Cadman Plaza Charter School Rally Expects 15,000
Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. are headlining is heading a pro-charter school rally this morning at Cadman Plaza to call for an end to what these advocates call separate and unequal education in New York City.
The rally follows the release of Families for Excellent Schools’ white paper, “A Tale of Two School Systems,“ in August, which found that black and Hispanic students are confined to a second-class system of the city’s worst performing schools. Some 478,000 children – overwhelmingly Black and Hispanic students – attend failing schools, while top-rated schools are reserved almost exclusively for white and Asian students.
The rally in Downtown Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza is slated for 9 a.m., and the will proceed with a march across the Brooklyn Bridge and conclude with an 11:45 press conference in front of City Hall.
Jeffries Call For Hearing Into Online Fantasy Sports Industry
Central Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries yesterday called for transparency and accountability in the fantasy sports industry.
Jeffires call came following allegations that employees of daily fantasy football sites have won lucrative payouts based on inside information.
“The recent revelation of possible impropriety and improper access to information at a popular online fantasy sports company is deeply troubling. The fantasy sports industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar giant that appears to be spiraling out of control, devoid of transparency and accountability,” said Jeffries.
“This is not the Wild West. The House Judiciary Committee should convene a hearing into the practices of online fantasy sports companies immediately. It is time to determine whether permitting a multi-billion dollar industry to police itself serves the best interests of the American people.”
Richardson To Hold Tenants Rights Forum Tonight
Hikind Cheers Nomination Of Dear To Supreme Court
Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind congratulated Noach Dear on his nomination to become Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, 2nd Judicial District.
“I have known Noach for decades and he is a long-time friend. He is a devoted public servant and a tireless community advocate, from his time as District Manager for Brooklyn Community Board #12 to his service in public office as a member of the New York City Council. For the past few years, Noach has been a highly respected judge in the lower court, gaining a well-deserved reputation for protecting consumer rights. The New York Times, in an editorial in 2012, hailed Noach’s courtroom as one that has helped restore due process to hundreds of consumers too poor or intimidated to seek justice,” said Hikind.
New York State Supreme Court Judges serve 14 year terms and are paid $174,000 annually.
Parker Holds Free Flu Shot Days
Schumer Calls On Congress To Pass Justice Reform Act
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and New Jersey U.S. Senator Cory Booker called on Congress to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015.
The comprehensive legislation is aimed at recalibrating prison sentences for certain drug offenders and instead, target violent criminals. The bipartisan legislation also seeks to curb recidivism by helping prisoners successfully re-enter society.
The bipartisan legislation is also sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).
“Crafting criminal justice reform in this Congress is like a Rubik’s cube, but this group of Republicans and Democrats worked hard to come up with a fair and balanced package that will make a real difference. This bill would make much needed reforms to sentencing for non-violent offenders, resulting in a much fairer criminal justice system. I’m hopeful that we can continue moving the ball forward in a bipartisan way to make the reforms our system needs,” Schumer said.
The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 narrows the scope of mandatory minimum prison sentences to focus on the most serious drug offenders and violent criminals, while broadening and establishing new outlets for individuals with minimal non-felony criminal histories that may trigger mandatory minimum sentences under current law. The bill also reduces certain mandatory minimums, providing judges with greater discretion when determining appropriate sentences, and preserves cooperation incentives to aid law enforcement in tracking down kingpins.
In addition to reducing prison terms for certain offenders through sentencing reform, qualifying inmates can earn reduced sentences through job training and drug treatment programs. The bill also makes retroactive the Fair Sentencing Act and certain statutory reforms that address inequities in drug sentences.
