Treyger Cheers Lead Testing In School Common Areas
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) yesterday lauded the Department of Education’s announcement they will begin lead testing in public schools common areas such as cafeterias and hallways.
The announcement came as officials revealed that about 900 more classrooms were found to need remediation for peeling or deteriorated lead paint this summer, according to Chalbeat.
Treyger, chair of the council’s Education Committee, has been leading the charge for the testing in common areas.
“I’m thrilled that the Administration has decided to heed the call of the City Council to extend lead testing to common areas in elementary schools built before 1980. I welcome this announcement, and await more details from the Department of Education about the scope and timeline for this work. It’s critical that testing for lead in common areas begins prior immediately to provide peace of mind to parents and ensure the safety of students and staff,” said Treyger.
“While it is troubling that more classrooms were identified with lead hazards in the weeks since the DOE’s first data report on lead contamination and stabilization this summer, I appreciate that the Department of Education acted responsibly and expanded their protocols to include special education and first-grade classrooms. I urge them to communicate clearly with principals, parents, and teachers about the inspection results,” he added.
Velazquez Gets United We Dream Endorsement
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn, Queens, Lower Manhattan) yesterday was among 11 congress members who received the first round of 2020 endorsements from the immigrant youth of United We Dream Action.
In 2018, immigrant youth and allies of United We Dream Action endorsed candidates, ran ads and knocked on doors to make the voices of our community heard and in the 2020 election cycle, they anticipate their voices to be heard even louder.
Besides Velazquez, the first members of the United We Dream Action 2020 Endorsement Class includes Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
“As the next election approaches, United We Dream Action members will get behind candidates like these, with proven voting records and leadership which points the nation in a new direction to protect immigrants, dismantle the deportation force and advance a wide range of core issues impacting our communities,” said United We Dream Executive Director Greisa Martinez Rosas.
Espinal Writes De Blasio About Nightclub Enforcement Discrimination
City Council Member Rafael Espinal Jr. (D-Bushwick, East New York, Cypress Hills) this week fired off a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, informing him of his serious concern regarding enforcement discrimination of nightlife establishments that either is owned or cater to black and brown patrons.
Espinal, after reading a Black Institute report on the subject, wrote that the city can no longer ignore the discriminatory behavior against New York City’s nightlife. Espinal also asked that the Office of Nightlife, which was created through his legislation be better funded to oversee the $10 billion nightlife industry in the city.
“Just like the cabaret law was so often selectively applied, used to shut down so many small businesses, the current enforcement tools at both the city and state levels can be used and applied in the same way. These small businesses are then forced to contend with the full weight of the state and city of New York or face losing everything they have worked for,” wrote Espinal.
“After speaking with numerous businesses as well as community organizations, it is clear that there is a concern for discriminatory motivations that may be leading some of these enforcement operations. These Multi-Agency Response to Community Hotspots (“MARCH”) operations occur in approximately 2% of the licensed nightlife establishments within New York City according to the Office of Nightlife publication,
“I have co-sponsored legislation (No. 1156) that would require the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to provide quarterly reports on MARCH operations. The reports would include information on establishments subject to operations, complaints or issues that led to interventions, summonses issued pursuant to MARCH operations and business closures resulting from such summonses.
“It is imperative that the City make this legislation a priority as it is vital to ensuring that the laws of New York City and New York State are being fairly applied,” the letter concluded.
Ortiz Decries New Fed Policy Excluding Foreign-Born Americans
Assemblymember and Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) yesterday decried a Trump Administration policy change that some children born to U.S. service members serving abroad will no longer be considered American citizens at birth.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issues the policy alert on Wednesday, writing in a release that effective on Oct. 29, 2019, all non-citizen children residing abroad with U.S. citizen parents who are either employed by the U.S. government or are members of the military stationed abroad “are not considered to be residing in the United States for acquisition of citizenship.”
“It’s outrageous that this administration continues to find ways to attack our citizens and immigrants now serving in our armed forces overseas. As a veteran, I am outraged over the draconian policy not to automatically include their children born overseas as citizens. Those serving our country and fighting for democracy deserve better,” said Ortiz.
City Planning To Vote On New Jail Plan
The City Planning Commission (CPC) next week will hold a special meeting and vote on the New York City Borough-Based Jail System application.
The plan stems from the city’s 2017 commitment to closing the jails on Rikers Island and creating a network of modern and humane borough-based jails. This smaller jail system, built upon a foundation of dignity and respect, would house a jail population of approximately 5,000, reflecting the reality that both crime and the number of people in jail have continued to fall.
According to the plan, this borough-based system would strengthen connections to families, attorneys, courts, medical and mental health care, and faith and community-based organizations. Being closer to home and transit would enhance the network of support systems for people who are detained, and help prevent future returns to jail.
For more information on the project: https://rikers.cityofnewyork.us/nyc-borough-based-jails/
The special hearing and vote is slated for 12 noon, Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 120 Broadway, Concourse Level in Lower Manhattan.
