A Report to the Residents of the 41st Assembly District
HELENE WEINSTEIN’S COMMUNITY OFFICE GETS RESULTS
Dear Neighbor,

I believe that one of my most important responsibilities is to listen carefully, answer questions and help solve your problems. Along with my experienced community office staff, I can assist you with a variety of important services and programs.
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SOME OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN WEINSTEIN’S SUCCESS STORIES


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Assemblywoman Weinstein Helps You!
Assemblywoman Weinstein’s community office assists constituents with a variety of important services and programs. The Assemblywoman recently helped Mr. W resolve an education problem.

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Light Shines on East 79th Street
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein joins Councilman Lewis Fidler, Gardy Brazela, President of Friends United Block Association, and a representative from State Senator Sampson’s office to celebrate the long awaited installation of a new traffic light at the intersection of East 79th Street and Farragut Road. The NYC Department of Transportation finally agreed with Assemblywoman Weinstein that a traffic signal was needed at this location to improve safety.
Utility Problem
Ms. B visited Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office after receiving a shut off notice from Con Edison. The utility company was insisting that she personally travel to the Con Edison Center to apply for one-time help, despite repeated calls telling them she was homebound. The Assemblywoman was able to work with Con Edison on her behalf, setting up an affordable payment agreement without the necessity of her traveling.

Savings Bond Snafu
Mrs. R came to the Assemblywoman after County Federal Savings - which had issued her a savings bond in 1981 - had seemingly gone out of business. The Assemblywoman, with the assistance of the New York State Comptroller’s office and the Federal Treasury Department, was able to track her money to Astoria Federal Saving Bank and Mrs. R was able to recover her lost money.

Passport Problem
Mrs. C was leaving in two weeks on a cruise and despite filing timely for her passport she had not received it. She contacted Assemblywoman Weinstein for assistance. The Assemblywoman was able to arrange for an appointment and Mrs. C picked up her passport the very same day. Mrs. C was ready to sail!

Cutting Bureaucratic Red Tape
After trying unsuccessfully to correct misinformation on her sister’s death certificate, Ms. K visited the Assemblywoman’s office. Assemblywoman Weinstein worked with the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene to make needed corrections and in two weeks Mrs. K received the corrected death certificate.

Service Contract Snafu
Mr. P contacted Assemblywoman Weinstein after his oil company canceled service, refusing to honor his existing contract. To add insult to injury, right before Thanksgiving, an exorbitant cancellation fee of $599 was included. With intervention through Weinstein’s Office, the contract was reinstated through the original expiration date and the cancellation fee reversed.

Consumer Problem
Ms. W turned to Assemblywoman Weinstein for help after trying unsuccessfully to replace a piece of newly delivered defective furniture. The Assemblywoman contacted the retailer who was delaying delivery of the replacement furniture. After a firm discussion the retailer agreed to deliver the new piece within the week and to remove the defective item for no charge. Additionally, for her troubles, Ms. W received a discount on future purchases.

Eviction Evaded
Ms. A came to Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office for assistance with multiple complicated court actions that threatened foreclosure and eviction from her cooperative apartment. Assemblywoman Weinstein helped Ms. A forestall eviction and helped her secure pro bono counsel through the Brooklyn Volunteer lawyer’s project to help save her home.
MORE SUCCESS STORIES BELOW





ASSEMBLYWOMAN WEINSTEIN IS HERE FOR YOU


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Gerritsen Beach Traffic Calming
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein joined Councilman Lewis Fidler and community and civic leaders, at a meeting with the NYC Department of Transportation to discuss the agency’s traffic plan to improve safety along the Gerritsen Avenue corridor. The elected officials and community residents, while supportive of pedestrian safety measures, suggested safer alternative routing of proposed bike lanes.
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63rd Precinct Council Installs Officers
The 63rd Precinct Community Council recently conducted their annual installation of officers. Participating in the installation program were Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Assemblyman Alan Maisel, Councilman Lewis Fidler, 63rd Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Frank Cangiarella, CB18 District Manager Dorothy Turano and Community Council President Florence Hirsh.

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Attends Reception For Sonia Sotomayor
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein greets United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at a special reception of New York’s leading elected officials. Also, pictured is Chief Judge of the NYS Court of Appeals, Hon. Jonathan Lippman.



