CM Williams Sends Goodwill Message To Officer Dragged Over The Weekend
Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) sends condolences and prayers to Officer Dalsh Veve, the cop who was dragged by a teen driving a stolen car over the weekend.
Veve was dragged 2 1/2 blocks after responding to 911 calls reporting gunshots at Tilden Avnue and E. 53rd St, that ended up being fireworks. Veve was questioning occupants of a black Honda Civic when the driver sped away dragging him West along Tilden Ave.
Veve remains in critical condition at Kings County Hospital where he is suffering from a severe brain injury from the incident.
“My prayers and thoughts are with Officer Veve and his family, who are undoubtedly going through a difficult time right now. My office works with the 67th precinct on a regular basis, so this hits especially close to home. I pray for his speedy recovery, and for him, his family and friends,”
Williams continued, “This morning, we are reminded of the difficult jobs officers face every day, while trying to earn a living for their families. Their goals and wants are no different from the millions of other people who get up and go to work every day. It is important to remember even through heated local and national discourse that on the other end of a 911 call is a human being whose job is to run toward dangerous situations, while many of us run in the other direction.”
Hikind Condemns Sarsour’s CUNY Commencement Appearance
Assembly Member Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park) denounced Linda Sarsour’s City University of New York (CUNY) commencement speech.
Sarsour delivered her commencement address to the 2017 graduates of the CUNY School of Public Health over the weekend amongst outcries from the Jewish community. Last month, Hikind pushed for Sarsour to be dismissed from speaking at the ceremony, citing her “support of violence and terrorism” as reasons for her cancellation.
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle to all of us in the United States. That freedom should never be denied to anyone regardless of their point of view, as radical as it may be in some cases. It was about imposing a speaker on CUNY’s graduating students and legitimizing someone who has a record of supporting violence and terrorism. Could CUNY not have made a better choice?”
Hikind continued, “For me, it is all about her words. Words matter. When Sarsour supported throwing rocks at Israelis and called that an “act of courage,” that was the issue. When she recently stood on stage with convicted terrorist Rasmea Odeh who was convicted of murdering two young people in Jerusalem and said that she was honored to share that stage with Odeh, that was the issue. When she supported Muhammad Allan from Islamic Jihad who was accused of recruiting suicide bombers, that was the issue.”
“After seven weeks of working to underscoring Sarsour’s public statements, I am amazed by the double standard that exits with this individual and bewildered by the refusal of so many decent people to judge her on her full record,” said Hikind.
Persaud Introduces Buildings Legislation
Senator Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, East New York) recently introduced legislation that increases fines for violators of stop work orders.
Bill S6443 increases fines from $5,000 to $10,000 for an initial violation and $10,000 to $20,000 for subsequent violations. The fines would be paid back to the Department of Buildings (DOB).
“This is an act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York.This bill would ensure that proper penalties are issued for individuals that violate stop order request and violate tenant rights as well as New York City law,” said Persaud.
“The fraudulent activity of New York City Building inspectors and construction contractors has been well documented. Just last year sixteen employees of New York City’s Department of Buildings were fired in a large-scale bribery scheme in which inspectors would fast track projects, and overlook city violations. It is important that we protect our tenants and also ensure a safe environment free of corruption. This legislation will further deter such activity by increasing the penalties,” she added.
Greenfield Holds Land Use Meeting On Rezoning and Housing Projects
City Council Member David Greenfield (D-Borough Park, Midwood, Bensonhurst) will lead a zoning and planning hearing today on building projects throughout Brooklyn.
Greenfield the Chair of the Committee on Land Use, will review land use applications on rezoning and housing projects including the rezoning of a parking lot in Vinegar Hill for use as a nine-story residential building, property tax exemptions and zoning changes for lots in Sunset Park and in Central Brooklyn.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., today, June 5, at City Hall in the Committee Room, in Lower Manhattan.
Carroll To Introduce Voter Registration Law
Assembly Member Robert Carroll (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) will introduced his new bill, A5735-A, which would require that voters be notified at the time of their registration that New York practices a closed primary system, this Tuesday.
New York State has a closed Primary System, a type of direct primary limited to individuals enrolled in a particular political party. According to Carroll, roughly 25% of voters in New York State are either not registered with a party or are registered in the Independence Party.
The new bill would require that every voter registration form, in bold and prominent type, notify voters: that the state of New York practices a closed primary system, that political party enrollment is optional and that in order to vote in a primary election of a political party within the state, they must be registered with that political party.
Carroll believes that early notification will help to better educate voters and potentially positively impact the primary enfranchisement of almost three million voters in New York State.
