Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Oct. 26, 2018

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Adams Launches #MakeBrooklynCount For 2020 Census

Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams (D) joined Cecilia Clarke, president and CEO at Brooklyn Community Foundation, alongside representatives from New York Counts 2020 the #MakeBrooklynCount campaign that will work to ensure an accurate and fair demographic and population count during the 2020 Census.

The United States Census Bureau conducts the census every 10 years.

The campaign, which was launched on the Front Steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall in Downtown Brooklyn, will be headed by the Brooklyn Complete Count Committee — a consortium of organizations including academic institutions and community groups targeting traditionally undercounted communities such as the elderly, low-income, undocumented, and young individuals, as well as those whose first language is not English.

It will work to ensure these communities are properly counted so that the city receives adequate federal funding for community development, health care, housing, infrastructure and transportation to meet the needs of all of the borough’s 2.6 million residents.

Adams emphasized the importance of a complete count in light of the Trump Administration’s threats to an inclusive census that includes every Brooklyn resident regardless of their background.

“Ensuring that every Brooklynite is fairly counted is a critical priority for our borough,” said Adams. “The Trump Administration is scaring Americans by proposing the addition of a citizenship question as well as potentially erasing LGBTQ and transgender people from the count. They are building walls of exclusion that we will not tolerate. Everyone should be counted in Brooklyn.”

Clarke, Williams On Bomb Packages Delivered To Top Dems, Supporters & CNN

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, MIdwood, Sheepshead Bay, Brownsville) and City Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) yesterday condemned both President Trump and the series of pipe bombs sent to leading  Democrats including two ex-presidents (obama and Clinton) and the media outlet CNN.

“We are in extremely dark and dangerous times. It is clear to me that these attempted bombing attacks were targeted at the President’s political opponents, most outspoken critics, and the press. This morning, the President further instigated matters by blaming the media for creating an atmosphere of anger and conflict. However, it is Donald Trump’s own extreme and vitriolic rhetoric that has created this climate for political violence to take root,” said Clarke.

 “We must come together as a nation, tamp down the rhetoric, and renew our commitment to building a better, brighter future for all Americans. I am grateful for the New York Police Department, the FDNY, the FBI, the Secret Service, and our first responders for acting quickly to counter yesterday’s attempted attacks in New York State and across the nation.

“We must always bear in mind that the goal of terrorists is to instill fear, to create chaos, and to attack our values in an attempt to alter our way of life. We cannot and will not allow any threat of violence or act of terror to intimidate New Yorkers or Americans across the country.”

Williams said the attempted attacks of terror, though Trump won’t acknowledge them as such, are an effort to shake the county’s confidence and encourage chaos. 

“This violence cannot be excused or equivocated on. This climate has been stoked by the very highest levels of our government, and the only  acceptable path forward is for those instigating such sentiment to accept responsibility for their role and move to de-escalate what has been created,” said Williams. 

“Any honest look at the current climate or historical context shows that this is and was always where we were headed with the sustained attacks, threats, and violent incitements that have occurred in the last three years. Those Trump defenders who managed to muster the courage to condemn acts of violence have been unwilling and unable to condemn the rhetoric and actions that led to them. Even today, as new threats are uncovered, the President is stoking a message of resentment against the media and abdicating his own responsibility. With the White House and Republicans unable to display any measure of accountability, the American people must hold them accountable with civic engagement,” he added.

Menchaca Announces Free Mammograms & Clinical Breast exams

City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) yesterday announced the American Italian Cancer Foundation has a mobile clinic that will be in Sunset Park Sunday providing mammograms and clinical breast exams at no cost.

Like other clinics, however, you need to make an appointment, so please call 1-877-628-9090. They will try to accommodate walk-ins but calling first is best.

The mobile clinic will conduct the exams between 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., this Sunday, Oct. 28 at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope, 526 59th Street in Sunset Park.

Colton Community Cleanup A Success

Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) and 47th Assembly Democratic District Leader Nancy Tong organized a number of volunteers and had a very successful neighborhood clean-up on Oct. 20.

“Over a hundred cheery volunteers came out in this chilly weather to clean up the neighborhood. Debris was cleaned from 86 Street, Avenue O, Bay Parkway, Bath Avenue, Kings Highway, Avenue U, and 18^th Avenue.The City Department of Sanitation must do a better job of enforcing the law, while also helping to change attitudes about the importance of keeping our streets clean,” said Colton.

“For number of years I have mobilized neighborhood clean ups. The Army of High School students who have participated in these clean ups over the years became ambassadors of spreading the word to family, friends and fellow students that  cleaner streets mean a better quality of life for everyone in the community and it brings out a positive impact on the businesses, especially in customer satisfaction. We are coaching our future population of the importance of clean streets, which also means a better environment and at the same time educating business owners to keep our streets clean,” he added.

Ernest Skinner Political Association Hosts KCDC Transparency & Engagement Panel Discussion