Stringer, Electeds to Host Town Hall on COVID-19 Response
Tonight, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) will be hosting a town hall on the City’s COVID-19 response, along with State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown), Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Upper West Side, Hell’s Kitchen) and Councilmember Carlina Rivera (D-East Village, Gramercy Park).
The meeting will cover how local and state officials have responded to the crisis, as well as the resources that are currently available. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with the electeds about any issues they’re facing.
The event will take place tonight at 6 p.m. on Zoom. To RSVP, click here.
Velázquez Bill Would Bring Green Rooftops to Schools
Last Friday, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) introduced legislation for the adoption of “green roofs” at private and public schools.
The bill would allocate federal funding for the Public School Green Rooftop Program; under this program, the Department of Energy would instate a grand program for the installation of green roofs, or roofs covered with vegetation, at New York schools. Green roofs substantially improve a building’s carbon footprint, and Velázquez believes that they could also provide students with the means to learn about ecological issues firsthand.
“There is no better place to begin teaching our children about conservation than our public schools,” said Velázquez. “However, their education does not need to be confined to the classroom. These roofs allow students to directly engage with sustainable practices and see for themselves the impact that environmentally conscious initiatives can have on their hometowns and neighborhoods. By exposing them to these ideas early on in their education, we forge a path to a cleaner, healthier community.”
Espaillat Condemns Verbal Attack on AOC
Last Friday, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) called on Congressional leadership to formerly condemn U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) for his attack against U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx).
The previous Monday, Yoho approached Ocasio-Cortez on the steps of the Capitol, calling her “disgusting” and “out of [her] mind”. As he was walking away, he called her a “f***ing b****”, loud enough for nearby reporters to hear. Later that week, Yoho issued an apology, but neither Espaillat nor Ocasio-Cortez found his apology to be sincere.
“Rep. Yoho’s sexist slur hurled against Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was not only reprehensible but represents a fraction of the abuse women continue to confront daily in the workplace,” said Espaillat. “For far too long, men have gotten away with such behavior and women have remained silent. I commend Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez for her courage to speak out and confront the reprehensible words hurled against her. Women of color report higher levels of bullying in the workplace and in public, and we should never tolerate such vile misogynistic behavior targeting women in the workplace whether entry-level employees or members of the boardroom.
James Sues Trump Admin for Seeking to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants from Congressional Apportionment
Last Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump (R) for attempting to exclude undocumeneted immigrants from the apportionment base that determines how many representatives each state receives.
The Constitution mandates that during the Census, every person living within the U.S., regardless of legal status, must be counted. However, in an unprecedented move, Trump announced last Tuesday that he intends to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment base.
“That count determines our cities’ representation in Congress and the amount of federal aid we receive,” said James. “By trying to exclude our immigrant residents from the count, the Trump Administration is blatantly defying the Supreme Court and the Constitution. We will reject this attempt to sow chaos. We will ensure our communities have their voice in Congress and the federal assistance they need to recover from this pandemic.”
