Maloney Vindicated by Second Quarter GDP Report
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) released a statement yesterday after the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released its second estimate of second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP).
According to the report, our GDP expanded at a rate of 2.0 percent in the second quarter of 2019, down from the initial estimate of 2.1 percent.
“It wasn’t long ago that the President was boasting—wrongly—that he had created the best economy of all time,” said Maloney. “Now it seems that his wrong-headed policies are throwing sand in the gears of economic growth.”
“The President knows his tax cuts have given the economy no more than a sugar high, so he has floated the idea of more tax cuts, including another giveaway to the wealthy in the form of tax reductions for investors. That would make income inequality even worse, especially after the 2017 tax cuts favored the fortunate few.”
Velázquez Attacks Trump for Disparaging Puerto Rico
Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) released another statement denouncing President Donald Trump (R) – this time for his inflammatory tweets about Puerto Rico.
Trump came under fire earlier this week for a tweet calling Puerto Rico “one of the most corrupt places on earth”. He also attacked them for not showing enough gratitude for his Administration’s relief efforts following Hurricane Maria.
“It’s shameful that, even as the Island continues to suffer from the Administration’s dismal response to Maria, the President would use his Twitter feed to insult local elected officials there, while continuing to perpetuate a proven falsehood about how much federal money has been allocated since 2017,” said Velázquez. “Name calling on Twitter isn’t governing, and it is a particularly irresponsible distraction as Puerto Ricans are preparing for another potential disaster.”
Brewer to Host Town Hall Meeting on Public Charge Rule
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) will be holding a town hall meeting on the Trump Administration’s public charge rule next week.
The new rule, which goes into effect on October 15, states that the use of public benefits can now hinder a legal immigrant’s chance of getting a green card. Other factors, including wealth, age, and English proficiency, will now also determine whether a person is a “public charge.”
The event is slated for Thursday, Sep. 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 at the Synod House, 1047 Amsterdam Ave.
Levine Calls for Rockland GOP Chair to Resign
Council Member Mark Levine (D-Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville) sent out a tweet yesterday calling for the resignation of Rockland County Republican Committee Chair Lawrence Garvey.
The Rockland County GOP came under fire after posting an anti-Semitic video depicting Hasidic Jews as a looming threat to the neighborhood. Those responsible removed the video after extensive backlash, but Garvey has refused to apologize for it.
“Under pressure, Rockland County GOP has taken down its disgusting anti-Semitic video,” said Levine. “But their chair Lawrence Garvey not only isn’t apologizing but is doubling down on the message. He needs to resign immediately.”
