Donovan Responds To Protests in Iran
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, applauded the strength of the protesters fighting against the Iranian regime over the weekend.
Last Thursday, protest broke out in the city of Mashhad initially against price rises and corruption but as the protests move into the sixth day, they are wider anti-government sentiment. According to reports, at least 13 people are believed to have died in clashes so far while police officials are claiming that an officer is among the dead and there are many wounded.
Iran’s leader, President Hassan Rouhani in a statement on the presidency website, played down the violence, calling the protests an “opportunity, not a threat” while vowing to crack down on “lawbreakers”.
“The only Iranians who will ‘pay the price’ for their behavior are those in the ruling regime. The Iranian people are apparently fed up with leaders who fund international terror and restrict their basic human rights while the economy falters and prices rise. Sooner or later, from North Korea to Iran, repressed people will stand up to demand their fundamental freedoms, including the ability to express opinions and communicate freely,” said Donovan.
Malliotakis Named Assembly Minority Whip
Assembly member Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I – Brooklyn, Staten Island) was named Whip of the New York State Assembly’s Minority Conference last week.
The announcement was made last Thursday and will task Malliotakis with persuading Republicans in the chamber to vote with the conference on key legislation. Whips are typically tasked with maintaining discipline within their party and ensuring that other members stay true to their party line.
Malliotakis is approaching her eighth year of service in the Assembly. In addition to her Whip duties, she will continue serving as the ranking minority member of the Governmental Employees committee, as well as the Ways & Means, Banks, Election Law, Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, and Transportation Committees.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve on our conference’s leadership team. With Republicans so heavily outnumbered in the chamber, we fight tooth-and-nail to have our voices heard and stop bad policy from becoming law. We may be fewer in number, but work hard to ensure that New Yorkers who share our principles of less taxes and more fiscal discipline are adequately represented. I thank Leader Brian Kolb and my fellow Republicans for their confidence in me,” said Malliotakis.
CM Williams Mourns Death of Erica Garner
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), Deputy Leader, mourned the loss of Erica Garner over the weekend.
Erica is the daughter of the late Eric Garner, who died due to a fatal chokehold by a Staten Island police officer in July 2014. Eric Garner was seen on video saying, “I can’t breathe” 11 times before he died. A grand jury did not indict any officers in Eric Garner’s death. The coroner’s report lists his death as a homicide, but no officer has ever been charged in the case. In 2015, the city of New York settled with his family for $5.9 million. However, Eric’s death sparked mass protests across the country and his final words became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Erica’s father’s death was a turning point in Erica’s life as she was thrust into the public eye as an activist in the movement to end police brutality.
Erica died on Saturday after being in a coma since Dec. 23, when she had an asthma attack that triggered a heart attack, according to the New York Daily News. She was 27 years old.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Erica Garner. My prayers for peace and comfort go to her family, who have already experienced so much anguish and injustice. Having spoken to her family, it’s clear that this loss comes while still dealing with the lack of accountability for the unjust killing of her father three years ago. Erica turned what must have been unimaginable grief into courage as an outspoken activist with Black Lives Matter, taking on police misconduct with incredible personal drive,” said Williams.
“As we all mourn the loss of this passionate woman, let us take courage ourselves and continue to fight for the causes she believed in. As we lend our voices of condolence, let us also put greater meaning behind it, especially those with the power to do so, by truly fighting for and finally delivering the justice and accountability her voice came to be known for….and her family so desperately still seeks,” added Williams.
Savino Announces New Tax Deductions For 2018
State Senator Diane Savino (D-Coney Island, Staten Island) announced the importnatn tax breaks coming to New Yorkers as of January 1.
Starting this month, Paid Family Leave will provide paid time off for employees to care for or assist loved ones. The new legislation will allow for New Yorkers to take up to 12 weeks off from work when phased in fully in January of 2021. Each worker will receive eight weeks of leave initially while bringing home 50% of the statewide weekly wage average.
Additionally, Savino announced the start of middle class tax breaks that will be effective this year that will bring a total $4.2 billion in relief to New York’s middle-class due to state level tax cuts. The change will give the average New Yorker an extra $700 a year in their wallet. This is the lowest rate middle-class New Yorkers will see in over 70 years and over six million residents qualify for the reduction. If you’re single and earn between $21,000 and $80,650, your state personal income tax rate will go down by 20%; and if you earn between $80,650 and $215,400 your personal income tax rate lowers by 12.5%. Married couples will also see a reduced rate: couples who earn between $43,000 and $161,550, will see a reduction of 20% in their taxes; and couples who earn between $161,550 and $323,200, will see a 12. 5% drop.
Beginning this week, Union Dues will be eligible for deduction from New York State Taxes. This will save over 500,000 union women and men approximately $35 million.
