Queens Council Members Visit Subway Stations In Support Of DREAMers
City Council Members Peter Koo (D-Flushing), Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria), Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Woodside) and Karen Koslowitz (D-Kew Gardens) will visit subway stations throughout the day as part of the New York City Council’s Day of action to urge New Yorkers to defend New York City DREAMers.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and members will distribute information on the DACA renewal process and legal assistance for DACA holders.
Immigration activisits and DREAMers will joing the council members as they provide tips to immigrant New Yorkers from trusted community organizations in English, Spanish, and Chinese. They will also provide information on how to obtain free legal services and avoid notario fraud.
Koo is slated to appear at 4 p.m., at will appear at Flushing International High School, 144-80 Barclay Avenue, Flushing; Constantinides is slated to appear from 8-8:30 a.m. at the N/W Train at the Astoria Boulevard stop; and Dromm is slated to appear at 9 a.m. at the Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Avenue 74th Street subway stop.
Van Bramer is slated to appear at 8:30 a.m. at the 7 Train Subway Stops at 40th Street, 46th Street and 61st Street in Woodside, and the R/M Subway Stop at 65th Street; and Koslowitz is slated to appear from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Union Turnpike and Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.
Dromm Supports Small Businesses Flooded by Elmhurst/Jackson Heights Water Main Break
City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst) yesterday opened up the office hours at his district office to support the small businesses flooded by the Jan. 12 water main break in Elmhurst/Jackson Heights.
Dromm will host AAFE and affiliate Renaissance to operate out of his office during these extended hours to provide emergency loans of up to $30,000 and small business technical assistance.
Program services will be made available in Chinese, Spanish and Korean. The boundary area for the program includes the immediate streets surrounding the flooded area. Specifically bordered by the south side of Roosevelt to the north side of 41st Ave, and the east side of 73rd Street to the west side of 75th Street.
“These emergency loans are a lifeline to local businesses that were impacted by the recent water main break,” said Dromm. “Many business owners in my district are recent immigrants struggling to make ends meet. Store closure, flood damage, and loss of vehicular and foot traffic has resulted in thousands of dollars in repair costs and lost revenue for some businesses. This tremendous financial burden can be quite devastating. These low-interest loans will help owners overcome these challenges and get their businesses back into operation. I am pleased to work alongside AAFE to support Jackson Heights and Elmhurst entrepreneurs in their time of need.”
The dedicated office hours are slated for between 12 noon – 3 p.m., today and tomorrow, Jan. 18 & 19 at 37-32 75th Street, Jackson Heights.
Crowley’s Statement On Cuomo’s Budget Proposal
U.S. Rep. and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, parts of the Bronx) yesterday issued the following statement on Governor Cuomo’s $168 billion fiscal year 2018-19 state budget proposal:
“The Republican-devised tax law will devastate New York. It will leave our families and middle-class workers deprived of the resources they need to start a business, buy a home, and save for their future. I welcome Governor Cuomo’s full-throated offensive against this Republican attack on our state. His commonsense plan to seek out reforms for state revenues will help ensure that New York can keep its promise to her citizens and that our state will continue to be a leader in business, education, and innovation.
“And, at a time when Republicans and President Trump are advancing a divisive agenda attempted to divide us, the ‘Tax Fairness for All’ campaign is just the kind of leadership we need. We have a great responsibility to fight for everyday Americans, and Governor Cuomo’s budget does just that.”
Meeks Floats Bill Encouraging Enforcement Agencies to Report Lost or Stolen Weapons
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, JFK Airport) last week introduced legislation requiring agents at law enforcement agencies to report lost firearms, which would increase accountability, encourage safer weapons storage, and allow investigators to quickly identify the origin of stolen weapons if used in a crime.
“In at least nine different states, when a private citizen loses a firearm or has it stolen, he or she is required to report it. In every single state, when a federally licensed firearm dealer loses track of a weapon, the dealer must report it to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’s (ATF) National Tracing Center. In fact, many, not all, local law enforcement agencies do the same. My bill simply encourages all state and local law enforcement agencies to adopt this best practice,” said Meeks.
“Specifically, my bill would incentivize states to pass legislation requiring local law enforcement agencies to report missing weapons to the ATF’s National Tracing Center. This bill will help protect all Americans from preventable gun violence. I thank the cosponsors of this legislation for joining me in this effort, and I hope the Republican majority will decide to take up this common sense measure.”
