Adams To Demand Justice For Discrimination On Jet Blue Flight
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams today will join with Shaun Lynda and his lawyer, Roger Archibald, who are currently exploring legal options against JetBlue Airways after an alleged egregious instance of racial discrimination against Lynda during a recent flight.
According to the complaint, Lynda was removed from a Jet Blue flight after raising concerns over the treatment of Black Jet Blue passengers. Video footage of the incident will be shown during the slated press conference.
Lynda is a highly respected member of his community who runs a Brooklyn-based nonprofit called Financially CLEAN, which educates young people in underserved communities about financial literacy.
The press conference is slated for 1:30 p.m., today, Dec. 5 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Cuomo Reminds New Yorkers of Expanded IVF Coverage Effective in January
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reminded New Yorkers of their rights under New York’s expansion of in vitro fertilization – or IVF – coverage and fertility preservation services that will take effect on January 1, 2020. To help New York residents and insurers better understand the new law, the State Department of Financial Services issued a Frequently Asked Questions document to clarify the changes to IVF coverage and fertility preservation services, including mandatory coverage of prescription drugs by large group health insurers provided in connection with IVF services. The FAQs provide New Yorkers with information to help understand eligibility and coverage details and instruct insurers on compliance with legal requirements under the expanded reproductive coverage.
“New York is leading the fight to expand reproductive health access for all New Yorkers, no matter who they love or how much money they have,” Cuomo said. “This new law will help break down economic barriers that have prevented too many individuals and families from having a child of their own and give New Yorkers more control over their reproductive health and family planning decisions.”
IVF coverage is important for people who face fertility obstacles, including same-sex couples and single women. Fertility preservation coverage is also important for cancer patients or other patients receiving medical treatment that may impact their ability to have children. Mandating IVF coverage makes the service more widely available to many New Yorkers, regardless of socio-economic status, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity.
“For many women, fertility treatment is the only way achieve and sustain pregnancy. In-vitro fertilization is widely recognized as the safest and most effective method,” said Senator Diane J. Savino (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island). “As the New Year with new regulations are right around the corner, it’s important that New Yorkers are up to date and aware of their options. I’m glad we continue to fight to ensure costly procedures are no longer a roadblock to a healthy family in New York.”
Due to greater emphasis on careers, delays in marriages and financial feasibility, demand for IVF services continues to grow. The average age of first births among women in the U.S. has increased from 21 to 25 since 1970, driven primarily by an increase in first children born to women 35 and older. The percentage of first births in women aged 30 years or older increased from 5% to 26% from 1975 to 2010. As women are pressured to choose between a career and having a family, this new law helps many New Yorkers have appropriate access to affordable IVF coverage services.
Mayor de Blasio Signs Legislation Expanding Prevailing Wage
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Intro. 1321-A Tuesday, sponsored by Council Member Rafael Espinal (D-Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Cypress Hills, East New York), which will expand the guarantee of prevailing wages to building service workers in City financed projects. The bill continues the Mayor’s commitment to ending inequality by ensuring that workers in the City can afford to both work and live here.
“From keeping the heat on to keeping our families safe, New Yorkers rely on building service workers. This expansion of prevailing wage will help create a fairer city by ensuring workers have the same security and peace of mind they bring to residents every day,” said de Blasio.
The prevailing wage for building service workers reflects the pay and benefits paid by the majority of private employers and requires benefits like health insurance, retirement, and paid time off. Since 2012, prevailing wages were required for building service employees in most developments where a private developer received at least $1,000,000 in discretionary financial assistance from the City. The 2012 law exempted all affordable housing projects from the wage standard.
“As our city becomes a more expensive place to live, we have to push for laws that close its wealth gap. The city is also facing a housing crisis that has to be addressed not just by looking at how much affordable housing is available, but by examining what kind of jobs are available as well. I introduced this prevailing wage law because it is the standard we set during the East New York Neighborhood Plan. Of the 100% affordable housing that is being built, each building is now going to provide prevailing wages to its staff. If we did it in East New York, we can do it citywide,” said Espinal.
The bill will cover additional developers and projects by removing the current exemption in the Prevailing Wage Law for affordable housing projects and not-for-profit developers of residential projects. Now, building service workers in most residential projects receiving financial assistance of at least $1,000,000 for new construction or preservation will be guaranteed the prevailing wage. The bill exempts smaller residential projects with fewer than 120 units, certain supportive housing projects, deeply affordable preservation projects and NYCHA projects financed through the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration program.
The law builds off reforms aimed at raising the wage and benefit floor for more New Yorkers and reducing income inequality including paid sick leave, fair workweek, and raising the minimum wage.
Rep. Rose Forms Bipartisan Save Minor League Baseball Task Force
Congressman Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) joined Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), David McKinley (R-W. Va.), and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) to announce the official formation of the bipartisan Save Minor League Baseball Task Force on Tuesday. At the group’s inaugural meeting, Members of Congress met with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) President Pat O’Conner, Vice President Stan Brand, and several Minor League team owners. The group discussed a strategy to continue the momentum on this urgent issue.
“Major League Baseball can look at all the ‘sabermetrics’ it wants, but what they don’t understand is the serious impact that losing these baseball teams will have on our communities,” Rose said. “You won’t see it in any formula, but my colleagues and I have all seen the impact teams like the Staten Island Yankees can have on the faces of the children who show up at the ballpark every year. I’m proud to join this effort to urge the MLB to reconsider.”
The formation of this task force follows a bipartisan Rose-backed effort in Nov. with 102 of his colleagues in the House of Rep. urging Major League Baseball (MLB) to abandon its plan to eliminate 42 Minor League teams. This effort follows recent reporting that the MLB’s proposal would disband short-season leagues like the New York-Penn League, eliminating 42 affiliated teams in total and would shrink the number of affiliated minor league teams by 25 percent.
The Save Minor League Baseball Task Force will advocate on behalf of the communities that stand to be most harmed by MLB’s plan to eliminate 42 minor league franchises. They will closely monitor ongoing negotiations between MLB and MiLB as well as discuss potential legislative action if and when such a remedy becomes necessary.
Malliotakis Kicks Off 2019 Holiday Toy Drive
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) will once again be hosting her Holiday Toy Drive to benefit local children. Toys collected will be donated to various local organizations across Brooklyn and Staten Island. These
organizations include South Beach Houses, Seamen’s Society for Children & Families, children in the military families at Fort Hamilton, the Guild for Exceptional Children in Brooklyn and many more.
“Our toy drive is one of my favorite events of the year. The generosity and kindness exhibited by the community is truly amazing, and has increased since our first toy drive back in 2010. I look forward to working with some of our local organizations once again to spread some holiday cheer,” said Malliotakis.
This year, Assemblywoman Malliotakis is teaming up with Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge to collect the toys and spread holiday cheer to all families.
Donors are encouraged to drop off unwrapped toys until Monday, Dec. 16 at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 8401 Ridge Boulevard in Bay Ridge.
