Cuomo Announces Fed Money To Help DV & Sexual Assault Victims
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced that the state received $7.7 million in federal funding ro allow the funding of 11 new programs and support of 117 existing programs that help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Funding through the federal Violence Against Women Act was increased by nearly $662,000 to support programs offered by non-profit organizations, hospitals and law enforcement agencies across the state.
Of these agencies receiving money three are from Brooklyn. They are:
Safe Horizon Inc. – $80,100 to provide civil legal services to child victims of sexual assault and adult victims of sexual assault, stalking and domestic violence in Kings County.
Shalom Task Force (Kings County): $80,100 for domestic violence and sexual assault services and legal services for victims including the Chassidic, Orthodox Jewish clients, and immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
North Brooklyn Coalition Against Family Violence (Kings County): $80,100 for domestic violence services including partial funding for case manager and social worker as well as funding for the use of an expert witness.
“This funding will help in New York’s fight against sexual assault and domestic violence and ensure that victims receive the assistance and resources they need,” Cuomo said. “With this aid, local organizations will be able to improve existing services, establish new programs, and better reach New Yorkers in need of help.”
Malliotakis, Castorina Add Co-Counsel in IDNYC Suit
Republican Assembly Members Nicole Malliotakis (Bay Ridge, Staten Island) and Ron Castorina (Staten Island) announced yesterday the addition of celebrated trial attorney Ravi Batra as co-counsel to the team prosecuting their challenge to the document destruction provisions of the IDNYC Program.
Lead attorney Jeffrey Alfano said the addition of Batra brings a seasoned trial attorney onto the team. In addition, it confirms the bi-partisan nature of this issue as everyone knows Mr. Batra’s standing in the Democratic Party, he said.
“Mr. Batra’s addition to our team, adds not only seasoned trial counsel, but bi-partisanship. Mr. Batra, a stalwart of the Democratic Party, is a passionate force against the use of the IDNYC card for banking purposes in New York. We must unite as New Yorkers from all backgrounds and political parties to fight for the security of our citizenry, no matter their immigration status, and to protect the integrity of financial services here in New York and across the country,” said Castorina.
“The addition of Mr. Batra to our team evidences that our legal action has merit and this issue is one of public welfare, not partisanship. His talents will greatly assist our efforts to stop a government injustice that risks safety, security, and transparency,” said Malliotkis.
The parties return to Court on January 5, 2017 for a hearing to determine whether the de Blasio Administration has the authority to destroy documents submitted in support of the issuance of IDNYC cards.
Lander’s #GetOrganizedBK Continues To Grow
City Council Member Brad Lander‘s (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) office yesterday announced that since November, when Donald Trump was elected President, more than 2,000 people have taken part in #GetOrganizedBK by attending our three large gatherings, organizing vigils against hate & attending protests, joining the Facebook group and taking online/phone actions, and through the Working Groups.
Here are a few year-end updates & requests:
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Working Groups Updates: We’ve updated the summaries and contact information (where we have it) for the Working Groups. Some of them have their own independent list-servs, Facebook or Google groups, which you can join. We’ll keep using the #GetOrganizedBK Facebook page as well, but we’ll keep this web-page updated as a general resource (so please send us any updates).
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Please take this short survey to help us improve #GetOrganizedBK! This is a new kind of organizing for all of us, and we’re eager for your suggestions and feedback about how it’s working, and what we can do better.
The next meeting for the group is slated for 7 p.m., Monday, January 16 at Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place in Park Slope.
Colton, Tong and Ragusa bring Joy of Toys This Holiday Season
Assemblyman William Colton (Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) and local Democratic District Leaders Nancy Tong and Charles Ragusa, under the direction of Colton’s Chief of Staff Susan Zhuang, recently worked with multiple community groups to distribute hundreds of toys to neighborhood children.
Colton’s office has partnered with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, as well other community groups in the effort. This helps to make the holidays even happier for needy children in our community, including families in military service.
Collection of new toys lasted for around a month at Assemblyman Colton’s office, 155 Kings Highway, between West 12th and 13th Street.
“Every holiday season, the spirit of everyone coming together is the most important thing. It highlights the need to work with each other, especially to collect toys and make the festive time one for all to enjoy. I would like to especially thank my Chief of Staff Susan Zhuang for overseeing the operation this year,” said Colton.
Williams, Richardson Send Happy Kwanzaa Message
City Council Member Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush) and Assemblywoman Diana Richardson (Crown Heights, Lefferts Gardens) yesterday wished all those that celebrate the holiday, a Happy Kwanzaa.
As Richardson noted, “Kwanzaa was formed in 1966 when Dr. Maulana Karenga, sought to find ways to bring African Americans together as a community by combining several harvest celebrations from the Ashanti and Zulu, in order to form the foundation of what we now call Kwanzaa. The name Kwanzaa itself derived from “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili.”
A central part of this holiday is the observation of the Seven Principles including the following: unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
In particular, a number of grassroots Black organizations note that the #BlackLivesMatter movement includes the preaching to African-Americans, perhaps the countries top consumer spending demographic, to stop spending so much of their money, and start saving it as a way to advance their collective power.
“This season, we celebrate Kwanzaa at a time when many of Africa’s children in America are undergoing challenges as they move through life. We are faced with high unemployment rates, inadequate housing and schooling options, and a burgeoning gun violence pandemic that is taking the lives of our youth,” said Williams.
“As we reflect on our troubles, blessings and memories over the past year let us be inspired by the spirit of unity or Umoja, so we can bring in 2017 with hope that there will be a better tomorrow. Habari Gani.”
