Thompson Supports Bragg As Special Prosecutor
Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, yesterday, threw his support behind Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., as Special Prosecutor for Police-Involved Fatalities.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman appointed Bragg to head the unit following Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s executive order requiring the Office of the Attorney General to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute cases where unarmed civilians die during interactions with law enforcement.
“Executive Deputy Attorney General Alvin Bragg is a fine choice to head Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s newly formed Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit. He investigated and prosecuted misconduct involving law enforcement officers as an Assistant United States Attorney and is well prepared and suited for his new appointment. I have no doubt he will be diligent in seeking justice for all New Yorkers,” said Thompson.
Bklyn Electeds Stand Against LBGTQ Hate Crime
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Public Advocate Letitia James, State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, Assemblywoman Maritza Davila and City Councilman Carlos Menchaca joined LGBTQ activists in Crown Heights, yesterday, to decry the most recent anti-gay hate crime assault – a growing problem in Central Brooklyn – which resulted in two arrests.
In the press conference at the corner of Carroll Street and Utica Avenue where the attack occurred, the lawmakers noted the attack came just days after the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples in all fifty states.
“I’ve heard from too many members of the gay and lesbian and transgender community here in Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant who do not feel comfortable in their own communities. This is unacceptable,” said James. “We, particularly people of color, should not allow hate in our communities.”
Clarke Decries Passage of Student Success Act
Flatbush Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, called yesterday’s House passage of H.R. 5, the “Student Success Act,” something that will undermine support for public schools by allowing the diversion of resources from low-income districts to high-income districts and by enabling the transfer of funds from programs that support low-income students and English-language learners.
The bill passed 218-213 with strong Republican support. Clarke voted “no.”
According to Wikipedia, the The Student Success Act would “end more than 70 federal education programs and the federal government’s metrics for measuring school performance.”[2]
It also promotes more support to charter schools, according to Wikipedia.
“President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Members of Congress who initially drafted the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965, who believed that every child should have an opportunity to learn, would not recognize H.R. 5,” said Clarke.
“This law would deprive our schools of nearly $800 million over the next six years, and allow states to reallocate for other uses funds provided under Title 1, which provides programs and resources to low-income schools.
“We cannot as a nation afford this type of divestment in our children, particularly in communities of color, neighborhoods with high levels of poverty, and for students with disabilities.”
Hikind Praises Cuomo on Kiryas Joel Veto
Boro Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind, yesterday, praised Governor Andrew Cuomo for vetoing bills that would would have stunted the natural growth of Kiryas Joel, a Hassidic community within the town of Monroe in upstate Orange County.
According to the upstate Times Herald-Record, the bill was approved by large majorities in the state Senate and Assembly last month, and would have enabled county planning departments to review and recommend approval or rejection of any annexation requests that might later require county approval for water or sewer service or require the annexing municipalities to provide those services.
“I applaud Governor Cuomo for doing the right thing. The Governor has shown true leadership, sending the message that discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. No group should be singled out or targeted because they are different,” said Hikind.
Hikind has been involved in the issue of the Kiryas Joel annexation from the beginning. “I vowed not to give up. Today is a great victory for the Kiryas Joel community. Kiryas Joel owes a debt of gratitude to Governor Cuomo for not shying away from this issue and standing up for its residents,” he said.
Williams, Weinstein Team Up On Community Clean-up Day
Flatlands City Council Memeber Jumaane Williams and Flatlands Assembly member Helene Weinstein are teaming tomorrow for a Community Clean-Up Day. Community members are invited to participate to join Williams from 9 a.m. to 12 noon starting at the Glenwood Underpass, located at the intersection of Glenwood Road and East 46th Street.
“Every stray napkin and forgotten water bottle adds up. So we need your help, whether you have an hour or the entire morning, to pitch in and pick up,” said Williams.
“We’ll have New York Mets tickets and rain barrels for those who attend, provided in part by the office of Assembly Member Helene Weinstein,” he added.
For more information, call Williams’ Director of Constituent Services Dana Turner by phone at 718-629-2900 or by email at dturner@council.nyc.gov.
