BP Adams Celebrates Religious Liberty
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will join faith leaders today to celebrate Brooklyn Day of Prayer, a national religious tradition that celebrates religious liberty.
The diverse gathering will feature prayers offered by clergy from multiple denominations and will honor the legacy of Brooklyn as the “Borough of Churches,” a community where people of all traditions are supported as they freely practice their beliefs and express themselves in peace.
In addition to speaking about Brooklyn’s rich faith-based community, Adams will plan to speak out against a religious liberty-focused executive order that President Trump reportedly intends to sign today, which is expected to permit discriminatory behavior against women and LGBTQ+ individuals.
The event is slated for 6 p.m. today, May 4, at the Steps of Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
IDC Announces Major Property Tax Savings For Seniors & Disabled
New York State Senators Diane Savino (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) along with the rest of the Independent Democratic Conference will release a new report today on the upcoming benefits of expanding the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE) and the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE) programs.
The IDC has advocated for this major property tax relief, and with the support of the city, it is expected to happen this year. The report will include examples of how much seniors and residents with disabilities can expect to save based on property type and neighborhood.
The event is slated for noon today May 4, at 250 Broadway, 20th Floor in Lower Manhattan.
Schumer Decries Green Nomination For Army Secretary
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) denounced the nomination of Mark Green for Army Secretary by President Trump yesterday, on the grounds of his intolerance of minority groups, LGBTQ individuals and other religious denominations, specifically Islam.
“While I deeply appreciate and applaud his record of service to this nation, I feel that Mr. Green’s intolerant, extreme and deeply disturbing views, and disparaging comments toward the LGBTQ community, Muslims, Latinos and other groups of Americans – all of whom play important roles in the Army and in our country – are dangerous to morale, cohesion and readiness of our Armed Services and the fabric of America,” said Schumer.
“A man who was the lead sponsor of legislation to make it easier for businesses to discriminate against the LGBTQ community; opposes gay marriage, which is the law of the land; believes being transgender is a ‘disease;’ supports constricting access to legal contraception; and makes deeply troubling comments about Muslims is the wrong choice to lead America’s Army. I will oppose Mr. Green’s nomination and urge all my colleagues – Republicans and Democrats alike – in the Senate to do so as well,” said Schumer.
Trump announced the nomination of Green on April 7. Green is a West Point graduate and currently a Tennessee State Senator.
Menchaca To Unveil “Cinco de Mayo Place” Street In Sunset Park
City Council Member Carlos Menchaca (D-Red Hook, Sunset Park) along with other elected officials, local leaders and residents will officially designate Fifth Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets in Sunset Park as “Cinco de Mayo Place.”
The ceremony is a celebration of Mexican heritage and the contributions of Mexican people to New York City’s culture and economy. For the Mexican people, Cinco de Mayo is a recognition of victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla.
The unveiling of the Cinco de Mayo Place street sign we will celebrate Mexican heritage, will represents the long and hopeful future for New York City’s Mexican community.
The event is slated for 10 a.m., Sunday, May 7 at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Malliotakis Slams Mark-Viverito For Protecting Violent Criminals
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I,Ref-Brooklyn/Staten Island) is condemning City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for her attempts to use taxpayer money to protect illegal immigrants who have committed serious violent crimes.
A current pilot program, the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, provides attorneys to unauthorized foreign nationals in immigration court.
Mark-Viverito on Tuesday, April 2, asked Mayor de Blasio for an additional $16.4 million in funding, from the City budget, to grant undocumented violent felons and those convicted of other egregious crimes, including rape and murder, to free legal counsel.
“I am sure New Yorkers are as appalled as I am by the great lengths Mark-Viverito has gone to provide an environment in which illegal immigrants who commit crimes are protected from deportation. All New Yorkers, immigrants and citizens alike, want to be safe and the actions by the Council Speaker and others at City Hall are jeopardizing the safety of those they were elected to protect. It is shameful and this madness must be stopped,” said Malliotakis.
Brooklyn Pols Approve Federal Funding Bill
Congressmen Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) and Jerrod Nadler (D-Borough Park, Kensington, and parts of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Midwood and Manhattan) are praising the House passage of the FY2017 omnibus appropriations legislation to fund the federal government yesterday.
“This government funding package is a good deal for the residents of Staten Island and South Brooklyn, and I am proud to have worked in a bi-partisan manner to get it passed. Amongst other provisions, this bill provides increased resources to fight the opioid and heroin abuse epidemic, strengthens funding to bolster national security priorities, and cuts government waste. The American people deserve results, and I look forward to seeing this bill pass the Senate quickly,” said Donovan.
“Today, I voted in support of the Fiscal Year 2017 Omnibus, which reflects Democratic priorities and provides vital funding for critical programs. Despite their best efforts, Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration did not succeed in gutting funding for the programs I, and my constituents, hold dear, nor did they succeed in adding several poison pills or money for an absurd border wall,” said Nadler.
The bill contains funding measures for the Environmental Protection Agency, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) and many other programs.
“The bill is not perfect. We must now prepare ourselves to fight for these programs again in Fiscal Year 2018, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that our next spending bill reflects our values just as this one does,” said Nadler.
CM Williams To Deliver State of the 45th District Address
City Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Midwood, Canarsie) will deliver his State of the 45th District Address next Tuesday, which will include the progressive legislative and budgetary progress Williams has made and his plans for how he’ll continue to push the people’s agenda in the future.
The theme of the night will be “We Will Guide Each Other Thru This Darkness…” Williams has been an outspoken opponent of the Trump Administration, participating in protests and marches since the election last November.
“As we move through a period of blatant fear-mongering and divisiveness by the Trump Administration, New Yorkers must be able to turn to their local elected officials for leadership and conviction, to help combat the rhetoric that is being spewed on the national level,” said Williams.
“Your City Council Member- the son of Grenadian immigrants -has been one of the leading voices of resistance against the immigration policies of President Trump. He stands ready to help lead a resistance against those policies. To passionately advocate for immigrant rights,” said Williams.
The event is slated for 5:30 pm, Tuesday May 9, at Andries Hudde Junior High School, 2500 Nostrand Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn GOP & Teen Club Host 43rd City Council Debate
The Brooklyn GOP and the Brooklyn Teen Republican Club will host a debate between the three Republican candidates, John Quaglione, Liam McCabe and Bob Capano, for the 43rd Council District (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach).
All three candidates are in a crowded race to succeed term-limited Council Member Vincent Gentile. Also in the race are democratic candidates Khader El-Yateem, Justin Brannan, Kevin Peter Carroll, and Nancy Tong.
The winner of the Republican Primary on Sept. 12 will face off with the Democratic Primary winner in the general election on Nov. 7.
The event is slated for 7:30 p.m. today, May 4 at Bay Ridge Manor, 476 76th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
