Bichotte Endorses Persaud In 19th Senate District Race
AssemblyWoman Rodneyse Bichotte (Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Midwood) on Friday joined her colleague Haitian-American lawmakers Assembly members Michaelle Solages, and Kimberly Jean-Pierre in endorsing incumbent Guyanese-American State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill and Starrett City) for re-election.
“It has been important for us to join with other legislators to ensure that the Haitian community gets its fair share of funds for housing, good schools, and safe streets. This is why we have come together to endorse a dear friend and colleague who we have witnessed her work and trust that she will continue to deliver in our fight for a better quality of Life,” the three lawmakers said in a joint statement.
“The Haitian community in New York City, Long Island and other parts of New York State has become a vibrant political force. Each of us now serve in important capacities in the State and City level. In this capacity, we have been strong advocates for our people and have fought hard for the special needs our community requires.
“Senator Persaud has stood in the fight to raise minimum wage, improve our children’s education, implement better staffing for nurses, support our seniors, make our streets safer and backed the Paid Family Leave Act.”
Ortiz Decries Mylan’s EpiPen Price Gouging
Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (Sunset Park, Red Hook) on Friday ripped into the pharma company Mylan for its recent price gouging on EpiPen, a drug in which it has a monopoly on, and which has saved countless lives of children with asthma and lethal allergies.
Ortiz scored a major success for young allergy sufferers in 2014 when the provisions of the EpiPen bill he sponsored were signed into law (Ch.423, Laws of 2014). The new law allows students to carry the prescribed devices with them to school and use them in an emergency, but with the recent markup of the price of the epinephrine auto-injector to a staggering $600 for a box of 2, parents may not be able to afford the device that Ortiz and others worked so hard to make more accessible.
“Parents should not have to choose between buying their child’s school supplies or the lifesaving EpiPen their children are now permitted to carry with them to school. This new price hike is a huge problem for families with kids with life threatening allergies,” said Ortiz.
Ortiz noted that for severe allergy sufferers having an EpiPen on hand means survival, while not having it can result in fatal anaphylaxis. “Without price controls on this product, Mylan’s monopoly on EpiPen will severely limit Americans’ ability to afford this lifesaving device and that is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Allergic disease, including asthma, is the third most common chronic disease in children under 18 years old, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and an estimated 3.6 million Americans were prescribed an EpiPen in 2015.
“The federal government must encourage competitive drug pricing and regulate the process for pricing similar drugs. Since epinephrine is not patented there is no reason for a monopoly on its sale in the U.S.,” said Ortiz.
Golden, Abbate Bill Helping 9/11 First Responders Gets Cuomo Signature
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday signed legislation to extend the period for workers and volunteers seeking lost wage and medical benefits as a result of their involvement in the September 11th rescue, recovery and clean-up operations.
State Sen. Marty Golden ( Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park) and Assembly Member Peter Abbate Jr. put forth the measure in their respective chambers that extends the deadline for individuals to register under the WTC Disability Law until September 11, 2018. The extension will allow additional individuals to receive workers’ compensation, disability, and accidental death benefits as a result of their participation in the WTC rescue, recovery, and clean-up operations.
“Though September 11th may feel like an eternity ago, we still feel the pain and the loss like it was yesterday, and the thousands of brave men and women who stepped up in our darkest hour are still grappling with the aftereffects,” Cuomo said. “We vow to do whatever we have to do to provide these brave men and women and their families the benefits they deserve. As New Yorkers, when we are knocked down, we get up twice as strong because we have our fellow New Yorkers to raise us up. The volunteers and workers raised us up in our time of need, and we will ensure they get the resources and the support they need.”
“Today, as we mark the 15th Anniversary of the attacks on our Nation and the World Trade Center, we extend New York’s commitment to those who so courageously responded to help in the face of danger. I thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for signing this bill into law so all 9/11 rescue and recovery workers who were diagnosed with an illness between 2012 and 2015 can file for assistance. Today, by extending the opportunity to file a Workers Compensation Claim before September 11th next year to these individuals, we have done the right thing for our heroes and their families,” said Golden.
