Gillibrand Reintroduces Family Act
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) yesterday led a group of 27 Senators to reintroduce the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, or FAMILY Act, legislation that would create a universal, gender-neutral paid family and medical leave program.
Gillibrand said the U.S. is the only industrialized nation without a national paid leave program, and only 14 percent of American workers have access to paid family leave through their employer. Without a national paid family leave program, the U.S. economy loses almost $21 billion a year, women lose $324,000 in wages and retirement benefits over a lifetime, and men lose $284,000. A lack of a national paid leave program hurts businesses; studies show that businesses incur an additional 20 percent cost to recruit and retrain new workers replacing others who left because they did not have paid leave.
The FAMILY Act creates a self-sustaining family insurance program for all workers – young and elderly, single and married, and men and women, regardless of the size of their employer. Modeled after successful state programs, and costing only as much as a cup of coffee per week, the fund would provide up to 66 percent wage-replacement for 12 weeks in the event of a serious personal or family medical emergency.
“The vast majority of working families don’t have access to paid leave, and as a working mom, I understand the urgency of this problem,” said Gillibrand. “Every day that goes by without a national paid family leave program, workers will continue to lose income, they’ll continue to lose their jobs, and businesses will continue to lose employees. We need to pass the FAMILY Act and give every working American access to paid leave when they need it.”
Walker Launches Youth Engagement Initiative
Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brownsville) is launching a fundraising initiative that would bring youths from her district to the New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislators’ Caucus, which begins Feb. 18 in Albany.
Dubbed the Brownsville/East New York Youth Engagement Initiative, the money raised will pay for to bring more than 50 local young people to the weekend events including the Caucus’ Youth Summit.
“Our Youth will learn about economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, the importance of voting, and tour the Capitol. They will have the opportunity to interact with peers from across New York State. I can’t do this alone. I need your help,” said Walker.
People interested in supporting the initiative can do so by clicking the following links: Mentor-$500, Youth Leader -$250, Supporter-$100, Other – $_____.
De Blasio Administration Hosts #OneNewYork Day of Action
The City’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), the City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU) will host a #OneNewYork Day of Action: Protecting Our Muslim Communities today.
The action’s purpose is to remind fellow New Yorkers, especially the Muslim communities and all other communities perceived as such, that the City is committed to protecting all New Yorkers where they live, work, and shop, and offers services to help those in need, regardless of immigration status or background.
Teams from the City, as well as elected officials and community partners, will visit 12 subway stations in key neighborhoods during the morning rush hour to distribute information about access to free immigration services and protection from discrimination, as well as workplace retaliation, in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali and Urdu.
The initiative will kick off this morning with leafletting during the morning rush hour followed by a 9:30 a.m. Press conference on the Northeast corner of Bay Ridge and 4th Avenues outside the R train subway stop.
Espinal Launches East New York Homeowner Help Desk
City Council Member Rafael Espinal Jr. (D-Bushwick, East New York) along with the City’s Department of Housing and Preservation Development (HPD) Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer today will officially launch the East New York Homeowner Help Desk at a Homeowner Forum & Resource Fair.
The Homeowner Help Desk is a vital resource Espinal secured as part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan to support homeowners in the community.
The Help Desk will be run by the Center for NYC Neighborhoods, in partnership with Espinal’s office and HPD. It will provide assistance with foreclosure prevention, guidance on scam avoidance, advice on home repair and other programs like weatherization loans. Lawyers and housing advocates will be available and targeted outreach will be conducted to inform community members of the resources available to them.
Both state Sen. Martin Dilan and Assembly Member Erik Dilan, both of whom also represent the area, will also be on hand as well as multiple city agencies and local nonprofit organizations.
The launch is slated for 6:30 p.m., this evening, Feb. 8 at PS 89, 265 Warwick Street in East New York.
Brooklyn Democrats for Change Annual Meeting
The Brooklyn Democrats For Change, which covers mainly Bay Ridge, is holding their annual meeting tomorrow evening.
At the meeting, the political club will elect the following members to club positions: President Amanda Pizzuti; 1st Vice President: Katherine Khatari; 2nd Vice President: Annette Cox; and Board Members At Large (2 Year Term): Seamus Campbell, Democratic District Leader Kevin Peter Carroll and Peter Scarpa.
Club Dues are due at this meeting and can be had at: See enclosed form.
The meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m., tomorrow, Feb. 9 at The Salty Dog Bar & Restaurant, 7509 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge.
