Gillibrand Introduces SNAP For KIDS Act
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today will announce the SNAP for KIDS Act, new legislation that would expand the current SNAP food assistance program for the most vulnerable children in New York and across the country.
Gillibrand’s legislation comes on the heels of the recent announcement by Congressional Republicans that they are planning to take away food assistance from low-income families who rely on the program to put food on the table.
Under the current SNAP program, also known as food stamps, low-income families with children receive very modest benefits at the beginning of each month, making it nearly impossible for most families to purchase enough food to get through the end of the month. Many families with school-age children report running out of SNAP food assistance funding every month.
Research has shown that students who suffer from hunger have lower test scores, miss class more often, and don’t retain as much information in class as their peers. Gillibrand’s SNAP for KIDS Act would increase food assistance for school-age children (5-17) by $42 per month, a 27 percent increase, and would adjust the formula for future percentage increases to make certain that families don’t fall behind as food prices rise.
Crowley Statement on Syria Airstrikes
U.S. Rep. and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, part of Bronx) over the weekend issued the following statement after President Trump announced airstrikes against the Syrian regime:
“The horrifying chemical weapon attacks on innocent civilians is a war crime and Bashar al-Assad and his regime must be held accountable.
“However, airstrikes alone will not achieve that goal. President Trump’s pledge for sustained military action demands a strategic plan to be authorized and reviewed by Congress.
“Any strategy must also address Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role in financing and enabling Assad’s regime, as Russia must be held equally accountable for these heinous crimes.”
Nolan Joins Carranza On Tour Of Aviation High School
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Sunnyside, Ridgewood, Astoria, Woodside, Long Island City, Maspeth, Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Blissville) on Friday joined school officials, Principal Steve Jackson, students and her colleagues in government to welcome the new Department of Education Chancellor Richard A. Carranza for a tour at Aviation High School in Queens.
“It was a pleasure to welcome our new Chancellor Richard A. Carranza to Aviation High School” said Nolan. “The challenges our students face in receiving a good education that prepares them for the future are very great. I appreciated Chancellor Carranza visiting a successful career and technical high school in my district in his first week in charge of the NYC school system. As Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, I look forward to working with him to address all our student’s needs.”
Peralta Supports Keeping LeFrak City Polling Sites
State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside) yesterday urged the Board of Elections to withdraw its appeal of the court ruling preventing BOE from relocating LeFrak City’s polling sites.
The battle began last summer when LeFrak tenants learned that their polling place — containing five different election districts — would be moved from within the complex’s Continental Room, where they have been voting for 50 years, to schools three-quarters of a mile away. Its 6,000 voters, many of whom are minority, elderly or disabled, would have been dispersed to other sites that do not have public transportation options.
At the October 2017 New York Supreme Court hearing, the Hon. Erika M. Edwards issued an order for the immediate relocation of 4 of the 5 Election Districts — the 15th, 16th, 18th and 25th — back to LeFrak City, thereby reversing the actions made by the City’s Board of Elections.
“Plain and simple, this is an attack on the more than 6,000 LeFrak City residents. Through their actions, the BOE has shown they are playing political games in order to disenfranchise voters living there. The courts have ruled — any poll site relocations at LeFrak are irrational — and I am calling on the Board to withdraw their appeal efforts,” said Peralta.
“I am very supportive of the rally happening at City Hall led by the Black Leadership Action Coalition, the Black Institute, Bertha Lewis and LeFrak tenants against the BOE appeal,” he added.
Kim & AARP Host Free Fraud Prevention Paper-Shredding Event
Assemblymember Ron Kim (D-Whitestone, Flushing, Murray Hill) and AARP New York on Thursday will host a free fraud-prevention paper shredding event.
The effort is one in a statewide series of events providing free and secure destruction of personal or financial records.
In 2017, New Yorkers registered more than 101,000 fraud complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, including over 20,000 reports of identity theft. Security experts recommend the shredding of sensitive protect against identity theft. Visitors may bring up to three grocery bags worth of documents.
The event is slated for 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Thursday, April 19 at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd. Flushing.
