Golden, Malliotakis Respond To Conviction Of Holder Murderer
State Sen. Martin J. Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerritsen) and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Bay Ridge, Staten Island) yesterday issued statements regarding the conviction of Tyrone Howard in the murder of NYPD Officer Randolph Holder.
Holder, while on patrol in East Harlem on October 20, 2015, was senselessly murdered while responding to a report of shots fired. The person who committed this heinous and irrational crime had five previous drug convictions, was wanted by police in connection with a September 1, 2015 shooting, and had a warrant open for failing to participate in a court ordered treatment.
Court records show that despite a lengthy criminal history, the shooter was approved by the Court for a drug treatment program over the objections of the prosecutor, who argued in favor of incarceration given the perpetrator’s history of violence.
“I am delighted that Officer Randolph Holder and his family have finally received justice and that Tyrone Howard will spend the rest of his life in prison. Sadly, this tragedy could have been prevented if the courts
would have denied this violent criminal entry into a drug diversion program that put Howard back on the street to commit murder. Recently the Senate passed “Officer Randolph Holder’s Law”, (S27/A3404), a bill designed to make necessary reforms to judicial diversion programs to ensure and enhance public safety. Moving forward, it is important that the public and law enforcement officers are protected from violent individuals who take advantage of drug treatment programs to get back on the streets to commit
further crimes,” said Golden, a former NYPD Officer.
“In no circumstance should any person with an extensive criminal history be afforded the privileges, and opportunities, substance abuse treatment programs afford people. These important drug programs should be granted solely to individuals with a limited non-violent criminal history and who do not pose a threat to society. This bill would narrow the eligibility requirements for those entering judicial diversion, prohibiting those who have more than two prior felony convictions.”
Malliotakis said the conviction of Howard is a conclusion to a catastrophic series of events that exposed a gaping flaw in our criminal justice system.
“Despite the fact that Detective Holder’s killer will be penalized accordingly and prevented from continuing to live as a societal menace, the entire tragedy could have been avoided if Howard was not inappropriately sentenced to a drug treatment program, allowing him to be diverted from prison and put back on our streets. In light of this tragedy, and to prevent another one from occurring, the Assembly must follow the Senate’s lead in passing A 3404, preventing hardened criminals with multiple felony convictions from entering diversion programs intended for those who have committed minor offenses because they are truly afflicted with drug addiction,” Malliotakis said.
Cuomo Supports Raise The Age
Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday expressed his support for ‘Raise the age’ legislation now moving through the Assembly and Senate, which would raise the age from 15 to 18 for those charged as adults for criminal liability.
“New York should be ashamed to be one of two states in the nation that treat 15- and 16-year-olds as adults for criminal liability. The hell that is Rikers Island would be a target for human rights groups if they ever looked in their own backyard. Speaker Heastie, to his credit, has strongly advocated to pass Raise the Age. I have included it in my budget proposal to afford maximum leverage. Senator Klein is in a unique position to end the Senate’s historic recalcitrance on this issue and insist that Raise the Age reform be passed in the budget,” said Cuomo.
“The Executive and Legislature have an excellent track record on achieving multi-faceted, balanced progress for the state. We have achieved unprecedented economic progress with spending controls, tax cuts, and our business development program. We have accomplished historic social change with marriage equality, paid family leave, gun safety, minimum wage, and transgender rights. We are a national progressive leader. This session we must add Raise the Age to that list.”
Squadron Forces Vote On Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act
State Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan) yesterday announced that he has filed a motion to force a vote on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA — S.502), which would codify basic anti-discrimination protections for transgender and gender nonconforming New Yorkers.
GENDA has passed the State Assembly nine times, including with bipartisan support. Squadron’s motion requires that GENDA be placed on the Senate’s Investigations and Government Operations Committee agenda within 45 days.
“At a time when basic civil rights are under attack nationwide, New York has an opportunity to codify civil rights protections and show that discrimination has no place in our state,” said Squadron. “New York must stand against the divisiveness we’ve seen come from the White House and state houses across the country, and pass GENDA, once and for all. With the Assembly on track to pass GENDA for a 10th time, the Senate Majority should support basic equality and fairness for transgender New Yorkers.”
GENDA would codify basic anti-discrimination protections for transgender and gender nonconforming New Yorkers in housing, employment, and public accommodations. In 2015, Cuomo took executive action clarifying protections for transgender New Yorkers are covered under the state’s Human Rights Law.
Adams Expands Faith-Based Development Initiative
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams yesterday expanded his groundbreaking Faith-Based Development Initiative, a first-of-its-kind effort in New York City that connects local houses of worship with information and resources to explore opportunities for developing their properties to create affordable housing and other community benefits.
In response to land use applications submitted by Atlantic East Affiliates LLC, a joint effort between Brisa Builders Corporation and Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, to rezone 1860 Eastern Parkway in Ocean Hill, Adams called for the creation of zoning map amendments that would facilitate, in collaboration with True Holy Church, a 10-story, mixed-use residential building with 67 affordable housing units and new church space.