“I would like to thank Governor Cuomo for signing this bill and the 9/11 Task Force for all their hard work. Whether you were a first responder in a uniformed workforce or a volunteer at Ground Zero, this bill is a message to you that we will always take care of you and your contribution will never be forgotten,” said Abbate.
Levin, Lander, Menchaca Support Children of Abraham Peace Walk in Solidarity with Muslim Americans
City Council Members Stephen Levin (Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill) Brad Lander (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) and Carlos Menchaca (Red Hook, Sunset Park) yesterday expressed strong support yesterday for the Muslim Community Network’s Children of Abraham Peace Walk to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack.
The peace walk started at the Islamic Mission of America, 143 State Streetand went on to the First Unitarian Congregational Society on the corner of Monroe Place and Pierrepont Street, then to Congregation Mount Sinai, 250 Cadman Plaza West and finally to FDNY Engine 205/Ladder 118, 74 Middagh Street before walking over the Brooklyn Bridge and ending at Manhattan’s Trinity Church Parish Center in Manhattan.
“On the 15th anniversary of September 11th, we stand alongside people of all faiths as well as secular communities to commemorate those who were lost on September 11th and demonstrate the power of solidarity in creating positive social change. In the face of toxic xenophobia, racist rhetoric, a rise in hate crimes and anti-Muslim violence—like the tragic killing of Mosque leader Maulama Akonjee and Thara Uddin—the annual Children of Abraham Peace Walk is a reminder of our commonalities and our strength as we work together toward peace, liberty, due process, and equality under the law,” the three lawmakers said in a joint statement.
“The annual Children of Abraham Peace Walk falls this year on the eve of Eid al-Adha, a time for remembrance, thanks, and reflection on our blessings. On this holiest day in the Islamic Calendar, we recognize and thank the American Muslims that serve their communities. Muslim Americans are 9/11 first responders and survivors. They are the teachers, students, organizers, and soldiers that strengthen our communities every day.
“In the shadow of great tragedies motivated by blind hate and intolerance, people of all faiths—Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike—must stand united by our common heritage. Together, we will build bridges toward peace and inclusion.”
Adams Statement On 15TH Anniversary of the Septs. 11th Attacks
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams yesterday issued the following statement to commemorate the 15th Anniversary on the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
“It feels as if it was only yesterday that our city and country were shaken from the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In the 15 years that have passed, Brooklynites and all New Yorkers continue to stand united in remembering the 2,996 lives lost on that horrific day, and we stand steadfast in our support of the men and women who protect our communities, cities, and country at home and abroad,” said Adams.
“The anniversary of September 11th, and the somber ceremonies taking place across this great nation, are a reminder that, as time marches on, and we get further away from the events of that day, we must always take time to remember and realign ourselves as individuals and collectively as a country.
We will continue to lift up our communities, families, and neighbors who need support, lift up the first responders who protect us from harm, and lift up those who are continuing to struggle with the physical and mental trauma that they felt on that day and in the years since.
“By striving to turn pain into purpose, those who seek to do harm to our way of life will never succeed, and the promise of openness, tolerance, and liberty of our country will continue to shine for generations to come.”
Squadron Releases Multilingual 2016-17 Parent Resource Guide
State Senator Daniel Squadron (Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan) and his office staff visited schools throughout his district in lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront at drop-off and dismissal for the first and second days of school last week to distribute hundreds of Squadron’s multilingual 2016-17 Parent Resource Guides.
“My district has some incredible resources for parents and caregivers, and my Parent Resource Guide helps share those programs with families across the district,” said Squadron. “The first day of school can be stressful time, and I hope that by sharing all that this community has to offer, we can help parents, caregivers, and children get the most out of the new school year. Thank you to all of our schools, staff, administrators, and most of all, local families.”
Squadron’s parent resource guide is a multilingual (English, Chinese, Spanish) compilation of after school activities, museums, parks, community health clinics, and other local resources available to families throughout the community.
Squadron’s resource guide can be accessed on his website or constituents can contact his office at 212-298-5565 or squadron@nysenate.gov to be mailed a copy.
