Cuomo On Trumps Tweets Regarding Purto Rico’s Hurricane Deaths
Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) yesterday lashed out at President Donald Trump for rejecting a report of 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico last year due to Hurricane Maria and falsely accusing Democrats of inflating the death toll.
Cuomo is leading the effort to help displaced Puerto Ricans in New York file a lawsuit against Trump and the federal government for failure to provide resources and relief to Puerto Rico after the deadly hurricane.
“The president’s tweets about Hurricane Maria are a disgusting insult to the families of those who died and to all those who were left behind by the federal government in the wake of the storm. The president is telling lies to the world to cover up his abdication of duty to the people of Puerto Rico. You can’t govern via conspiracy theory. The American people — which, yes Mr. President, includes Puerto Ricans — deserve better,” said Cuomo.
“While the President abandoned Puerto Rico, New York stepped up. We have stood with our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters from day one and we will walk with them every step of the way down the long path of recovery. President Trump: the American people will not let you rewrite history, and I will see to it that you are held accountable. I’ll see you in court,” he added.
Donovan Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Strengthen Cybersecurity Workforce
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, this week joined U.S. Rep. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and colleagues in introducing the Cyber Ready Workforce Act.
The bipartisan bill would establish a grant program within the Department of Labor to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity.
“Cybersecurity threats will continue to present national security challenges for America in the 21st century,”said Donovan. “With these threats and the changing economic and technological landscape, America needs a workforce that can adequately advance our cybersecurity defense priorities. I am proud to join this bipartisan effort and call on my colleagues to pass our bill that would further efforts to create jobs in our communities and our ability to respond to cybersecurity threats.”
The Cyber Ready Workforce Act would establish a grant program within the Department of Labor whereby the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to workforce intermediaries, to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Support services provided to apprentices may include career counseling, mentorship, and assistance with transportation, housing, and child care costs.
Adams, Velazquez, Walker Laud De Blasio, Stringer For Climate Change Solutions Investment
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, Queens) and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brownsville) yesterday lauded Mayor Bill de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer‘s announcemnt to set a goal of doubling the investments of the city’s pension funds to $4 billion or 2% of the City’s $195 billion pension portfolio towards climate change solutions over the next 3 years.
In order to accomplish this objective, city pension systems will aim to double the existing $2 billion investment across all asset classes to reach $4 billion of investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other climate solutions.
Climate change poses significant threats to New York City. Rising temperatures; stronger, more destructive hurricanes; and increasing precipitation tied to climate change have already affected neighborhoods and communities across all five boroughs and are projected to become increasingly severe and costly over the coming decades. Only by eliminating the use of fossil fuels and reducing the carbon pollution that drives climate change can these challenges be fully addressed, the lawmakers said.
“As a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, I am proud to help advance an increased investment in the climate change solutions of today and tomorrow. Sustainable investments are good for our environmental and fiscal health of our city. In fact, going green will earn us green,” said Adams.
“As we are seeing from recent hurricane seasons, climate change is altering our planet in dangerous ways. I’m proud to see New York City take another valuable step to not only minimize contributions to climate change, but to proactively seek to encourage sustainable, green technologies that can help tackle this problem for the long term,” said Velázquez.
”New York City continues to lead the way in the fight against climate change. Together we have divested from fossil fuels, cut CO2 emissions immensely, and by investing the city’s pension fund in renewable energy, completely change the course of clean energy in our city.” said Walker.
New York City Charter Commission Holds Public Hearing
The New York City Charter Commission 2019 is slated to hold a public hearing on its’ proposed changes to the city charter.
The hearing will allow the public to weigh in and take a fresh look at the charter, the city’s constitution.
The hearing is slated for 6 p.m., this Monday, Sept. 17 at Medgar Evers College, Founders Auditorium, 1650 Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights.
