Hamilton To Announce $190,000 In Funding For Tenant Rights
State Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) will announce thousands in funding for tenants’ rights and advocacy groups.
Hamilton will present $190,000 to four groups working to uphold tenants’ rights and keep tenants in their homes on Thursday. The four groups to receive the funds will include The Flatbush Development Corporation with the Flatbush Tenant Coalition, Housing & Family Services of Greater New York, Fifth Avenue Committee with Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Legal Aid Society.
The funding will be announced at 265 Hawthorne Street, the site of a recent tenant victory, in which residents were able to secure the building as a co-op after more than ten years fighting to own their apartments. Hamilton was a key player in the resident’s win through his constituent services, joining the fight three years ago. The 71-unit building in the heart of Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., today, June 15, at 265 Hawthorne Street in East Flatbush.
Donovan’s “Creeper Act” Banning Child Sex Dolls, Passes House
Congressman Dan Donovan’s (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) announced yesterday passage of his legislation to help better protect innocent children from predators.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pedophilic Robots (CREEPER) Act, which will ban the importation and transportation of child sex dolls. There are currently no laws in the U.S. to prevent the proliferation of child sex dolls.
Pedophiles buy and sell the lifelike silicone dolls, which resemble children as young as three years old, through online websites and marketplaces, according to Donovan’s office. Child sex dolls are anatomically accurate renderings of young children, and include “accessories” such as false eyelashes, wigs, warming devices, and cleaning tools. They may also be customized to feature lifelike facial expressions, including sadness and fear.
The dolls, which are imported from China, Hong Kong, and Japan, are purposely labeled as mannequins or models to avoid detection in the mail. Donovan’s bill will be the first legislation in the United States to address this problem. The measure will now go to the Senate for consideration.
“Right now, a few clicks on a computer can allow a predator to order a vile child sex doll. This is not only disturbing – but also endangers the most innocent among us. Once an abuser tires of practicing on a doll, it’s a small step to move on to a child. My bill takes necessary steps to stop these sickening dolls from reaching our communities. We must protect children from those who wish them harm,” said Donovan.
Kavanagh Applauds Assembly Passage of Cuomo ERPO Bill
State Senator Brian Kavanagh (D, WF-Manhattan, North Brooklyn) applauded yesterday’s passage of a gun violence prevention program bill by the State Assembly.
The legislation from Governor Andrew Cuomo, would create Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs). The bill would allow school officials and family members to seek a court order blocking someone from purchasing or possessing firearms in New York if they pose an “extreme risk” to themselves or others.
The new measure is based on legislation (S7133A/A8976B) sponsored by Senators Kavanagh and Brad Hoylman and Assembly member Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, DUMBO) which passed the Assembly last year, and passed again earlier this year with strong bipartisan support.
The existing Kavanagh/Hoylman/Simon bill, would help prevent gun violence before tragedy occurs by empowering family members, household members, police officers, and district attorneys to request court orders preventing someone from possessing or purchasing guns if a judge finds they are likely to harm themselves or others. The Governor’s bill would add educators to the list of those eligible to seek these orders.
“Thanks to our strong gun laws, smart policing, and community-based intervention, New York has the third lowest rate of gun-related deaths in the country. Despite this, 900 New Yorkers are killed by guns every year, and more than half of those deaths are suicide,” said Kavanagh.
“Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a proven tool to reduce gun deaths — and would be effective at stopping gun violence in many settings, including mass shootings, suicide, and interpersonal violence,” added Kavanagh.
Bichotte Hosts 6th Annual Senior Luncheon
Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) will host her 6th Annual Senior Luncheon event today.
The event will give elderly residents an opportunity to obtain resources from a number of organizations including the NYC Department for the Aging and other city agencies.
The event is slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., today, June 14, at St Mark’s United Methodist Church, at 2017 Beverly Road in Flatbush.
Golden’s Bill Protecting Victims of Sexual Exploitation Gets Final Senate Passage
State Senator Marty Golden’s (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend) bill aimed at protecting victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking received final passage from the State Senate yesterday.
The bill, S8305, establishes short-term and long-term safe houses for victims of human trafficking. Operated by not-for-profit agencies, these residential facilities will also provide a variety of services to support victims including case management, health care, mental health counseling, drug addiction screening and treatment, legal and educational services, job training and placement assistance, among others.
The legislation was passed alongside Senator Andrew Lanza’s (R-C-I, Staten Island) bill (S5988B), aimed at stopping the sexual exploitation of children. Both bills will now head to the Governor’s desk for review.
In 2016, New York State ranked fifth in the nation for human trafficking with over 332 reported cases, according to the Human Trafficking Hotline. For many survivors of human trafficking when fleeing exploitative work or living conditions, one of their most immediate needs is a safe, supportive place to stay. Some survivors turn to temporary shelters across the state to meet this need, but these resources are only helpful if a survivor meets each shelter system’s particular eligibility requirements and if there is a vacant bed or unit. Under this new legislation, survivors will have access to safe, reliable temporary housing as well as an extensive network of necessary services to support them.
“A safe and supportive place to live is critical for survivors of human trafficking. This bill will create short-term and long-term safe housing facilities. These facilities will provide such services as health care, mental health counseling, drug addiction screening and treatment, and job training, to help survivors with the skills needed to establish a permanent home,” said Golden.
