Adams To Speak About Smart Guns
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams tonight will give remarks about the City’s smart gun initiative following a screening of A Smarter Gun, a brand-new documentary examining smart guns.
A smart gun, or personalized gun, is a firearm that includes a safety feature or features that allow it to fire only when activated by an authorized user. Adams, a former NYPD Officer and gun owner is a major proponent of smart guns to curtail gun violence.
Following Adams remarks, there will be a Q&A with Brian Anderson, the host of the film; Lara Heintz, the producer of the film; and Erika Soto Lamb, the Chief Communications Officer for Everytown for Gun Safety.
The screening is slated for between 7-9 p.m., tonight, March 22 at Nitehawk Cinema, 136 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg.
Gonzalez Taking Applications For Summer High School Internships
Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, yesterday announced the open application period for a summer internship program for high school students who live or attend school in the borough.
Students with an interest in criminal justice or public service will participate in the comprehensive five-week program.
“We are excited to host this hands-on and interactive internship program offering high school students the chance to work directly with Assistant District Attorneys and gain valuable real world experiences. Participating students will receive an insider’s view of the criminal justice system and the chance to be mentored in a professional workplace setting,” said Gonzalez.
Selected students will be assigned to units within the DA’s office to support the work of Assistant District Attorneys and other members of the DA’s staff. They can expect to assist with legal research and analysis using the Internet, news articles and legal periodicals; assist attorneys on pretrial matters; work on case preparation, discovery, file maintenance and organizing court documents; participate in trial zone workshops; participate in judicial, legal and law enforcement-related field trips; and observe criminal proceedings including trials, guilty pleas and sentencings.
The program is open to qualifying sophomores, juniors and rising seniors who must be able to commit to the entire duration of the program. It will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday thru Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday starting July 10 to August 11.
Students will receive a $150 weekly stipend and commuting costs. Applicants are required to supply their most recent school transcripts, a one-page resume, two letters of recommendation and evaluation forms from either a teacher, coach or mentor, and must submit a 300 word typed essay (12 pt. font and double-spaced) on why they are interested in interning with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and what impact they think it will have on their future personal and professional endeavors.
To apply, please visit www.brooklynda.org/internships, no later than April 20, 2017. For further information, please contact us at hsinternships@brooklynda.org.
Lentol, Golden Lead Way On Call To Give Music and Video Game Industries Tax Credits
Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol (D-Williamsburg, Greenpoint) and State Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Risge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) are joining several lawmakers from around the state and a coalition of more than 200 music-related organizations— and videogame industry professionals from around the State to urge Governor Cuomo to join both houses in supporting bipartisan legislation that will create thousands of good jobs in the music production and videogame industries.
The bipartisan legislation (S3159/A2670A), passed by both chambers of the Legislature last year, is included in both the Senate and Assembly adopted budget resolutions and provides a refundable tax credit for music production and videogame development throughout the state.
“We must support New York’s creative industries because if we don’t another state will. Over the years, we have seen our vibrant music industry move to other states and we need to stop this from happening. We also need to ensure further growth of our video game industry,” said Lentol. “The Governor has an opportunity to show New Yorkers that New York wants to be the epicenter of music and video game production. I am hopeful he will make the right decision.”
“Digital gaming should be at least a $2 and a half billion direct industry in our State, with over 10,000 jobs paying on average over $100,000 a year. Instead, we have a $60 million industry that has lost a net of 60
companies in the last five years,” said Golden. “We must correct this and make New York rank supreme in this. There is no reason to stall growth in this sector that has the potential to grow by nearly a quarter of a billion dollars within two years. This credit will stop that drain of New York talent, and at the same time, attract the best of the rest to come to the Empire State.”
Hamilton, IDC Calls For Home Stability Support Program
State Sen. Jesse Hamilton and his Senate Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) colleagues are advocating for the inclusion of the Home Stability Support program in the state budget.
This comprehensive initiative would provide a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are facing eviction, are currently homeless or who have lost housing due to domestic violence and/or hazardous conditions.
“We need to keep our neighborhoods whole. Investing in Home Stability Support would keep families in their homes by providing help at a critical time. Home Stability Support charts a real course forward in overcoming the challenge of homelessness across our communities,” said Hamilton
Hamilton and IDC colleagues are also pressing for greater transparency in shelter siting. The move comes after Crown Heights residents recently learned a new homeless shelter would open its doors in the community, and were frustrated over a lack of proper notification, planning and over saturation spread through the neighborhood.
Under a proposal advancing in the state budget, Hamilton and his IDC colleagues, the City would be required to give elected officials, community groups and residents ample time to provide insight on shelter siting.
“We all understand the need to house the homeless, but one community cannot bear the burden for the city. Crown Heights residents deserve to be heard and taken seriously by the administration. I am advocating for transparency, adequate notice, and community input as to new homeless shelters and use of hotels as temporary shelters. We need to be sure to have an inclusive process that takes on board the perspectives of on-the-ground experts, local elected officials, and neighborhood residents. Every community must take its fair share of the responsibility to assist homeless New Yorkers, and every community deserves to have an open dialogue about how it will take that responsibility forward,” said Hamilton.
Gillibrand Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Improve Adoption & Foster Care Nationwide
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and James Lankford (R-OK) and U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Steve Russell (R-OK) yesterday introduced the “National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act,” legislation that builds on successes in states like California to improve the matching of children and families in foster care and adoptions in the United States, including the advancement of home study standards.
