Councilwoman Letitia James visits Darchai Menachem

CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn [CHI] — Earlier this morning, Thursday, Councilwoman Letitia James (D, Brooklyn) visited Crown Heights’s Yeshivas Darchai Menachem. Ms. James first met with the school’s principal Rabbi Eyal Bension who discussed the schools needs and future plans.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Among the things discussed were the issues of safety when the students cross Eastern Parkway, and two incidents in the past 5 years in which students were struck by passing cars, the solutions discussed were crossing guards and no standing zones in front of the school buildings. Primary concern though was the schools search for a new building.

The ideas included the use of government buildings and underused public school buildings, which Ms. James supported.

Ms. James then spoke to the students in the schools Shul, and addressed them as our future leaders and politicians, asking that our ‘future congressman’ please tell her what he thinks that needs rectifying. A student stood and spoke of the African American and Jewish relations, another mentioned a safety concern he has with a traffic signal that is too short on his way to school.

A more pressing issue a student raised was the schools desperate need for larger facilities, “I would like a bigger classroom and more place to play sports during recess”, Ms. James responded that she had earlier spoke with school administrators and is hoping to have a solution for the school.

A student then gave a short speech comparing the councilwoman to our modern day queen ester in her quest to help crown heights and the surrounding communities, he then presented her with a Shalach Manot basket on behalf of the school.