Espinal Announces Exit From Brooklyn Borough President Race
NYC Council Member Rafael Espinal (D-Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Cypress Hills, and East New York) announced his exit from the race for Brooklyn Borough President on Wednesday. He issued the following statement:
“Being elected to lead and serve our city’s greatest borough has always been a dream of mine.
My work in securing historic investments to address the decades of social and economic neglect of my hometown Cypress Hills, the Holocaust Survivors initiative I created to support the 30k survivors living in poverty, passing legislation that will have generational impacts on our nightlife economy and the fight against climate change is representative of my deep love for Brooklyn and desire to see it continue being the best place on earth.
As a born and raised Brooklyn boy, I believe there is no greater honor than to serve as the Brooklyn Borough President, but after months of consideration, I have decided not to continue my campaign.
I want to be clear. Given my record and ability to work with all Brooklynites, I truly believe that I could have put together a strong and winning campaign. Right now is just not the time for me.
I want to thank all of my supporters, who without hesitation put their faith and support towards my candidacy. It means the world to me. I will have more details to follow in the days to come.”
Rose, Freshmen Dems Launch New ‘End Corruption’ Caucus
U.S. Reps. Max Rose (D-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) announced with fellow Freshmen Members of Congress and End Citizens United Action Fund a new Congressional caucus, End Corruption. This group of Members, who have been leaders in
taking on corruption in Washington—including helping pass the most sweeping effort in a generation in the For the People Act (H.R. 1)—are banding together to continue their fight to take political power from corrupt special interests and put it back on the side of working Americans.
“Starting from Day 1, we’ve been focused on sending a clear, unmistakable message to the American people: that we are here to fight for them and only them—not the special interests and corporate PACs,” said Rose, the Co-Chair of End Corruption. “I’m proud to bring together so many of my colleagues with Congresswoman Katie Porter to form End Corruption, because from fighting to ban corporate PACs, close lobbyist loopholes, increase transparency and kick the special interests out of the halls of Congress, we won’t stop in our efforts to put government back on the side of working people.”
Persaud to Host Girl’s Computer Coding Workshop
Senator Roxanne J. Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Ocean Hill and Starrett City), in partnership with Digital Girl Inc., will host a coding event for girls called “A
Community Dream Workshop”. This event, held in honor of the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is tailored for girls grades 3 and up. The workshop will provide a basic understanding of computer coding, by having participants research Dr. King’s life and code an interactive trivia game based on their research.
Digital Girl Inc. seeks to encourage inner city youth, especially girls, to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. They are motivated by the United States’ overall lag in producing an adequate number of STEM professionals and the underrepresentation of women and people of color.
Join the workshop from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Catholic Charities Riverdale Osborne Walk-In Center Community Room, 420 Watkins St, in Brownsville.
Eugene Applauds Lawsuit to Stop Eliminating Food Assistance for 700,000 Americans
New York City today joined a group of 15 Attorneys General in a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from eliminating food assistance for nearly 700,000 Americans. The lawsuit, filed in D.C., challenges a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that would limit states’ ability to extend benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as “food stamps,” beyond a three-month period for certain adults.
“The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a critical part of federal and state efforts to help the underserved community,” said Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Park, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens). “SNAP provides food assistance to thousands of hardworking Americans who require it to care for their families. I join my colleagues in requesting that the federal government refrain from limiting the state’s ability to extend these benefits to those who need them most. As elected officials, we must work together to prevent the disruption of government services intended to help those who struggle with food insecurity.”
The lawsuit asserts that the rule directly undermines Congress’ intent for the food-stamp program and that the USDA violated the federal rulemaking process. Further, they argue that the rule would impose significant regulatory burdens on the states and harm states’ residents and economies. The coalition is urging the court to declare the rule unlawful and issue an injunction to prevent it from taking effect.
