Adams to Meet about Beirut Explosion
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will join members of Brooklyn’s Lebanese community roday to express solidarity with the Lebanese people after the tragic explosions in Beirut last week.
He will also be announcing joint relief efforts to assist the city and country as they begin the rebuilding process. The blasts, which happened on August 4 in the port area of the city, claimed at least 154 lives, injured more than 5,000, and has left 250,000 people homeless.
Experts predict that the damage from the explosions are likely to exacerbate Lebanon’s economic woes, leading to widespread suffering. Adams will emphasize the deep bonds between Brooklyn, which has a large Lebanese population, and Beirut, and urge those who are able to contribute to relief efforts.
Myrie Upset at the USPS Refusal to Testify
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) released a statement on USPS refusal to testify at a joint public hearing on the 2020 elections.
“The Postal Service delivers in snow, rain, sleet and hail, but is unwilling to testify in the light of day. I am disappointed that the USPS refuses to participate in this week’s joint hearing on New York’s primary election, which was marred by reports of late deliveries and missing postmarks.
“In a year when postal workers are as critical to our elections as poll workers, it is important to understand exactly what steps the USPS is taking to safeguard the vote. If the Postal Service continues to refuse to answer our questions, my colleagues and I may be forced to take additional steps to compel their testimony and ensure their compliance with the law.
Schumer: Trump’s Exec Orders on New Stimulus Not Enough
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), the Senate Minority leader, yesterday highlighted some of the glaring deficiencies in President Trump’s just-announced ‘Executive Orders’ that are cause for serious concern amidst the public health and economic crisis dealt by the coronavirus.
Schumer said President Trump’s actions yesterday totally leave out money for state and local governments—from New York City, to Long Island and beyond.
Trump’s executive orders include postponing payroll taxes through the end of the year, extending the unemployment “bonus” at $400 a week (down from $600), helping people “stay in their homes” and waiving student debt payments through the end of 2020.
Schumer also said the orders totally exclude money for schools to reopen safely, a New York priority. Finally, Schumer warned the orders leave out testing, tracing and treatment of the coronavirus itself.
“Yesterday’s executive orders can be summed up in three words: unworkable, weak and narrow,” said Schumer. “Among several deficiencies, these orders totally leave out money for our schools to reopen safely, money for state and local governments that’s needed to fight fires, pick up the garbage or employ teachers. Even more worrisome, the president’s actions exclude COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment, which is at the heart of solving the pandemic crisis in the first place. That is why I am calling on President Trump and the GOP to meet democrats in the middle –like we have done in the prior bills—and come up with an agreement that will actually help us get through this crisis.”
PA Williams Floats Legislation to Nationalizing Con Ed
Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams on Friday has released a report calling for a public power system, a municipal grid, to replace the existing near-monopoly by Con Edison in New York City.
“When Con Edison can oversee historic blackouts, leave New Yorkers in the dark, and then get a rate hike, it’s long past time for change, for bold ideas that meet the scope of the challenge,” said Williams on releasing the report. “This plan not only demonstrates the need to restore power to the people with public power, it outlines the path to get there, and it’s a path we need to start down now.”
The new report explains a two-pronged approach to achieving public power, rooted in the generation and the transmission of energy. It calls for the expansion of the existing New York Power Authority (NYPA), which is publicly owned, to provide lower-cost energy generation.
It also outlines a process for acquiring the electrical grid in New York City, currently operated by Con Edison, for transmission of that power.
