Movie Filming on Cheever next week

Warner Brothers has given the Association advance noticed that they have secured permits to film 'The Intern' in Cobble Hill next week. They will be filming on Cheever Place on Sept 2 & 3, and then 2 more days later in September.  Below please find a resident letter that will also be distributing in area's parking footprint.  

Please note that they will have a large portion of their trucks / campers parked several blocks away from set, in an effort to minimize taking solely residential parking.

LICH Update - Article 78 petition filed regarding Othmer Endowment Fund

Below please find a press release issued yesterday regarding LICH, which the CHA is sharing for informational purposes to the community.

Brooklyn Resident Files Suit to Compel NYS Attorney General to Produce Records under Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

Attorney General's Office Denied FOIL Request for Charities Bureau Records Relating to Invasion of Hospital Endowment

Brooklyn, NY - August 27, 2014 - Brooklyn resident and former Long Island College Hospital (LICH) patient Barbara Gartner filed an Article 78 petition today in NYS Supreme Court to compel the release of records relating to the NYS Attorney General Charities Bureau's approvals of invasions of the hospital’s $140 million Othmer Endowment Fund. The records were withheld by the Attorney General's Office in a blanket denial of her February FOIL request. According to her attorney, David A. Kaplan, oral arguments in the case will be heard on September 26.

Additionally, groups including Patients for LICH, Concerned Physicians of LICH, and the Cobble Hill Association issued statements (attached) supporting Ms. Gartner's request and the public's right to the information.

In June, the NYS Department of State Committee on Open Government issued an Advisory Opinion (attached) calling the Attorney General's denial of the FOIL request “improper” and stated that “the denial appears to be inconsistent with the language and intent of the Freedom of Information Law and its judicial construction.”

It is the role of the Attorney General's Charities Bureau to represent the public, the ultimate charitable beneficiaries, in decisions relating to modifications of endowment restrictions.

The Othmer Endowment Fund was bequeathed to LICH in the late 1990s by Dr. Donald and Mildred Othmer, Brooklyn Heights residents who wanted to help ensure the future of their beloved community hospital. The funds, totaling approximately $140 million, were in a permanently restricted endowment, with the principal to be held in perpetuity and the income used for the benefit of LICH. But in a series of cy pres proceedings, hospital administrators obtained permission to invade the funds.

Most recently, in 2011, the Charities Bureau and the court approved the borrowing of the entire principal balance of the Othmer Fund to enable SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s no-cash acquisition of LICH, with SUNY assuming liability for repayment of the $140 million to the endowment. SUNY has now closed all but a small walk-in emergency department at LICH and has contracted to sell the LICH property to a real estate developer, who plans to tear down the hospital and build condominium towers.

Ms. Gartner's FOIL request, originally made in June of 2013, asked for records of communications between the Attorney General's Charities Bureau and the NYS Supreme Court, the Long Island College Hospital, Continuum Health Partners, and SUNY regarding its authorization of the 2006 and 2011 borrowings from the Othmer Funds. Challenging the Attorney General's refusal to make these documents available to community members impacted by the decisions, she cites the language of the Freedom of Information Law, that “the people's right to review the documents . . . leading to determinations is basic to our society.”

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52nd Assembly District Debate, Wednesday 9/3 @ 7pm

Assemblywoman Joan Millman is retiring from her seat at the helm of the 52nd district. Three candidates are vying for her seat in the upcoming September 9th primary. Considering attending the local debate put on by BRIC, with full details below. If you cannot attend in-person, check out the debate on Brooklyn’s Time Warner Cable 756, Verizon FiOS 46, Cablevision 70, or stream it online at BRICartsmedia.org/bkindiemedia

52ND ASSEMBLY DISTRICT: SIMON VS. SIKORA VS. BIVIANO,
LIVE FROM BRIC HOUSE, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 AT 7PM

Brooklyn’s Community Media Network Adds A Third In Its Series of Brooklyn Political Debates

BRIC is pleased to announce that its Brooklyn Independent Media television initiative will broadcast a debate between Jo Anne Simon, Pete Sikora and Doug Biviano, candidates for the 52nd Assembly District. On Wednesday, September 3, at 7pm, BRIC will host the debate in the BRIC House Ballroom, the 240-seat performance space inside BRIC Arts | Media House (BRIC House), the organization’s new, 40,000-square-foot facility in Downtown Brooklyn.

The candidates are campaigning to represent the district spanning Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, DUMBO and part of Park Slope. Moderated by Erik Engquist, assistant managing editor of Crain’s NY Business, the debate will cover issues including affordable housing, education, healthcare, job creation and more.

