Finance Chair Hears Concerns

By COLlive staff

The powerful Chairman of New York City Council Finance Committee, Domenic Recchia, took time out from his round-the-clock work on the City’s budget to hear from Crown Heights leaders about their concerns for the neighborhood.

Yossi Hackner, Vice Chairman of Crown Heights Jewish Community Council greeted Mr. Recchia at the home of Chanina and Orly Sperlin, and led off the discussion.

In the course of the evening, Mr. Recchia addressed issues like placing security cameras on the streets, affordable housing, and ways to promote new residential development, as well as the future of senior centers and child care in the City.

Among the attendees from outside of Crown Heights was Willie Rapfogel, Executive Director of Met Council on Jewish Poverty. The Met Council sponsors a number of programs in the neighborhood in conjunction with the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council to assist residents in moments of crisis. He spoke of Recchia’s dedication to individuals in need.

Rabbi Moshe Weiner, who directs JCC of Greater Coney Island, located in Mr. Recchia’s City Council District spoke of the “integrity, effectiveness and accessibility” of his Council Member, qualities that he said are an uncommon combination in one elected official.

Important community leaders from Boro Park and Williamsburg also showed their solidarity with their participation, including Moshe Indig, spokesman of Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, Abe Friedman Police Liaison for the Satmar Community, followers of the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, Yoeli Eisdorfer chaplain to PA airports, Yoel Lefkowitz, Yehudah Pearlstein, Chairman of Community Board 12, Yeruchem Silver, Executive Director Boro Park Jewish Community.

Attendees from Crown Heights included Mrs. Devorah Halberstam of the Jewish Children’s Museum, Eli Slavin – Rep. to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and Rabbi Eli Cohen – Executive Director of the CHJCC.