Lawmakers Want Conviction History to Not Affect Housing Opportunities
City Council Members Stephen Levin (D-Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Fulton Ferry, Greenpoint, Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg), Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington), Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will introduce the Fair Chance for Housing Act for New York City.
The legislation would ban background checks and make it illegal to deny a person housing because of their conviction history.
“This bill is common sense. I am proud to introduce this bill to make criminal background checks illegal in housing, and prohibit housing providers from advertising that they will not accept people with conviction histories. More than ever we need accessible and affordable housing for people who have experienced incarceration — it’s time we removed these barriers that don’t actually provide safety for our communities. Safe and stable housing keeps our communities safe — not restrictive background checks,” said Levin.
“People who have served time and are trying to start over need access to the things that make a stable, good life possible: safe, affordable housing and job opportunities. Ending discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing will prevent recidivism and enable people to rebuild their lives,” said Lander.
“We must dismantle the many obstacles to reintegration that justice-involved individuals face and this Fair Chance for Housing Act would do precisely that. We need to center fairness, equity, and inclusion in crafting housing policy for our shared communities. Alongside colleagues and advocates, I look forward to continuing to promote these principles as we advance the Fair Chance for Housing Act and make inroads in this key area of stability and well-being,” said Cornegy.
Brannan Wants NYC to Float Long-Term Debt
City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) released a statement to the NYC Council Resolution urging the state Legislature to pass and Governor to sign a bill allowing NYC to float long-term debt to pay for its operating costs.
“With no sign of additional federal stimulus money coming anytime soon, I support increasing our borrowing capacity – with reservations. It must be done cautiously and responsibly. The unavoidable reality is that the city is weathering a crisis, and the economic fallout has been massive – this year alone left us with nearly a $10 billion budget deficit. The fiscal situation is dire but, before we ask for help from Albany, tough decisions must be made.
Preventing layoffs of New York City essential workers and first responders who kept our city running through COVID and further cuts to basic city services must be our #1 priority. Borrowing must be done right. We cannot take a dime more than necessary because it will be future generations footing this bill.
We must also not ignore that the Mayor had six years of unprecedented prosperity. Under his administration, the city budget increased by around $20 billion and headcount increased by 30,000. Before we ask for help from Albany; before we consider laying off a single essential worker or first responder; before we cut another trash pickup or street repair, we need to look at City Hall’s own waste and bloat from six years of adding ineffective consultants, redundant bureaucrats, and layered political appointees to the payroll.
After nearly a decade of unprecedented prosperity, we should have already had money waiting in the coffers to help weather the economic calamity wrought by the pandemic. Once we’re finally back on our feet, we must make saving money sexy again. We can no longer spend assuming eternal supply. Right now, we cannot afford to wait until January and cross our fingers that a new President would understand the value of New York City to the rest of the world. But we also literally cannot afford to look the other way at our own waste and spending.
We will get through this, and New York will emerge stronger than ever. But right now, we need to show leadership, and that means making hard choices,” he said.
Rose: Census Undercount has Dire Costs
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) released a new report today detailing the costs to undercount for New York’s 11th Congressional District and is urging Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites to complete their Census forms now.
“It’s more important now than ever to make sure that Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites aren’t ripped off and ignored,” Rose said. “With this year’s Census, every single one of us has a chance to be a part of that effort to make sure we get the funding and resources we need.”
The report shows that even just a one percent undercount could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding for the district. Currently, the response rate in New York’s 11th Congressional District is 59.3 percent, 1.2 percentage points below the statewide rate and over 5 percentage points behind the national response rate. The final 2010 response rate was 65.1 percent.
Myrie Gives Resources Reminders
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) gives reminders of resources available for his constituents.
VIRTUAL HEARING ON HOUSING: The New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) is holding a virtual public hearing from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., on Wednesday, September 9.
The focus of the hearing is on proposed changes to the Rent Stabilization Code and the New York City Rent and Eviction Regulations. These regulations establish a reasonable cost schedule for major capital improvements (MCI) and surrounding procedures for its implementation.
The public is invited to provide oral or written testimony; speakers are advised to pre-register by calling (718) 262-4816 or emailing CostSchedule@hcr.ny.gov with your name, contact phone number, email address, and the time you wish to speak at the hearing and whom you represent. Pre-registered speakers who have reserved a time to speak will be heard at approximately that time. For more information click here.
- RE-ENTRY HOTLINE OPEN: The Community Service Society and Youth Represent have launched a Reentry Legal Hotline, linking New Yorkers to experienced legal staff who can help resolve conviction history-related employment, licensing, job clearance, work conditions, and other issues – through advice, brief service, administrative advocacy or litigation, depending on what is needed. They also advise on conviction history-related matters, represent eligible individuals in records-sealing applications, and assist in obtaining Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct. All services are provided free of charge. Please call (646) 759-8088.
- AMERICAN DEBATE LEAGUE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: The American Debate league is offering 100 FULL SCHOLARSHIPS for children from 4th-12th grade to participate in the 4th Annual “Public Speaking, Debate & Speech Summer Camp” hosted by the American Debate League in partnership with Queens College. Due to COVID-19, the summer camp will be online this year. To register please click on ADL Speech & Debate camp.
- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SERVE AS PROSPECT PARK GREETERS: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks have lost critical funding, and as a result the seasonal workforce is significantly smaller compared to last summer. Park greeters will engage the public and keep the park green and vibrant. Learn more at prospectpark.org/greeter to learn more and register.
Ortiz Slams Trump on CDC Issue
Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) yesterday slammed the Trump Administration and the White House Coronavirus Task Force for ordering the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) to stop promoting coronavirus testing for most people who have been exposed to the virus but aren’t showing symptoms.
“It’s unacceptable that President Trump is forcing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to follow his unscientific dictates. The CDC was forced by the President to announce that those who come into contact with people exposed to COVID-19 no longer need to get tested, instead recommending they get tested only if they are considered at high-risk. This will help the President show that there are lower numbers of COVID incidents, covering up the real facts.
“As our schools reopen and businesses attempt to expand their services, we must put the health and safety of our children and families ahead of politics. Everyone should be tested for COVID. We can’t afford to cut corners for political advantage. Washington can do better than this,” said Ortiz.
Cornegy Withholds Voting to Protest Recent Police Shooting
Council Member Robert Cornegy (D-Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) withheld his vote during yesterday’s City Council meeting to protest the ongoing police shootings and violence against Blacks in highly suspicious circumstances at best and blatant criminal activity at worst.
“While we as a body under the leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson have made tremendous strides in working toward equity in minority communities in New York City, I will not be voting on any matters before the New York City Council today.
“As a member of the New York City Council who is a Black man, I have taken my responsibility to my community and to this City seriously. As a member of the New York City Council, I have legislated, marched, walked out, sat down, laid down, on behalf of racial injustice and inequity. The one thing I have not done is leveraged my vote and its incredible value to highlight the racial division that exists and continues to conspire to minimize the Black experience in this country.
“I woke up to more news of police misconduct and acts of violence perpetrated by the police in Minnesota. I withhold my vote on behalf of Robert E. Cornegy, III, who resides in Florida; I withhold my vote for Nicholas Cornegy, who lives in one of the most violent sections of Brooklyn; for Nia Cornegy, who attend an HBCU in North Carolina; for Nala Cornegy, who attends a self-proclaimed Trump school in Arlington, Virginia; for Noah and Nkosi Cornegy, who attend school in Georgia, one of the characteristically more racist states in the country,” he stated.”
