Rose Donates Shutdown Salary To Coast Guard Families, Opioid Treatment
Congressman Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) announced last week that he will donate his salary to the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Foundation and Camelot Counseling of Staten Island.
In addition to his personal salary donation, during the 35 day government shutdown, Rose organized a gift card drive which raised more than $9,000 in support for the Coast Guard community.
The Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Foundation is a non-profit organization established to assist Coast Guard members who have exhausted all other forms of relief in times of need. Camelot Counseling Staten Island provides counseling services for adults, adolescents, children, and families whose lives have been affected by drug or alcohol use, and has programs throughout New York City’s five boroughs.
Rose is currently co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to withhold pay from Members of Congress, the President, and Vice President for the duration of a government shutdown.
“If we’re not doing our jobs, we shouldn’t get paid–not only is it common sense, it’s the right thing to do. From Coast Guard families struggling to pay bills and buy groceries during the shutdown who are still recovering from that setback, to those working to beat the disease of addiction, there’s so much need in our community. I’m honored to help support these organizations who are making a real impact on people’s lives,” said Rose.
CM Williams Celebrates Black History
City Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood), Deputy Leader, marked the start of Black History Month last week.
Every February since 1976, the country celebrates National African American History Month, an occasion to remember the contributions made by African-Americans in countless aspects of American life.
The national observance began as a way for remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.
“Black History Month is born out of centuries of discounting and dismissing the names and the actions of an entire people through our history. It is an effort to lift up that history, in the absence of society taking a fair assessment of our collective story.
Throughout the month of February, we have a focused opportunity to reflect on the people who have gotten us here- who have led movements across the world and across generations. It is also a celebration of our identity and what it means to be black, in this country and worldwide.
Black history is not confined to the past- it is an ongoing movement that we are constantly witnessing and contributing to Frederick Douglass, Dr. King, and Shirley Chisholm are a part of black history- so too are Stacey Abrams, Trayvon Martin, and Barack Obama. So are we- and at a time when race is weaponized against people of more color, starting from the Oval Office, it is incredibly important that we take up the example of the icons we celebrate from our past to stand together in this moment and fight for the gains made and the identity created over centuries,” said Williams.
Colton To Hosts Public Advocate Forum
Assembly member William Colton (D-Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) will host an upcoming Public Advocate candidate forum.
Last Tuesday, the official ballot for the upcoming special election was set, pinning a field of more than a dozen candidates against each other including City Council member Jumaane Williams and Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, East New York), for a vote on Feb. 26.
The forum will be co-sponsored by the Aelita Club, Federation of Italian – American Organizations of Brooklyn, Ltd., 45th Assembly District Leader Ari Kagan, 47th Assembly District Leader Nancy Tong, 47th Assembly District Leader Charles Ragusa, Chinese American Social Services, United Progressive Democratic Club, United Chinese Organization of Brooklyn, Health Essential Association and many others.
“The Public Advocate office must be the voice to protect people to fight on issues like quality education for our children, including the fight to keep SHSAT, expanding gifted programs for all high performing children and quality remedial programs for underperforming children to ensure all children will achieve their highest growth of quality education,” said Colton.
“The Public Advocate role is to speak out regarding our laws and to our elected officials advocating on such quality of issues as keeping our neighborhood clean and safe, protecting small neighborhood businesses from harassment with unjust fines and regulations, as recently seen in the storefront sign ticket blitz, fighting for affordable and safe public transit and for well maintained and affordable housing and advocating for a high quality of life for all New York City people,” added Colton.
The forum is slated for 6 p.m., Feb. 13 at 29 Bay 25th Street in Bensonhurst. Public transportation D train to 20th Avenue, B/1 or B/64 bus to 20th Avenue.
Levin, Speaker To Hold Oversight Hearing on Client Experience At HRA Centers
City Council member Stephen Levin (D-),General Welfare Committee Chair, and Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) will hold an oversight hearing today on the need for improvements at New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) Centers.
Additionally, the Council will hear a package of legislation intended to improve a client’s experience at HRA centers, including an audit of current wait times and de-escalation trauma-informed staff trainings. Additionally, the legislation would establish new policies and offices, such as the creation of the Office of the Special Handler and the addition of child care accommodations.
The hearing comes after a highly publicized incident in December when Jazmine Headley entered a Department of Social Services (DSS) Job Center after her child care benefits were terminated. Ms. Headley allegedly waited over four hours to speak to a supervisor and subsequently faced a physical encounter with HRA and NYPD officers as Ms. Headley’s child was removed from her arms.
The meeting is slated for 1 p.m, today, Feb. 4, in the Council Chambers, at City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Cumbo Announces Free Housing, Legal Services
City Council member Laurie A. Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights), Majority Leader, announced a new set of resources coming to City Council District 35.
Starting this week, Cumbo alongside Housing and Family Services of Greater NY and New York Legal Assistance Group will be providing supportive services in the form of free legal services and housing assistance.
Housing and Family Services of Greater NY has a wealth of experience solving housing issues and will be hosting common questions related to:
-getting repairs from negligent landlords
-getting adequate heat in the winter months
-dealing with the threat of eviction
-questions about leases and lease renewals
-legal rent increases for rent-regulated apartments
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) provides free civil legal services to New Yorkers who cannot afford a private attorney. Through its Mobile Legal Help Center, NYLAG is able to offer its legal services on the ground, in the community. Staff aboard the Center — which boasts 4 private meeting rooms — are able to provide assistance on a wide range of legal issues.
Those interested in getting housing assistance can contact Jonathan Goss at (718) 435-7585 to schedule an appointment. Housing and Family Services of Greater NY will have regular appointments on Thursdays at Cumbo’s District Office at 55 Hanson Place.
Those interested in legal assistance can schedule an appointment here.
