Adams Holds Group Meditation At Borough Hall
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams (D) today will join the New York City Department of Education (DOE) Central and Borough Office staff, and more than 200 New York City students for a group movement, mindfulness, and meditation event at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
The event, themed “Get Your Mind Right: Breathing Toward a Healed City,” is part of Adams’ campaign, in partnership with the DOE, to get the borough’s youth off to a good start to their school year while introducing movement and mindfulness education into schools throughout the city, which has been proven to boost student performance and reduce incidents of negative student behavior.
Through an Adams grant, representatives from both the Brooklyn North and Brooklyn South DOE Borough Offices have created the Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher Preparation Program (YMTP2), in which 30 participants are currently completing yoga teacher training and will be certified by the Yoga Alliance of America.
The pilot project will lead to a summer 2020 institute to begin training New York City school-based teachers and administrators as certified yoga and mindfulness instructors.
The group meditation is slated for 11:30 a.m., today, Sept. 12 on the steps of Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights.
Lander Celebrates Expected Passage Of Freelance Worker Protection Bill
City Council Member Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) will rally with freelance workers to celebrate the expected passage of his bill Intro. 136, to expand the discrimination and harassment protections of the NYC Human Rights Law to cover freelance workers and independent contractors.
In particular, the bill would clarify how to determine whether an employer has four or more employees (which triggers some of the obligations of the City Human Rights Law) and that an employer’s parent, spouse, domestic partner or child if employed by an employer are included as in the employ of such employer.
This bill would make explicit inclusion to freelancers and independent contractors. Under the measure, if passed, will mean that freelancers have access to the discrimination protections and avenues for redress provided in the city’s Human Rights Law.
The rally is slated for 9 a.m., today, Sept. 12 on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Nadler Decries Supreme Court Asylum Decision
U.S. Rep. and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-Borough Park, Kensington, parts of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Midwood & Manhattan) yesterday decried the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow Department of Homeland Security’s to enforce an interim final rule that bars individuals from seeking asylum unless they first sought asylum in a third country.
In a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who chairs the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, Nadler expressed grave disappointment that “the Trump Administration will be allowed to implement this shameful policy that effectively shuts the door on people seeking asylum at our Southern border unless they are Mexican Nationals.
“The asylum systems and infrastructure of the countries in our hemisphere are woefully inadequate and unable to meet the needs of migrants coming from countries in Central America. Lives will be lost. This rule will result in those fleeing fear and persecution to be turned away at our doorstep and will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the region. The United States can and must do better,” the lawmakers added.
Treyger Seeks More Support for Students, School Staff Around Ground Zero
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend), chair of the council’s Education Committee and City Council Member Mark Levine (D-Manhattan), chair of the council’s Health Committee, yesterday renewed their efforts to require the city Department of Education to account for public school staff and students who were exposed to the dangerous conditions around Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks.
“On this 9/11 anniversary we must honor the memories of those who have fallen, and also fight for survivors who continue to suffer the deadly health effects of this tragic event,” said Treyger and Levine in a joint statement. “One group of survivors has consistently gotten too little attention: the students, teachers, and staff who were at schools near Ground Zero during the months following the attack, a time when the air remained contaminated. For this reason, we have introduced a bill that requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to provide an official accounting of all the students and school staff who were exposed, and educate them about the services and support available to them through the World Trade Health Program.”
According to reports, up to 2,500 teachers and support staff and 19,000 students attended the 29 public schools within what is covered by the World Trade Center Health Program. The lawmakers introduced a bill earlier this year to deal with the issue and are planning a hearing with the City Council Health Committee later this fall.
Gounardes 9/11 Heroes Bill Package Signed Into Law
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) yesterday saw Gov. Andrew Cuomo sign his four 9/11 Heroes Bills signed into law.
The Unlimited Sick Leave Bill codifies unlimited sick leave for NYC workers and ensures that it cannot be negotiated on a piecemeal basis. The Five-Year Lookback bill provides retired NYC firefighters diagnosed with cancer within five years of retirement presumption that the cancer was incurred in the performance of duties so they can access Accidental Disability Retirement pensions, a presumption NYS Firefighters already have.
The NYCERS bill addresses delays in WTC-related disability claims by increasing the number of medical boards and physicians employed on NYCERS medical boards. The Accidental Death Benefit bill extends the period of time for family members to file for Accidental Death Benefits as a result of a qualifying World Trade Center condition.
In the years since 9/11, at least 10,000 first responders and people around the World Trade Center have been diagnosed with cancer, and at least 2,000 have died. The toll for emergency responders from 9/11-related diseases continues to rise.
The Unlimited Sick Leave Bill and NYCERS bill were sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Queens). The Five-Year Lookback Bill was sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblywoman Karines Reyes (D-Bronx). The Accidental Death Benefit Bill was sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Peter Abbate, Jr. (D-Bensonhurst, Sunset Park).
“With the passage of these bills, we are helping to ensure that our 9/11 first responders get the benefits they deserve and are owed. For many first responders who ran into the rubble on 9/11, the ramifications continue to this day. Today, we are saying that we will be there for 9/11 first responders in their hour of need as they were there for us,” said Gounardes.
Colton Lauds City For Stopping Homeowner Violations
Assemblyman William Colton (D-Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) yesterday announced his pleasure that after decades the city has finally decided that they will no longer issue violations to homeowners for sidewalk damage caused by city trees.
In addition, the city will stop imposing liens on one, two and three-family properties that have sidewalk damage caused by the trees. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will be reviewing all existing violations to determine which were caused by City trees and cancel the liens on all the properties that meet the criteria.
“For decades homeowners were held responsible for sidewalk damages caused by city trees. I have been fighting for homeowners who were being held responsible for the cost of repairs caused by damage from City trees. I was actively involved some years ago in the city’s decision to stop holding homeowners of one to three family’s’ homes from having to pay for such damage by city trees,” said Colton.
“As soon as you officially became the property owner you also inherited the city’s planted trees. I believe that it is great news for the homeowners, and in many cases it will take a burden off of their shoulders, especially seniors,” he added.
Malliotakis To Hold Free CPR Training
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R- Bay Ridge Staten Island) this month will host two free CPR training programs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 9 in 10 people who have cardiac arrest outside the hospital die, but CPR can help improve those odds. If CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it doubles a person’s chance of survival.
“Each day lives are saved by people who know CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. Unfortunately, even in the best situations, paramedics can take up to 10 minutes before they are able to get to someone, which is why it is important we help equip our community with these skills. I encourage residents to take advantage of this free class that can potentially save the life of a loved one,” said Malliotakis, who is offering the class with Professional Heart Starters.
The trainings are slated for 9 -10:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28 at Lutheran Church Redeemer St. Johns, 939-83rd Street in Bay Ridge. The classes are free and open to the public. Anyone interested in attending should call Malliotakis’ office at 718-987-0197 or emailclarityd@nyassembly.gov.
