State Senator Daniel Squadron has put up his dukes over Friday morning’s confirmation that Long Island College Hospital will be shuttered by the SUNY Board of Trustees and sold for real estate development.

In a statement, he insists: “Our fight isn’t over. As I said yesterday, SUNY’s plan essentially turns a $63 million state grant into a subsidy for a massive real estate deal that will cut essential services without any community benefit. It should be no surprise that our community and Brooklyn will feel looted with this result. DOH has an opportunity to ensure the needs of this community and all of Brooklyn are met—and that’s precisely what we will urge it to do.”

Squadron testified at Thursday’s public hearing, in which community leaders and locals bemoaned the closing of the 155-year-old facility, at 339 Hicks Street in Cobble Hill.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55066

It seems like only yesterday he was some punk “kid” challenging seemingly well ensconced 30 year incumbent Martin “Marty” Connor for the NYS Senate seat representing the 25th district. Last night Sen. Daniel Squadron trounced his GOP challenger Jacqueline Haro (who we literally cannot find one lick of info about):

Daniel Squadron (I) Dem 60,185 86.44%
Jacqueline Haro GOP 9,441 13.56%

Squadron posted this dispatch on Facebook after the victory: “I’m proud and grateful for the opportunity to continue representing our incredible district.”

(Graphic above from BHB’s coverage of the 2008 race)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/51562

Our man in the NYS Senate, Daniel Squadron just released this dispatch to his constituency which includes Brooklyn Heights. Includes some very useful information:

Dear Friend:

I hope that you and your family are doing ok in the aftermath of the storm.

It’s going to be days and weeks until things are back to normal in parts of our city. In the meantime, it’s important to stay safe and make sure you’re prepared for the possibility of extended power outages, vastly reduced transit services, and overtaxed city services.

If you’re without power:
The entirety of the Manhattan side of our district and some constituents in Brooklyn seem to be without power. Report power outages on ConEd’s website or by calling 1-800-752-6633.
ConEd is working to restore power, but it’s expected to take up to four days. If you can safely move to a friend’s or family member’s home with power, it makes sense to do so.
If you need to travel:
MTA bus service will resume at 5PM today on a limited schedule, with additional restorations tomorrow. There will be no fares on the buses for the time being.
It is very likely that it will be days, if not longer, until transit service is fully restored due to flooding in subway tunnels. Stay tuned to mta.info for updates.
Yellow cabs are temporarily allowed to pick up multiple passengers at multiple stops, and livery cars can temporarily pick up street hails.
Most bridges and tunnels are beginning to reopen. The Hugh L. Carey Battery Tunnel, the Midtown Tunnel, and Rockaway bridges remain closed.
If your home sustained damage:
You can apply for disaster assistance here.
If you have other needs:
Please reach out to 311. Phone wait times are long so online or text (311692) is your best bet.
Unless it’s a real emergency, please do not call 911, which has been overloaded since yesterday.
If you want to volunteer:
Most evacuation shelters need volunteers today for eight hour shifts and, in some cases, clothing donations. You can find the closest shelter to you here, and reach out to find out what they need.
Email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email address, and borough to volunteer in the coming days.
You can also visit the Red Cross’ website to volunteer.
Please keep these things in mind:
It is still safest to stay inside; there are downed and potentially-downed wires and trees, and emergency crews need to do their jobs. Please check in on elderly and other neighbors who might need a hand.
NYC public schools will be closed again tomorrow, Wednesday.
If you have water coming out of your faucet, it is safe to drink. My office has been surveying the needs of large buildings in Lower Manhattan impacted by the storm, and confirmed that Smith Houses, La Guardia Houses, Seward Park Extension, Confucius Plaza, Seward Park Co-Op, and 80 Rutgers Slip Senior Housing, among others, are currently experiencing problems with water or pumps.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook for more frequent updates. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if I can be helpful.

Thanks,

Daniel

Daniel Squadron
State Senator
25th Senate District

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/50574

They’re not giving up. At the beginning of April, State Senator Daniel Squadron and City Council Member Steve Levin led a rally to return the annual Macy’s 4th of July fireworks to the East River. Since 2009, the historic annual display has been based along the Hudson, stealing views from residents of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan’s East Side, instead aiming them toward New Jersey.

Now Squadron, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and BP Marty Markowitz have launched an online petition “urging Macy’s not to leave Brooklyn and Queens in the dark. Bring the fireworks back to the East River so everyone can enjoy the show.”

At a press conference Thursday, the pols declared that they are again trying to convince Macy’s to bring the fireworks home, where they were based for 32 years before moving four years ago. As BHB previously reported, Macy’s has maintained that the move was temporary to celebrate Henry Hudson’s voyage up the river. But this “temporary” is beginning to smell a lot more like “long term.”

Meanwhile, poor Hoboken, N.J., put a warning on its community webbie warning of potential gridlock as “tens of thousands” are expected to flood the locale. Apparently, the community doesn’t have the moxie of Brooklyn, eh?

NYC Mayor Bloomberg, meanwhile, was unusually demure when asked about the location of fireworks: “It’s up to Macy’s. They’re paying for it. You know, I’d love to see it move back and forth… but in the end, it’s their call.”

If you’re in favor of bringing one of the greatest free shows of the summer back to Brooklyn please sign that petition here.

(Photo: Squadron & de Blasio/Gothamist)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43130