Adams Mourns Shooting Victims In Queens
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams last night traveled to Jackson Heights Queens to attend a vigil with the LGBT and Muslim communities in the wake of the mass shooting that left 50 dead at an Orlando, Florida gay nightclub.
Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Daniel Dromm also spoke at the vigil.
NOTE: KCP will do a separate post with elected officials comments about the shooting.
Williams First Legislation Protects Bluefish
Assemblywoman Jaime Williams (Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach) announced Friday that the Assembly passed her first legislation to preserve the crucial resource of New York State’s Bluefish.
“I am ecstatic to announce that my very first piece of legislation has passed the State Assembly,” said Williams. “The preservation of the Bluefish is critical to the eco system of our great waterways. This measure will help to protect and preserve our resources for many years to come.”
This bill extends the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (“DEC”) regulatory authority for an additional three years, and ensures that the DEC continues to be able to maintain compliance with the Fishery Management Plan. These regulations are for the management of Bluefish, which includes size limits, catch and possession limits, open and closed seasons, closed areas, restrictions on the manner of taking and landing, requirements for permits and eligibility.
Squadron Small Biz Bill Goes To Gov
State Senator Daniel Squadron (Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan), along with Queens Assemblymember Ron Kim, and Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) today will celebrate the passage of Squadron/Kim’s bill (S579C/ A6621A) to expand small business access to small loans/seed funding.
The Squadron/Kim legislation directs the state to prioritize access for “micro businesses” (under 5 employees) when awarding Small Business Revolving Loan Fund loans. Created in 2010, the state’s Small Business Revolving Loan Fund utilizes $25 million in state funding with a $25 million private match to create a fund for small businesses to access credit.
Squadron and Kim’s legislation passed both the Senate and Assembly with bipartisan support, and will now be sent to the Governor for approval.
Robinson To Hold Veterans Resource Fair
Assemblywoman Annette Robinson (Bedford-Stuyvesant) is sponsoring a Veterans’ Resource Fair for veterans of Brooklyn at the end of the month.
The Resource Fair is sponsored in conjunction with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Councilmember Robert Cornegy Jr. and State Senator Velmanette Montgomery.
The Resource Fair is designed to provide information and services to veterans. Key participating agencies and organizations are US Veterans Administration, Black Vets for Social Justice, NYC Department of Veterans Services, Health*First, 500 Men Making A Difference, Interfaith Hospital, Monroe College, and many others.
The event will be held at 11 a.m., Monday June 27, at the Restoration Corporation Plaza – Fulton Street and Marcy Avenue in Bedford Stuyvesant. For information call (718) 399-7630.
Savino’s Emergency Responder Act Passes Senate
The New York State Senate last week voted in favor for Senator Diane J. Savino’s (Coney Island, Staten Island) New York emergency responder act, Bill S4238B.
If the bill passes in the Assembly, firms aiding government agencies during emergency response and recovery efforts will be protected from threats of unlimited liability claims.
This bill was first introduced in 2015 when Savino noticed a need for the bill after construction firms and design professionals that were involved in the recovery efforts following 9/11 were faced with billions of dollars of liability exposure and millions of dollars worth of legal fees after having to defend their presence at ground zero.
Before this bill was introduced contractors and design firms were in jeopardy of being defunct due to the financial burdens this issue caused. This was evident during Superstorm Sandy when various firms around throughout New York City were unable to respond to the city’s request out of fear of being subjected to yet more litigation.
“Individuals who aid our first responders during declared disasters should not have to worry about facing liability exposure for rendering their needed services and I am pleased that the State Senate did the right thing and voted in favor of the bill,” said Savino.
When contractors are forced to forgo assisting City or State agencies during catastrophic events because of fear of litigation, we as elected officials have to step in and protect these individuals. It is not right and it does a disservice to the very communities and people we are trying to aid.”
Willams Wants Flatbush Junction Named For Ali
City Council Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) on Friday announced plans to co-name Flatbush Junction as “Muhammad Ali Triangle.”
Ali, who passed away on June 3 at the age of 74, was a pivotal figure around the world and championed for peace, acceptance of Muslims and justice.
“In life, Muhammad Ali stood by his convictions even though he wasn’t always well liked because of it,” said Williams, “Now the world lifts him up and offers him praise for the very same reason. He symbolized much more than a championship fighter; he embodied the spirit and perseverance of a true warrior.”
“There will never be another force like him. It is with great pleasure and anticipation that I propose dedicating the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, the site of the popular Flatbush Junction shopping and transit hub, as a tribute to his impact on our community, the nation and the entire world,” Williams added.
Bichotte Supports Measures Protecting Women’s Reproductive Rights
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte (Flatbush, Ditmas Park) announced that she helped pass two key bills to protect and strengthen women’s reproductive rights.
The measures prohibit discrimination against employees based on reproductive choices and other health care decisions and codify a woman’s right to an abortion in New York State (A.1142-A, A.6221).
“Women can never be truly equal until they have complete control over their bodies and their health care decisions without the government or their boss stomping on their constitutional rights,” Bichotte said. “The Assembly Majority will always stand up for women and their reproductive rights. We will never back down.”
Under one piece of legislation that was passed, employers would be prohibited from interfering with their workers’ birth control choices ( A.1142-A). Additionally, employers would be barred from accessing private medical information about their employees without the employee’s written consent.
A second bill passed by the Assembly codifies the federal protections of Roe v. Wade into New York State law (A.6221).
“The United States Supreme Court made it clear in 1973 that women have the constitutional right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy,” Bichotte said. “While anti-choice zealots have tried to enact onerous restrictions on abortion services in many states, we will not let that happen in New York. The Assembly’s legislation brings New York State law in line with the constitutional protection that ensures a woman’s right to choose remains just that – her choice.”
