Adams Holds Walk-Through At Maimonides Medical Center
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams today will conduct a walk-through and hold a press conference with Maimonides Medical Center CEO Kenneth Gibbs to learn about and highlight the important safety measures the hospital has put in place to safely receive all patients after the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
The visit comes as New York City continues its phased re-opening, and the overall infection rate continues to fall throughout the five boroughs.
Recent reports indicate that people have been delaying medical care and emergency treatment due to fears of contracting COVID-19. Adams and Gibbs are concerned for the health and well-being of all Brooklyn residents and together will urge everyone to take care of their health, without fear of COVID-19. They will also point out how the space has been reconfigured to safely accommodate patients.
Adams will emphasize the importance of supporting safety-net hospitals, including Maimonides, which provide care to some of the most vulnerable Brooklynites, and urge people who need medical care to return to their hospitals for treatment.
The walk-through is slated for 3:40 p.m., today, June 25 starting at the main lobby of Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 10th Avenue in Borough Park.
Clarke’s Statement on Preliminary Primary Election Results
U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Park Slope) is leading the polls with 62.3% of the vote as of yesterday and released this statement:
“Last night, the people of the 9th district of New York made their voices heard by turning out and voting. While we still must take into account the number of absentee ballots that must be counted, I am confident that the results will be in my favor and I am more motivated than ever to fight for my community in Washington.
“In that spirit, this week I will be going back to work. While my campaign remains on the ground to ensure that every eligible voter has been granted an opportunity to vote, I will return to Washington to vote on a groundbreaking police reform bill this week followed by laying the foundation for the recovery with a new green infrastructure package.
“I want to thank all of my constituents, both those that voted for me and those that went in another direction. Regardless of the outcome, I hope that I have served you well during my time in Washington. If given the opportunity to return, I will do everything in my power to ensure that every constituent of the 9th District feels like they have a representative they can believe in,” she said.
Brooklyn Leaders Gather with Chinese-American Community
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (South Brooklyn, Staten Island), State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park), City Councilmember Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst), and Assemblymember Peter Abbate Jr. (D-Borough Park, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst), hosted a virtual roundtable with Chinese-American community and business leaders to discuss efforts to support small businesses and the community through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“What has been happening in the past few months in terms of skyrocketing hate crimes and xenophobia against the Chinese- and Asian-American community as a result of COVID is not only disgusting, it’s reprehensible and must utilize every tool at the federal, state, and city level to crack down on it,” Rose said. “As we talk about the economy, there’s no secret that restaurants owned by Asian-Americans were some of the first to shut down. They need our help and I’m continuing to fight to ensure they have the relief and help they need and deserve.”
Since the beginning of the crisis, there have been numerous reports of Asian-Americans being threatened, harassed, or assaulted. The pandemic has also fueled a rise in anti-Semitic incidents against the Jewish community, and has had adverse impacts on the LGBTQ community. As a result, these communities, in addition to working to combat the coronavirus, are left fighting an additional front—that of hate and injustice.
Rose Chairs Hearing on Threats from ISIS and Al Qaeda
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (South Brooklyn, Staten Island) held a Subcommittee hearing yesterday on the threats posed by ISIS and Al Qaeda, examining these groups’ behavior and recent growth amidst a global pandemic, competing U.S. national security priorities, proposed U.S. troop drawdowns in the Middle East and elsewhere, and recent violent incident.
“Abroad and at home, ISIS and Al Qaeda continue to take advantage of vulnerable populations and distracted governments to spread their propaganda, recruit new members, and establish regional safe havens. It is also no surprise that these groups have capitalized on the instability caused by COVID-19,” said Rose. “Coalition building, effective diplomacy, and keeping our word — these are all pivotal to the disruption of worldwide terrorist threats. … Nearly two decades after the September 11th attacks at home, we’re at a crossroads in this rapidly changing security environment and need to seriously re-evaluate and update the American approach to combatting extremism.”
Earlier this week, the threat of jihadist terrorism and the threat of white supremacist terrorism intersected as the Department of Justice announced an indictment charging a U.S. Army Private for allegedly planning an attack on his unit by sending sensitive details about the unit—including information about its location, movements, and security—to multiple extremist groups, including Al Qaeda and Europe-based white supremacist neo-Nazis.
Gounardes Announces New Food Distribution Site
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) announced that he will hold a grocery distribution today to address the food insecurity that has spread across New York and southern Brooklyn in the wake of COVID-19.
“Coronavirus has brought about a ‘new normal.’ Unfortunately, for many New Yorkers, that new normal means food insecurity. My office has prioritized helping our community put food on the table. If someone can’t eat, they can’t survive. We can’t allow any family to slip through the cracks,” said Gounardes.
The distribution of pantry staples and produce will take place at 2 p.m., today, June 25 at the FIAO Il Centro, at 8711 18th Avenue in southern Brooklyn.
Boxes will be distributed on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.
Lander to Meet on Control Over Housing
City Council Member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus) and other elected officials will announce a new plan today calling for New York City and State leaders to take action to stabilize and expand community control over housing.
Groups will call on the City and State to embrace 4 housing pillars — starting in the FY21 New York City budget — to address the dual housing crises emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic: an unstable housing market vulnerable to exploitation from predatory real estate interests, and the onslaught of expected evictions as certain eviction proceedings restart.
The pillars include:
-Increased funding to the Council’s Community Land Trust Initiative in the FY21 Budget
-Continued funding to the Council’s Stabilizing NYC Initiative in the FY21 Budget
-Restore the Proposed 40% Cut to HPD’s Capital Budget in FY21 and increase the budget in outer years to ensure necessary funding for affordable housing development.
-Pass two pieces of legislation – Councilwoman Carlina Rivera’s Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), and State. Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) – that are key to promoting community-led social housing and development.
The meeting is slated to take place at 10 a.m. today You can join at this link here. Meeting ID: 858 2296 8984
