Savino Bill To Improve NYCHA Mold Remediation Passes State
State Senator Diane Savino’s (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) bill to improve mold remediation at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) apartments passed the State Senate on Tuesday.
The new measure requires mold assessment, remediation and abatement be performed only by a licensed professional. Under the legislation, NYCHA would be held to the same standards as private entities when remediating mold from apartments.
Last week the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) released a report, “Break the Mold: Cleaning Up NYCHA’s Mess,” that surveyed residents and investigated the lack of mold remediation in NYCHA apartments. The report found that 59% of those survey have found mold in the apartments and 56% reported it took more than two weeks to respond or that they never received a response from the authority.
Additionally, as part of the IDC’s continuing scrutiny of NYCHA, the Senate also recently passed legislation to create an independent monitor of the authority and empowering the City Council with oversight power.
“Today we passed critical legislation to force NYCHA to comply with state mold remediation standards. We must hold the city’s largest landlord to the same standard as other property owners. The IDC has released four reports outlying the deplorable conditions, including mold. The fight for 400,000 residents across the city is not over,” said Savino.
Espinal Reacts To Closing of Beloved DIY Bushwick Venue
City Council member Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) mourned the loss of beloved music and arts DIY Venue, Silent Barn yesterday.
On Tuesday, the Bushwick DIY venue announced that it will close on April 30. Since moving to 603 Bushwick Avenue in 2012, Silent Barn has held nightly performances, providing space for artists, employing dozens of people, and housing Educated Little Monsters (ELM) a music and arts group serving Bushwick youth whose communities are being impacted by gentrification.
“Silent Barn’s closing is a huge loss for Brooklyn and New York City. This will not only impact nightlife-goers, artists, musicians, and workers, but also our broader Bushwick community, especially Educated Little Monsters, which ran empowering programming in Silent Barn’s space.
“I feel this loss personally and am hoping that our recent work to supporting nightlife venues, including the creation of the Office of Nightlife will prevent situations like this by turning this trend around. One thing is clear: more must be done. I will be exploring ways to ensure spaces like Silent Barn have non-profit status to qualify for grants and city assistance. These spaces are just as important as our museums and other cultural venues, and deserve our help,” added Espinal.
Deutsch Secures Bulletproof Vests for NYPD Auxiliary Officers
City Council member Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Midwood) successfully secured a commitment from the New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James O’Neill to outfit the City’s 4,000 plus auxiliary police officers with new bulletproof vests yesterday.
The optimal lifespan of a bulletproof vest is five years, but many auxiliary police officers are utilizing vests that are far older. After several conversations between Deutsch and Commissioner O’Neill, the NYPD pledged to purchase and distribute the new vests to auxiliary officers over the course of the next 18 months. At a Public Safety Committee hearing on Monday, Deutsch stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of auxiliary officers, who are volunteers that patrol and assist with special details on their own personal time.
Deutsch has had a history of securing funds for NYPD Auxiliary police officers. In 2016, Deutsch allocated funding to purchase new auxiliary police vans for the three precincts that are located within his district and last year the South Brooklyn Lawmaker successfully advocated for the first auxiliary uniform allowance raise since the 1990s, from $250 to $425.
“New York’s Finest do a phenomenal job keeping our city safe. Auxiliary police officers are an invaluable asset for the Department, who dedicate their personal time to serving the people of their communities. It is important that we support their work and provide them with the tools and resources that they need to get the job done, ” said Deutsch.
CM Williams Pleads Not Guilty To Deportation Protest Arrest
City Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an immigration protest arrest in January.
On Tuesday, at the New York County Criminal Court, Williams pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing an emergency medical vehicle stemming from the January 11 protest of the detention and imminent deportation of immigrant rights activist Ravi Ragbir. Williams appeared before a judge alongside sixteen other protesters who were arrested with the Council Member for their roles in the protest, who all later accepted an ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal) in the courtroom, while informing the court of their intention to continue to protest actions they find unjust.