(Continued from above)
Weinstein's Success Stories
Restoring Child Support
Assemblywoman Weinstein assisted Ms. C with restoring her child support violation case after it had been dismissed for Ms. C’s failure to appear for a hearing. Unfortunately, although Ms. C was at the court, she was forced to leave due to extenuating circumstances before her case could be heard - she received a call that her apartment was on fire. However, with guidance from Assemblywoman Weinstein’s office, Ms. C was able to successfully submit an application to restore her child support case. This enabled her not to lose back child support and to successfully proceed with getting child support for her children.

Medical Insurance
Ms. N contacted the Assemblywoman after Medicaid said she was ineligible for coverage, insisting that she was still covered under her mother’s GHI health insurance. Ms. N had a letter she had submitted to Medicaid from GHI showing that she was no longer a dependent. Medicaid claimed they never received the letter. With Assemblywoman Weinstein’s help, Ms. N received instructions to visit the Central Medicaid Office, with a duplicate copy of the GHI letter. A day later, Medicaid approved her coverage.




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Kings Bay Houses Annual meeting
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein attended Kings Bay Houses II annual meeting, informing the residents about important new health care laws and responding to their questions.

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Addressing Community Concerns
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein spoke with Raphael Treitel, and Jack Zelmanowitz about quality of life issues affecting the Fraser community.
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National Night Out
National Night Out heightens crime and drug prevention awareness and strengthens neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, a sponsor of this year’s 67th Precinct’s National Night Out Against Crime event held on East 48th Street, spoke with constituents regarding needed traffic safety improvements.


ASSEMBLYWOMAN WEINSTEIN DELIVERS FOR THE COMMUNITY
This year, as in past years, Assemblywoman Weinstein secured special funding in the state budget for senior citizens, social services, and school and youth programs to provide recreational, educational, cultural and social services in our community. Additional funding was obtained for after-school tutoring, early literacy, arts, school technology, equipment upgrades, sports, anti-violence, citizenship, multicultural and intergenerational programs. Many of the education and youth programs were outlined in Assemblywoman Weinstein’s last newsletter. Listed below are additional programs serving our community funded by Assemblywoman Weinstein. If you want information on any of these programs, please call the Community Office.

Helping Senior Citizens:

Senior Educational & Recreational Services – Senior Centers: Glenwood, Midwood, Shellbank Leisure League, Fort Greene Senior Action, Good Shepherd Friendship Club, Jay-Harama, Philip Howard Seniors, Marine Park Active Adults, and Young Israel of Bedford Bay;
Senior Transport – JCC of Coney Island and JCC of Kings Bay.

Employment, Legal and Social Services:

Social Services – Alzheimer’s & Aging Resources, JBFC Services, Kings Bay YM-YWHA, Haitian Americans United for Progress, Heartshare Human Services, MetCouncil, and Sephardic Community Center;
Job Training – COJO of Flatbush and Diaspora Community Services;
Domestic Violence Assistance Services – Ohel Children’s Services, Caribbean Women’s Health Association and Shalom Task Force;
Legal and Immigration Assistance – NYLAG, Brooklyn Bar Volunteer Lawyers Project, CUNY Citizenship & Immigration Project;
Homeowner & Housing Assistance – Brooklyn Housing and Family Services, Flatbush and Midwood Development Corps, Glenwood, Sheepshead and Nostrand Houses Tenant Associations.

Community, Civic Education & Cultural Activities:

Civic Education – HIAS and Be Proud;
Community Activities – Seaside and Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Nieuw Amersfort Community Association – Summer Concert, Brooklyn College Center for the Performing Arts, the Salt Marsh Alliance, BAYFEST, CACCI and Ave D Merchants Association Annual Fair & Holiday Lighting Project;
Arts & Recreational Programs – Brooklyn Cricket League, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre, Russian-American Arts Foundation, MOCADA and Wyckoff House Museum.
Public Safety – Flatbush Shomrim and Nottingham Neighborhood Patrols, Flatlands Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Bergen Basin Development Corp. – CLEAN S.L.A.T.E. - Anti Graffiti Program.




