office to bring about the earliest solution to this problem. Recognizing that working together would strengthen the effort, Assemblyman Perry brought together his elected colleagues representing the area, along with members of Community Board 17, organizing a meeting with Commissioner Edwin Mendez-Santiago of the NYC Department for the Aging. At the meeting Commissioner Mendez-Santiago gave the community leaders his assurance that a long overdue senior center would soon be returning to the Community.

Assemblyman Perry is proud to announce that on this past July 1st, the Remsen Senior Center reopened at 650 Remsen Avenue at the corner of Avenue A. "It is our obligation as a community to provide for our senior citizens," said Assemblyman Perry. "Our senior population is the foundation upon which our families and communities have been built; we owe it to them to provide adequate and convenient services and facilities which are in good condition to provide the right environment for senior activities.

Assemblyman Perry has committed $175,000 in capital funds for building improvements and renovations to the site. Because the center will also serve seniors from the adjoining 41 Assembly District, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein has committed an additional $25,000 which will allow for a total of $200,000 of capital improvements to the site.

Assemblyman Nick Perry is accepting applications to nominate an eligible student for a full tuition, four-year scholarship to SUNY Maritime College under the Cadet Appointment Program.

The Cadet Appointment Program allows each member of the Assembly to nominate one candidate per year for a Maritime College scholarship. Nominees must be New York State residents for at least one year prior to nomination, and: be within one year of graduating from high school or have a high school diploma or GED; have a combined SAT score of at least 1200, have a combined high school GPA of at least 90 percent; demonstrate evidence of leadership skills through extracurricular activities and school/community involvement.

SUNY Maritime College - founded in 1874 - and located in the Bronx, is the oldest and most prestigious maritime college in the nation. Maritime specializes in engineering and science, and has an undergraduate placement rate of 100 percent. Maritime cadets earn their licenses as officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine, as well as A.A., B.S., or B.E. degrees, and are eligible for Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard, Oceanography and Atmospheric Administration, or Coast Guard commissions.

For more information on this exciting scholarship opportunity contact Assemblyman Nick Perry at (718) 385-3336.

It’s never too late to go back to school and Assemblyman Perry wants to share good news with senior citizens who might want to pursue a college degree.

The MY TURN Program at Kingsborough Community College (KCC) allows seniors over the age of 60 to take any course at the college tuition free. MY TURN students are integrated into the regular student body and can pursue a degree or attend classes non-matriculated.

More than 400 courses are available to MY TURN students, and all facilities including the library, gym, pool and private beach at KCC are open to MY TURN students as well.

All New York State residents over 60 are eligible. There are no previous educational requirements. An $80.00 registration fee is required.

For more information on this exciting program, contact Assemblyman Nick Perry at (718) 385-3336.