Weinstein, NY Legislators Demand President Fill Vacancies In Office To Combat Anti-Semitism
New York State Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein (D-Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Flatlands, Canarsie, East Flatbush) has joined over 60 of her Jewish legislator colleagues, demanding President Donald Trump fill vacancies in the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.
The Special Envoy plays a key role in diminishing anti-Jewish hatred overseas — and has been mandated by law since the George W. Bush Administration. This position has been important to fighting anti-Semitism and past envoys have made key accomplishments to fight hate abroad.
The Trump Administration had signaled that it would not replace the Envoy, with plans to transfer the remaining staff to other offices this month.
“One has to wonder whether the President’s disinterest in maintaining this post signals a lack of concern for bias incidents in general. This special envoy has investigated and stemmed a steady stream of anti-Semitic crimes and incidents, and is even more necessary with the rise of vitriolic sentiment that emerged during the last election cycle. I applaud my colleagues across the nation for standing up for this important cause,” said Weinstein.
BK Lawmakers Applaud De Blasio’s New No-Fine Inspection Program For Small Business
City Council Members Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York), Chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Robert Cornegy (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights), Chair of the Small Business Committee, are applauding Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new Visiting Inspector Program (VIP).
The program which was unveiled yesterday as part of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) will offer each of the agency’s 3,500 new brick and mortar licensees each year with a free educational inspection within three months of receiving their license to help them get into compliance with City laws without incurring any penalties.
During the violation-free inspection, one of DCA’s senior inspectors will provide the business with important information about how to comply with the laws that DCA enforces, including licensing laws, the City’s Consumer Protection Law, and workplace laws like the City’s Paid Sick Leave Law. The free educational inspection will be conducted in the business’ language of choice.
“We’re working with small businesses to boost sales, lower costs and employ more people. The City is reducing fines, increasing compliance, and investing in brick-and-mortar store-fronts. Vibrant commercial hubs are made possible by the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners, and we’ll support them with innovative City programs,” said de Blasio.
“Gone are the gotcha days. Under the de Blasio administration, DCA has made a genuine effort to support businesses and protect consumers by encouraging cures to violations and reducing fines. This is so important to the stability and vibrancy of our marketplace and this is yet another example of local government working with our small businesses, rather than against them,” said Espinal.
“ I understand the burden small business owners face in complying with City regulations. Unfortunately, too many businesses in this city are not as well informed of their regulatory responsibilities. The educational approach of the Visiting Inspector Program is exactly the kind of outreach needed from city agencies to ensure businesses are afforded an opportunity to learn about and comply with regulations that apply to them,” said Cornegy.
Donovan Reveals Plan To Kickstart Healthcare Reform
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) announced his plan to kickstart healthcare reform yesterday.
Donovan outlines a seven point “common sense” policy plan to reform the current healthcare system including piecemeal reform, allowing people to buy insurance across state lines, removing the individual mandate to open up competition, negotiating drug prices, reforming medical malpractice, supporting employee wellness programs and increasing limits on health savings account contributions.
“It’s time for both parties to come together and work to deliver real solutions. Instead of concentrating on the political points we have to gain, we need to focus on what the American people stand to lose if we don’t deliver. The reality is, we can’t change a $4 trillion industry every time a new political party takes control of a different branch of government. Americans deserve to know they will have access to stable, affordable, and quality healthcare no matter what party controls Congress or the White House,” wrote Donovan in an op-ed.
Donovan continued, “While Republicans and Democrats will always have varying beliefs and viewpoints on healthcare, we should all agree that the current system isn’t working and needs to be reformed. Medicaid, Medicare, and other divisive healthcare issues still need to be addressed. But as we seek to settle our differences of approach and find ways to protect such programs from going bankrupt, we can achieve these reforms.”
“These are common-sense policies that both parties should get behind. It’s not a “win” to see the other political party struggle in defeat. Our country deserves representation that can solve problems, not revel foolishly in pyrrhic victories. We’ve been asking America to believe that Congress will pass a replacement plan to make care more affordable and accessible. Let’s pass these reforms into law to show the American people that it can actually happen,” said Donovan.
Eugene Hosts Final Clinic For Last Minute Haiti TPS Re-Registration
City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Prospect-Lefferts, Ditmas Park; parts of Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush) will host a final Haiti Temporary Protected Status Re-Registration clinic today.
The final deadline for re-registration of TPS for Haitian immigrants is July 24.
In May of this year, the Department of Homeland Security (DOH) Secretary, John Kelly, extended TPS to immigrants of Haiti for an additional six months, 12 months shy of the usual 18 months given. The extension deadline will only grant TPS designation to eligible Haitians until January 22, 2018.
It was in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake that the U.S. originally granted Haitians TPS, a designation afforded to nationals of countries experiencing humanitarian crisis such as environmental disasters or epidemics which prevent nationals from returning safely.
The event is slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, at 900 Rogers Avenue (Between Synder Avenue and Albemarle Road) at Eugene District Office in East Flatbush.
Owner of Barclays To Be Guest On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Mikhail Prokhorov of Onexim Sports & Entertainment and owner of the Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets and the Long Island Nets will be a featured guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert today.
Prokhorov will be featured in a segment called “Lessons on how to live the oligarch lifestyle from Russian Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov.”
The segment is part of Colbert’s “Russia Week” that will highlight the host’s recent visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow.
The segment airs at 11:30 p.m. today, July 19, on CBS.
