Margert in the News
Reverend Brendan W. Downing, the pastor of St. Gertrude's Church in Far
Rockaway, died July 9 at New York University Medical Center in Manhattan. He was
54.
Downing was born in Brooklyn on July 10, 1952, and ordained to the priesthood on
April 28, 1979. He served the parishes of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Far
Rockaway, and Nativity Saint Peter Claver, Saint Catherine of Alexandria and
Visitation in Brooklyn.
After serving more than five years in the Mission Diocese of Comayagua,
Honduras, Downing returned to the Diocese of Brooklyn and was appointed pastor
of the Church of St. Gertrude. He was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Margert Community Corporation, a local housing counseling agency.
"Fr. Brendan presided over an unprecedented period of growth in both the
agency's capacity and effectiveness in delivering affordable housing programs
and services to the communities we serve," said Joseph G. Barden, the executive
director of the Margert Community Corporation and Reverend James K. Cunningham,
the pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea and vice chairman of the Margert board,
in a joint statement. "While Margert Community Corporation remains ever faithful
in pursuit of its mission, Brendan's unique vision, enlightened leadership and
his missionary zeal in service to others will be deeply missed."
Cunningham added, "Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the
consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the
Risen Lord."
Downing was preceded in death by his father and mother, Patrick and Jennie
Downing of Kenmare, Ireland.
He is survived by his sisters, Geraldine Downing Anglum (Bob) and Jean Downing
Lynch (Jim) and nieces, Megan and Leah Anglum.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Denis S. O'Connor Funeral Home. The
wake was held at the Church of St. Gertrude. A Vigil Mass was celebrated at the
Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday,
July 13, 10:30 a.m. at Saint Mary Star of the Sea. Burial will be at Gate of
Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.
The Wave, July 13,
2007
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Crain's NY: Queens Leads
City in Foreclosures
The Full Story
By:
Kira Bindrim
Published: July 17, 2007 - 1:38 pm
Queens experienced the largest jump in foreclosures among the five boroughs
during the second quarter, according to data released by research firm
PropertyShark.com.
The borough had a whopping 324 foreclosure auctions during the latest
three-month period, up 102% from a year earlier and 1.6% from the first quarter.
“Queens foreclosures remain at worrisome levels,” said PropertyShark.com Chief
Executive Ryan Slack. “Typically the second quarter foreclosure numbers are
lower than the first quarter, but this year the numbers keep climbing,” he
added.
The nation has faced a surge in foreclosures as the subprime lending crisis
has left many homeowners unable to meet their mortgage payments – adding more
fuel to an already soft housing market.
The neighborhood incorporating Jamaica, South Jamaica, Hollis and St. Albans in
Queens led the borough, with 31 foreclosure auctions during the second quarter.
Queens also reported the highest number of foreclosures by household, at 0.04%
for the quarter, followed by Staten Island at 0.03%.
Overall, there were 643 new residential foreclosures in New York City during the
quarter, marking a 19.5% increase from the same period last year and a 16.1%
rise from the first quarter. All of the boroughs reported a quarterly increase
in foreclosure auctions, with the largest quarter-over-quarter increase coming
from the Bronx, which jumped 76.6% from the first three months of the year, and
Staten Island, which increased by 58.8%. Seventy-three percent of the city’s
foreclosures were on Queens and Brooklyn properties.
But increases in New York were dwarfed by foreclosures elsewhere. In Miami,
foreclosures rose 146% from first quarter 2006, and in Los Angeles they climbed
202%. Miami had 136% more properties scheduled for foreclosure per household
than Los Angeles, and 775% more than New York City.
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Fr. Jim Named Administrator
of St. Gertrude's Parish
The Full Story
 In
a letter dated July 16, 2007, Bishop Frank Caggiano, Vicar General of the
Diocese of Brooklyn, appointed Fr. James K. Cunningham, pastor of St. Mary Star
of the Sea in Far Rockaway, as administrator of the neighboring parish of St.
Gertrude.
Effective July 11, 2007, the appointment came two days following the death of
Fr. Brendan Downing, who had served as pastor of St. Gertrude's, and Chairman of
the Board of Margert Community Corporation, since 1991.
This appointment comes in addition to Fr. Jim's duties at St. Mary's and as
Vice Chair of Margert.
View the appointment
letter.
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NYS TO LAUNCH MIDDLE CLASS
STAR REBATE ENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN
The Full Story
Online Application Will Make Enrollment Fast and Easy
Governor Eliot Spitzer and Acting New York State Commissioner of Taxation and
Finance Barbara G. Billet today announced that the Department of Taxation and
Finance has started mailing letters to homeowners to provide important
information on how to apply for their property tax rebate check, ensuring that
they receive the full benefit to which they are entitled. This application
process ensures that the tax relief will go to those who need it the most based
on their income.
“This new rebate program will provide direct relief to middle class New Yorkers
who need it most, and is a critical component of our ongoing effort to reduce
the property tax burden shouldered by New York’s seniors and hard-working
families,” said Governor Spitzer. “This $1.3 billion tax cut, deliberately
targeted to the middle class, is the largest in state history and will provide
much-needed tax relief to homeowners across the state.”
Acting Commissioner Billet said: “This year’s enacted budget not only
included the largest property tax cut in history, but it made the tax system
inherently more fair by giving the most relief to those with the least ability
to pay ? making a regressive property tax system more progressive. While this
added fairness comes with the added responsibility of filling out a form, our
Department worked meticulously to create a process that was simple and fast for
families to receive their checks.”
More than 94 percent of all homeowners across New York State are eligible to
receive additional tax relief under the Governor’s Middle Class STAR program,
with four out of every five homeowners qualifying for the maximum benefit ? a 60
percent additional benefit in 2007/08 growing to an additional benefit of 80
percent in 2009/10.
Rebate checks will be calculated on a sliding scale based on income, with the
maximum benefit going to all upstate homeowners earning $90,000 or less, and all
NYC metropolitan region homeowners earning $120,000 or less. The difference in
threshold levels corresponds to the difference in average regional incomes and
cost of living. The benefit gradually diminishes as income exceeds these
thresholds until a homeowner’s income reaches $250,000. Taxpayers earning over
$250,000 are not eligible for new relief, but will continue to receive their
current STAR benefit.
Seniors 65-years or older who receive the enhanced STAR exemption do not need to
apply. These homeowners will receive their STAR rebate check automatically.
On July 16, the Tax Department began mailing letters with applications to New
York City homeowners who need to apply, and will continue mailing out notices at
a rate of approximately 50,000 to 60,000 each business day. On August 1, the Tax
Department will mail letters with applications to homeowners in the city of
Yonkers. These letters are going out first because New York City's and Yonkers'
tax assessment rolls are updated earlier than other localities. In mid-August,
as other localities’ tax rolls are updated and sent to the Tax Department,
letters will be mailed to STAR-eligible homeowners throughout the rest of the
state.
All letters will be sent out by the end of September to give ample time for
taxpayers to fill out the application prior to the November 30 deadline.
Staggering notifications will also allow the Tax Department to manage homeowner
telephone inquiries and applications while maintaining a high level of customer
service and responsiveness.
Once a homeowner receives a notice, enrollment is easy with a simple
application that can be submitted by mail or online. The rebate checks will be
mailed to homeowners as their applications are processed. Online applications
take less time to process, though generally people may expect their check
several weeks after they submit their application. Enrolling online at
www.nystax.gov will be the fastest way to receive a rebate check. To receive a
rebate check, homeowners will have to:
- Verify the property information provided on the application;
- Enter the names, social security numbers, and all required information
for all resident property owners and their spouses;
- Verify the mailing address;
- Submit the application.
The Department will provide updated information on the Department website,
www.nystax.gov, as well as through the Department’s Call Center, creating a
special hotline at 1-877-6-STAR-NY (1-877-678-2769). Spanish speakers will be
able to receive assistance through the Call Center.
Starting July 16, homeowners can go online or use the Call Center to find out
approximately when their notice and application will be mailed, see a sample
application and instructions, view a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and
find out how much they will most likely receive in their rebate check.
For more information about the program, please visit the Tax Department’s
website at www.nystax.gov or call the STAR hotline at 1-877-678-2769.
Eileen Reyes
Assistant to the Governor for
Community Affairs
Executive Chamber
633 3rd Avenue, 38th Floor
New York, NY 10017
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