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AUGUST 18, 2019, BROOKLYN WEEKLY
The Be Proud Foundation
has joined the New
York City Police Department’s
61st Precinct and
the 61st Precinct Community
Council to celebrate
the National Night Out on
Tuesday, August 6th. This
amazing event took place
at the 61st Street Courtyard,
2575 Coney Island
Ave.T
his nationwide annual
event is designed to
promote community-police
awareness. Guests enjoyed
a solid entertainment program
that included music,
rides and fine food. Local
community leaders and
elected officials were in attendance
to share valuable
insights and crime prevention
tips.
Raisa Chernina, the
founder of Be Proud, noted,
“It is our sincere pleasure
to recognize our local police
who are remarkable
people. It is because of
them, that we have a sense
of security and peace of
mind. This is a wonderful
opportunity to show them
our community is 100 percent
behind them.” Local
food vendors participated,
and all food including Halal
and Kosher was provided
and served for free. “This
cooperation between small
busi-ness owners reflects
the sense of community togetherness,
while also celebrating
its di-versity. “
The Be Proud Foundation
is always keen on
highlighting people who
make communities a better
place to live in. This
year’s superhero was Alexander
Lotovsky, who has
contrib-uted to many charitable
events and projects
such as National Night
Out, and who sup-ported
churches and synagogues.
A loyal supporter of law
enforcement, Lotovsky
partic-ipates in ongoing
dialogue with police and
sponsors its community
events. As Chernina is
quick to point out, “He has
put in much effort and own
time to maintain communities’
growth.”
The socially responsible
entrepreneur is the
co-founder of Citiscape,
an application de-signed
to provide DOB and ECB
Alerts and streamline the
red tape requirements for
ar-chitects, developers,
real estate agents, and
business owners. Alexander’s
partner and Chief
Operating Officer is Olga
Khaykina, a leader and
innovator in an industry
long dominated by men.
“The app,” she explains,
“helps to prevent problems,
fines, and penal-ties
from DOB and assists construction
team in project
management through a
simple tap of a button. Its
most popular features include
the Citi-Link Notifications
for complaints, violations,
plan examination,
and other required items.”
As Lotovsky has been
involved in the construction
business for more
than 15 years, he knows
firsthand the involved process
in which new business
owners often find themselves.
He has seen many
were fined for violations
simply because they were
unaware of requirements.
Photo 1: from left to
right Alexander Lotovsky,
CEO at Citiscape App; Izrael
Shmukler, Intern at
Citiscape App; Valentin
Saitarli, Marketing and
PR at Exclusive PR Solutions.
As a strong supporter of
small business, Lotovsky
wanted to find a way to
help them. The Citiscape
App provides that support.
It is designed so that it integrates
with various city
agencies, keeping business
owners aware of requirements
so that they can
avoid fines and violations.
“Technology empowers
the community, and it empowers
small business,”
he says. “This bridges the
gap between city agencies,
small business, and
consumers. It helps fulfill
people’s dreams about becoming
successful.”
Chernina agrees. “His
business makes a social
impact, and supports the
interests of the New York
community.” Even firsttime
homeowners can
take advantage of the userfriendly
app to better understand
work permits
and to track and organize
information.
Lotovsky is quick to
credit his “amazing team
of powerful people” who
were instrumen-tal in
helping him develop the
app.
Photo 2: Izrael
Shmukler, Intern at
Citiscape App
Be Proud often partners
with police, schools, and
community businesses to
better neigh-borhoods and
improve quality of life.
The not-for-profit organization
works with families
and the community to promote
acceptance and understanding
throughout
the borough, and National
Night Out exemplifies this
goal. The foundation has
been actively engaged with
this event for a decade, and
it has attracted an increasing
number of participants
each time.
Chernina holds a special
place in her heart for
police officers because decades
ago, when she was
assimilating to this country
from the Soviet Union,
the police were very kind
to her. She has always remembered
that.
Be Proud Foundation
2805 E. 26th street between
Emmons Avenue
and Shore Parkway in
Sheepshead Bay, (718) 788-
7773.
www.Citiscapeapp.com
110 W. 40th St., Suite 2310,
Manhattan, NY, (833) 248-
4727.
Be Proud National Night Out 2019
/www.Citiscapeapp.com
/www.Citiscapeapp.com