In Bed-Stuy News This Week

Here's a chance to catch up on all the news highlights you may have missed throughout the week. To follow is a quick recap of what made the headlines on Bed-Stuy Patch. Even if you recognize some of the stories, feel free to review and share your feedback.

1. Many residents in Bed-Stuy praise the D.A.’s decision to finally hold the Administration for Children’s Services employees fully responsible for the death of baby Marchella Brett-Pierce, while others say the workers are being used as a scapegoat, when the real problem lies within the ACS system as a whole. What do you think. Bed-Stuy residents weigh in here.

2. Although the $132.5 billion budget is on time, restores money for senior centers and eliminates a $10 billion deficit – primarily through spending cuts and without increasing taxes – there are a few not-so-bright spots that should not be swept under the rug. Read here to learn about 5 Things that didn’t make it into the budget agreement that you probably want to know about.

3. In her last column, Gentrification columnist Sylvia Brown interviewed her new neighbor, Kate, who shared with us her experience as a "gentrifier," in Bed-Stuy. This week, she interviews Anthony Brown, a 60’s baby and a Bed-Stuy native, who share tales of Bed-Stuy-of-Old, like borrowed scenes from a Spike Lee film, where the sun’s rays lit crowded stoops; fire hydrants showered the blocks; girls jumped rope and boys captured bumble bees. Read here his take on how gentrification has affected him and his family in Bed-Stuy.

4. Beginning in 2007, homeless residents were able to get back on their feet and afford a rent, thanks to the  “Advantage” housing voucher, sponsored by the Department of Homeless Services. However, beginning last week, one-by-one, voucher users started receiving notices that their rent subsidies were ending, after the voucher program was cut out of the state budget by Governor Cuomo on March 14. Read here for an update on the situation.

5. Our weekly columnist, Feona Huff, tells single mothers who are Advantage Program recipients that there’s no need to panic, “because you have rights,” she says. “You have a written agreement with the state in which the state agrees to pay a portion of your rent while you pay the balance.” Ms. Huff outlines steps that Advantage voucher recipients can take to make sure they do not become homeless again. Read all about it here.