Thompson Steps Down To battle cancer
Brooklyn’s political community offered prayers and words of encouragement following Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson‘s announcement yesterday that he is temporarily stepping down after being diagnosed with an unspecified cancer.
“I’ve dedicated myself and our Office’s resources over the past three years to keeping the people of our great borough safe while strengthening our commitment to reform and improve our criminal justice system. Since 2014, we have become a model for prosecutors’ offices around the country – holding those who break the law accountable by setting one standard of justice for all and fighting for innocent people who were wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit,” said Thompson.
And now I am prepared for another fight. Recently, I was diagnosed with cancer. As a man of intense faith, I intend to fight and win the battle against this disease. I humbly seek your sincere prayers as I confront this challenge and respectfully ask that you honor my family’s need and wish for privacy during this time.”
Thompson said during his absence for treatment, his Chief Assistant Eric Gonzalez, alongside others on the executive team will run the DA’s office.
Among those sending their prayers for a speedy recovery and lauding Thompson as a progressive district attorney while being a tough prosecutor were Mayor Bill de Blasio, Central Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Borough President Eric Adams.
Hamilton Joins Task Force to Confront Common School Problems in NYC, Chicago and LA
Central Brooklyn State Sen. Jesse Hamilton yesterday was named as part of the Inside the Classroom Task Force to shine a spotlight on best practices as well as to confront problems in the nation’s three largest school districts – New York City, Los Angeles/Compton, and Chicago schools.
The task force consists of elected leaders, educators, parents and students, including Hamilton, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings, and Vice President of the Compton Unified School District Micah Ali. Sharing best practices, highlighting successes, and taking forward action to overcome challenges are high on the agenda for the Inside the Classroom Task Force.
There is at once something very big, macro elements, and something very small, micro elements, underway with Inside the Classroom. On the macro side, the group could influence the three largest school systems in the country, with more than 2 million students in 3,500 individual schools, served by nearly 130,000 teachers, and a collective budget in excess of $35 billion. On the micro side, the group aims to explore the challenges that teachers and students face and devise strategies to better meet those challenges.
“Inside the Classroom’ represents an effort by educators, leaders, and students to take on the challenges held in common across school systems that serve some of the most diverse communities in the country. By bringing together our collective expertise, experience, and insights, we can reproduce and expand upon our communities’ successes. One initiative I will highlight early on is ‘the Campus,’ the nation’s first tech and wellness hub at a public housing site in the United States set to launch here in Brooklyn in the Fall. I look forward to hearing about the important efforts underway to bolster our school systems’ capacity to ensure every child receives the high quality education they deserve,” said Hamilton.
Malliotakis, Golden, Donovan Show Solidarity With Police
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (Bay Ridge, Statin Island), Sen. Marty Golden (Bay Ridge, Marine Park) and Congressman Dan Donovan (R – Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) yesterday announced their partnership with Blue Ribbons in support of the law enforcement community.
Blue Ribbons was founded by Carmen Shouldis, the mother of an NYPD officer, and Lori Ann Zangla-Mohlenhoff, the wife of an NYPD officer. The two women have been distributing blue ribbons to be tied around trees and lampposts to exhibit support for our police officers. The movement, which started on Staten Island has grown to 27 states and four additional countries, Brazil, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand.
“Our police officers put their lives on the line each and every day to protect our community and keep our families safe. This is a way to show them how much they are appreciated. Since posting a photo of the blue ribbon in front of my home on Facebook, I have received inquiries from constituents on where they can get one. We are announcing this partnership today so our offices can serve as blue ribbon pickup points,” said Malliotakis.
“Police officers risk their lives every day to protect my family and yours. They deserve our deep gratitude and public acknowledgement,” said Donovan.
“These blue ribbons will serve as a visual reminder of our community’s gratitude and respect for law enforcement. Each ribbon is a small token of our appreciation. Each ribbon honors all the brave men and women who each day put on the uniform and is ready to protect and serve this great city. Each ribbon says we pray that every police officer safely returns home to their families and loved ones. But sadly, some will not return home. Too many brave officers will pay the ultimate sacrifice and give their live in the line of the duty. For them, each ribbon says we will not forget you and we will not let your sacrifice be in vain,” said Golden.
“These blue ribbons say loud and clear that our community stands with our law enforcement community, respects the officers and supports their efforts to keep all of us safe. I encourage everyone to visit my district office to pick up a few blue ribbons to tie one in front of your home or place of business and join us as we say to the NYPD, our prayers are with you, we support you, we respect you and we thank you,” he added.
Adams Hosts Independent Charter School Network
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on Saturday will host a meet and greet parent leaders from the NYC independent charter school network, which includes more than 100 schools citywide.
Discussions will center on the importance of voter registration and voter education for parents, as well as learning how to advocate for a sound education from the Know Your Rights Parent Ambassadors and help shape the advocacy agenda for charter school parents.
The event is slated for between 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 8 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Light breakfast will be served; children welcomed.
Cuomo Reminds New Yorkers About Online Voter Registration
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced a record number of New Yorkers registered to vote at dmv.ny.gov using the Department of Motor Vehicles automated online system during the month of September.
The website processed more than 140,600 applications, including more than 78,400 applications from first time voters, an all-time high in both categories. New Yorkers must register to vote by October 14 in order to cast ballots in the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday, November 8.
“Knocking down artificial barriers to New York’s voter registration process has encouraged hundreds of thousands of voters to get involved,” Cuomo said. “I encourage eligible New Yorkers to take advantage of this convenient and accessible online tool before October 14 in order to ensure their voices are heard this November.”
Clarke Releases Statement On Hurricane Matthew
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke yesterday released the following statement on the Hurricane Matthew, which has ravaged the Caribbean and is making its way up north.
“As the representative of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, home to our nation’s largest concentration of Caribbean Americans and Caribbean nationals, my prayers are with Caribbean region as its people contend with the violent force of nature identified as Hurricane Matthew. I want to share my concern for the well-being of the people of the Caribbean who are impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Matthew and call on people of good will to commence organizing disaster relief efforts in anticipation of the inevitable call to action.
“This storm is one of the most severe to hit the Caribbean in more than a decade. Families in Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have already been affected.
“I am heartened by the actions taken by the Obama Administration through USAID, which has already sent expert personnel into the region, to both Jamaica and Haiti, who are ready upon request to render assistance to countries impacted by this hurricane to help them recover, rebuild and return to their daily lives as quickly as possible.
“I would also call upon concerned citizens in my district and across the country to stand up disaster relief efforts that include donations of non-perishable items, canned goods and water, first-aid and personal hygiene products, building supplies, and money to legitimate and bona fide organizations involved in direct disaster relief efforts.
“Rest assured that my office will continue to monitor the impact of Hurricane Matthew very closely. We will keep our constituents and any persons interested briefed and informed as we receive status updates on the extent of the damages and recovery efforts currently under way.”
