Dromm & Bengali District Leaders Condemn Terrorist Attack
City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst), Democratic District Leader-at-Large Moin Choudhury and Joy Chowdhury joined the Bangladesh Society, Inc. and other local Bangladeshi leaders to condemn the Times Square terrorist attack that took place Monday morning.
Akayed Ullah, a native Bangladeshi who has been living in the United States since 2011, severely injured himself when he detonated a homemade pipe bomb in the station. He was apprehended by the police and has been charged with terrorism.
“I stand with my Bangladeshi colleagues in condemning this horrific act of violence,” said Dromm. “Akayed Ullah is an extremist. He does not represent the Bangladeshi community or the Muslim community, who soundly reject his hate. We gather together to proclaim with one voice that we will not cower from or be divided by such despicable acts.”
“Mr. Ullah does not represent the values of Bangladeshi American immigrants in the United States. Terrorism is an international issue. Together we will fight against terrorism. We are proud to be Bangladeshi Americans,” said Moin Choudhury.
Meeks Introduces Resolution for Congress to Investigate Trump Sexual Misconduct
U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, JFK Airport) this week introduced a House resolution calling on Congress to investigate sexual misconduct claims against President Trump.
Regarding the resolution’s introduction, Congressman Meeks issued the following statement:
“At the beginning of this year, millions of Americans—men and women alike—flooded the streets for the Women’s March to protest injustice and sexism. They protested and lifted their voices in the tradition of trailblazing Americans like Sojourner Truth and Gloria Steinem. Now, our nation is having a long overdue, watershed moment, with thousands of courageous women coming forward and uniting against sexual harassment.
“At a pivotal time, when the nation should be able to look to a President for moral leadership, we must look elsewhere. Instead of stamping out sexism, President Trump—who has bragged about committing sexual assault himself—has fanned its flames. He has resorted to claiming that all of the thirteen women with credible sexual misconduct allegations against him are liars. Well, it is time to get to the bottom of it.
“When women share personal accounts of sexism and violence towards them, we should listen rather than summarily dismiss their concerns. We should investigate their claims and the people who allegedly committed them regardless of their status or station in life. No American is above the law and no office is exempt from human decency.
“That’s why I’m calling on Congress to pass my resolution and either create a select committee or utilize an existing one to investigate the sexual misconduct claims against President Donald J. Trump.
“Moral values are not exclusively Republican, nor are they reserved only for Democrats. I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to live their moral values, support my resolution, and send a resounding message to women everywhere that the United States Congress stands with them in solidarity, and that no one, irrespective of position, has permission to abuse them.”
Kim Releases White Paper Proposal For Bitcoin
Assemblymember Ron Kim (D-Whitestone, Flushing, Murray Hill) released a white paper on the current state of virtual currencies like Bitcoin in New York, and outlined a proposal to better regulate the industry while encouraging commercial growth and investment.
Since its appearance in 2008, Bitcoin has become an increasingly popular topic of discussion, often polarizing, among both the public and financial institutions. As access to virtual currencies increase, the number of scams, thefts, hacks, and victims has grown.
In 2013, MtGox, a Bitcoin company and exchange which was handling over 70% of market transactions, went bankrupt after getting hacked and losing customers’ assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars. When news of the hack went public years later, the value of Bitcoin dropped 25%, highlighting the volatility of the market. The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has attempted to regulate this market by establishing a BitLicense. However, this heavy-handed, unilateral approach caused dozens of major cryptocurrency companies to leave New York, Many of them cited the excessive legal and labor costs needed to fully comply with all of the DFS’s regulations.
Kim is taking a new, legislative approach to tackle the problem. Working with his colleagues in the Assembly, Kim plans to introduce a bill to replace the current BitLicense with one that ensures greater consumer protections, while also reducing the burden on companies that wish to do business in the state. Elements of his proposal include establishing FDIC-style, industry-supported insurance coverage, a NY State Seal of Approval for licensed companies, and a requirement to decentralize company servers that contain customer’s personal and financial information.
“New York is already the financial capital of the world, but if we can’t keep up with future technological developments we’ll be left in the dust,” said Kim.
“Virtual and cryptocurrencies are a new and exciting development for many consumers, but they still entail a great deal of risk. With the value of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies on the rise, the potential for massive financial losses are mounting. We need to show that we can protect consumers in New York while still fostering a healthy economic environment for growth and investment. By replacing current NYDFS rules with a new licensing program that fairly protects consumers and attracts high-quality exchanges, we can demonstrate that New York is still the leader of the financial world in the digital era.”
Addabbo Reminds Constituents Deadline To Sign Up For Healthcare Is Tomorrow
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth and parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) wants to remind New Yorkers that time is running out to guarantee healthcare coverage starting on January 1, 2018.
The deadline to make sure you are covered by the start of next year is tomorrow, Friday, December 15.
Individuals and families that were previously enrolled in a NY State of Health plan also have until December 15 to either renew their plan or pick a new one for the beginning of next year.
“Having health coverage for you and your family is one of the most important gifts you can give this holiday season,” Addabbo said. “Getting on a new plan, or renewing your old one, is simple and straightforward on the NY State of Health website where you can find a wide array of plans and pick the best one to fit your life.”
For more information on how to sign up or change your plan going into 2018, visit the NY State of Health website at https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/.
