Bklyn Lawmakers on the Move Aug. 12, 2015

News Site Brooklyn

Seddio Stays Out Of 46th AD Dem Race

Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio signaled yesterday he will stay out of the fray on who the Party picks to run in the expected November special election for the open 46th District assembly seat.

Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio
Kings County Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio

“I will support wholeheartedly whoever the Democrats in that district decide on replacing because I don’t want a Republican to win that seat,” said Seddio. “Give me the tools and I’ll make it happen.”

Seddio noted that the district, which includes Coney Island and Dyker Heights with slivers of Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, and a chunk of Bay Ridge, has one of the borough’s stronger Republican contingents and that the race is expected to be competitive between the two parties.

The current Democratic frontrunner for the nod is Coney Island grassroots activist and community organizer Pamela Harris. However, there is speculation that Democratic District Leader Delia Schack, who controls most of the county committee votes for the nomination, favors Party operative Cody McCone.

Additionally, the Bay Ridge Democrats, which is more of a blue collar class of Democrats as opposed to the more left leaning progressive Democrats, have yet to commit to a candidate.


Hamilton, Adams, Menchaca Host Anti-Violence Forum

Central Brooklyn State Sen. Jess Hamilton, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Sunset Park/Red Hook City Councilman Carlos Menchaca, this evening will launch the United Against Violence Task Force.

Senator Jesse Hamilton
Senator Jesse Hamilton

“I look forward to standing with my colleagues and anti-violence advocates in launching this effort to build safer communities. We recognize that survivors of violence need community support and that we need to put in the work to bolster violence prevention efforts. I am confident that both at the city and state level we can make strides to help survivors heal from violence and unite our community against violence,” said Hamilton.

The launch will come on the heals of the City’s Department of Probation (DOP) and the Young Mens Initiative convening an Anti-Violence Summit at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 109 Joralemon Street from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today, to discuss gun violence.

The summit is the fifth meeting is part of a series of town hall sessions titled “One Message Many Voices” with the hash tag #BeAboutIt, will feature a host of speakers and credible messengers. This event is free and open to the general public.  A complimentary lunch will be served to all guest who rsvp.

The launch of the task force is slated for 6:30 p.m. at the St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf, 260 Eastern Pkwy between Classon and Franklin avenues. 


Bichotte, Eugene, Williams Lead Dominico-Haitian Expulsion Protest

Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte
Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, and City Council Members Mathieu Eugene and Jumaane Williams will join the borough’s Haitian Community leaders and organizations, Friday, in a march to protest the Dominican Republics expulsion of thousands of Dominico-Haitians from that country.

Among the organizations participating include the Haitian American Caucus (HAC), along with members of the Coalition For Human Rights in the Dominican Republic (CHRDR), and 15 Diaspora organizations.

Other lawmakers involved in the protest and march include Assembly Members   Kimberly Jean- Pierre and Michaell Solagers.

“This same act was attempted before in 1937 when Dominican dictator Raphael Trujillo ordered the massacre of thousand of Haitians living near the border,” the coalition said, “and it’s happening again. They want to expel Black people, even those born in the country.”

What: March where 15 organizations have formed a coalition to protest the ethnic cleansing taking place in the Dominican Republic and the expulsion of Dominico-Haitians.

Who: Fifteen organizations including, Haitian American Caucus, Haitian American Law Enforcement Fraternal Organization, Haitian American Association of Engineers, Haitian American Lawyer Association of New York, and Regional Baptist Church of Brooklyn

When: 9 a.m., Friday, August 14

Where: Prospect Park at Grand Army Plaza to City Hall


Mosley Supports Cuomo’s Call For Special Prosecutor

Assemblyman Walter Mosley
Assemblyman Walter Mosley

Fort Greene Assemblyman Walter Mosley, yesterday, applauded Governor Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Briefing on the Special Prosecutor Executive Order for State Legislators.

The special prosecutor will oversee investigations of all unarmed civilian deaths involving confrontations with police officers in the state. Cuomo issued the executive order following the chokehold death of Eric Garner in Staten Island over a year ago, and numerous questionable deaths of unarmed African-Americans after confrontations with police around the country.

“When Governor Cuomo issued this Executive Order to appoint a special prosecutor, he sent the message that New York is not afraid to lead the nation in doing what is right for our friends and neighbors. Although this is a big step, it is just one on the path to bringing meaningful change to our criminal justice system,” said Mosley.

“I commend the Governor, who in the past has supported other significant measures such as raising the age and lowering the inmate population, for his leadership on this issue,” he added.