Schumer Announces More Than $89 Million In YouthBuild Program Funding
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) yesterday announced more than $89 million in federal funding for the U.S. Department of Labor’s YouthBuild program.
YouthBuild is a pre-apprenticeship program that helps at-risk youth from ages 16 to 24 develop skills and knowledge to obtain industry-recognized job credentials, apprenticeships, and employment. There are 147 national grantees operating YouthBuild programs across the country. New York State currently has 20 YouthBuild program locations eligible for this federal funding.
The funding was part of the just-passed bipartisan omnibus package and is a $5 million increase from Fiscal year 2017. More than 1,200 young New Yorkers have participated in YouthBuild in the past three years, a program that was first started in 1992.
“YouthBuild is a nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship program that helps at-risk youth earn their GED, accrue real construction-related job experience and make a better life for themselves. I am proud to have played my part in securing this vital funding for YouthBuild and look forward to hearing about its many successes across New York State,” said Schumer.
BP Adams Holds Overdose Prevention Training In East NY
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will host a free overdose prevention training at in East New York today.
The event is part of a larger educational series aimed at helping Brooklynites save lives with naloxone (narcan). East New York is a neighborhood that is one of the city’s most severely impacted by the nationwide opioid crisis.
In partnership with the BPL, Brooklyn Committee of Alcoholism and Addictive Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and New York City Police Department (NYPD), he is kicking off a series of trainings that will be held across the borough, where attendees will be trained on how to recognize and reverse an overdose and restore breathing using the lifesaving medication naloxone, as well as learn how to become a certified opioid overdose responder, while receiving a free overdose rescue kit with naloxone.
According to data compiled by the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and the DOHMH Bureau of Vital Statistics, there were 297 overdose deaths in Brooklyn in 2016.
The event is slated for 6 p.m., today, April 5, at the Brooklyn Public Library- New Lots Branch, at 665 New Lots Avenue in East New York.
Donovan To Unveil Bill Mandating Picture of President, VP in Post Offices
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) will announce his plan to introduce legislation to reverse a little-known U.S. Postal Service regulation prohibiting photographs of the President and Vice President from hanging in post offices.
A local constituent and Trump supporter brought the issue to Donovan’s attention after complaining that pictures of former President Obama and Vice President Biden were on display during their administration at her local post office, but pictures of President Trump and Vice President Pence were never put up.
Donovan’s bill will require the United Stated States Postal Service to display the official portrait of the incumbent President and Vice President in all post offices. By making the portrait requirement uniform throughout all post offices, the legislation will prevent any allegations of political bias in the future.
CM Williams Honors MLK Jr On 50th Anniversary of Assassination
City Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as an African-American leader and Civil Rights Activist on the 50th Anniversary of his Assassination yesterday.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel by James Earl Ray. King was only 39 at the time of his death and was killed by a single gunshot wound to the neck, he was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The iconic Civil Rights leader was in Memphis at the time to support the city’s striking sanitation workers who were protesting their work and wage standards. Ray would go on to plead guilty after an international manhunt and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.
“Fifty years ago today, a cowardly act took the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the world lost one of the most visionary leaders, most effective activists, most inspirational figures, in our history. Dr. King was murdered while fighting for justice for oppressed and neglected communities, which made him a target of violence by those who embraced bigotry, opposing and fearing the transformational change that Dr. King represented.
Many of the injustices that Dr. King fought against still exist today, disguised under a veil of what is perceived by some to be equality. But the racial inequity in this country, even here in New York, is pervasive in housing, in education, in employment, in representation. The Civil Rights Movement was not a moment in history but is an ongoing struggle of the oppressed and the “other” in society.
As we reflect on Dr. King’s life and legacy, it is of vital importance that we do not allow that legacy to be misconstrued or sanitized to the comfort of any who repeat it. Today, people who ally themselves with a hateful and bigoted administration will nonetheless abuse his message and legacy. We cannot condone this willful distortion. Rather, we must take up the very causes he fought for, of equity, justice, and representation,” said Williams.
Golden, Malliotakis Condemn Conditional Release of “Palm Sunday Massacre” Killer
State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach), Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-I, Bay Ridge, Staten Island) and Bo Dietl are condemning the mandated conditional release of the “Palm Sunday Massacre” Killer, Christopher Thomas.
Today, the group will unveil plans to change the conditional release statute to keep violent offenders in prison, in the wake of the controversial decision earlier this year by the State Parole Board to release Thomas.
Christopher Thomas, also known as, ‘The Palm Sunday Massacre’ Killer is responsible for one of New York City’s most infamous mass shootings that left eight children and two mothers dead, was given a release date back in January, according to reports. Bo Dietl was the arresting officer in the case.The 68-year-old is scheduled to be released soon to reside next to a day-care center.
The current conditional release date statute stipulates that if the offender is not released by the Parole Board at his or her initial appearance or a subsequent one, he or she may eventually be released by conditional release. The offender is considered by the Time Allowance Committee (consisting of prison staff) four months prior to his or her conditional release date. The Time Allowance Committee reviews the offender’s incarceration behavior and participation in prison programs to decide if he or she has earned “good time” off his or her maximum sentence.
The conditional release date may be adjusted as a result of the Time Allowance Committee’s review. Following the review and adjustment, the offender will be released to Parole supervision on the adjusted Conditional Release Date.
The event is slated for 1 p.m., today, April 5, at 633 3rd Avenue in Lower Manhattan.
Mosley Reacts To 168.3 Billion State Budget
Assembly member Walter T. Mosley (D-Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Crown Heights) was left a little disappointed this week by the passage of the $168.3 billion Fiscal year 2019 state budget that included increased investments in education, public housing and transportation solutions.
Last Friday, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the highlights of the spending plan that he said included the highest ever investment in K-12 education, enacting a nation-leading women’s agenda, advancing 21st century transportation solutions, protecting taxpayers against federal tax changes, strengthening the middle class, and making strategic investments in New York’s future to drive growth and create opportunity for all.
Though Mosley applauded the state commitment toward education, public housing and health, he was quick to point out the lack of funding for vital reforms and infrastructure lacking in the final budget.
“Our state budget made great strides this year towards equality for all and a better future for New Yorkers.By generously funding Foundation Aid, restoring funding to college opportunity programs, expanding Medicaid to cover the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, and funding programs to combat the opioid crisis, the state is making it a priority to ensure every New Yorker is healthy, safe, and has access to the same opportunities,” said Mosley.
“While there are many good things about the budget, including funding My Brother’s Keeper and making even more steps towards closing Rikers, our budget did not contain certain vital initiatives that I and my colleagues had championed. Voting reform, criminal justice reform and the Dream Act were all absent from our budget. And while there was an increase in funding for the MTA, we did not see the full implementation of congestion pricing so many of us supported,” added Mosley.
