Parker Sponsors Legislation To Improve Voters’ Rights
State Sen. Kevin Parker (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope) and the Senate Democratic Conference yesterday released part of their “Resistance Agenda” aimed at increasing the voting rights of all New Yorkers in the era of Trump-ism and the alt-right movement.
The complete legislative package encompasses nine bills in total, two of which Parker sponsored.
The first piece of legislation, Senate Bill S.3029, will prohibit election districts from being split on and off a college or university campus. if passed, the law would also require that the poll sites for election districts serving the academic institution be on the campus.
Parker also proposed Senate Bill S.3436, the Voter Modernization that provides for automated voter registration of eligible consenting citizens at designated government agencies; permits same day registration on the day of an election, and the ability to cast a vote on the same day as the election. This bill further allows state residents to register to vote, and modify their voter registration status online.
“It is imperative that we move towards improving the voting process for the residents of our State by passing legislation that modernizes our electoral process. The proposed legislation will protect voters and save taxpayers by making the process more efficient,” said Parker.
Felder, Senate Succeed In Putting Moratorium On Five-Cent Plastic Bag Fee
State Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Midwood, Flatbush, Borough Park, Kensington, Sunset Park, Madison, Bensonhurst) succeeded yesterday in putting at least a temporary and possible permanent stop to the City’s plan to charge residents five-cents for every plastic bag they need when doing shopping.
That after the senate passed Felder’s measure for a moratorium (S4158) on the fee as part of an agreement between the Senate and Assembly. The legislation mandates that the bag fee could only be reauthorized by a new City Council with members who begin their terms on or after Jan. 1, 2018.
“Today, we took concrete action to stop Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Council’s punitive Bag Tax,” said Felder. “I want to thank my colleagues who worked so hard to protect our constituents from this tax, especially Assemblyman Michael Cusick who led the fight in the Assembly. We believe that New Yorkers are the greatest people in the world — hard-working people who want to do the right thing given that opportunity. We will continue to be diligent and not allow New Yorkers to be over-fined, over-ticketed, and over-taxed.”
This is the second time state legislative pressure and a public outcry helped successfully defeat the bag tax’s implementation. When New York City first enacted legislation last year to create the five-cent tax, it was originally slated to go into effect in October. However, Felder called a state Senate hearing on the issue resulting public outcry led the City to delay implementation until February 15, 2017.
With the passage of today’s moratorium, the City’s law implementing the bag tax is defeated, removing an unnecessary burden on low- and middle-income New York City residents. The bag tax could only be reauthorized by a new City Council with members who begin their terms on or after Jan. 1, 2018.
The bill will be sent to the Assembly, which is expected to act on the measure this week.
Harris, Malliotakis Butt Heads Over Legilsation To Protect Undocumented Immigrants
Assembly Members Pamela Harris (D-Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-Bay Ridge, Staten Island) strongly disagreed in their views of the Assembly’s passage of legislation giving additional protection to undocumented immigrants facing possible deportation.
Dubbed the New York State Liberty Act, the measure would make New York a “sanctuary” state by prohibiting the detention of undocumented individuals on immigration detainers unless there was a warrant from a judge.
The legislation was part of a package of immigration-related bills the Assembly took up including the The Dream Act, which would allow the children of undocumented immigrants to receive state tuition assistance.
“While the federal government is working hard to encourage divisiveness and bigotry, we’re fighting back in New York because we know diversity is our greatest strength. Our country was built by immigrants and our community remains strong because of their hard work. Every person, regardless of their background, deserves an equal shot at achieving the American Dream. That’s why I helped pass legislation to ensure immigrants are protected from discrimination and have the same opportunities to succeed,” said Harris.
But Malliotakis argues that the measure has loopholes in which a number of serious crimes would be unaccounted for if the bill passes into law.
“The number one responsibility of government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. Efforts to purposefully disregard that responsibility have been taken to an all-new level by the Assembly Democrats with legislation that harbors illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, including serious felonies, from deportation,” said Malliotakis. “It is both frightening and appalling that my colleagues in the Majority prefer to harbor repeat criminals by proposing “sanctuary” policies for the state of New York, instead of focusing on legislation that would keep safe the hard-working, taxpaying citizens who elected them.”
The measure now moves to the Republican controlled Senate where it is unlikely to pass.
Deutsch Brings Community Together To Celebrate Diversity
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Homecrest) last week hosted a meeting with community leaders representing the broad spectrum of cultures within his 48th Council District. Among attendees were religious, community, and civic group leaders.
“New York City is comprised of people from many different countries, with a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and cultures,” said Deutsch. “Our community is setting an example by demonstrating our respect for our fellow New Yorkers. Our district is like a microcosm of the entire city, with a constituency embodying the many different cultures that make our City special. I am very proud to represent such remarkable people.”