52nd Assembly District: Simon vs. Sikora vs. Biviano is the third debate Brooklyn Independent Media is broadcasting this primary season. On Tuesday, August 19, the network hosted Erik Dilan and Kimberly Council, candidates for the 54th Assembly District. On Tuesday, August 12, the network hosted Rubain Dorancy and Jesse Hamilton, candidates for the 20th Senatorial District.

WHAT: 52nd Assembly District: Simon vs. Sikora vs. Biviano, a live debate broadcast on Brooklyn Independent Media
WHO: BRIC and Brooklyn Independent Media
Jo Anne Simon, candidate for the 52nd Assembly District
Pete Sikora, candidate for the 52nd Assembly District
Doug Biviano, candidate for the 52nd Assembly District
Erik Engquist, Crain’s NY Business, moderator
WHEN: Wednesday, September 3, 7 – 8pm.
WHERE: BRIC House, 647 Fulton Street, Downtown Brooklyn

Volunteer at Cobble Hill Park, Tuesdays @ 7 am

Image courtesy of NYC Parks Department

Cobble Hill Park is our neighborhood gem, but sparkles even brighter with volunteers's weekly elbow grease. Join us for some morning park-keeping!

What: Cobble Hill Park volunteers needed
When: every Tuesday morning @ 7:00 am (rescheduled when it rains)
Where: Meet at the Clinton Street entrance to the park
Please RSVP to cobblehillassociation@gmail.com if you'd like to join. 

Volunteer at Cobble Hill Park, Tuesdays @ 7 am

image credit belongs to local artist & talent Adam Suerte

Cobble Hill Park is our neighborhood gem, but sparkles even brighter with volunteers's weekly elbow grease. Join us for some morning park-keeping!

What: Cobble Hill Park volunteers needed
When: every Tuesday morning @ 7:00 am (rescheduled when it rains)
Where: Meet at the Clinton Street entrance to the park
Please RSVP to cobblehillassociation@gmail.com if you'd like to join. 

2014 Music in the Park Tonight : Adam Smale

Please join us tonight, Thursday August 14th, at 7pm in Cobble Hill Park for the final performance in this years Music in the Park series with the musical styling of Adam Smale.

This Canadian native has played jazz worldwide but now calls the Big Apple home sweet home, and we're lucky enough have him as a local closing out this year's concert series. With a masters in Jazz performance, Adam Smale, will delight the crowds his unique, self-built seven string performing exciting jazz standards beside his fantastic Quartet.

This year's concert series has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of Ridgewood Savings Bank, Ted & Honey Cafe, Brooklyn Bridge Realty and the Cobble Hill Community Fund. We hope that you can join us for this wonderful Summer event.

Last week, Kelley Mcrae played before a huge neighborhood crowd

Kane Street storefronts will remain

Check out the Brooklyn Eagle's recent article about coming changes to our Kane Street corridor. Though the businesses at 132 Kane St have closed, their historic facades will remain. Of the two storefronts... one is an 1850's-vintage row house, while the other is a mid 19th Century residence. We look forward to their restoration and the removal of plywood and graffiti currently on the corner.

Volunteer at Cobble Hill Park, Tuesdays @ 7 am

Image borrowed from local blog, 66 square feet

Cobble Hill Park is our neighborhood gem, but sparkles even brighter with volunteers's weekly elbow grease. Join us for some morning park-keeping!

What: Cobble Hill Park volunteers needed
When: every Tuesday morning @ 7:00 am (rescheduled when it rains)
Where: Meet at the Clinton Street entrance to the park
Please RSVP to cobblehillassociation@gmail.com if you'd like to join.

Cobble Hill Concert Series: Tonight! August 7th - Kelly McRae

Last week's show was a big success so come on out and join us again tonight as the Cobble Hill "Music in the Park"concert series continues tonight! Please join us in Cobble Hill Park today, Thursday, at 7pm.

August 7th: Kelly McRae

Kelley McRae grew up in Mississippi but called Brooklyn home for years before teaming up with guitarist Matt Castelein in 2011, when the duo traded in their NYC apartment for a VW camper van and hit the road full time. Thousands of miles and hundreds of shows later, they have toured coast to coast in the US, but tonight are back in the neighborhood for their second appearance in our Cobble Hill concert series. 

This year's concert series has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of Ridgewood Savings Bank, Ted & Honey Cafe, Brooklyn Bridge Realty and the Cobble Hill Community Fund.

Volunteer at Cobble Hill Park, Tuesdays @ 7 am

photo credit to Bored In Brooklyn

Cobble Hill Park is our neighborhood gem, but sparkles even brighter with volunteers's weekly elbow grease. Join us for some morning park-keeping!

What: Cobble Hill Park volunteers needed
When: every Tuesday morning @ 7:00 am (rescheduled when it rains)
Where: Meet at the Clinton Street entrance to the park
Please RSVP to cobblehillassociation@gmail.com if you'd like to join.