Bill Text: NY J02428 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of IMPACCT Brooklyn
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-05-14 - ADOPTED [J02428 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-J02428-Introduced.html
Senate Resolution No. 2428 BY: Senator MYRIE COMMEMORATING the 60th Anniversary of IMPACCT Brooklyn WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that the quality and character of life in this great Empire State is greatly enriched by the faithful and diligent work of those organizations which serve to meet the needs of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of IMPACCT Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, IMPACCT Brooklyn is a community development organization focused on the following core tenets: preserve and develop safe and affordable housing, a basic human right; support vibrant local commerce through which small businesses serve the needs of community residents; sustain and develop economic, racial, and cultural diversity to enrich the lives of all; promote knowledge, initiative, and concerted action to advance individual and common interests; and foster an ethic that all members of the community bear personal responsibility to contribute to the greater good; and WHEREAS, Formerly the Pratt Area Community Council until 2015, IMPACCT Brooklyn was established in 1964 by three civic minded individuals: Reverend Richard Johnson, Amos Taylor, and Furman Walls; their efforts getting attention from politicians, bureaucrats, recalcitrant landlords, and private agencies, the people of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, the Wallabout Community, and later Bedford Stuyvesant, fought for decent, affordable housing, tenants' rights, and economic renewal; and WHEREAS, By 1966, IMPACCT Brooklyn was winning important concessions from the New York City government, with 7,000 petition signatures they contributed to bettering the local police protection; in 1967, IMPACCT Brooklyn's Library Committee submitted 5,000 signatures to Brooklyn Borough President Abe Stark, asking that the Brooklyn Library open a Clinton Hill branch, it opened in 1974; and WHEREAS, IMPACCT Brooklyn's Housing Committee was established to create innovative ways to save deteriorating housing stock in 1970; an Anti-Demolition Committee was formed, advocating for a change in New York City policy, away from demolition and towards preservation, and instigating a federal policy to arrange for the sale of federally financed abandoned buildings to local residents and the city seal-up program; and WHEREAS, To address concerns about housing abandonment, IMPACCT Brooklyn established a full-time, professionally staffed office and concentrated on keeping people in their homes, developing and preserving affordable housing, protecting tenant rights, and helping community residents become first-time homeowners or improve the properties they already owned in 1980; in addition, the organization initiated the Block Watch Program and became a member of the newly formed NYS Neighborhood Preservation Program, electing Roy Crouch as the Executive Director; and WHEREAS, In 1982, IMPACCT Brooklyn purchased 201 Dekalb Avenue as their current administration and finance office; then in 1984, IMPACCT Brooklyn encouraged the formation of tenant associations, particularly in buildings where conditions had become intolerable; and WHEREAS, When the Mohawk building was vacated following a serious fire, IMPACCT Brooklyn partnered with the Mohawk Action Committee to redevelop the site, which re-opened in 1984 as the first sale of a city-owned building requiring community reinvestment dollars; and WHEREAS, After creating Supportive Housing in 2002, IMPACCT Brooklyn opened the Gibb Mansion; the Gibb Mansion is now home to 50 formerly homeless residents who receive supportive counseling services; Steve Aronson became executive director, serving until 2004; and WHEREAS, The success of IMPACCT Brooklyn is in direct correlation to the efforts of its Board of Directors and staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the institution and the community it serves; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organizations which unselfishly devote their energy, talent and thoughtful care on behalf of improving the quality and dignity of life in the community, are worthy and due full praise and recognition for their noble and dedicated efforts; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of IMPACCT Brooklyn; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to IMPACCT Brooklyn.