COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Community Highlights  

Kings Highway Project Meeting Held

Between CB 18 and NYC Dept. of Design

Members of the Flatbush Community were invited to take part in an important meeting last month held at Khal Zichron Mordechai between the Community Board 18 and the staff of the NYC Department of Design & Construction regarding the important Kings Highway Project HW100SBC that can dramatically upgrade the quality of life for the construction of a stretch roadway between Avenue K to Ocean Avenue. Community Board 18 asked residents and business owner to attend the meeting to share feedback, voice concerns and learn updates from the NYC Dept. of Design & Construction.

Frum Travelers Accuse Lufthansa of Antisemitic Behavior

Last year, Lufthansa agreed to a record $4 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for mistreating 128 Jewish passengers who were denied boarding despite having valid tickets. According to Dan’s Deals, a new incident has surfaced involving five Chassidic men returning from Hungary after commemorating the 100th yahrtzeit of Reb Shayale of Kerestir. The passengers were told their carry-on luggage had to be checked and were threatened with being banned from the flight, even though other non-Jewish passengers were allowed to board with larger bags.

NY Lawmakers Push Back Against Yeshiva Oversight

In response to stringent measures by the New York State Education Department in February that withheld key funding from two Chassidic yeshivas in Williamsburg and would force parents to send their children to other educational institutions, Jewish state lawmakers are advocating for legislation to limit state oversight of Chassidic schools. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie helped the effort to incorporate a bill into the New York State budget that would soften educational guidelines requiring yeshivos to teach subjects mandated in public schools.

Masbia Celebrates 20 Years with 2,000 Food Deliveries

Masbia, a community organization dedicated to feeding those in need, marked its 20th anniversary by distributing 2,000 emergency food packages on May 1. The initiative coincided with the 100th yahrtzeit of Reb Shayale of Kerestir, who was famed for feeding the poor. In partnership with DoorDash, Masbia was able to act swiftly and efficiently, maximizing the impact of every donation. Alexander Rapaport, director of Masbia remarked that “this partnership lets us act faster, waste less and maximize the impact of every donation.” Daniel Riff of DoorDash said, “We’re honored to join Masbia in their mission of ensuring that no one goes hungry and commend their incredible twenty years to the community.”

Congressman Ritchie Torres Keynotes Touro’s Commencement

Congressman Ritchie Torres delivered the keynote address at Touro’s Lander Colleges commencement. Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish honored Torres with an honorary doctorate, recognizing his advocacy for the Jewish community and his efforts to combat antisemitism. Torres was commended for his support of Israel, especially following the October 7 attacks.

U.S. Justice Department Backs Orthodox Housing Developers

Lost Lake Holdings, LLC is suing the Township of Forestburgh, NY, alleging that the Township engaged in discriminatory practices in violation of the Fair Housing Act to block the construction of a subdivision. The lawsuit claims that the Township’s actions were motivated by the belief that the project would attract Orthodox Jewish residents. Specifically, the plaintiffs assert that the Township denied their building permit applications on the grounds of religious discrimination. The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a Second Statement of Interest, expressing support for the developers of the 2,627-home project. The statement argues that the plaintiffs’ Fair Housing Act claims, which are partly based on the Zoning Board of Appeals’ denial of the building permits, are ripe for consideration. Additionally, it asserts that the plaintiffs, who allege lost profits and lost home sales, have standing to bring these FHA claims.

Governor Hochul Announces Inflation Refund Checks

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that members of the New York State legislature will soon reach an agreement on a budget that will include all of her affordability plans. These plans will provide middle-class families with new tax relief, including benefits for parents with children under the age of four, as well as $500 for parents with children aged 4-16. Additionally, taxpayers without children will receive inflation refund checks based on a sliding scale. Joint filers with incomes up to $150,000 will receive $400 checks, while joint filers with higher incomes will receive $300 checks. Single filers earning up to $75,000 will receive $200 checks, and those earning up to $150,000 will receive $150 checks.

REAL ID Requirement Now in Effect

Since May 7, domestic fliers are required to have a REAL ID to board domestic flights, or they must present other federal documentation, such as a passport. If you have a state driver’s license, it will only be accepted for domestic flights if it has a star or flag in the upper right-hand corner. The purpose of the REAL ID initiative is to prevent terrorists from evading detection by using fraudulent identification. The drive for Americans to obtain REAL ID stems from the aftermath of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in Manhattan and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

NYPD Arrests Dozens of Anti-Israel Protesters at Local Universities

Last month, anti-Israel protestors attempted to disrupt college students studying for finals in the libraries at both Brooklyn College and Columbia University. NYPD officers intervened, breaking up both demonstrations and making dozens of arrests. As a result, Columbia University has suspended 65 students who were arrested during the pro-Palestinian protests at the school’s library.