Congresswoman Clarke Blasts Sec. Kelly’s Brief Visit To Haiti
U.S. Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville,Sheepshead Bay) denounced Security of Homeland Security John Kelly’s four hour visit to Haiti yesterday.
Kelly spent the entirety of his visit in the National Palace meeting with Haitian leaders and officials including Haitian President Jovenel Moïse where they discussed international cooperation and issues related to repatriation of Haitian nationals living in the U.S.
Kelly, just this past May, announced that Haitian immigrants would only be given a six-month extension on their Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a change from the usual 18 months or indefinite stay given in the past.
“Despite calls from more than two dozen humanitarian organizations for Secretary Kelly to visit resettlement sites and areas impacted directly by the earthquake, Hurricane Matthew, and the cholera epidemic, reports indicate that he will spend the entirety of his brief trip in the National Palace. This comes across as a cynical attempt to justify the uncertainty he has created about the fate of the Haitian people whom he has threatened with a decision to offer a six-month extension of Temporary Protected Status,” said Clarke.
Clarke went on to add, “I sincerely doubt that such a cursory trip will provide Secretary Kelly with the type of substantive knowledge required to truly comprehend the magnitude of conditions on the ground and/or properly inform his decision making. TPS has literally been a lifeline for the people of Haiti who continue to suffer from a much compromised infrastructure, are unable to provide adequate food for their people and healthcare services needed to abate a raging cholera epidemic. I believe that a more comprehensive and substantive assessment of conditions on the ground would be the most humane approach to determining how his decision to lift protection from close to 50,000 nationals would be truly impacted by his decision.”
BP Adams Applauds City, Mayor’s Support of Proposal To Grow Jobs In Broadway Junction
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L Adams announced the city and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s support for his plan to grow jobs and spur economic growth at Broadway Junction.
Last year, Adams proposed bringing government jobs to Broadway Junction, a major subway hub at the intersection of East New York, Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick with the A,C,J,Z and L trains as well as the LIRR and bus lines having major station stops.
Adams is hoping to build a 300,000-square-foot office building that would house six Administration for Children’s Services Division of Child Protection offices, a Department of Mental Health and Hygiene Brooklyn Borough Office, a Department of Homeless Services Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing Center and to place the NYPD’s Medical Division in the area.
“Two years ago, I first proposed a large-scale opportunity to create much-needed office space in Downtown Brooklyn while concurrently seeding a community-focused economic rebirth of Broadway Junction, an under-utilized transportation hub at the gateway to Cypress Hills and East New York.”
Adams went on to add, “Through meaningful dialogue with City Hall and NYCEDC leadership, we have arrived at a momentous juncture where this proposal can take root as a concrete plan that grows quality jobs for Brooklynites. My administration looks forward to working with Mayor de Blasio and NYCEDC President Patchett on smart long-term siting of City agencies in our borough.”
CM Williams To Increase Gun Violence Awareness
Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) will host a press conference to launch the start of Gun Violence Awareness Month tomorrow.
In 2014, Council Member Williams introduced legislation that declared June Gun Violence Awareness Month in New York City, in the hopes that the month would increase efforts to protect all New Yorkers, especially those who are disproportionately affected by gun violence
The month is also dedicated to raising awareness surrounding the issue of needless and senseless gun violence including bringing citizens and community leaders together to discuss ways to make communities healthier. June is a particularly important month because during the summer months is when gun violence typically increases.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., June 2 at 1 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan. On June 2 Mayor de Blasio will light City Hall orange in honor of the day.
Mosley To Hold J’ouvert Public Safety Town Hall
Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) will host a town hall to discuss safety at this year’s West Indian Day Parade or J’overt (“daybreaker”) later today.
The annual festival which takes place over Labor Day weekend in Flatbush and Crown Heights has seen an increase in violence over the last couple of years. In 2015, Carey Gabay, a 43-year-old deputy counsel to Governor Andrew Cuomo, was fatally shot and just last year two people were shot, 17-year-old Tyreke Borel, who was shot in the chest and Tiarah Poyau, a 22-year-old, who was shot in the face. Both incidents occurred during the festivities including another 2 shootings that were non-life threatening.
Over the years the New York Police Department (NYPD) has attempted to curb the violence through increased police presence, increased floodlights, installation of security cameras and implementation of a gun buyback program.
Also slated to appear at the Town Hall are City Council Member Laurie Cumbo, State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, and Democratic District Leader Geoffrey Davis.
The event is slated for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., today, June 1 at P.S. 375 Jackie Robinson School, 46 McKeever Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Bichotte To Host Minority & Women Owned Business Enterprises Day In Albany
Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) Chair of the Subcommittee on Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Senator James Sanders, Jr, Chair of the New York State Senate MWBE Task Force will host a state wide MWBE Coalition Lobby Day next week.
Bichotte will welcome MWBE firms and partners from various industries throughout the state to advocate on MWBE related issues and legislation including issues around increasing MWBE participation, capacity building and mentorship programs, transparency and accountability and access to capital.
“I am happy to see momentum across the State on this issue from Buffalo, to Syracuse, to New York City. There is evidence to show that $1 million in investment can be transformed into 25 jobs and now more than ever there is a great need not only for a strong financial commitment, but also a great need for a strong political commitment,” said Bichotte.
The event is slated for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Tuesday, June 6 at the Legislative Office Building, at the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany.
Senator Golden To Be Honored For Work in Achieving Pay Increase for Direct Service Professionals
New York State Senator Marty Golden (R-C-I, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) will be recognized by ADAPT Community Network’s Brooklyn facility and the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council for gaining a $45 million increase in pay for Direct Service Professionals in this year’s New York State budget.
The increase in funding comes as part of the year and a half long bFair2DirectCare campaign, a campaign that called for the increase in the budget to fund a living wage for Direct Care workers. Direct Care Workers are individuals who care for people of all ages who have disabilities or a chronic illness and need daily assistance.
ADAPT Community Network, is the city’s leading disability organization, with over 100 comprehensive programs including education, health, technology, residential, and recreational services.
The event is slated for 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., today June 1, at ADAPT Community Network, 160 Lawrence Avenue in Kensington, Brooklyn.
Assembly Member Simon Announces School Lunch Shaming Bill
Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (D-Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill) ) announced the introduction of a bill (A7376/S6444) to address the issue of school lunch shaming and school meal debt yesterday.
Alongside State Senator Liz Kruger, Simon introduced the measure that would ensure eligible families are connected with all meal-related benefits to which they’re entitled, and prevent schools from singling out or otherwise discriminating against kids who either have meal debt or receive free or reduced-price meals.
In schools across New York State, free, reduced-price, and full-price meals are available to families based on income but stigma and shame associated with being identified as low-income causes many children to forgo the meals altogether.
Currently there is no statewide policy on delivery of free or reduced-price school meals to eligible children, resulting in a patchwork of policies that vary across districts and between individual schools causing children to go hungry at school.
“All schoolchildren should have access to nutritious food and no child should be teased or made to feel ashamed because their family cannot afford school meals. First, this bill ensures that eligible children are enrolled in free and reduced-price school meals; and second, that kids are not denied a meal or shamed or identified in any way because they cannot pay. It also ensures that schools direct conversations about meal debt to the parents and not to the children,” said Simon.
