Liu Applauds Bill Proposal To Expand Harassment Protections to Elected Officials’ Staff
State Sen. John Liu (D- Flushing, College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston-Little Neck, parts of Hollis, Bellerose) yesterday applauded State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou (D-Manhattan) for introducing legislation that would expand harassment protections for those who work directly for elected officials and judges.
In litigation, government lawyers have cited Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which excludes certain workers, to argue that so-called “personal staff” do not have protections against sexual harassment. This tactic has been employed in multiple lawsuits, even leading to dismissals in multiple cases against elected officials. Before becoming elected officials, both Gounardes and Niou were both “personal staff” of elected officials.
“It’s unconscionable that state law falls short of protecting personal staff of elected officials and judges from sexual harassment. Our goal, to provide all workers with a harassment-free workplace, needs to extend – even moreso – to the offices where officials hold the public’s trust,” said Liu.
Sanders Invites Constituents To Join Him In Voting Early
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) in cooperation with the NYC Board of Elections, will lead by example and invites his constituents to join him today as he votes early.
Sanders said New Yorkers’ busy schedules often make it difficult to get to the polls and vote and that’s why he passed a law to allow registered voters to vote in person before – Election Day – starting October 26 – at a designated early voting site.
Early voting works the same as voting on Election Day. Just show up at your early voting site, check in to receive your ballot, and cast your vote, he said.
Sanders will cast his early vote at 10 a.m., today, Nov. 1 at the Rockaway YMCA, 207 Beach 73rd Street in Arverne.
NOTE: Only those who are designated for this poll location will actually be allowed to vote along with the senator, but everyone is asked to come out and show their support and encourage others to vote early. To find your early voting location, call 311 or visit:
nyc.pollsitelocator.com/search. Also, note that your early voting location may be different from your normal polling site.
Cuomo Announces Start Of State Health 2020 Open Enrollment Period
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced that today [Nov. 1] start’s the state’s open enrollment period for New Yorkers who want quality, low-cost health insurance coverage in 2020.
“New York is proud to be a national leader in providing access to health care to state residents through a robust and vibrant marketplace,” Cuomo said. “Despite continued aggressive threats at the federal level to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and block access to health care, we continue to move forward. We believe health care is a right, not a luxury, and we will continue our efforts to provide New Yorkers with quality, affordable health coverage.”
In New York, the number of uninsured has been reduced by 1.2 million since 2010, including one million since the NY State of Health Marketplace opened in 2013. More than 4.8 million people are currently enrolled in coverage through NY State of Health.
Open Enrollment for Qualified Health Plans begins November 1, 2019 and will continue through January 31, 2020. New enrollees can apply for coverage starting on November 1, 2019. Current enrollees may begin renewing coverage on November 16. The Marketplace offers a choice of health plans across all Marketplace programs in every county of the state, with free in-person assistance available to help consumers shop for and enroll in the best coverage for themselves and their families.
For more info visit: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/.
