Hi friends,
Yesterday was not a good day, so I designated today — a better day — as Tuesday. This morning, I helped two people in the park navigate their way between two groups of fierce geese and that delighted me. The secret is to keep your eyes up and move smartly.
Three cheers for Paxlovid!!! My partner tested positive for Covid yesterday, and I swear he looked better a few hours after his first dose.
My favorite farmer got some great press for their new bulk market, ARLO.
Now I will move in widening circles toward good news that may touch your life directly.
With just $50 million in assets, Brooklyn Cooperative focuses on a few predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods in North and Central Brooklyn. Yet, since 2010, the credit union has made more federally-guaranteed small business loans in Brooklyn than Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America combined.
Counting by number of federally-guaranteed small business loans in Brooklyn since 2010, Brooklyn Cooperative is ranked fourth, behind only TD Bank, Chase and M&T Bank. Yet in comparison to all these other banks by asset size, the credit union is just a rounding error.
Learn more about the Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union.
My favorite Brooklyn institution, the Brooklyn Public Library has again done library magic with a new program that connects folks online with loved ones behind bars. By providing big screens in private library rooms, family and friends can ‘visit’ with people who are incarcerated.
The NYC council just passed a law to require property owners to keep unoccupied units in good repair. When landlords warehouse apartments, they expose people in neighboring units to dangers posed by vermin, fire, water and gas leaks, mold, and break-ins. There are tens of thousands of vacant units across the city!
This bill creates some modest disincentives for warehousing, including inspection requirements and the publication of violations. It also creates a 311 reporting option, if you live near such a unit.
Here in New York City, the Adams’ administration backed off plans to evict migrant families from city-sponsored shelters on the day after Christmas. The 60-day limit will be extended by at least a week.
This modest bit of human decency is brought to you by educators and advocates, who recognized early on that the 60-day limit would create a cascade of problems, including disruptions to education.
Although students are entitled to transportation to the same school, even if they have to relocate to another borough,
[m]any families may opt to transfer rather than enduring that uncertainty and a potentially grueling commute.
One Manhattan school is getting ready to call all of its migrant families to ask if they’ve received the notices and walk them through their options, according to the principal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
But the principal said no amount of preparation will prevent the massive disruptions ahead.
We can take the tiny win AND let the Mayor know that the 60-day limit for families is unacceptable. This quick action is from the UFT.
On Friday, the United Autoworkers Union (UAW) became the largest labor union to call for a permanent cease-fire in Israel and Palestine with the goal of
building a lasting peace, building social justice, and building a global community of solidarity.
That. That’s what I want for all of us.
Keep your eyes up and move smartly.
with love,
L