Brooklyn Young Republicans Preach unity At Holiday Party
It was pizza, drinks and talk of politics as the Brooklyn Young Republican Club gathered at the no frills bar, No Quarter Tavern, 8015 Fifth Avenue in Bay Ridge last night.
Club President Brandon Washington said once the current legal battle facing Brooklyn’s GOP on who is actually the County Chair – Bay Ridge Attorney Teddy Ghorra or Former Assemblyman Arnaldo Ferraro – is settled, the answer to uniting the Party within Brooklyn lies at the club level.
And with that in mind, Washington clearly is in Ghorra’s scorner and thinks he will wind up as GOP Kings County leader.
“The answer to repairing the Brooklyn Republican Party is to start working together with all the clubs so that we have the same goals,” said Washington. “I think Ghorra will work from the bottom up with club leaders. So let’s wait for Ghorra to win and take it from there.
The court battle on who is chair is expected to be decided early next year. Gloria, who was at the party, had no comment until the legal matter is settled.
Cuomo Exec Order Removes Minors From Adult Prisons
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, in collaboration with the Office of Children and Family Services, to implement a plan to remove minors from adult prisons in the state.
The plan, which was developed over the past several months, will transfer all female youths and all medium and minimum security classified male youths sentenced to state prison from adult facilities where they are currently housed to a juvenile facility. This facility will provide specialized programs of treatment geared for younger offenders while also ensuring the safety of staff, inmates and the surrounding community.
“By housing 16 and 17 year-olds in an age-appropriate correctional facility, we can offer them a better chance at turning their lives around and becoming productive members of society,” said Cuomo. “This action will help reduce the recidivism rate, increase public safety, and save taxpayer dollars over the long run. No matter how you look at it – whether it’s the economic benefits, the security benefits, or the human benefits – this action is the right thing to do, and I am proud to continue bringing much-needed reform to the justice system.”
New York is one of only two states that automatically processes all 16 and 17 year-olds in the adult criminal justice system, no matter the offense. To meet the goal of the Governor’s Executive Order, the Hudson Correctional Facility in Columbia County, which is currently a medium security general confinement facility, will be transformed by a collaboration between DOCCS and the Office of General Services to appropriately serve this special population.
By August of 2016, the first group of youth will be transferred into the facility as follows:
· All medium and minimum security general confinement male youth;
· All female youth; and
· The facility will also serve as a reception and classification center for all youth entering DOCCS custody.
Ortiz Pays Santa Claus Visit To School Where Santa Was Banned
Sunset Park Assemblyman and Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz will visit PS 169 today dressed as Santa Claus.
The visit comes after a citywide uproar over the alleged ban on holiday celebrations at the school. Following the incident, the Department of Education clarified its policy on Christmas and other holiday observances in public schools, allowing them as long as they remain secular in scope.
Ortiz’s visit to the schools is slated for 12 noon to 2 p.m., at PS 169, 4305 7th Avenue.
Donovan Launches District-Wide Congressional App Challenge
Students of all backgrounds and skill levels may submit their original apps by January 15. A panel of three local judges – Anthony Rapacciuolo, John Abi-Habib, and Frank Floridia – will announce winners on February 22. Winning apps will be exhibited on a digital display in the U.S. Capitol building for a year following the competition.
“To compete in a 21st century global economy, our students must enter the workforce with unprecedented technological savvy. Today’s entrepreneurs can build successful companies with just a desk, a computer, and an idea. I’m excited to see what our students develop – with the right skill-set, there are no limits to what they can achieve,” said Donovan.
Donovan’s office has already reached out to local schools to encourage their students to participate. For more information, interested contestants may visit www.donovan.house.gov/
Golden, Colton Issue Statements on NYPD Detective Killed In Afghanistan
Bay Ridge State Senator Martin J. Golden and Bath Beach/Bensonhurst Assemblyman William Colton issued statements following the death of NYPD Detective Joseph Lemm who died in the line of duty with the army reserve in Afghanistan this week.
“I express my heartfelt prayers and sympathies to the family of fallen hero Detective Joseph Lemm. Detective Lemm bravely served this great city and paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great nation. This cowardly attack on our military is a stark reminder that the war on terror continues. We must remain vigilant and strengthen our resolve to defeat our enemies whether they are here or abroad. God Bless Detective Lemm and his family, God Bless our troops and God Bless America,” said Golden.
Colton noted that just a day after New York City held a Plaque Ceremony at the 84 Pct memorializing the one-year anniversary of the deaths of Detectives Weijian Liu and Rafael Ramos, the city once again suffers the loss of another of New York’s Finest.
“On December 21 Detective Joseph Lemm, while serving in Afghanistan as a member of our National Guard, was killed in the line of duty, protecting all of us. Such a death of a member of Law Enforcement or of a member of our Armed Services reinforces the need to support our New York City Police Officers, as well as our Armed Forces,” said Colton.
“This is why, for months, I have been distributing Blue Ribbons throughout the community as a public sign of respect to all of our NYC Police officers and families. Although this public display of support for law enforcement will not remove the terrible grief felt by the families of our fallen heroes, hopefully it will create a climate, which condemns such dastardly killings and strengthens police and community partnership for greater security and safety for us all.
“We must send a clear message that we support our New York City Police officers who day in and day out are heroes risking their lives to protect us. In memory and in honor of our fallen heroes we must redouble our efforts to create a climate of support and respect for the men and women of law enforcement who keep us secure and protect our families from those who seek to do us harm.”
NOTE: Kings County Politics will not do any posts including Brooklyn Lawmakers on the move tomorrow, Christmas Eve Day, or on Christmas Friday.
We wish all of our Christian friends and readers a Very Merry Christmas, and we wish the entire world a day of peace and joy!
