BP Adams Applauds One Brooklyn Health System Funding
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams applauded Governor Andrew Cuomo for awarding nearly $700 million in funding to One Brooklyn Health yesterday.
On Wednesday Cuomo announced the award for One Brooklyn Health -a new unified health care system- to support the state’s ongoing efforts to transform the health care system and increase access to quality care throughout Central Brooklyn. The funding will go toward strengthening local health care facilities to close current gaps and increase services; developing a 32-site ambulatory care network that will include partnerships with existing community-based providers; and transforming the health care system by increasing access to quality services and preventive care. The announcement builds on the Cuomo’s transformative Vital Brooklyn initiative to improve the health care delivery system in Brooklyn.
Central Brooklyn is one of the most vulnerable areas in all of New York State, with measurably higher rates of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, limited access to healthy foods or opportunities for physical activity, high rates of violence and crime, wide economic disparities due to unemployment, and high poverty levels, and inadequate access to high quality health care and mental health services.
“Brooklyn’s hospital crisis has claimed prominent health care institutions across our borough, putting tens of thousands of families at risk. Government has taken too long to catch up to dramatic shifts in the medical field, from the provision and cost of emergency care to the evolution of evidence-based preventive medicine,” said Adams.
The funding that Vital Brooklyn is now ready to provide puts real resources behind the work my administration has been organizing at the hyperlocal level to make community-based care possible and successful. I am optimistic that the new One Brooklyn Health System can deliver quality, cost-effective health services to the neighborhoods of central and east Brooklyn. As Vital Brooklyn continues into its next phase of public rollout, I will continue to push the State to address issues such as plant-based medicine, grandparent housing, and the provision of space for healthy non-profit programming in community schools,” added Adams.
Mosley Holds DACA, Civil Rights Town Hall
Assembly member Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) will be holding a “Love Yourself” DACA and Civil Rights Town Hall today.
The event will feature a panel discussing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, New York’s DREAM Act, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) updates and initiatives to preserve protections, Voting rights, Census 2020, and Protesting for Civil Rights in today’s America.
The event is part of a partnership with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Senator Jesse Hamilton, Council Member Laurie Cumbo and James E. Davis Foundation Executive Director, Geoffrey Davis, as part of a year-round initiative, aimed to empower our young adults through education, cultural programming, and the promotion of peace and community through unity.
The event is slated for 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., today, Jan 25, at 10 Grand Army Plaza, at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Dweck Center.
Donovan Decries Mayors’ Refusal To Meet With Trump
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) decried the refusal of Democratic Mayors to meet with President Donald Trump in the wake of a sanctuary city warning yesterday.
On Wednesday, Mayors from across the country boycotted a scheduled meeting with Trump to discuss infrastructure after receiving a so-called “threatening” letter from the Department of Justice warning that they could be legally forced to prove they are cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
According to reports, officials sent letters to roughly two dozen jurisdictions threatening to issue subpoenas if they don’t willingly relinquish documents showing they aren’t withholding information about the citizenship or immigration status of people in custody. The department has repeatedly threatened to deny millions of dollars in important grant money to communities that refuse to comply with a federal statute requiring information-sharing with federal authorities, as part of the Trump administration’s promised crackdown on cities and states that refuse to help enforce U.S. immigration laws.
Last December, New York City passed a resolution to become a sanctuary city, a policy of protecting undocumented immigrants by not prosecuting them solely for violating federal immigration laws in the country in which they are now living illegally. Thirty-nine U.S. cities have passed sanctuary city ordinances including many of the nation’s largest cities.
“Democratic Mayors were scheduled to meet with the President today to discuss badly-needed infrastructure investments, but they pulled out after the Department of Justice sent them a letter about sanctuary cities. Firstly, enforcing the law of the land is the executive branch’s Constitutional duty – it’s not ‘racist,’ as some have said. Secondly, I don’t think it’s the right strategy to refuse to even meet with the President on a topic of such importance because of an unrelated matter. I’m sure I’ll get a request down the road to help the City of New York secure federal assistance, and these unproductive antics don’t make my job any easier,” said Donovan.
Eugene To Host 3rd Term Inauguration Celebration
City Council member Mathieu Eugene will be inaugurated for his 3rd term on the City Council this weekend.
Eugene has represented the 40th District of the New York City Council since April of 2007 after winning a special election to replace newly elected Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. Eugene represents the neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Ditmas Park, Midwood, and Kensington. The event will feature several performances by a variety of groups from throughout the community.
“I am so very thankful to my constituents who have entrusted me to serve for four more years,” said Council Member Eugene. “I truly believe that all things are possible by the grace of God, and that is why this celebration is so important. Together, we will renew our commitment to improving education, expanding affordable housing, creating job opportunities, empowering our youth, improving the quality of healthcare for our residents, and defending immigration rights,” said Eugene.
“The work is not over, and I am more confident than ever that by utilizing our resources, we will make the 40th District a model for the citizens of Brooklyn. It is truly an honor to continuing serving in the City Council and I am committed to taking on the many challenges that we face as a city,” added Eugene.
The event will be slated for 5 p.m, Sunday, Jan. 28, at Erasmus Hall High School Auditorium, at 911 Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush.
Cymbrowitz Presents Kingsborough With $400,000 Check
Assembly member Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) visited Kingsborough Community College last week to present a $400,000 check for the development of the school’s Student Union and Intercultural Center.
The initiative is part of Kingsborough’s commitment to create and maintain a safe, inclusive and accessible space for the college and nearby community. When completed, the center will include an information center and staffed referral hub, gathering and programming spaces for students and faculty, an outdoor plaza, an interactive bulletin board and a “Welcome Way” showcasing the many languages and nationalities represented at Kingsborough.
In addition, a dedicated interfaith room – known as the “Common Ground” room — will offer interfaith programming in conjunction with Kingsborough’s Holocaust Center.
“Kingsborough is Brooklyn’s only community college and is recognized nationally as a leader in public education. I’m proud to support the creation of the Student Union and Intercultural Center, a facility that will help promote dialogue and tolerance and move forward the college’s commitment to be an inspiring, energizing and welcoming place for Kingsborough’s diverse community and the community at large,” said Cymbrowitz.
Nadler Opposes Gov’t Shutdown Without Dreamers Guarantee
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, decried the end of the government shutdown earlier this week, opposing the passage of the short-term funding bill citing it’s lack of a guaranteed solution for DREAMers.
On Monday, the Senate voted 81-18 to move forward on a bill to fund the government through Feb. 8 after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY/Brooklyn) agreed to end the shutdown and continue to negotiate on immigration and spending matters. Nadler was one of the 18 votes against the short-term continuing resolution as well as Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn, Queens, Lower Manhattan).
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump (R) met with Congress to move negotiations forward on how to address the future of undocumented immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Trump has stated that he is looking for a legislative solution to keep undocumented immigrants in the country, but only if it comes with the security of a wall between the United States and Mexico.
“On Monday, I voted no on the bill to end the shutdown because the empty promises did not deserve a yes vote. Nothing in the past two months has given me any indication that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or President Trump will keep their word and allow a vote on a comprehensive, bipartisan bill to address Dreamers and other issues,” said Nadler.
“House Speaker Paul Ryan isn’t even a party to this compromise and has made no promises about bringing up a bill even if the Senate does pass a DACA fix. Republicans know that because of the division and discord within their own party they cannot pass a long-term spending bill or an immigration compromise without Democratic votes. When they come to the table in good faith and actually work to get my vote, I will gladly vote yes,” added Nadler.
