Espaillat Pays Respects to Elijah Cummings
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) released a statement yesterday honoring the late Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD).
Cummings, who was playing an instrumental role in the Trump probe, died yesterday due to longstanding health complications. He was 68.
“Congressman Cummings dedicated his entire life to public service,” said Espaillat. “He was a pillar in the city of Baltimore, a pillar of our nation, and a guardian of our constitution. While he represented his constituents with distinction, he was also a key part of our work in Congress. While many of us have taken the oath to serve our nation, Congressman Cummings never frayed from his responsibility to fight for justice and to ensure equal rights for all.”
Johnson Recognizes International Pronouns Day
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) released a tweet yesterday in recognition of International Pronouns Day.
International Pronouns Day, inaugurated in 2018, seeks to make the sharing and respecting of one’s personal pronouns mainstream. This is a particularly important step in making society more accommodating to transgender and non-binary people.
“Everyone deserves to have their pronouns acknowledged and respected,” said Johnson. “Mine are he/him/his. Let’s normalize sharing them instead of assuming them.”
Rodriguez Rallies to End Travel Embargo Against Cuba
Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill) introduced a resolution yesterday demanding that the country lift the travel embargo against Cuba.
In 1963, the Kennedy Administration imposed stringent restrictions on travel to Cuba, following the Cuban Missile Crisis. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration strengthened the restrictions, imposing a ban on cruise ship operations from the U.S. to Cuba. Rodriguez announced a resolution to end the ban altogether on the steps of City Hall, alongside Council Member Inez Barron (D-Brooklyn).
“We need to end this archaic Cold War Era embargo that has impacted people, not the government, as it was originally intended,” Rodriguez said in a tweet. “We must end the Cuban embargo and the travel ban NOW.”
Gottfried Calls for Changes to Law that Keeps NYPD Disciplinary Records Private
Assembly Member Richard Gottfried (D-Chelsea, Midtown) joined several other lawmakers on Wednesday to call for a repeal to the rule that keeps NYPD officers’ disciplinary records confidential.
In 2016, the NYPD ruled that section 50-a of the state Civil Rights Law enables them to keep their records private. Today, New York is one of the only states in the U.S. that restricts public access to its police officers’ discipline records.
“Keeping this information secret undermines public confidence in our police and shields the wrongdoing of a minority of officers,” said Gottfried. “This is a disservice to good officers, who I believe are the vast majority, and creates real danger for the public.”
