Sanders Condemns GOP for Hosting Proud Boys at NYC Headquarters
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) yesterday condemned the Republican Party for allowing the leader of the Proud Boys, which Sanders called a “alt-right, pro-Trump group known for its racist, homophobic and misogynist” to be the guest speaker at their Metropolitan Republican Club meeting.
The event drew protestors that allegedly vandalized the club and following the meeting their was an outbreak of violence in which Proud Boys members allegedly beat up two people while uttering remarks against gays.
“While the First Amendment right to free speech allows unsavory groups like the Proud Boys to spread their propaganda, the GOP did not have to give them a platform to convey their message. It was an extremely poor decision on their part, if the Republicans want to paint themselves as a mainstream organization that represents all people. However, some say the strategy of the GOP is to use dog whistles and racist fear-mongering to bring out their vote. If that’s the case, it would explain why the Proud Boys were invited to spew their venom,” said Sanders.
“Members of the Proud Boys were caught on video assaulting anti-fascist protesters after the event. At one point a dozen of them were kicking a man and shouting anti-gay slurs at him while he was curled up in a fetal position on the floor. The leader of the Proud Boys, who was reportedly present during the incident, seemed to justify the violence by stating that anti-fascists had created a “climate of fear” by vandalizing a GOP clubhouse.
“I don’t condone the alleged vandalism, but any time a racist Klan-like group such as the Proud Boys is unleashed on a community, it’s going to elicit a very strong reaction. ‘
“The Proud Boys have no place in America. They do not convey the values of most of the people in this country. They are the minority, not the majority and the GOP shouldn’t be giving them a megaphone for their hate speech,” he added.
Katz, Queens Boro Cabinet Hear From Office of Nightlife
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz will chair the Queens Borough Cabinet, today and will hear a presentation outlining the functions and responsibilities of the New York City Office of Nightlife.
Established by legislation enacted in September 2017, the Office of Nightlife is part of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and serves as a central point of contact among City agencies, nightlife business owners, residents, employees, patrons and artists. It aims to promote a safe and vibrant nightlife scene beneficial to all New Yorkers.
In addition, the New York City Campaign Finance Board will deliver a presentation on the responsibilities certain city agencies have under Local Law 29, which was enacted in 2000 and requires certain city agencies to provide voter registration forms to members of the public.
The Queens Borough Cabinet is comprised of the district managers of each Queens community board and representatives from city agencies. It focuses on city service delivery and agency responsiveness across the borough and hears presentations on these issues from city officials and others.
The meeting is slated for 9:30 a.m., today, Oct. 16 at Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens.
Addabbo Brings MetroCard Van To Forest Hills & Glendale
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) is bringing the MetroCard Van to Forest Hills and Glendale this month as a way to help his constituents access MetroCard services,
By bringing the MetroCard Van into areas of his district that are not serviced by subway stations, it allows residents an easy and convenient way to take care of all of their MetroCard needs such as purchasing new unlimited and pay-per-ride cards, and will also be equipped to add money to regular or reduced fare cards.
“While many parts of my district have subway access — a main place to purchase and refill MetroCards — there are still several parts that do not, which means the people in those areas may have a difficult time find places to purchase a new MetroCard, let alone refill one they already have,” Addabbo said. “That is why I bring the MetroCard Van into those areas. It gives my constituents, especially the elderly and those who only use the bus as part of their commute, the chance to have these services right in their neighborhood.”
On Tuesday, October 30, the MetroCard Van will be stationed outside of the Maspeth Federal Savings Bank located at 101-09 Metropolitan Avenue, in Forest Hills, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Then the van will travel to the Stop & Shop parking lot at 64-66 Myrtle Avenue, in Glendale, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cuomo Reminds Residents To Get Flu Shots
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D) yesterday reminded all New Yorkers to get a flu shot during the upcoming flu season, which generally begins in October and runs through May.
During last year’s flu season, there were 23,377 flu-related hospitalizations and 6 pediatric deaths in New York. Over the last four years, there have been a total of 25 pediatric flu deaths in New York State.
“Getting a flu shot still remains the best way to stay healthy during this season,” said Cuomo. “It is critical for all New Yorkers, especially older adults, young children and pregnant women, to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to take other necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus in New York.”
In January 2018, Governor Cuomo signed an emergency executive order allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages 2 to 18 during the 2018 flu season. Following the signing of the emergency executive order, pharmacists vaccinated approximately 9,000 individuals ages 2 to 18 against the flu.
Subsequently, the state passed legislation codifying this order into law. Cuomo urges New Yorkers to take advantage of the expanded access and get vaccinated.
