MANH Lawmakers on the Move March 15, 2019

Brewer, Chin Respond To De Blasio Plan To Protect Lower Manhattan From Climate Change

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer yesterday lauded Mayor Bill de Blasio’s for releasing findings of a study that determined the City’s comprehensive strategy for the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) project.

The study evaluated dozens of adaptation measures and identified a set of strategies to build resilience in Lower Manhattan. The recommendations include developing a plan to extend the Manhattan shoreline into the East River to protect the low-lying and highly constrained Seaport and Financial District area.

In addition, the city will advance $500 million for four capital projects to reinforce Lower Manhattan’s coastal areas and provide interim flood protections for the Seaport, parts of the Financial District and Two Bridges neighborhoods, to begin construction between 2019 and 2021.

Protecting New York City from the threat of climate change requires big ideas,” said Brewer. “The plan for land expansion in Lower Manhattan is a big idea, and kicking off a robust community engagement plan is critical to the success of this or any other idea that moves forward. I look forward to working with the administration along with the community to fully explore how this plan will both protect and be an asset for New Yorkers every day.”

Meanwhile, City Council member Margaret S. Chin (D-Battery Park City, Civic Center, Chinatown, Financial District, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, NoHo, SoHo, South Street Seaport, South Village, TriBeCa & Washington Square) said she liked that the plan included a proposal to extend the shoreline of Lower Manhattan in the Financial and Seaport districts to protect these particularly vulnerable communities.

“In the years since Sandy hit, we have struggled through the grueling process of recovery, made all the more difficult by the knowledge of how vulnerable our neighborhoods remain in the face of the next storm. With this plan to provide protection for the entire coastline of Lower Manhattan, we now have a roadmap to a more resilient and sustainable future,” said Chin.

“However, this more resilient future cannot be paid for by private real estate development that would destroy the waterfront neighborhoods that we are trying to protect. With thousands of precious lives, as well as homes, businesses and vital infrastructure, on the line, we cannot fail at our duty to protect and strengthen our city for decades to come,” she added.

Nadler Introduces Bill To Explicitly Prohibit Discrimination Against LGBTQ Community

U.S. Rep. and House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Wall Street, Battery Park City, parts of Brooklyn) this week introduced H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination Against the LGBTQ community.

“This bill would explicitly prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ community and would ensure its full integration into all areas of American life, including in employment, housing, credit, education, public accommodations, federally funded programs, and jury service. It does this by, among other things, clarifying existing civil rights law to explicitly include coverage of sexual orientation and gender identity as forms of sex discrimination,” said Nadler.

“Almost 50 years ago, patrons at the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ bar in my congressional district, said enough was enough. They said enough to police harassment and the mistreatment of the LGBTQ community, and they rose up—a historic moment in the fight for equality in our country.

“Today, we build upon the legacy of the people who fought for equality on that day, and of generations of LGBTQ advocates and activists since then, to add our voices in saying “enough is enough. Enough to the prejudice. Enough to the harassment and indignities. And enough to anti-LGBTQ discrimination in our laws and in our society. I am a proud original cosponsor of the Equality Act, and I pledge to do everything within my power as Judiciary Chair to promptly move this legislation.”

Espaillat Introduces House Resolution Recognizing New York Women

U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D- Harlem, Inwood, Marble Hill, Spanish Harlem, Washington Heights, parts of Morningside Heights, the Upper West Side) this week introduced a resolution in the House to recognize the contributions of New York women to the nation’s labor movement.

“Historically, women heroically flooded into our nation’s factories during World War II, and by way of such patriotism, they helped win the war and drive economic prosperity through the following decades. Women of color in the labor movement, such as legends Lucy Parsons and Dolores Huerta, battled through both gender barriers and racial prejudice in pursuit of a more equitable workplace for all Americans, and their contributions continue to impact our efforts today to ensure equality and fairness in the workplace,” said Espaillat.

“New York’s 13th congressional district is home to tremendous talent and skilled workers, including a significant number of women leaders in the labor community. From teachers, childcare workers to transportation workers, women have demonstrated true leadership within key unions and labor organizations, including CWA Local 1180, the Central Labor Council—AFL–CIO, 1199 and 32BJ’s of the SEIU, HTC, RWDSU, UFT, UNITE HERE Local 100, DC37, TWU, NYSNA, AFT, UFCW’s Local 888, and AFSCME’s Local 299 and Local 372. We are proud to honor their service to our communities and the contributions and sacrifices women make daily to help improve the lives within our households, communities, and industries around the nation.”