Officials Protest 'Secret' Plan to Close LICH - Brooklyn Daily Eagle

F
aith in Brooklyn
Compiled
Interfaith Clergy Group Endorses
Eric Adams for Borough President
by Francesca Norsen Tate
Brooklyn Faith Community
Holds Candidates’ Forum
State Senator Eric Adams and candidate for Brooklyn Borough President, at podium, thanks the clergy from many faith traditions
who endorsed him last week.
Photo by Al Pemberton
Leaders representing Brooklyn’s
many diverse faith communities
gathered today on the steps of
Brooklyn Borough Hall to endorse
New York State Senator Eric Adams’
candidacy for Borough President.
The interfaith group included
the leaders of large and small congregations
and organizations, prominent
Brooklyn faith leaders, neighborhood
pastors and clergy from the
Christian tradition, imams—leaders
of prayer at mosques—and rabbis.
“Senator Eric Adams has distinguished
himself as a leader of
all the people,” said the Reverend
Dr. Cheryl Anthony, Senior Servant
of JUDAH International Christian
Center and president of Women
of Faith Advocating for Change.
“As a product of this great borough,
he has first-hand knowledge of the
complexities and challenges our
varied cultures, ethnicities. Senator
Adams’s keen insight into solving
challenges and creating solutions
will go a long way in leading
the borough of Kings.”
Rabbi Moishe Indig said, “We
are united together to endorse and
elect the greatest candidate for the
greatest people from the greatest
borough of Brooklyn, Senator Eric
Adams.”
“Today we stand with a man
we believe represents neutrality
and fairness for our diverse ethnic
population in the City of Brooklyn,”
said Bishop Eric D. Garnes,
Presiding Prelate at the United
Covenant Churches of Christ. “He’s
a man of faith and strongly pledges
to build fair representation among
our communities.” Likewise, said,
the Rev. Ayana Vason, senior pastor
at Ebenezer Christian Church,
“Senator Eric Adams is the best for
Brooklyn.”
Mt. Zion Church of God’s Pastor
Gil Monrose said, “Senator Adams
for many years has been in the forefront
of the issues of crime and gun
violence in Brooklyn. Every time the
clergy called on Senator Eric Adams,
he never hesitated to stand with
us against the criminal elements.
Brooklyn needs Eric Adams.”
The Rev. Dr. Frank Mason, senior
pastor of Christ Temple United
Baptist Church and president
of the Coney Island Ministerial Alliance,
said, “I am honored to be
standing here today endorsing Eric
Adams as the next Borough President
of Brooklyn. The compassionate
support that he showed during
and continuously since Superstorm
Sandy hit our coastline has been
more than remarkable. The physical
and emotional assistance that
he provided to us during this most
difficult time has strengthened us
to stand and rebuild. He is a champion
of the storm and will be a great
leader of this borough.”
“Senator Eric Adams is a great
leader with a prophetic voice of
change for our borough of Brooklyn,”
said the Rev. Glenmore Bembry, senior
pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.
“He leads by example and has the
heart of the people in his heart.”
Rabbi Yehuda Levin, Assistant
Rabbi of the Chabad Russian community
in Brooklyn, said, “With an
impressive background in the police
force, he is very aware that the best
way to fight crime is preventive medicine—through
proper education,”
said “As a state senator, he makes a
point to hand out ‘citations’ to students
graduating the school system,
showing a personal interest in the development
of our children. We are
confident he will be able to carry this
and achieve so much more in the capacity
of a Borough President.”
“I am truly humbled by the
strength and support of these
wonderful men and women—
community and religious leaders
who have dedicated themselves to
Brooklyn as well as their faiths,”
said Sen. Adams.
Moreover, Adams has gained the
support of more than 40 elected officials
in his run for Borough President,
including current Borough President
Marty Markowitz and previous BP
Howard Golden. The Working Families
Party also recently endorsed him,
as did several locals of unions and
professional associations.
A Brooklyn native, Adams has
spent the last thirty years serving
the people of Brooklyn. Throughout
his career, he has partnered with labor,
business and government to
strengthen the lives of working people
and the middle class. He’s been
a leader on workers’ rights, economic
growth, good government and
public safety. Adams is a former
NYC Transit Police Department and
NYPD officer, retiring from the force
as a captain to become a state senator
in 2006. He received his master’s
degree in Public Administration
from Marist College and is a graduate
of New York City Technical College
and John Jay College of Criminal
Justice. He lives in Prospect Heights,
Brooklyn, and was re-elected to a
fourth term in the New York State
Senate last November.
BP Candidate Eric Adams
Decries Zimmerman Acquittal
Two days after Sen. Eric Adams received the clergy endorsements, he issued a statement about the George Zimmerman
acquittal just a couple of hours after the jury rendered its verdict.
“Justice was not served in Florida today—not for the family of Trayvon Martin nor for Americans who believe everyone
in this country—regardless of skin color—has a right to safety, peace and respect in their community. We feel
this ruling all the way up here in Brooklyn, where this poisonous culture of bias has infected our own system of justice,
and the basic rights of black and Latino young men are violated on a daily basis. Laws like Stand Your Ground and
the abuse of Stop and Frisk take us backward, and will only lead to more tragedies like Trayvon Martin. We must learn
from this outrage and make changes now. That is how Trayvon will ultimately get the justice he deserves.”
Flatbush Reformed Church, where the Brooklyn Congregations United
coalition is hosting a Candidates’ Forum on July 21. Photo by Jim Henderson
Brooklyn Congregations United holds a Candidates’ Forum this Sunday,
July 21 with candidates for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, Brooklyn
district attorney, Brooklyn borough president and Council District 40.
The forum will be hosted at the Flatbush Reformed Church’s auditorium,
890 Flatbush Ave. near Church Ave.
Brooklyn Congregations United is a non-profit coalition of faith-based
groups and individuals from Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions which
works on issues of social change.
Last week, clergy and community leaders met to finalize plans for
the Candidates Forum, which is the second one for Brooklyn Congregations
United. Four years ago, BCU had welcomed the candidates for mayor.
More than 400 clergy and community members attended that 2009 forum,
which was hosted at Our Lady of Refuge Church.
During last week’s planning meeting, political science Professor Mike
Racioppo offered political analysis of the election landscape. Fannie Conner
from the League of Women Voters provided voter registration training
to prepare congregations and other groups to conduct voter registration
events leading up to the election.
Community leaders discussed issues to be brought before the candidates
at the July 21 forum. Topics include public safety, housing, education,
healthcare, immigration, seniors and youth. The forum will run
from 4 to 7 p.m.
Plymouth’s History
Ministry Offers Free
Sunday Tours
Plymouth Church offers free tours every Sunday after the worship service.
Those interested are invited to meet at the Lincoln Pew (No. 89) in
the sanctuary. During July and August, when worship begins at 10 a.m.,
the tours commence at 11:15 a.m. Readers interested in Plymouth’s heritage
may contact Lois Rosebrooks, Director of History Ministry Services, at the
church office: 718-624-4743.
22 • Brooklyn Eagle • Friday, July 19, 2013