BK Congress Members Address Firing of FBI Director James Comey
U.S. Congress Members Hakeem Jeffries (D-Central Brooklyn, Coney Island), Nydia Velazquez (D-Northern Brooklyn, LES, Queens), Jerrod Nadler (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan) and other members of the democratic congressional delegation will address the firing of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey today.
Last night it was announced by the Trump Administration that FBI Director James Comey was fired due to an investigation into the Trump 2016 presidential campaign’s possible collusion with Russia in influencing the 2016 Election to win Trump the presidency.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., today, May 10, in Foley Square, 111 Worth Street, in Lower Manhattan.
Clarke, CBC Chair Condemn Trump Administration Attack On Haitian Nationals
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-New Orleans) are condemning President Trump’s recent attacks on Haitian nationals.
According to recent reports, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is gathering evidence of crimes committed by Haitian beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for use in potentially refusing to renew Haiti’s TPS designation.
On May 2 of this year, Clarke and the CBC sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, John F. Kelly, to extend Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals citing local conditions like the continuing effects of the 2010 earthquake, the epidemic of cholera and the scarcity of food as reasons to keep Haiti as a designated TPS country.
“This is part of an unfortunate continuation of then-Candidate Trump and now the Trump Administration’s efforts to promote a false stereotype of the criminality of immigrants as evidenced by the creation of the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE) at the Department of Homeland Security. The Administration has cast immigrants as drug dealers, sexual predators, and terrorists who are a drain on our society,” said the joint statement from Clarke and the CBC.
“However, the fact is that immigrants are actually less likely to commit crimes than non-immigrants and higher immigration rates are associated with lower crime rates. Moreover, immigrants of all backgrounds contribute to our economy. For example, Haitian TPS-enrollees contribute nearly $35 million each year for Social Security benefits they do not receive,” said the joint statement.
Gentile Celebrates Passage Of Aggravated Illegal Conversions Bill
Council Member Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach) will celebrate the vote and expected passage of a new bill that will halt the proliferation of illegal home conversions today.
Intro 1218A, will create a new “aggravated illegal conversion” violation to tackle the most egregious offenders with a $15,000 fine on the owner for each illegally subdivided unit above the Certificate of Occupancy. Continued offenders will have their violation turned into a lien on the property which then can turn in a lien sale if the debt goes unpaid. The bill will also codify the Department of Building’s (DOB) process for obtaining a warrant to suspected illegal residential conversions.
The event is slated for 10:30 a.m., today , May 10, at the Steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
BP Adams Launches PSA Campaign Tackling Healthcare Costs
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams debuted “Is It an Emergency?” PSA campaign, a aimed at advancing patient education to address Brooklyn’s hospital crisis.
“Is It an Emergency” aims to reduce overuse of ERs — a common destination for many Brooklynites lacking health insurance — in the event of minor medical issues; in those cases, the campaign recommends the use of a federally-qualified health clinic (FQHC), primary care doctor, or urgent care clinic.
“Reducing the overuse of ERs across our borough’s hospitals is a low-cost solution to a high-cost crisis. We all have a responsibility to be smart consumers of health care services. As we actively pursue efforts to bolster existing facilities that have faced financial challenges, while dealing with the greater burden of rising health care costs system-wide, patient education on preventative measures is so valuable,” said Adams.
The launch of “Is It an Emergency?” comes just days after the House of Representatives voted 217-213 to repeal the ACA. If passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump, the repeal is expected to cost hospitals across the country an estimated $166 billion in Medicaid payments in the next decade.
“If you have a life threatening condition, go to the ER or call 911; however, if you have a minor issue, such as a cut or a cold, visit a local urgent care facility, your primary care doctor, or a local health clinic. Leave the emergency room free to those who really need it. You’ll be saving time and money in the process. Know the difference and avoid the wait,” said Adams.
Golden Applauds Passage of Community Heroes Protection Act
State Senator Martin Golden (R-Bay Ridge) applauded the passage of bill S1114A, that would make crimes explicitly committed against law enforcement and first responders punishable as hate crimes.
The new legislation would protect police, firefighters, and other emergency service workers by increasing penalties for individuals who target these workers.
The measure was inspired by the many brave men and women in uniform who have lost their lives, were injured, or targeted simply because of their jobs as community protectors. A recent study found that 135 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2016, the highest total since 2011. Of those killings, 21 came in ambush-style shootings –the highest total in more than two decades.
“Each day, our brave and dedicated law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and
medical service personnel put their lives on the line for our safety and they are being targeted with violence simply because they wear a first responder uniform. The Act will rightly classify these bias attacks against our law enforcement officers and first responders as hate crimes. This law will see to it that such an offender receives a punishment that fits this heinous crime,” said Golden.
The bill’s expected passage yesterday coincided with the annual Police Officers Memorial Ceremony to recognize police officers of New York State who died in the line of duty.
Hamilton Condemns Death Of Transgender Woman, Brenda Bostick
NYS Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) is condemning the violent attack on Brenda Bostick, a transgender woman, whose sexual orientation led to her death.
Bostick, was beaten unconscious by a homeless man at around 10:30 p.m., April 25. She was found just a few block near her West 25th Street shelter and taken to Bellevue Hospital where she was later pronounced dead. The case was ruled a homicide.
This is the tenth violent death of transgender women in the United States in this year alone.
“We must collectively, forcefully, and loudly reject violence against people because of their gender identity. Our country recently suffered the tenth murder of a transgender woman this year; nine of the victims were black transgender woman. These deaths should horrify each and every New Yorker,” said Hamilton.
“Our struggle for social justice connects across communities and across identities. Our efforts to build inclusive, accepting communities in New York require us to stand up against these crimes and say, “Not in our City. Not in our State. Not in our communities! We will not tolerate people being discriminated against, harassed, abused, and targeted for violence because of their gender identity. Even as the justice system works to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice, we as New Yorkers must act to make the call to action “Trans Lives Matter” represents a reality,” he added.
Menchaca Calls for Public Briefing Issues Affecting N/R Subway Lines
Council Member Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) is calling for a public briefing by Consolidated Edison (ConEd) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on the recent power outages and signal issues affecting the 38th council district.
Menchaca wants an extensive briefing on the N and R line subway service disruptions that occurred on May 7 and May 9 and throughout the period when multiple local stations on Brooklyn’s N/R lines have been closed for construction projects.
This is the second major subway service disruption in three days that is creating chaos and confusion that have been accompanied by serious lapses in communication and confusing service change notices.
Menchaca is demanding a description of contingency plans for communication to riders during serious service disruptions; a full disclosure by MTA and ConEd of what caused the most recent power outages, an accounting of their effects on subway services and what has been done to prevent future similar events, and; a detailed timeline charting all capital and repair projects, planned service disruptions and station closures, on the N/R line.
