Community Magazine February 2019

84 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE co mm unity HIGHL IGHTS Dec. 18, 8:30pm – An alert member observed an individual driving erratically on East 29 and Ave I-J who crashed into several parked cars. When approached, said individual attempted to flee. After a short chase and scuffle, the driver was apprehended, and held till 70 Pct. police arrived and made an arrest for DWI and assault. Dec. 25, 9:00pm – A 91-year-old WWII veteran with dementia went missing from the area of East 15 and Ave R. After an intense search by our dedicated members, the man was located about two miles from his home in good health, and returned to his overjoyed and grateful family. Dec. 30, 2:30am – One person arrested for a 32 of a vehicle in the area of East 28 and Ave R-S. Jan. 8, 4:30pm – A 13-year-old girl was assaulted on Quentin Road. Detective Squad is looking for a male Asian, approximately 40 years of age, 5’5” in height, slim build, with facial scars. He was last seen wearing a waist-length beige jacket, grey pants, and grey sneakers. Flatbush Shomrim is working closely with the 61 squad, staking out the area in hopes of apprehending the perpetrator. Jan. 12, 11:30pm – An intoxicated motorcyclist crashed into several parked vehicles in the area of Coney Island Ave and Ave L. The motorcyclist was apprehended and held for PD who charged him with DWI. Jan. 13, 11:30pm – One person arrested for robbing from a UPS drop box on East 15 and Ave J. Our night crime team observed him loitering around the box and patiently waited until he committed the crime before alerting the police. Congratulations to the Magen David Yeshivah Boys Varsity Basketball Team on its 66-44 victory over Rambam in the Satran Tournament Championship Game. Michael Natkin won the MVP and Albert Nsiri and Teddy Cohen made the All-Star Team. This was the third championship MDY has won this season. The first two championships were the MDY Pre-season Tournament, and the Cooper National Invitational, in Memphis, Tennessee. Kudos on a magnificent job of coaching by Head Coach Ike Dweck and Assistant Coaches – Benny Mann, Leo Esses, and Jack Doueck. On January 8 th , New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo released his executive budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year which contains a number of positives for the yeshiva and nonpublic school community. The budget increases mandated services reimbursement to over $115 million, an increase of 3.6% over last year, and allocates over $77 million for the Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP), which includes a large payment on a longstanding debt for these services. The Mandated Services and CAP reimbursements were originally conceived by Agudath Israel and its coalition partners under the leadership of its late president Rabbi Moshe Sherer, a”h , and the Agudah continues to aggressively advocate annually for this funding. As we all know, anti-Semitic incidents have unfortunately been on the rise. Governor Cuomo, in his presentation, referenced the fact that anti-Semitic incidents have risen 90% in New York over the last three years. To help combat this rising scourge, the Executive budget once again allocated $25 million for “Securing Communities against Hate Crimes” (SCAHC) in capital grants for schools and community facilities. In addition, as in previous years, the budget recommends $15 million for Safety and Security Funding for nonpublic schools. Agudath Israel and its coalition partners have long called for additional security funding, and this security funding is consistently among the top items on its yearly New York State advocacy agenda. In the aftermath of the Pittsburgh Synagogue massacre, Agudath Israel is requesting that these security funds be broadened to include Synagogues and Houses of Worship. We will continue to advocate with our partners in government to secure our most vulnerable institutions. Agudath Israel also acknowledges the 33% recommended increase in STEM salary reimbursement, primarily through the advocacy of TEACH NYS, a division of the Orthodox Union. Agudath Israel looks forward to working productively over the next two months with both the governor and the legislature to ensure these items are included in the final enacted budget along with $7 million to fund the mandate for immunization recordkeeping for New York City, Rochester, and Buffalo that was in the previous two budgets. Flatbush Shomrim News Magen David Warriors Varsity Team Wins Championship Game Governor’s Budget Proposal to Increase Aid to Nonpublic Schools