CM Williams Re-Introduces Marijuana Reform Legislation
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), re-introduced a package of legislation reforming disciplinary action for low-level marijuana offenses in city agencies yesterday.
The package consists of two bills and one resolution including Intro. 0821, which would amend the administrative code of the city of New York to prohibit the Taxi and Limousine Commission from using low level marijuana offenses as the sole reason to suspend or revoke a city-issued license or to deny an application for a license; Intro. 0820, which would prohibit the Department of Sanitation from using these same low level marijuana-related offenses as the sole reason to discipline the uniformed workforce; and Res. 0296, which calls on the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to add unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal possession of marijuana in the fourth and fifth degrees to its list of “overlooked offenses,” and stop considering these offenses as grounds for termination of tenancy.
The package of bills introduced on Wednesday relates to populations that are disproportionately made up of people of color, and communities which are more often targeted for low-level marijuana offenses than whiter or wealthier populations.
“It is simply illogical and inconceivable that jobs are being lost and lives are being ruined because of low-level marijuana offenses. Disciplinary actions and criminal penalties for marijuana possession disproportionately affect communities of more color. That is a fact. The legislation that I introduced today is aimed at ensuring that New Yorkers in these agencies are not facing inordinate penalties and unjust repercussions for actions that would result in slap on the wrist if committed by those with greater privilege,” said Williams.
“Such a low-level offense should not warrant the threat of eviction or jeopardize one’s livelihood. Yet for far too long this has been the case, and in many instances our most vulnerable citizens bear the brunt of this reality. It is time that we recognize the injustice of disproportionate punishment and addresses its unintended consequences,” said Antonio Reynoso (D-Bushwick, Williamsburg).
“With respect to this resolution and having lived in NYCHA for many years as a youth and young adult, I know of many individuals and families who experienced terminations as a result of these types of convictions. A minor marijuana infraction is not something that should prevent people from accessing and maintaining public housing, taxi medallions or employment with the Department of Sanitation,” said Council member Alicka Ampry-Samuel (D-Brownsville).
Treyger Addresses Salary Disparity Among Childhood Educators
City Council member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) is calling for salary parity between early childhood educators in community-based organizations (CBOs) and Department of Education (DOE) schools.
Earlier this week, at a rally at City Hall, Treyger joined by union leaders, teachers, advocacy groups, students, called for an increase in pay for early childhood teachers who work at CBOs.
Early childhood teachers who work at CBOs and have the same certification as educators who do the same jobs at the DOE, earn less. Early childhood programs at CBOs are often in some of the city’s lower-income areas, so this pay disparity perpetuates income inequality. Educators who work at these programs cannot afford to do these important jobs. It becomes difficult for these programs to retain teachers or hire new ones, and that makes it less likely that the city’s most vulnerable young children receive a high quality education. This is particularly important because early childhood education is key for the social and emotional development of a child.
“Early childhood teachers at CBOs with the same certification make less than their DOE counterparts, and the disparity grows over time. This makes it difficult for programs to keep existing teachers and attract new ones, and that sort of instability negatively impacts the quality of the education our children receive at a critical point in their social and emotional development,” said Treyger.
“Salary parity for early childhood educators is a step toward closing the income inequality gap and ensuring that our city’s children get the quality education they deserve,” added Treyger.
Golden Denounces Agostini Nomination To State Parole Board
State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach ), a former New York City Police Officer, denounced Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s nomination of Tana Agostini to the New York State Board of Parole yesterday.
Agostini, 51, is married to convicted murderer Thomas O’Sullivan, 57, who was sentenced to 25 years to life for the 1982 hired murder of a Queens drug dealer. He allegedly threatened an assistant district attorney during his 1984 sentencing and during his three-decades prison stint was involved in a daring escape and the biting off of a part of an inmate’s nose, according to The New York Post.
The couple fell in love while O’Sullivan was still behind bars and Agostini was a staffer on the State Assembly’s committee overseeing the prison system. Agostini also successfully lobbied for her lovers freedom, getting him paroled in 2013.
“Governor Cuomo should be ashamed for having nominated Tana Agostini who is married to convicted murderer Thomas O’Sullivan to the NYS Parole board. I believe that this parole board member has an emotional and ideological conflict of interest that creates a bias in favor of releasing dangerous criminals back into society,” said Golden.
“There needs to be a re-evaluation of the system in place that performs background checks on individuals selected for appointment to the parole board. A more rigorous evaluation process will ensure that he or she are qualified to perform their duties in a lawful and responsible matter,” added Golden.
Bichotte, Persaud Reflect on 50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act of 1968
Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Ditmas Park, Flatbush) and State Senator Roxanne Persaud (D-) reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 yesterday.
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on April 11th, 1968, by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The landmark legislation is a federal law that prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap and family status. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 is also known as the Fair Housing Act.
“This was a landmark Act for many reasons. As African Americans continued to push for equal rights in areas of education and the right to vote, housing became very critical element to the movement. It is no different today, as the right to be able to live wherever you choose without discrimination is still a right. The subtle discriminatory practices of landlords today have displaced many tenants in and around my district.I will continue to be a strong voice and advocate, pushing on all fronts to ensure that we all have Fair Housing,” said Bichotte.
“This landmark legislation legally ended discriminatory practices by real estate agents and landlords. In practice, we still have some way to go. Today this work continues in New York and the Nineteenth Senate District. I will continue to fight for the housing rights of my constituents and ensure that they understand their rights as well,” said Persaud.