Williams continues to maintain that his actions were in opposition to the immoral deportation of Ravi Ragbir. Last month, Ragbir, an immigration activist, was arrested during one of his regularly scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The arrest and detention of Ragbir was later ruled unconstitutional by Judge Kathleen Forrest, who compared ICE’s actions to “regimes we revile as unjust; regimes where those who have long lived in a country may be taken without notice…and sent away.” Williams will next appear in court on May 8th.
“Those of us with a public position and voice have a moral obligation to defend communities who are disadvantaged and attacked. My legal process will take place out in the open, a right that is often denied to immigrants who face immoral deportations,” said Williams.
“ICE operates in darkness. It is my hope that my case will shed light on ICE practices, the plight of immigrants who are being targeted by the Trump administration, and how we can be a sanctuary city and state. As voices across the city have risen to defend and support Ravi, we should not criminalize actions of protest taken in his defense,” added Williams.
Mosley Lauds Assembly’s One-House Budget Proposal
Assembly member Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights) applauded the State Assembly’s announcement of the Families First budget proposal yesterday.
The one-house budget proposal included an increase in funding for education and the public housing sector, two critical areas for Mosley who has been fighting off school closures in his district and been a strong advocate for the resignation of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Head Shola Olatoye since the lead poisoning revelations last year.
In particular, the budget calls for $170.2 billion towards education investments and mental health improvements, an increase in Foundation Aid to $18.4 billion, $16 billion for college affordability in New York State, $200 million to capital repairs for NYCHA, and a restoration of funds to Medicaid and transportation.
“Too many schools in Brooklyn are closing, partly due to lack of resources. Without fair and equitable Foundation Aid, schools in our community suffer. It was important to me that the funding we allocate was distributed fairly, and I am satisfied with the commitment the Assembly made to our students,” said Mosley.
“I remain disappointed with the de Blasio administration’s response to the issues NYCHA was facing with lead paint. This funding for capital repairs is a first step towards repairing the broken trust between NYCHA residents and the government,” added Mosley.
Donovan Applauds Pompeo’s Nomination as Secretary of State
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) applauded the nomination of Mike Pompeo as the new Secretary of State yesterday.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Pompeo, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director, to lead the State Department. The announcement came off the heels of the firing of former State Department Head Rex Tillerson, who was ousted the same day.
Trump made the announcement via social media saying, “Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service!” Additionally Trump went on to announced Gina Haspel as the next CIA Director, marking the first time the agency has had a female at its helm.
“I had the pleasure of serving briefly with Mike Pompeo in Congress. He’s done a great job as Director of the CIA and will continue to serve our nation well as Secretary of State,” said Donovan.
“Despite constant second-guessing from the media, President Trump’s foreign policy so far has been a roaring success. I’m confident Mike Pompeo will continue restoring America’s image of strength and resolve so our allies trust us and our enemies fear us. He has a critical task ahead of him as conversations with North Korea move forward,” added Donovan.
BK Lawmakers Support National Student Walkout Rally
Assembly member Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) and City Council member Carlos Menchaca (D-Red Hook, Sunset Park) and Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) will rally with students as they walkout of school today in support of stricter gun control regulations and improved school safety policies.
The lawmakers will each join students within their districts as they rally for stricter gun laws through The National Student Walkout Rally . The rally will see students at more than 2,500 schools across the country walk out of class at 10 a.m. in each time zone to protest congressional inaction on gun control, according to reports.
The national student movement to end gun violence has been steadily growing since the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida which resulted in the death of 17 students and teachers.
Later this month, survivors of the Florida shooting will rally together for the March For Our Lives to empower other youth and students to push for stricter gun laws at the state and federal level.
“Let’s use common sense and do everything possible to stop gun violence. Guns cannot continue to be made available to anyone without justified legally acceptable reasons. I join with my fellow Brooklyn residents in supporting tomorrow’s rally,” said Ortiz.
Ortiz: The event is slated for 10 a.m., today, March 14, at Prospect Park in the Band Shell.
Menchaca: The event is slated for 7:30 a.m., at P.S. 371, at 36th Street and 4th Avenue in Sunset Park.
Williams: The event is slated for 10 a.m., at Brooklyn College (West Quad), at 2900 Bedford Avenue, in Flatbush.
