Jeffries’ Bipartisan Artist Rights Bill Overwhelmingly Passes House
U.S. Rep Hakeem Jeffries (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Canarsie, East New York, Ocean Hill, Spring Creek, East Flatbush, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Howard Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Ozone Park, Brighton Beach, Coney Island) this week saw the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly pass his Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act.
U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) co-sponsored the bipartisan bill, which creates a small claims board in the U.S. Copyright Office and provides an affordable and reliable alternative for small creators to protect their work under the law.
The bill passed the House in a sweeping 410-6 bipartisan vote.
“The establishment of the Copyright Claims Board is critical for the creative middle class who deserve to benefit from the fruits of their labor,” said Jeffries. “Copyright enforcement is essential to ensure that these artists, writers, musicians and other creators are able to commercialize their creative work in order to earn a livelihood. The CASE Act will enable creators to enforce copyright-protected content in a fair, timely and affordable manner. This legislation is a strong step in the right direction.”
Small creators victimized by infringement have a right to enforce their work under copyright law, but are typically unable to do so due to financial barriers and limited resources out of their reach. The average cost of litigating an infringement case in federal court is approximately $379,000; the total amount of damages that can be awarded cannot exceed $30,000.
Adams To Hold Clergy Forum On Traffic Violence
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams today will join with Families for Safe Streets and clergy for a special clergy forum focused on safe streets.
The event will focus on how the faith community can be part of the solution to traffic violence in the city and particularly in Brooklyn. This event will feature a special faith leader training for participation in Sermons for Safe Streets, an opportunity to join the UN and cities around the world in memorializing those who’ve been killed in local neighborhoods – and in calling for safer streets, in connection with World Day of Remembrance. The program will also include powerful testimonies from crash survivors and those who have lost loved ones in traffic crashes.
Figures from NYPD’s TrafficStat, which tracks all incidents in the city, show that 172 people have died in traffic crashes in 2019, a 13.9% increase over last year’s overall number. A large number have been concentrated in parts of Brooklyn: to date, 55 of the 172 fatalities have been in Brooklyn, according to Streetsblog NYC. Of the 55 people killed in Brooklyn this year, 17 have been bicyclists, which alone outpaces the 10 cyclists killed citywide last year.
“We mourn with every family who has been touched by traffic violence this year or in previous years. But we also have to turn our pain into purpose. That’s what Families for Safe Streets has done since their founding, and their advocacy has saved countless lives. Traffic violence does not discriminate. And now, we are partnering with the faith community in this mission to make our streets safer for all New Yorkers. It’s on all of us to come together and demand an end to traffic violence and its irreversible effects on families,” said Adams.
The forum is slated for 10 a.m., today, Oct. 24 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Treyger To Cut Ribbon On Revitalized Lafayette Playground
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend) today will join city officials, students, staff and local residents for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the revitalization of the Lafayette Playground in Gravesend.
The Playground re-opened in July 2019—four months ahead of the projected completion date—following a full renovation to transform the under-activated asphalt space into a vibrant park, with amenities that can be enjoyed by all.
When the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation originally introduced its Community Parks Initiative to revitalize a number of parks across the five boroughs, southern Brooklyn was initially left out. Treyger strongly advocated to reverse decades of neglect for outer-borough green and recreational spaces, and secured a $5.4 million investment for a full upgrade to the Lafayette playground.
Lafayette Playground, once a simple triangular space topped with asphalt, was completely redesigned to include lush greenery and flexible features that reflect the community’s priorities, which were gathered during a community input pre-design scoping meeting. Specific project details will be announced at the event.
The ribbon-cutting is slated for 2 p.m., today, Oct. 24 at Lafayette Playground; 2630 Benson Avenue in Gravesend.
Ortiz Calls on Cuomo to Undertake Sunset Park Air Quality Study
Assemblymember and Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) yesterday called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to undertake a Sunset Park Air Quality Study similar to the one the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently released for Albany, New York’s South End Community.
The 15 months long, community-driven scientific study found that emissions (particularly truck emissions) negatively impact air quality in the Albany neighborhood.
Ortiz has requested that the governor direct a similar study be conducted in the community of Sunset Park. The heavily trafficked Brooklyn Queens Expressway bisects Sunset Park, exposing many in the community, including the students in 14 elementary schools, to constant emissions,” Ortiz said.
“My constituents and I have been very concerned about the air quality in Sunset Park for years. Many community members suffer from asthma and bronchitis,” said Ortiz. “This type of air quality study will provide detailed information regarding the type and level of air pollution our community is exposed to. Those facts will allow us to create an effective remediation plan. All New Yorkers deserve clean, healthy air to breathe.”
Eichenstein To Host Free Paper Shredding & E-Waste Events
Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein (D-Borough Park) will be hosting two free events next week – an e-waste drop-off event and a free paper shredding event as a public service to the neighborhoods of Midwood and Borough Park.
“Our office has heard from constituents who have been ticketed due to improper e-waste removal,” said Eichenstein. “So I am presenting this opportunity as a service to the community to properly dispose of their unwanted electronic waste and sensitive material. Both events are free and open to the public.”
The e-waste event is slated for 4-7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28 at Eichenstein’s district office, 1310 48th Street in Borough Park. The paper shredding event is slated for 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30 also at Eichenstein’s district office, 1310 48th Street in Borough Park. No appointments are necessary.
For more information about these events and other services, please feel free to contact Assemblyman Eichenstein’s office via phone at 718-853-9616 or via email at district48@nyassembly.gov.
Lander Applauds DOE Delay Of District 15 Rezoning
City Council Member Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) yesterday applauded the Department of Education to delay the District 15 Elementary School rezoning process for a year.
According to Chalkbeat, the sweeping rezoning proposal comes on the heels of dramatic changes in the middle school admissions process for District 15 that advocates hope will lead to more integrated schools.
For the elementary schools, one of the floated proposals would redraw smaller attendance zones around overcrowded P.S. 29 and P.S. 58, while increasing the zones around schools that have unused space.
The second would move the district to a lottery admissions system, with families applying to the schools of their choice.
The DOE this week announced it will push back any decision on the proposed rezoning until the spring, with the rezoning to take effect in the fall of 2021 rather than 2020.
“The Department of Education deserves real credit for how it is approaching the elementary school rezoning in District 15 occasioned by the addition at P.S. 32. From the start, the DOE and the parent leaders approached this opportunity not only to address overcrowding and growth, but also the segregation that persists in our community’s schools. I’m grateful to the leadership of Chancellor Carranza, Superintendent Anita Skop, PS 32 Principal Denise Waston-Adin and the other principals, DOE staff, and the members of the Community Education Council for listening to community members, working to ensure that this process is inclusive and deliberative, and recognizing that more time is needed to hear all voices and get the process right,” said Lander.
“The District 15 middle-school integration process showed that it is possible to face issues of segregation honestly, have extensive public engagement, and move forward with an equity-based approach. I am enthusiastic that we are taking that approach here as well, and believe it can be a model for other districts in years to come,” he added.
TJ Club Welcomes New Young Dem President
The Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club tonight will be welcoming their new Young Democrats President, Jonathan Alleyne.
“We are confident that under his stewardship the TJ Young Dems will continue to be a vital force for our club. If you’re a Democrat under the age of 30, this event will be of particular interest to you. So come to the club and meet our newest rising star,” the club said in an emailed statement.
The club meeting is slated for 8 p.m., tonight, Oct. 24 at 77 Conklin Avenue in Canarsie.
