Mosley Gives Thanks for Police Reform Bills Passage
Assemblymember Walter Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant) yesterday thanked those who helped make the package of police reform legislation that passed the legislature this week possible.
“I want to thank the Assembly and all of my colleagues in the legislature, but I also would like to thank all of the advocates and activists – both young and old, black and white – who took this moment in time and turned this moment and turned it into a movement. A movement where you put your lives and health on the line protesting in the midst of a global health pandemic. These activists over the past two-plus weeks brought their collective voices together in an effort to let the world know that black lives matter.
“This bill and this package of legislation are not about punishment. This bill and its package are about accountability, responsibility, and transparency. So as we push these bills into law, we do so proudly in the affirmative that we look towards a new day when we all can say black lives matter,” he wrote.
Velazquez: No Military Weapons to Police
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan, Queens) has introduced legislation to eliminate a program that channels military-grade weapons and equipment to local and state police forces around the nation.
“When our police forces are equipped like an occupying army, they act like one, treating New Yorkers and the American people as an enemy force,” Velázquez said. “The deadly consequences of this policy disproportionately affect people of color and this initiative should be scrapped, completely.”
The “1033” program was created in the early 1990s, and has resulted in a flood of rifles, armored personnel carriers and other instruments of war being shipped to local police departments. Between 2006 and 2014, local law enforcement agencies received an array of military equipment worth over $1.5 billion. This included more than 6,000 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, designed for use in warzones like Iraq and Afghanistan. Two such vehicles were sent to New York City. Nationally, the transferred equipment also encompassed nearly 80,000 assault rifles, 205 grenade launchers, 12,000 bayonets, more than 470 aircraft, camouflage and other equipment.
Colton Joins Seniors in Virtual Concert
Assemblyman William Colton (Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) joined Club A-Elita, and its President Leonora Bulychova, together with 47th AD District Leader Nancy Tong and 45th AD District Leader Ari Kagan in a social distancing virtual concert at Regina Pacis Housing.
Colton thanked Club A-Elita for putting this together because this senior housing has lost 6 of its residents, including the past president Willie Gil and everyone, has been very down after being cooped up in their apartments for some three months and this talented entertainment boosted everyone’s morale.
“It was great seeing our seniors clapping and dancing to the beautiful music,” Colton said.
“We need to conduct more performances like this to keep everyone enjoying life and inspire each other now even more through such difficult times,” Colton added.
Myrie Talks About Police Bills
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) yesterday spoke on two bills that passed that will allow greater police transparency.
“The two bills we passed today are S.3595B, which will create a new Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office, and S.2574B, which will create an Office of Special Investigation within the office of the Attorney General to allow the investigation of deaths at the hands of police and, when warranted, prosecution of police who committed wrongful deaths.
“These two bills cap off a week of passing the strongest police accountability legislation ever seen in this state. We passed these bills for every family who has ever lost a loved one or suffered from police brutality and who saw that brutality go unanswered. To be clear: our work is far from over. But we know that these bills will help begin the process of healing and bringing justice to our communities.
“None of this would have been possible were it not for all of you raising your voices in the streets and to your elected officials, so to everyone who bravely stood up for justice in whatever way you could, I want to thank you,” wrote Myrie.
Williams Wants Bill to Defer Property Tax Liabilities
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams called for the passage of his legislation that would defer the property tax liabilities on certain residential property owners impacted by COVID-19.
“As we all know, the Coronavirus has hindered the ability of New Yorkers to meet their tax obligations over the past three months, and this issue will likely remain for many more to come. The City must act in ways to ease this burden while balancing the budget, as property tax payments are the biggest revenue source that funds public goods and services,” said Williams.
Specifically, Pre-considered Intro. 6276 would require the city’s Department of Finance to offer agreements to defer real property tax liability otherwise due and payable as of July 1, 2020, until October 1, 2020. Eligible property owners would own property with an assessed value of $250,000 or less that serves as their primary residence, have experienced economic hardship relating to COVID-19, and have a combined annual income of $200,000 or less.
This bill will provide significant tax relief for property owners and will apply to 99% of Class 1 homes, 96% of Co-Op Units, and 87% of Condos.