This bill would create a national standard and database to achieve greater uniformity and transparency to ensure that the needs of children are put first no matter where they live.
“Thousands of children enter New York’s child welfare system and wait to be placed with a foster or for adoptive family every year, but our outdated child welfare system can’t keep up with the need and ends up preventing many children from finding loving and stable families to welcome them in,” said Gillibrand.
“The National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act would update our child welfare system, so that these children can be better matched to families who will meet their needs, take care of them, and protect them. Boys and girls who live in the child welfare system are some of the most vulnerable among us, and Congress has a responsibility to help them grow up and reach their potential just like any other child has the opportunity to do. I am proud to work with Senator Lankford and Representatives Huffman, Russell, and Bass on this bipartisan bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to join us in trying to pass it as quickly as possible.”
Malliotakis: Don’t Fine Citizens Who Don’t Vote
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-Bay Ridge, Staten Island) yesterday slammed Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan) for introducing legislation (A. 6730) that would make voting compulsory for individuals who are eligible to vote in New York State, and punish those who are eligible and don’t vote with a $10 fine.
The legislation was introduced in an effort to improve voter turnout numbers in New York, but Malliotakis believes this regressive policy does nothing but further the burden on the taxpayers of New York.
“The right to vote is a privilege reserved for each citizen. If a citizen does not want to exercise that privilege, it is also their right,” said Malliotakis. “Government shouldn’t be looking to financially hold its voters hostage or penalize citizens who exercise their rights and freedoms. Policies like this are what make voters apathetic and disenchanted with politics. We should be looking for more ways to ease the heavy burden of taxes, fees and fines already endured by New York’s taxpayers, not add to them.”
Hikind Blames State For Increased Accidents On Ocean Parkway
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Boro Park) is taking the State Department of Transportation to task for failing to heed warnings regarding recent changes and restrictions on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn.
The Ocean Parkway Safety Improvement Project that the DOT implemented includes no turns at several intersections, which Hikind says resulted in far less safe conditions for drivers and pedestrians.
“Despite my repeated warnings and request for a delay in the implementation of these changes, the New York State DOT’s plan, which it hastened to implement, eliminated right and left turns along the mainline at several avenues,” Hikind explained in a letter to NYS Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew Driscoll. “As our community expected, some of these changes have snarled traffic and created far less safe conditions along the service roads, to say nothing of greater confusion to both motorists and pedestrians alike. The proof is in the increase in accidents in just the short time that these changes have gone into effect.”
In the six weeks from January 1st through February 15th, there have already been three accidents on Kings Highway, four accidents at Avenue P, and nine accidents on Avenue J.
Hikind’s office is continuously besieged by irate residents who have told horror stories of being stuck in traffic along the service roads; of school buses trapped behind sanitation and delivery trucks; and of parents unable to get their children to school on time. What had once been a 10 minute ride to a school now takes 35 minutes. Because of the turn restrictions, trying to get onto the Ocean Parkway mainline is now a nightmare of navigating side streets and service roads, simultaneously endangering pedestrians and residents on these streets.
“In the 35 years that I have represented this district, I have never received as many complaints as I have regarding this issue. I have yet to meet a single resident who has felt that these changes have improved the community‘s safety. If anything, it has only served to reduce the quality of life, as it has forced more cars onto the surrounding side streets,” said Hikind.
Menchaca Rails Against Budget Cuts To Adult Literacy English Classes
City Council Member Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) today will rally with over 100 immigrants, adult learners, educators and their allies will rally today against Mayor de Blasio’s proposed budget cuts to adult literacy classes.
Menchaca pointed out that 2.2 million adult New Yorkers currently lacking English proficiency and/or a high school diploma – 1/3 of the entire adult population of the city – yet the Mayor’s Preliminary Budget did not renew $12m in funding included in last year’ budget, an investment advocates called historic at the time.
Literacy programs provide a pathway to economic mobility, social integration, parent-child engagement, improved health outcomes and improved community safety. However, these programs are dramatically underfunded and less than 3% of those in need can access adult education programming, said Menchaca.
The rally is slated for 9:30 a.m., today, March 22 on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Successful Launch of Brooklyn GOP’s Joint Field Office Project
Brooklyn GOP Chairman Ted Ghorra and the Brooklyn Republican Party recently unveiled the new Brooklyn GOP Joint Field office along with NY State Republican Party Chairnan Ed Cox in front of a very energized standing room crowd.
The event, which was very well attended focused mostly on expanding grassroots efforts through operations which can reach Brooklyn voters on a large scale. The introductory breakfast saw the likes of both familiar and many new volunteers who reside throughout Brooklyn including areas, including Marine Park, Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bedford Stuyvesant, Canarsie, Flatbush, Bay Ridge & Gerritsen Beach.
A number of special guest speakers were also in attendance including State Sen. Marty Golden, and City Council candidates Liam McCabe and John Quaglione. Among others in attendance were Brooklyn’s newest Republican clubs; Batya Goldberg, President of the Teen Republican Club and Ray Denaro, President of the South Brooklyn Republican Club, as well as Brandon Washington, President of the Brooklyn Young Republican Club.
“We are reaching thousands of voters around the borough, getting a significant and positive response and are providing a home for people in our diverse and talented party,” said Brooklyn GOP Field Office Director Maureen Daly.
Volunteering is open to anyone, if you are interested please feel free to contact Maureen Daly at 347-850-6367 or via E-Mail at DalyMJ@aol.com.
