BROOKLYN, New York – U.S. Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10), Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11) will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the law which allocated $787 billion to help create new jobs and stimulate the economy.  This is the first town hall meeting in New York City that brings together representatives from the offices of Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg as well as various New York State and New York City Commissioners to discuss how the Stimulus dollars will be distributed and which projects are eligible for funding.  City representatives will explain the resources allocated to Brooklyn, with special emphasis on the 10th and 11th Congressional Districts, the various initiatives in place to maximize federal efforts, and ways to access stimulus dollars.  The primary focus will be on projects that create jobs and provide immediate 2009 employment, education, and health insurance benefits to Brooklyn residents.

To assure that Brooklyn capitalizes on the massive infusion of economic stimulus funding, Reps. Towns and Clarke are taking a comprehensive approach to provide important information to those who need it most – constituents, community leaders, and local businesses and those most impacted by the economic downturn. New York State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith will extend remarks.

INVITED GUESTS:                Timothy Gilchrist, Senior Advisor of Infrastructure and Transportation
                                           Governor Paterson's Cabinet on The Recovery Package

                                            Linda I. Gibbs, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services
                                            City of New York

                                            Elliot G. Sander , Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
                                            Metropolitan Transportation Authority

                                            Joel Klein, Chancellor
                                            New York City Department of Education

                                            Robert Walsh, Commissioner
                                            New York City Department of Small Business Services

                                            Astrid C. Glynn, Commissioner
                                            New York State Department of Transportation

                                            M. Patricia Smith, Commissioner
                                            New York State Department of Labor

                                            Deborah VanAmerongen, Commissioner
                                            New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal

                                            Edward Reinfurt, Executive Director
                                            New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation

                                            Sheila Evans-Tranum, Associate Commissioner
                                            New York State Education Department

                                            Richard P. Mills, Commissioner
                                            New York State Education Department

                                            Francis Murray, President and CEO
                                            New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

                                            Michael Jones-Bey, Executive Director
                                            New York State Division of Minority and Women Business Development
                                            Empire State Development Corporation

DATE:                                  Saturday, April 4, 2009

TIME:                                   9:30 a.m.

PLACE:                                BAM Cinema III
                                            30 Lafayette Avenue
                                            Brooklyn, New York 11217

###

Return to Congressman Towns' website