Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move July 7, 2017

News Site Brooklyn

Clarke, NY Congressional Delegation Call For More Census Funding

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-Queens) along with members of the New York City congressional delegation yesterday called on the U.S. Department of Commerce to support full and appropriate funding for the New York City operations of the Census Bureau and the 2020 Census.

Census data is used to determine the number of congressional seats each state receives, how state legislative districts are drawn, and how more than $400 billion in federal funds is allocated each year to local, state, and tribal governments.

New York City, although heavily populated, is traditionally undercounted in the Census, which causes the city and state to lose out on important federal support. In 2010, problems with field operations in two local census offices in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens resulted in undercounted neighborhoods that have been left underserved. As a result, over the past seven years, New York City has had to manage this shortfall and take its own corrective actions to modify the 2010 Census numbers so that city agencies had access to accurate data.

“As the population of New York City continues to expand, our needs increase,” said Clarke. “But historically, communities of color and immigrant families have been undercounted and, therefore, underserved. In the 2010 Census, for example, some neighborhoods in Central Brooklyn were reported to have lost population, despite the fact that the population had clearly increased. We need sufficient resources to count every individual in New York City to guarantee their full representation.”

In addition to Chairman Crowley and Rep. Clarke, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representatives Hakeem S. Jeffries, Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Nydia M. Velázquez, Eliot L. Engel, Thomas R. Suozzi, Gregory W. Meeks, Grace Meng, Adriano Espaillat, and José E. Serrano.


Cuomo Calls For Review Of Psychiatric Patients Hospital Release

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday ordered a review of the Bronx Hospital that admitted the individual responsible for the shooting death of New York City Police Officer Miosotis Familia after giving the shooter a psychiatric exam, and quickly releasing him from hospital care only days before Wednesday’s unprovoked attack.

“Under tragic circumstances such as these, it is critical to ensure all proper procedures and safeguards were taken. At my direction, the state Department of Health and Office of Mental Health are launching an immediate review of St. Barnabas Hospital’s actions and policies in admitting, treating and discharging this individual. This review will determine if all relevant state laws, regulations and guidelines were followed,” said Cuomo.

“Officer Familia dedicated her life to protecting her community, and her death is mourned by all New Yorkers. I once again extend my deepest condolences to her family, loved ones and fellow members of the New York City Police Department.”


Wright Sponsors STEM Family Night

Assemblywoman-elect Tremaine Wright

Assemblymember Tremaine S. Wright (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) next Tuesday is sponsoring a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Family Night at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza in partnership with the National Foundation of Women Legislators, Google’s Made with Code and Girls Who Code.

The event will feature a free coding workshop for youth ages 13-18, local community resource organizations and a movie screening of 2016’s “Hidden Figures” for the entire family to enjoy. The 2016 movie is based on a true story about three African-American women who were hired by NASA during a high point of racial segregation and workplace gender discrimination.

The event is slated for between 6-10 p.m., Tuesday, July 11 at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street. This event is free and open to the public. To register for this event, RSVP by emailing rsvp56@gmail.com.


Hinkind Again Takes Sarsour To Task

NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park) yesterday said Bay Ridge Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour recent alleged veiled threats against President Trump and his administration should be taken very seriously.

Sarsour, who recently delivered a keynote speech at CUNY, made the alleged threats while speaking to the 54th Annual Islamic Society of North America Convention in Rosemont, Illinois. Sarsour’s 22-minute speech called on Muslims to unite against American government oppressors, said Hikind.

Sarsour began her address by thanking her “favorite person in this room … Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who has been a mentor, motivator, and encourager of mine.” Wahhaj was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. She went on to say: “I hope, that when we stand up to those who oppress our communities, that Allah accepts from us that as a form of jihad,” said Sarsour. “We are struggling against tyrants and rulers not only abroad … but here in the United States of America, where you have fascists and white supremacists and Islamophobes reigning in the White House… Our number one and top priority is to protect and defend our community. It is not to assimilate and to please any other people in authority. And our top priority … is to please Allah, and only Allah.”

“Words matter,” said Hikind. “Attacks on the police, like the one New York suffered yesterday, are precipitated by violent slogans calling for violence against the police. The attack on members of Congress, an attack that left Representative Steve Scalise in critical condition, was preceded by violent threats from extremists right here in this country. Linda Sarsour is a very dangerous person. She knows full well what she is saying and who she is saying it to. Holy wars are a reality all over the world and here is someone right in this country who has the ear of many people calling for a holy war.

“The first World Trade Center bombing was practically laughed off because no one was hurt. But eight years later, we saw the results. I say this in all earnest: Take Linda Sarsour and her attempts to radicalize people very, very seriously.”

KCP has repeatedly asked Sarsour for a response to allegations made against her. She also has an open invitation to contribute an unedited Op-Ed to KCP, which is a secular news website. To date she has never responded.


Man Booker Prize Winner Marlon james Lectures At St. Francis College

Man Booker Prize Winner Marlon James (A Brief History of Seven Killings) next Friday concludes the first low-residency, ten-day session of the new MFA in Creative Writing at St. Francis College with a lecture on the craft of writing.

James is one of the mentors for the new MFA, along with poet Annie Fitch, novelist Tony Tulathimutte, and playwright Kathryn Grant.

The low-residency MFA in Creative Writing, which began July 5, is the only program of its kind in New York City. While in Brooklyn Heights, this first class of aspiring writers will work with their professional mentor as well as meet and work with agents, editors, and publishers at roundtables, panel discussions, and workshops.

The students will take advantage of an intimate, focused environment that comes with a maximum 6 to 1 student to faculty ratio. The low-residency model combines the intensive in-person sessions with online workshops that lead to the creation of a novella, chapbook of poetry, or collection short stories.

The lecture is slated for 6 p.m., next Friday, July 15 at St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights. It is free and open to the public. Learn more at sfc.edu/MFA.