Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Sept. 5, 2017

News Site Brooklyn

AG Schniederman, Cuomo Defend DACA Residents

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that they would sue President Donald Trump if he were to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, over the weekend.

Late last week, Trump decided to phase out DACA but with a 6-month delay. According to initial reports, the six month delay will give Congress time to pass legislation to replace it. DACA grants two-year work permits to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as children.

The Obama-era program grants work permits to about 800,000 undocumented immigrants including over 40,000 New Yorkers. Though Trump’s decision has not been finalized, an official announcement is expected this Tuesday.

“President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program would be cruel, gratuitous, and devastating to tens of thousands of New Yorkers—and I will sue to protect them. Dreamers are Americans in every way. They played by the rules. They pay their taxes. And they’ve earned the right to stay in the only home they have ever known. They are vital members of our community. The poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty—written by the descendant of early Jewish immigrants—promises this nation will “lift its lamp” for the huddled masses. New York will never break that promise. And neither will my office,” said Schneiderman. 

“If he [Trump] moves forward with this cruel action, New York State will sue to protect the ‘dreamers’ and the state’s sovereign interest in the fair and equal application of the law. Ending this policy represents an assault on the values that built this state and this nation. The President’s action would upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people who have only ever called America their home. It will rip families apart, sow havoc in our communities and force innocent people—our neighbors, our friends, and our relatives—to live in fear. We have both a legal and moral obligation to make sure that the laws are faithfully executed without discrimination or animus. New York has and will continue to raise the torch of hope and opportunity, not fear, and we open our arms to all who want to join our community,” said Cuomo.  


BK Lawmakers Push For Harvey Relief Efforts

City Councilman Mark Treyger
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch
City Councilman Alan Maisel

City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst), Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Recovery and Resiliency alongside Council Members Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest) and Alan Maisel (D-Canarsie, Flatlands, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach) encouraged New Yorkers to contribute to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts last Friday.

The group, spurred by the upcoming anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, encouraged New Yorkers interested in providing financial support to go through reputable sources, including the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Fund to Advance New York City. The Mayor along with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), and the New York Police Department (NYPD) have already sent 120 first responders to Texas to coordinate and assist with search-and-rescue operations.

According to current reports, Hurricane Harvey has dropped 52 inches of rain, resulting in catastrophic flooding in Houston, TX and surrounding Gulf Coast areas as it continues to move inland toward Kentucky. At least 37 people have been confirmed dead, and at least 17 are missing so far. Tens of thousands of Americans have been evacuated from their homes, and 32,000 area residents are currently in shelters. At least 200,000 homes and businesses are without power. Reports estimate that the storm may cost somewhere in the range of $50 billion to $190 billion.

“Unfortunately, here in New York, we are all too familiar with the kind of damage and destruction that Mother Nature can cause. Yet we also know the capacity for kindness and generosity that our fellow Americans showed our city in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The footage and reports out of Houston and the surrounding areas have been heartbreaking. We must stand in solidarity with our fellow Americans in Texas and Louisiana and do what we can to offer them help during their time of need,” said Treyger.

“Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction that displaced tens of thousands of people. New Yorkers were there for each other after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Let’s all come together again to help our fellow Americans recover from Hurricane Harvey by donating money, sending a care package, or conveying a message of moral support,” said Deutsch.

“My heart and prayers go out to those currently affected by Hurricane Harvey. To have a year’s worth of rain within two days of torrential downpour is absolutely unimaginable. In 2012, when Superstorm Sandy hit the northeast coast, it was one of the worst storms that we have ever experienced. During and immediately after the storm, elected officials, resiliency organizations and fellow New Yorkers came together to make recovery and resiliency happen. In this time of need, it is crucial to stand side by side with our fellow Americans of the Houston area and provide as much support as possible to the Hurricane Harvey relief,” said Maisel.


Williams Celebrates J’ouvert’s Culture & History

City Councilmember Jumaane Williams

City Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) celebrated the 50th Annual West Indian American Day Carnival over the weekend.

The annual celebration also known as J’ouvert has roots in the post-emancipation Carnival festivities and takes place every year in Brooklyn during Labor Day weekend.

This year’s event was moved to sunlight hours in response to outbreak of gun-violence in the past two years that took the lives of three individuals including Carey Gabay, a lawyer in Governor Cuomo’s administration at the time of his death.  

“From spectators to participants, the main event of Labor Day weekend is the West Indian American Day Parade. The parade attracts millions, who come out to engage in the culture of the different Caribbean islands such as Grenada, the island of my parents birth. Despite the many criticisms towards the parade, the West Indian Day festival is still meaningful to countless of people because of what it reflects. The carnival puts on display the Caribbean culture for all to take part in and appreciate,” said Williams.

“With every feather put in place to create a costume, and every mas band that hits Eastern Parkway, parade goers will be reminded of colorful culture and heritage of the Caribbean,” added Williams.


Bichotte Celebrates Workers, Commits To Continue Fighting For Rights

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte

Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) used this year’s Labor Day to honor workers and continue her commitment to fight for worker rights.

In April of 2016, the New York State Assembly passed legislation that increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour and created a paid family leave program, that is set to begin this January. Bichotte went on to use the day to highlight the gender wage gap that the Assembly Majority is currently working to close, as women in NYS only make 80 cents for every dollar a man earns.

“Here in New York State, Labor Day heralds the end of summer and the start of a new school year. But it’s so much more than a day to gather with friends and family. It’s a time to honor the people who keep our economy running, grow and make our food, manufacture and transport goods, teach our children and protect our health” said Bichotte.

However, as our economy moves forward today, we want to acknowledge the important contributions of all workers. No matter the job, everyone deserves a fair wage and safe working conditions. They [workers] have an ally in me, and I’ll always make their voices heard,” added Bichotte.


St. Francis Named “Best Bang For The Buck” For 2nd Year In A Row

St. Francis College was honored by the Washington Monthly magazine over the weekend who named the college as a “Best Bang for the Buck” among colleges in the Northeast for it’s second consecutive year.  

Washington Monthly looks at “Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country)” as a way to “rate schools based on what they are doing for the country.” 

The accolade from Washington Monthly is the latest in a string of honors that includes recognition from Forbes and Money as well as research by the New York Times that shows St. Francis among the top colleges in the country paving the way for students to enjoy economic mobility.

The school will hold a block party this upcoming week to welcome its 19th President Miguel Martinez-Saenz. The event is slated for Tuesday, September 5 at St. Francis, 180 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights.