Espaillat Calls for Rosselló’s Resignation
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) released a statement calling for the resignation of Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló (PNP).
Rosselló came under fire after hundreds of his private messages with his colleagues were leaked to the public. The messages included calls for violence against political opponents, derogatory marks towards women, and homophobic comments.
“Governor Rossello’s vile and inexcusable comments on his private chat and the corruption scandals that have engulfed his administration, make it impossible for him to be an effective advocate for Puerto Rico in Washington, DC as well as on the island,” said Espaillat. “Rosselló must step down as the residents of Puerto Rico deserve ethical leadership capable of addressing the challenges Puerto Rico faces on the journey that lies ahead.”
Johnson, Powers Demand Info on Heat Wave Safety Plan
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) and City Council Member Keith Powers (D-Upper East Side, Carnegie Hill) sent a letter to DOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann demanding information about their safety plan for the heat wave.
The letter was sent out following reports of incarcerated persons suffering from the heat wave, due to the lack of AC units in some prison cells.
“Since New York City has activated its Emergency Heat Plan to address the dangerous weather conditions this weekend, the Department of Correction has failed to release a plan to keep people in its custody safe and cool,” reads the letter. “Many housing units in city jails do not have air conditioning, including those in which individuals are locked in their cells for extended periods of time. Extreme heat, as the Mayor has stated, is dangerous and can kill. For those in custody without air conditioning, we need to know what steps the Department is taking to protect their lives and well-being. We have also heard reports that some incarcerated individuals are being denied access to fans, and need to know details about which incarcerated individuals have access to fans and which are denied this critical access.”
Rivera Cuts Ribbon on Newly Renovated Dry Dock Pool
City Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-East Village, Gramercy Park) attended the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Dry Dock Pool in Alphabet City last Thursday.
The park was closed for renovation in March as part of the City’s “cool pools” initiative, an effort to beautify New York’s pools by sprucing up the decor and applying a fresh coat of paint.
“It has been decades since it’s needed a spruce up, so we have new chairs, new tables, bright paint, and we are so, so excited that this community asset has been recognized by the Parks Department as some place with much-needed investment,” said Rivera. “Proud to put funds into a pool I myself used as a little kid, and it just means the world to me that we can celebrate with our neighbors and also have a place to chill.”
