Persaud Starts Year Off With Healthy Living
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) announced last week that she is starting off the New Year with an outreach to constituents to promote healthy living.
“In the coming New Year, I will be dedicating time and effort to hosting health events and bringing resources to the community that promote a positive and healthy lifestyle. I urge everyone to come out and take advantage of free flu vaccinations and health insurance enrollment which will take place the first week of January,” she said.
From 2-6 p.m. every Thursday during the month of January, a GetCovered NYC health insurance enrollment specialist will be at her district office, 1222 East 96th in Canarsie. GetCovered NYC is offering plans with low and no cost options. The GetCovered NYC insurance plans cover doctor visits and prescription drugs which lessen the financial burden of medical expenses. For more information click GetCoveredNYC.
Additionally, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan.4, Persaud is offering free flu shots, also at her office, 1222 East 96th Street in Canarsie. For more information click Senator Persaud Free Flu Shots.
Cuomo Raises Awareness On Upped Minimum Wage Laws
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign reminding New Yorkers that the first increase to the minimum wage will go into effect on December 31, 2016.
Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo signed landmark legislation making New York the first state in the nation to enact a $15 minimum wage, which will be phased in over several years.
The $15 minimum wage legislation was passed as part of the 2016-17 state budget. The phase-in schedule on a regional basis is as follows:
For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage will rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on Dec. 31, 2018.
For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage will rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on Dec. 31, 2019.
“No one who works full-time should be condemned to a life of poverty and that’s why New York took action to raise the wage and provide the opportunity of a decent life to millions of hard working New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “As we reach this milestone for a more fair and a more just New York, we are reminding workers they are owed a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and this administration will work to ensure they receive the wage increase to which they are entitled.”
The ads will run in both English and Spanish and be featured on television stations across the state. Minimum wage workers who do not receive their raise by December 31, 2016 should call 1-888-4-NYSDOL to report their employers.
De Blasio Joins Other Cities To Support Immigrant Protections
Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday was one of 31 members of Cities for Action, a coalition of over 100 mayors and county executives from across the country, who issued an open letter to President Obama, thanking him for his Administration’s support for immigrant families and urging him to commit to further protections for the many immigrants in their communities before he leaves office.
In this letter, local leaders recommend that the Obama Administration take the following steps:
- Strengthen support for young immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by accepting early DACA renewal applications; committing to timely processing by USCIS for initial and renewal DACA applications; and implementing additional privacy protections for DACA holders to reassure recipients that they will not be punished as a result of coming out of the shadows.
- Support immigrants who cannot safely return to their home countries due to conflict, natural disaster or other emergency conditions by reviewing current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and extending, re-designating, or making new designations as appropriate; and committing to timely processing by USCIS for TPS applications.
The mayors and county executive also thank the President for responding to concerns raised by coalition members, among others, about the failed, discriminatory National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program, which created a “special registration” for immigrants from 25 primarily Muslim-majority countries. Representatives from a number of cities spoke with White House officials earlier this month and urged the Administration to end NSEERS and continue protections for immigrants with DACA and TPS. Cities for Action now commends the President for ending NSEERS.
“Our immigrant residents help make New York City stronger economically, culturally, and socially. We have benefited from President Obama’s actions to protect vulnerable immigrants during his time in office. In the wake of the election, many of our residents are uncertain about the future. That’s why I am standing with my fellow mayors to thank the President for his leadership and call on him to take additional, lawful steps to help immigrants before leaving office,” said de Blasio.
Hamilton Pushes Raise The Age Movement
Sen. Jesse Hamilton yesterday joined other lawmakers in a push to raise awareness that New York and North Carolina are the only states where 16 year-olds who commit crimes are tried as adults.
Currently, anyone arrested in the state that are 16 or 17 are tried and treated as adults, meaning if they are locked up awaiting a trial for a crime or are convicted of a crime they are often put in jails with adult prison populations. This puts these youths both in increased dangers from elder inmates and in situations where they lack chances to straighten out their lives.
Hamilton’s office did a study on the issue and found that over 70% of the children and youth arrested are black or Latino. Of those sentenced to incarceration, 80% are black and Latino.
“As your Senator I am committed to draft legislation to Raise the Age. The school to prison pipeline has to stop in communities of color,” said Hamilton.
For more information on the issue click here. Constituents are also encouraged to call Hamilton’s office at 718-284-4700 to speak to the Raise the Age policy person about the study.
