Koo Leads Top Electeds On Tour To Dispell Coronavirus Myths
City Council Member Peter Koo (D-Bayside, College Point, Flushing, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Fresh Meadows, Whitestone) today will lead Mayor Bill de Blasio, Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan) and top business leaders and city officials to tour the local Flushing neighborhood to dispell myths about the Coronavirus.
The tour comes as the Flushing Chinese Business Association estimates business is down 40% in the neighborhood, despite there being no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in New York City
The tour starts with a 1 p.m. visit to J Mart, 136-20 Roosevelt Avenue, 1st Floor) and then a 1:15 p.m. press conference at the Royal Queen Restaurant, 136-20 Roosevelt Avenue, 3rd Floor of the New World Mall in Flushing.
CM Miller Sees His Survivorship Bill Signed Into Law
City Council Member I. Daneek Miller (D-Cambria Heights, Hollis, Jamaica, Jamaica Estates, Laurelton, Queens Village, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans) yesterday joined Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday as he signed his legislation Introduction 1785 extending healthcare coverage to the surviving family members of municipal workers outside of uniformed service who die in the line of duty or as a result of 9/11 related illness into law.
The measure ends a gap in the law where this was only afforded on a case-by-case basis.
“This legislation represents the City’s dedication to the municipal workers who make this great City run each day, especially those who answered the call on 9/11. Under this new law, we are providing additional peace of mind and truly honoring their service,” said Miller, chair of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor.
“I thank my colleagues, Speaker Johnson, and the Administration for supporting this legislation. All labor has dignity, and our municipal workers will now receive the support that they so richly deserve,” he added.
Cruz Joins Advocates To Protect Bail Reform
Assembly Member Catalina Cruz (D-Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights) joined other state lawmakers and advocacy organizations in Albany yesterday to oppose any rollbacks or regressive changes to the bail and discovery laws and demanded legislators adopt the Justice Roadmap.
The roadmap is a slate of bills that will address the harms caused by unaccountable over-policing, the separation of families, inhumane treatment, and a lack of due process protections.
Advocates made clear that they refuse to allow issues of justice to be used as bargaining chips against one another in budget negotiations and called on lawmakers to take further steps for justice.
“We’re asking during the budget hearing today that our colleagues ask the critical questions of the administration and hear advocates’ voices. My commitment is for absolutely no rollbacks on bail and to move forward until we actually get this roadmap,” said Cruz.
Adams, Fast Food Workers Rally Against Unfair Firings
City Council Members Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, South Ozone Park) and Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) today will rally with advocates and workers in favor of their package of legislation to protect fast food workers from being fired without just cause.
Int. 1415 (Lander) will prohibit fast food employers from firing an employee for any reason other than the employee’s failure to perform job duties or misconduct and will consider a reduction in hours of 15% equivalent to a termination, to ensure employers cannot skirt the new standard by forcing people to quit.
Int. 1396 (Adams) will require layoffs for economic reasons to proceed with reverse seniority.
The rally will comes ahead of today’s hearing on just cause protections for fast food workers.
The rally is slated for 12 noon today, Feb. 13 on the steps of city hall in lower Manhattan.