Deutsch noted there has been an uptick in hate crimes across the City, and more needs to be done to bring together people of different backgrounds. With a better understanding of other cultures, a mutual respect and admiration can be fostered between diverse communities that live, work, and raise families side-by-side, he said.
Deutsch thanked several leaders for their ongoing collaboration to improve and maintain the stability of the district including Boris Lerman and Vladimir Ripa, presidents of two local Holocaust survivor groups; Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lieff and Rabbi Yisroel Reisman; Josh Mehlman, Chairman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition; Lt. Adeel Rana of the NYPD Muslim Officer’s Society; Ira Zalcman and Judy Baron of the Manhattan Beach Community Group; Yelena Makhnin, director of the Brighton Beach BID; Sam Tsang and Lina Chen of the Health Essentials Community Center; Pervez Siddiqui, local entrepreneur and owner of the Apna Adult Day Care Center; Imam Sharif of the Islamic Center of Brighton Beach; Mohammad Assad, Ida & Jeff Sanoff, local activists; Theresa Scavo, Chairperson of Community Board 15; Ed Jaworski of the Madison Marine Homecrest Civic Association; and Pastor Josue Ayala of the Iglesias de Evangelizacion Misionera church in Sheepshead Bay.
Golden To Host Annual Chinese New Year Celebration
State Senator Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend), together with the Chinese American Partnership Inc., this weekend will host his annual Lunar New Year celebration (4715), the Year of the Rooster.
The celebration will include cultural presentations including the Lion Dance, Kung Fu and Tai Chi Martial Arts, Fashion Show, Chinese opera, singing and dancing from local schools, and community information. The performances scheduled will feature an array of talent, including professional entertainers, senior, youth and children.
“This year’s event promises to be another great chance for the community to come together and celebrate
Chinese culture, heritage and family. I look forward to honoring the Year of the Rooster and the virtues of civility, bravery, kindness and reliability at this annual celebration. Together, we will help to usher in
a time of good luck for our families, community and our nation,” said Golden.
The celebration is slated for between 2-5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 12 at New Utrecht High School, 1601 80th Street in Bensonhurst. Admission is free and open to the public. All guests will receive gift bags and a special golden coin to help celebrate the Year of theRooster.
Gentile Honors Cops For Valor
City Councilman Vincent J. Gentile (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) last week began the 68th Precinct’s evening roll call by presenting a “Community Medal of Valor” to each of the four heroic responding officers of a home invasion two weeks ago on Ovington Avenue.
NYPD Sergeant Nicholas Danna along with Police Officers Sanad Musallam, Michael Pascale, and Christian Aleman helped save a 70-year-old woman’s life by thinking fast and applying a “quick-clot” medicated towel to the woman’s head and neck. She was rushed to Lutheran Medical Center where she received 30 stitches but survived the incident.
“When these four brave officers got to the scene, they forced themselves into the apartment, where they found the attacker still on top of the victim,” Gentile said. “They saved a woman’s life while facing the unknown. She is in good spirits and recovering well. Their dedication to the people of Bay Ridge has not gone unnoticed and I was proud to present them with these Community Medals of Valor.”
Clarke Honors Former Acting AG Sally Yates
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) released the following statement on a resolution she introduced yesterday commending former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to defend President Donald Trump’s executive order barring entry to the United States for the predominantly Muslims nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
Trump fired Yates after she instructed the Justice Department not to defend the executive order in court.
“Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates has demonstrated the highest commitment to the people of the United States and the values protected by our Constitution. Rather than accepting Donald Trump’s discriminatory ban on Muslims entering the United States, she upheld her duty under the law and refused to enforce provisions that were illegal and unconstitutional,” said Clarke.
“Sally Yates has earned the admiration of people around the world who believe that individuals of all faiths have rights that are deserving of our respect. In her hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sally Yates promised that she would keep faith with the Constitution and the laws of the United States. Sally Yates fulfilled that promise, despite serious risk to her job, and was summarily fired from the position. On behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, I commend Sally Yates for her courage and determination to follow the law, and urge my colleagues to pass this resolution honoring her contributions to our civil society.”
Flatbush Lawmakers Hold ‘State of Immigration Emergency’ Meeting
Flatbush lawmakers including Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, State Senator Kevin S. Parker, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte and Democratic District Leader Josue Pierre will host a State of Immigration Emergency tomorrow night.
The meeting will inform the many immigrant residents of Flatbush and Central Brooklyn of changes might occur under President Trump and offer strategies to prepare to deal with them.
The meeting is slated for between 6-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 1401 Flatbush Avenue (between Farragut Road and Foster Avenue) in Flatbush. For more details, please contact Beverly Gooding at bgooding@council.ny.gov or 718-629-2900.