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Addressing Community Concerns
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Rabbi Israel Hirsch of Kehal Shaarei Shalom, and Leiser Blau, President of Beth Moshe Schmiel, discussed community concerns following the Assemblywoman’s annual Passover sanitation planning meeting.
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Senior Health Fair
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein was amoung several elected officials honored at Homecrest Community Services Annual Senior Health Fair. Executive Director Richard Kuo presented awards to the Assemblywoman and Comptroller-elect John Lui, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Assemblyman Peter Abate, State Senator Carl Kruger, and State Senator Marty Golden.


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Midwood Active Adults
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein often visits senior centers throughout her district. Recently the Assemblywoman joined members of Midwood Active Adults, located in Bnai Israel of Midwood, to celebrate dedication of the “Peace Garden” outdoor space that seniors can relax in, thanks to funds provided by the Assemblywoman.
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Hospital Ribbon-Cutting
Thanks to the funding efforts of Assemblywoman Weinstein and her Assembly colleagues, there is now a state-of-the-art digital mammography machine at Beth Israel Medical Center-Kings Highway Division (KHD).

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Visits New Yeshiva Facility
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein arranged a security briefing between Rabbi Shmiel Deutsch, Executive Director of Yeshiva Lev Bais Yaakov, and Lieutenant James Woods, NYPD Brooklyn Borough South, at the Yeshiva’s new school on Nostrand Avenue.
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New Block Association President
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein recently met with Dan Esquillin, the new President of the Ditmas Square Block Association, to discuss various quality of life and safety concerns.


Major Capital Projects Serving our Community Funded by Assemblywoman Weinstein


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Sheepshead Houses Tenants Meeting
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein addressed quality of life issues with tenants at a recent Sheepshead Houses Tenants Association meeting.
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Attends Marine Park JCC Breakfast
Rabbi Yoseph Vigler of Congregation Mayan Yisroel and Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein spoke at JCC of Marine Park’s inaugural legislative breakfast.

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Keeping Our Neighborhood Safe
In response to numerous reports of loitering and littering at homes in the area surrounding Madison High School, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein arranged a meeting with community representatives, the local Police Precinct, Department of Sanitation and school officials. The Assemblywoman and the NYPD continue to monitor the situation.
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Making Your Neighborhood Safer
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein recently held a meeting at her community office for residents of East 52nd Street to discuss remediation of quality of life issues in the community. A followup meeting was held with the residents and 67th Precinct Commanding Officer Inspector Pegues.







ASSEMBLYWOMAN WEINSTEIN HELPS YOU SAVE MONEY

Weinstein Secures Tax Refunds for Constituents
Refunds available even if you do not file a regular return!

You too may be entitled to a New York City tax refund as long as you resided in New York City for even one month last year. Helene Weinstein’s office assisted 803 residents, who did not file a regular return, in obtaining over $120,652.50 in refunds by completing the special NYC-210 form. (If you file a regular tax return, your tax refund is already included.)
Contact Weinstein’s office for help in filing for your refunds.
It’s Your Money, Don’t Forget About it!

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Dedicates New Playground
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and Councilman-elect Jumaane Williams participated at the recent dedication of a new children’s playground located at PS 208 which is open to all community residents.
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Addressing Community Concerns
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and Pastor Ron Weinbaum, of Kings Chapel discussed the church’s planned intergenerational dinner at a recent visit to the community office.

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Philip Howard Seniors
Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein discussed Consumer Debt Protection at a recent meeting with members of the Philip Howard Senior Association.
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Assemblywoman Weinstein Keeps You Healthy!
Assemblywoman Weinstein recently concluded her annual flu shot program in partnership with Beth Israel Hospital, which had a record turnout both in her community office and at Philip Howard Houses.




Free Cell Phones
Beginning December 14, people on fixed-incomes who can not afford a cell phone can apply and obtain a free cell phone (one per household) through Heartshare’s new Mobile Assurance Phone program. Assemblywoman Weinstein’s Community Office has been designated to process applications - contact us to see if you are eligible.


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MTA’s Senior Half-Fare MetroCard Program

Helene Weinstein Brings the Senior Half-Fare MetroCard Bus to the Community Office on the third Thursday of every month
January 21st, 2010
February 18th, 2010
March 18th, 2010
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
at 3520 Nostrand Avenue

Apply for the Senior Half-Fare MetroCard and Receive One on the Spot
Proper age, (65 plus) and photo identification is required
• Save the cost of photos and notary fees
• Add money to your Senior Half-Fare MetroCard
• Only MetroCard holders transfer for FREE between buses and trains

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