Adams Voices Continued Support For Democracy Vouchers
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams yesterday expressed disappointment that the city Charter Review Commission voted against putting democracy vouchers up for a public referendum in November.
Democracy vouchers, which started in Seattle in 2017, and remains the only city to use them, work wherein the government mails four $25 vouchers to registered voters and asks voters to assign their vouchers to their preferred candidates and mail those in, leading to money disbursed to candidates.
“Part of the reason I chose to appoint Sal Albanese to the Charter Review Commission is because he shares my passion for reforms that put people over money. Democracy vouchers, a reform he has championed, give everyone the opportunity to donate to the candidate of their choosing, and would move us toward fully public financing of all municipal campaigns, a long-time mission of mine. When this innovative idea was introduced in Seattle, it increased civic participation and allowed a more diverse set of candidates to run in local elections. Most importantly, it incentivized a focus on speaking to voters, instead of courting donors.
“Unfortunately, our proposal on democracy vouchers was voted down by the Commission yesterday, meaning it will not be put to New York City voters in November. This short-sighted decision is yet another blow to ordinary people who are looking to have their voices heard in our political system. When it comes to campaign finance reforms, it seems as though those in power are more willing to change the rules if it benefits a certain campaign or party, rather than doing what is best for our shared democracy.
“As I’ve said before and will continue to say, fully publicly-financed campaigns will maximize women and minority participation in electoral politics, reduce quid pro quo corruption, and help restore faith in our electoral system. My hope is that democracy vouchers and other transformational ideas around campaign finance reform are put directly to voters in the future, so they can decide for themselves. We will never fully clean up politics until we take money fully out of politics,” said Adams.
Clarke Blasts Trump’s Plan to “Remove the millions of illegal aliens”
U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Prospect Lefferts Garden) yesterday blasted President Trump for tweeting the following: “Next week ICE will begin the process of removing the millions of illegal aliens who have illicitly found their way into the United States. They will be removed as fast as they come in. Mexico, using their strong immigration laws, is doing a very good job of stopping people…….”
“We have a Bigot-in-Chief who is overstepping his authority in his role as President pushing to deport immigrants from America. It’s clear that he has one objective: to whitewash America. But that’s not who America is–we are a nation built by immigrants,” said Clarke.
“I will continue to push back on Trump as he tries to instill fear in and bully our immigrant neighbors, friends and family. As a second-generation Jamaican American, I know how immigrants contribute to our local and national economies by working jobs that pay taxes while also adding to the cultural fabric of our communities, making America the country we know and love today,” she added.
Clarke noted her legislation, the Dream and Promise Act, which recently passed the house, will provide 2.5 million TPS, DED and DREAMers a pathway to citizenship and the opportunity for legal residency.
Reynoso Launches Campaign for Brooklyn Borough President
City Councilmember Antonio Reynoso (D-Williamsburg, Greenpoint) this week officially launched his campaign for Brooklyn Borough President.
“I know we can use the Borough President’s office to create a fairer Brooklyn for all of us by giving the power to the people. Brooklyn knows what Brooklyn needs. I want to hear from you because together, we are the Brooklyn that is unstoppable,” said Reynoso. “I believe you always do good by breaking up power and giving it back to the people. So as an organizer, public servant, and Council Member, I’ve empowered our teachers and students, our seniors, renters, small business owners, and our working families.”
Reynoso listed housing and affordability; small businesses; education; environmental justice; transportation; criminal justice reform; and community engagement among his priorities for the Borough President’s office. He also announced that he will not be taking money from real estate developers.
Cornegy To Host Shared Economy Weekend
City Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights), in conjunction with Gold Sponsor Lyft, and Silver Sponsors Bridge Street Development Corporation, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Uber will host a Sharing Economy Weekend at the end of this month.
Interested individuals will be eligible to receive free and discounted rides from Lyft, Citibike, Revel, and Zipcar at over 25 participating local small businesses. Participating businesses will also offer discounts on goods and services to patrons with receipt of transport from app-based partners. Major Central Brooklyn cultural institutions will also serve as community partners for the weekend.
“To me, the sharing economy is a way to bridge the gap between app-based or platform-based business and brick and mortar business, and creating an ecosystem where everyone can benefit,” said Cornegy. “I believe as policymakers, it is our duty to find ways to ensure our communities benefit from technological advancements like the sharing economy, and that is exactly what this weekend is all about.”
Events will be held from Friday, June 28 – Sunday, June 30 throughout Bedford-Stuyvesant and at the Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street.
Persaud Legislation Banning Non-Consensual Pelvic Exams Passes Legislature
State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) and Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages (D-LI) announced yesterday the passage of their legislation that aims to prevent the performance of pelvic examinations on women whom have not given informed consent.
Both the State Senate and Assembly unanimously passed Bill S.1092-B (A.6325), which makes it professional misconduct for a provider to supervise or perform a pelvic exam on an anesthetized or unconscious patient without first obtaining the patient’s informed consent. The legislation prohibits a doctor from administering a non-consensual pelvic exam unless it is part of the medical procedure or the patient is unconscious and it is medically necessary and required for diagnosis.
“Thank you to Assemblywoman Solages for championing this crucial bill with me and to my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting and unanimously passing it,” said Persaud. “Non-consensual pelvic exams are a violation of a woman’s absolute right over her body and they have remained admissible long enough; there is no place for them in New York. With this legislation, we finally put an end to this unethical, unacceptable practice and ensure that patients have full jurisdiction over their bodies.”
Gounardes Lauds Senate Passage of Automatic Voter Registration
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) yesterday lauded the Senate’s passage of Automatic Voter Registration(AVR).
Under AVR, New Yorkers who fill out forms at designated agencies will be automatically registered to vote, unless they specifically decline – a process known as “front-end” automatic registration. The agencies include:
- Department of Motor Vehicles
- Office of Children and Family Services
- Office of Temporary Disability Assistance
- Department of Health
- Department of Labor
- Office for the Aging
- Department of Veterans Services and Military Affairs
- Office of Mental Health
- Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
- New York Department of State
- Workers Compensation Board
- Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
“Today, we took action to reverse New York’s longtime national embarrassment of being among the worst states for voter turnout and registration in the nation. Right now, 4.6 million eligible New Yorkers are not registered to vote and we consistently rank near the bottom for registration and participation,” said Gounardes.
“Automatic voter registration (AVR) can reform our flawed electoral system to promote turnout and engagement, as it has been shown to do in other states. By passing AVR through the Senate, we put the principle that every New Yorker deserves a voice and a vote into action.”
