Joint Schumer-Pelosi Statement On AG’s Barr’s Summary Of The Mueller Report
U.S. Sen. and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) yesterday questioned Attorney General Barr’s summary of the Mueller report, and demanded that Congress get the full report.
“Attorney General Barr’s letter raises as many questions as it answers. The fact that Special Counsel Mueller’s report does not exonerate the president on a charge as serious as obstruction of justice demonstrates how urgent it is that the full report and underlying documentation be made public without any further delay. Given Mr. Barr’s public record of bias against the Special Counsel’s inquiry, he is not a neutral observer and is not in a position to make objective determinations about the report,” the lawmakers said in their joint statement.
“And most obviously, for the president to say he is completely exonerated directly contradicts the words of Mr. Mueller and is not to be taken with any degree of credibility. Congress requires the full report and the underlying documents so that the Committees can proceed with their independent work, including oversight and legislating to address any issues the Mueller report may raise. The American people have a right to know,” they added.
Simotas & Maloney Celebrate Women’s History Month
Assemblymember Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria, Long Island City) and U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Manhattan, Brooklyn) on Friday hosted their annual luncheon to celebrate Women’s History Month and to honor four exceptional local women and a middle school student for their commitment to community activism.
The celebration was hosted by George’s at Kaufman Astoria Studios. The honorees were U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, and Rego Park), Julia Schwietert Collazo, co-founder of Immigrant Families Together, Megan Stotts and Julia Sorrentino, co-founders of Hearts Across Queens, and student Angela Garvin, the inspiration for Astoria Park’s rain garden project.
“Since I first began hosting this event, my vision was always to honor women’s history and the great strides we have made, but also to recognize how far we still have to go and collaborate with each other on new ideas to bring us closer to reaching true equality. I am grateful to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, a trailblazer in the women’s movement, for co-hosting this event with me and to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an inspiring female leader breaking new ground for young women, for joining us,” said Simotas.
“This has been a thrilling year for women in New York, with a wave of newly elected women taking office and giving us a historic level of representation in the state legislature. I was so pleased that one of these women, my incredible new partner in Albany State Senator Jessica Ramos, could join us to recognize the contributions of five remarkable women in our community.
Addabbo Happy About Work On The Projected $175B State Budget
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) last week expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to work alongside his colleagues, staff and advocates in putting together a budget that will benefit education, business and taxpayers.
The lawmakers expressed his appreciation at the first meeting of the Joint Budget Conference Subcommittees (both Assembly and Senate) on Education and Economic Development where they discussed and debated the proposed $175 billion state spending plan.
“Today’s meetings were encouraging as our Assembly colleagues outlined many of the same priorities as the Senate,” said Addabbo. “The next three weeks will give us the opportunity to compromise on critical issues and needs that will lead us to a comprehensive, fiscally responsible spending plan.”
Both the State Senate and Assembly have put forth their own specific visions of a 2019-2020 State Budget through their respective one-house budget resolutions. They have proposed changes and additions to the Governor’s proposed Executive Budget, which was released in January, with the purpose of adopting a final spending plan by the April 1 deadline.
Ramos Announces “Community Pulse Check” At Town Hall
State Senator Jessica Ramos (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) last week held her first Community Town Hall, where she updated her neighbors on legislation in Albany and services in District 13, and announced her Community Pulse Check Project.
The project will consist of canvassing across District 13 to collect data on the priorities and needs of community members.
“Our Community Pulse Check is an extension of the outreach we did during my campaign. This canvassing will give my neighbors tools to keep our office accountable and tell us what they need me to fight for in Albany,” said Ramos, Chair of the New York State Senate Labor Committee. “Instead of asking neighbors for a vote, we will be asking them what they need from us.”
The canvassing questions will ask what issues are most important to neighbors, including housing, immigration, and healthcare. The Community Pulse Check will begin in May and will take place throughout the summer in every neighborhood of District 13.
Van Bramer Kicks Off Participatory Budgeting Vote Week
City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside) announced the kickoff to the 2019 Participatory Budgeting ballot, in which constituents will decide how to spend over $1 million of our city’s budget on capital projects throughout the district.
“After months of hard work, dedicated community members narrowed down hundreds of great ideas to 13 projects that would undeniably benefit our neighborhoods. Things like important upgrades to our schools, housing, and parks,” said Van Bramer in his newsletter.
Anyone age 11 and older who lives in the district can vote for up to 5 projects on the ballot
The kick off to this years participatory budgeting will start with a Project Expo from 12:30 – 3 p.m., this Saturday, March 30 at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th Street in Sunnyside.
If you’d like to volunteer to help at the polls or have any questions, contact Kenny Medrano, our Director of Participatory Budgeting, (718) 383-9566 ext 7 or KMedrano@council.nyc.gov.
