Ortiz Champions $60 Million in Budget For Police Upgrades
Sunset Park Assembly member and Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz announced, yesterday, that the new state budget includes $60 million for the purchase of bulletproof vests, bulletproof glass for patrol vehicles and police body cameras in high crime areas.
Ortiz championed the inclusion last December after two NYPD officers were brutally murdered execution style while sitting in a patrol vehicle. Their patrol vehicle was not equipped with bulletproof glass. These senseless deaths could have been avoided if police vehicles were protected by bulletproof glass in windshield and the front two side windows.
“This legislation and funding is a sensible solution to ensuring tragedies such as the deaths of NYPD officers Liu and Ramos do not happen again,” said Ortiz, adding “as we entrust police officers with protecting our citizens and communities, we must provide them with all necessary protections in the line of duty. The retrofitting of police vehicles with bulletproof glass can save lives.”
Bulletproof glass for the windshield and two front windows is estimated to cost $10,000 per police vehicle. Currently, the State Police have 3377 vehicles in their fleet, and the NYPD is estimated to have over 8,300 vehicles in their fleet.
Squadron Supports Obama View On Conversion Therapy
Northern Brooklyn State Senator Daniel Squadron, yesterday, applauded President Obama’s recent call for an end to “conversion” therapy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth.
“It’s encouraging that President Obama announced his support to ban ‘conversion therapy,’ underscoring its destructive impact in particular on transgender youth. As LGBT rights continue to expand across the country, it is all the more shocking that basic civil rights protections in housing, employment and public accommodations are still not afforded to transgender New Yorkers,” said Squadron.
“While the Indiana state legislature received widespread condemnation last month for passing a law that could legalize discrimination, the failure of New York’s legislature to pass GENDA remains the shame of our state. Until all New Yorkers have the same basic rights most can take for granted, this is an issue that affects all of us. The State Assembly has passed GENDA seven times, and Governor Cuomo has reiterated his support. It is time that the Senate Majority get on board with ending legal discrimination and bring this bill to the floor for a vote.”
Obama called for the end of conversion therapy after learning about the suicide of Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender youth, who threw herself in front of a tractor-trailer after writing in an online suicide note that religious therapists had tried to convert her back to being a boy.
While Obama isn’t proposing federal legislation on the issue as he believes it’s a state issue, he did start a WhiteHouse.gov petition to ban the therapy.
Walker & Jones Host Evening With Brooklyn Judges
Brownsville Assemblywoman Latrice Walker and Democratic District Leader Anthony Jones are bringing a bevy of Brooklyn judges to the district Monday in an event dubbed, “Come Meet the Judges”.
Attendees of the informational session will learn about navigating the city and state court systems including civil court, criminal court, family court, housing court and mental hygiene court.
Hear From Judicial Panelist Genine D. Edwards, Acting Justice, Supreme Court Carolyn E. Wade, Acting Justice, Supreme Court Reginald A. Boddie, Acting Justice Supreme Court Cheryl J. Gonzales, Housing Court Judge Robin K. Sheares, Acting Justice, Supreme Court Craig S. Walker, Civil Court Judge Jacqueline D. Williams, Acting Justice, Supreme Court Sharen D. Hudson-Williams, Civil Court Judge Shawndya L. Simpson.
When: 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 13th
Where: Van Dyke I Community Center 392 Blake Avenue
Cost: Free
