Rose Wants Proper Oversight of DHS Intelligence Products
U.S. Reps Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), announced yesterday they are introducing legislation to strengthen protections against abuses of civil rights and civil liberties by the intelligence arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by restoring vital checks on the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A).
“Despite their best clean-up efforts after getting caught, it was no accident that the Department of Homeland Security published intelligence reports on journalists,” said Rose. “This shameful affair started at the top—as evidenced by the decision by senior leadership to remove the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties from reviewing the intelligence office’s work. It’s clear that this Administration cannot be trusted to act appropriately, so it’s time to codify real guardrails into law.”
The Strengthening Oversight of DHS Intelligence Act will require DHS I&A products to be vetted by CRCL to ensure they do not violate constitutional and other legal protections. The legislation also codifies a requirement for CRCL to provide training to senior DHS intelligence personnel on civil rights and civil liberties protections.
Gounardes on Nursing Home Failure
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) urges the passing of legislation to ensure another tragedy like the one we saw with the elderly in the nursing homes does not happen again.
“Today the legislature heard testimony from the New York State Department of Health Commissioner on the tragic deaths of thousands of New Yorkers in nursing homes. These hearings left us with yet more questions about how this happened and deepened our resolve to never let something like this occur again. What happened in our nursing homes was a complete failure that led to countless families losing loved ones without any chance to say goodbye. My heart is with these families, including many in southern Brooklyn, who lost loved ones in this cruel way.
“Now is the time to pass true accountability measures for nursing homes and our state, so that no family ever again has to experience the horrors that these families experienced. We cannot allow this moment to pass without taking concrete steps to protect nursing home residents during a disease outbreak and prevent this breakdown. I urge the legislature to act now to pass S8270 to mandate safety standards for nursing homes and DOH takeover in the event of an unsafe nursing home, and for the Governor to sign the bill passed by the legislature to end immunity for healthcare facilities during the pandemic,” said Gounardes.
Richardson Updates on COVID Rent Relief
Assemblymember Diana Richardson (Crown Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Wingate, Flatbush) wants to let everyone know that the deadline to apply for the COVID Rent Relief Program has been extended to Thursday.
“This means that New Yorkers now have 3 additional days to apply for rent relief. The COVID Rent Relief Program provides eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance. DHCR will prioritize eligible applicants based on the “greatest economic and social need.” This takes into account the applicant’s income, rent burden, percent of income lost, and risk of homelessness,” Richardson wrote.
To apply for the COVID Rent Relief Program you may contact the customer call center via phone at 1-833-499-0318 or via email at covidrentrelief@hcr.ny.gov. The customer call center is open through the deadline from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
To contact Richardson call at 718-771-3105 or email at district43@nyassembly.gov.
Gillibrand Requests Renaming of Streets in Brooklyn
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy requesting to rename the streets General Lee Avenue and Stonewall Jack Drive at the Fort Hamilton military base in Bay Ridge.
In the letter, Gillibrand also calls to remove the portraits of confederate General Robert E. Lee in the cadet mess hall and library at the United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA), as well as rename Lee Gate, Lee Barracks, and Lee Road.
“As you are aware, the United States military, as a whole, is more diverse than the United States itself. As our military leadership echoes, the ability to recruit and retain people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations to defend our shared values is a comparative advantage against other nations. By maintaining the legacy of Confederate leaders at our military installations, we undermine the high standards we expect from our service members, as well as the values enshrined in our Constitution dedicated to equality among people of all walks of life that we seek to defend.
“Fort Hamilton and West Point are home to our service members who embody the highest ideals of our nation. It is these ideals that need to be celebrated. Commemoration and remembrance at these institutions should pay tribute to the morals of our country, along with the ideals and values that our armed forces fight to preserve every day,” she wrote.