“This is the first opportunity I have had to use the ULURP process to advance my Faith-Based Development Initiative, and I am excited to do so in a community like Ocean Hill, which is ideal for partnering houses of worship with developers committed to affordable housing for Brooklynites in true need,” said Adams. “This project promises to create critically-needed housing for dozens of our very low- and low-income neighbors, including formerly homeless veterans. It is my mission to ensure Brooklyn can remain a place where everyone from everywhere can afford to call it home, and this initiative is setting the standard for a new approach that the rest of our city can follow.”
In addition to the creation of local affordable housing through the proposed project, True Holy Church, the property owner of 1860 Eastern Parkway, will reconstruct and expand its existing facility. All of the housing units in the development would be priced at or below 60 percent of area median income (AMI), with 15 percent of the units set aside for formerly homeless veterans.
True Holy Church, which has been a fixture in the community since 1952, has an existing relationship with a nearby men’s homeless shelter that has a high population of veterans supported by the church through its various programs.
To date, Adams’ office has identified more than 2,700 tax lots across Brooklyn that are associated with houses of worship, with hundreds of those estimated to have corresponding property rights that may align with the Faith-Based Development Initiative. Last October, he announced a $1 million investment from his Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) capital budget dedicated to the first two projects associated with this initiative.
Adams’ recommendations will be considered by the City Planning Commission (CPC) as part of their public meeting today.
Gillibrand On House Bill to Dismantle Affordable Care Act
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday denounced the House proposal yesterday to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.
The controversial new bill comes after the Affordable Care Act has given health insurance to millions of Americans for the first time. The new bill reportedly even has some Republicans and conservatives questioning its validity.
“I believe health care is a human right and that Americans should never be denied access to quality, affordable health care. President Trump’s health care proposal would force middle class families and seniors to pay more money for less care and leave more people uninsured, all while giving huge tax breaks to insurance companies and the highest wage earners,” said Gillibrand.
“It would cripple state budgets by cutting Medicaid funding and would give health insurance companies a special tax break for CEOs who make over half a million dollars. I will do everything I can to stop this assault on the health and economic security of middle class families and seniors.”
Gonzalez Expands Explorers Program
Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with the Boy Scouts of America Greater New York Councils Deputy Scout Executive Christopher Coscia, yesterday announced the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Explorers Post program—a new career exploration and mentoring initiative designed to introduce young men and women to the expansive work of a prosecutor’s office and provide them with an in-depth overview of the criminal justice system.
The NYPD has a similar program, in which every precinct takes local youths and teaches them the ins and outs of law enforcement.
“In Brooklyn, we recognize that our future rests in the success of our youth and by partnering with New York City Exploring we continue to provide wide-ranging programs that strengthen community relationships and give young people opportunities to reach their full potential. Through the Explorers Post program, dozens of students will work hands-on with prosecutors to gain invaluable experience and insight into the criminal justice system, while volunteering prosecutors have a chance to learn more about the communities they serve,” said Gonzalez.
The Explores Post program will be administered by the District Attorney’s Youth Diversion Programs Bureau and builds upon the Office’s ongoing youth-centered crime prevention and educational initiatives, including the ‘Friday Night Lights’ youth basketball program in Red Hook, an after-school chess program in Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York as well as a series of high school internships.
All of these programs help to build relationships between law enforcement and the community.
Cumbo, James Observe National “Day Without Women”
The New York City Council Women’s Caucus, the 12-member body led by Co-Chairs Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) and Helen Rosenthal and special guest Public Advocate Letitia James today will join women across the country in observing a “Day Without A Woman” on the steps of City Hall.
Social justice leaders, elected officials, advocates, and everyday New Yorkers will utilize a nonviolent form of peaceful protest to mark both the national “Day Without A Woman” and International Women’s Day.
Together, women will break bread, eat their our brown bagged lunches and, in smaller groups, learn about the profound economic and societal value of “women’s work,” whether it is paid or unpaid; and the critical role that women have played in professions that put people first.
A Day Without A Women means A Day Without:
- Health Care
- Education
- Child Care
- Libraries
- Elder Care
- Care for the Homeless
- Mental Health Care
- Foster Care
- Sexual Violence Advocacy
- Reproductive Care
- Activism, and more
The event is slated for 12 noon, today. March 8 on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Eugene Holds Immigrant Forum
City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush) today will hold an Immigration Forum.
Topics to be discussed include Citizenship, Family Based Petitions, DAPA/DACA, Asylum, Filing Fee Changes, TPS, Deportation, Immigration Fraud, Family Reunification and Other Related Issues.
The forum is slated for between 6:30-8:30 p.m., tonight, March 8 at PS 6 in Brooklyn, 43 Snyder Avenue (between Flatbush and Bedford avenues) in Flatbush.
