Clinton Gets LGBT Endorsement
Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton yesterday received the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign — the nation’s largest organization working to achieve full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.
The endorsement comes less than three months before the April 19 New York Presidential Primary, in what is shaping up to be a crucial contest between Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. While New York is now Clinton’s home state and her national headquarters are in Brooklyn, Sanders was born and raised in the borough, graduated from James Madison High School and attended Brooklyn College for a year.
“Thanks to the Human Rights Campaign and millions of advocates across the country, we’ve made tremendous progress. But our work is far from over. Too many LGBT Americans still face discrimination—in employment, in housing, in education, in health care—because of who they are or who they love. And the stakes in this election couldn’t be higher. The Republican candidates for president have not only hurled hateful, insulting rhetoric about the LGBT community—they’ve made it clear that if elected, they will roll back the rights that so many have fought for,” said Clinton.
“As President, I will continue to fight alongside the LGBT community to pass the Equality Act. I’ll support efforts to allow transgender personnel to serve openly, and I’ll end the dangerous practice of ‘conversion therapy’ on minors. I’ll expand access to HIV prevention and treatment, and confront the epidemic of violence facing the transgender community, especially transgender women of color. And I’ll continue the efforts I led as Secretary of State to advance the human rights of LGBT people around the world,” she added.
Malliotakis Bill Cuts Red Tape For Senior Access-A-Ride Subscribers
Bay Ridge, Staten Island Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, along with Staten Island State Sen. Andrew Lanza, are floating a bill in Albany making it easier for Access-A-Ride subscribers at least 80 years old to recertify for the paratransit program, which is crucial to their getting out and about.
Current law requires recertification every five years that entails paperwork, doctor visits, and physical examinations at Access-A-Ride offices. Many senior citizens have requested assistance from the offices of both Malliotakis and Lanza in navigating the red tape of reapplying and both legislators have had to file appeals on behalf of constituents who have been denied at recertification, despite aging and physical conditions that have further deteriorated.
Under the proposed measure, recertification would only require a correspondence from their physician indicating that their need for paratransit service remains.
“The current recertification policy has unfairly impacted the elderly who often have trouble navigating the process and scheduling appointments. Our senior citizens are being put through hoops forced to go through the appeals process, visit doctors and assessment centers multiple times, often to be denied and have to go through a cumbersome appeals process. Let’s streamline the process and stop making our elderly jump through hoops for a service they were already approved for, rely on, and deserve.” said Malliotakis.
Cumbo Sex Ed Accountability Bill Gets Council Approval
City Council Member Laurie Cumbo (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) yesterday saw the City Council approve a bill she introduced that would require the Department of Education to report information regarding health and sex education to the City Council annually. The information includes, but is not limited to:
- The total number of students in grades six through twelve who have completed at least one semester of health education;
- The total number and percentage of students in grade six who have completed at least five lessons in HIV/AIDS;
- The total number of students in grades seven through twelve who have completed at least 6 lessons in HIV/AIDS education;
- Information regarding how the DOE tracks compliance with health education and HIV/AIDS education requirements; and
- Information regarding how the efficacy of the health education curriculum is evaluated.
The bill would also require the DOE to report information regarding health education which specifically addresses LGBTQ students and sexual health knowledge for same-sex relationships.
The report would be due to the Council and posted on the DOE’s website on December 1st, 2016 and annually thereafter on December 1st.
“With 1.1 million students enrolled in over 1,800 public schools, New York City has the largest school district in the U.S. In order to curb teen pregnancy, sexually -transmitted illnesses or diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and dating violence we must empower our students with the proper knowledge to make informed decisions and cultivate healthy relationships by teaching them self-awareness, reproductive health, and how to identify their options,” said Cumbo.
Gentile Hails Bay Ridge BID Funding Increase
Bay Ridge City Councilman Vincent Gentile yesterday lauded the City Council passing legislation authorizing increased budgets to be expended annually in nine business improvement districts including the Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID, which was increased by nearly $90,000.
BIDs are designated commercial strips around the city in which merchants pay a set fee for extra city services such as more security, extra trash pick-ups and holiday lighting. BIDs generally receives strong support from commercial building owners, who often pass the fees on to their tenants, while shopkeepers, who currently have little or no control over rent increases, sometimes question the fees as being yet another tax on small businesses. Nevertheless, BIDs overall are seen as helping commercial areas in maintenance and look across the city.
Under the measure, the The Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID will now have an annual expenditure total of close to $430,000. The increased funding will bolster sanitation and security services in the district as well as seasonal programming. The BID extends from 65th street to 85th street on 5th Avenue making it the largest of its kind in Brooklyn.
“The annual expenditure increase for the Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID will have a profound impact on the improvement of the quality of life in our neighborhood,” said Gentile.
Reynosa Reads To Children, Celebrates Libraries
Bushwick, Williamsburg City Council Member Antonio Reynoso today will read to children and celebrate the Brooklyn Public Library system at the Leonard Library Branch.
Dubbed the Big Leonard Playdate, Reynoso will gather with families for an event also featuring fun games and activities that encourage early literacy. Reynoso was a big supporter of an additional $12 million investment in the BPL in the city’s FY16 budget, which helped the library expand its hours to offer at least six days of service in every branch.
The event is slated for 10 a.m. today at the Leonard Library Branch, 81 Devoe Street in Williamsburg.
Cumbo Leads Discussion On Crown Heights Diversity Mural
City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) will present a public discussion this evening for a mural design concept intended for the community of Crown Heights and dubbed the ONE CROWN HEIGHTS mural.
A group of Brooklyn youth will discuss their ideas and how they utilized residents’ stories to inform their design concepts. The event will provide a unique opportunity for the public who may reside, work, or are interested stakeholders in the cultural development of Crown Heights to contribute towards the evolving direction. The mural has the ability to transform and unite the residents, and the public’s contributions are not only valued, but necessary.
ONE CROWN HEIGHTS, is a cross-cultural project intended to increase community bonds, mobilize positive behavior and create opportunities for the Black, Caribbean, Jewish and newer residents to work towards One Crown Heights. The event is part of a larger project funded by the City Council to support a series of community conversations, special events, and the creation of a mural that promotes diversity and unity.
The discussion event is slated for 5-6:30 p.m., tonight at the Jewish Children’s Museum, 729 Eastern Parkway.
Velazquez Bill Gets More Financial Assistance For Sandy Victims
Northern and Central Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez will be joined by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet tomorrow in Red Hook at an event announcing assistance available to businesses and homeowners that incurred damage from Hurricane Sandy.
Velazquez recently authored a new bill that allows victims of Superstorm Sandy that have an unmet financial need to now have until December 1, 2016 to apply for disaster loans from the SBA. The program originally stopped taking applications in July of 2013.
The announcement is slated for 10:30 a.m., Tomorrow, Jan. 21 at the SBIDC Red Hook Office, 402 Van Brunt Street.
