The look on the faces of the students at Challenge Charter School in Far Rockaway when they snuck a look at all of the zeroes that were on the oversized check presented to them by Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers was priceless. The councilwoman welcomed students back in-person at five schools in her district when they reopened for the 2023-24 school year earlier this month, each of which is slated to receive capital investments.
“For too long, districts like mine — outer borough communities of color — have been denied proportionate investments in our infrastructure, including and especially in our school buildings,” Brooks-Powers said. “I am proud to have secured record capital commitments in this year’s budget for District 31.”
She delivered a symbolic check for $750,000 to The Gordon Parks School in Rosedale designated for library and media center upgrades, and one for $500,000 to P.S./M.S. 138, also in Rosedale, for library upgrades. She then headed to Far Rockaway, where she presented a check for $500,000 at the Challenger Charter School designated for much-needed technology upgrades.
While in Far Rockaway, Brooks-Powers stopped by M.S.053 Brian Piccolo, where she delivered a check for $500,000 to upgrade the school’s cafeteria. She wrapped up her opening day tour at P.S.104 The Bays Water school with a check for $700,000 designated for air conditioning upgrades.
In all, the councilwoman directed capital funds to 14 District 31 schools in the 2024 fiscal budget, totaling nearly $6 million toward infrastructural upgrades that range from cafeteria renovations to new air conditioning units. The adopted FY24 budget includes funding for more than $27 million for capital projects in District 31, including in the community’s schools, parks and fire stations and includes more than $4 million in discretionary funding to help support community-based organizations and essential services in the district.
The following day, Brooks-Powers joined NYC Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch and community members outside Springfield Park to celebrate the installation of cameras focused on enforcing against the crime of illegal dumping. Brooks-Powers funded the installation of seven cameras across her district.
“Illegal dumping is a scourge on communities,” she said. “Garbage on our streets devalues public space, attracts rats, and makes it more difficult for DSNY to do their job. I am proud to have funded the installation of seven DSNY cameras, which help ensure that bad actors – those who don’t take responsibility for their own waste – are held accountable by the City. I appreciate DSNY’s commitment to clean streets and I look forward to their continued partnership on this issue in Southeast Queens.”
DSNY has installed over 250 cameras citywide, and enforcement against illegal dumping is up 150% year over year. When offenders are caught, their vehicles are impounded and they are issued a $4,000 summons
“Illegal dumping is a theft of public space and an affront to neighborhoods like those represented by Council Member Brooks-Powers,” Tisch said. “For years, the Department of Sanitation had only one solution – clean it up, and wait for it to happen again. Now, we are getting results, catching these criminals and holding them accountable. I want to thank the Council Member for her partnership in this important effort.”
