Adams Cleans Up Brooklyn
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined Bushwick residents and local stakeholders from the Cornelia Street Block Association and Goodwin Place to launch a series of neighborhood corridor cleanups throughout Brooklyn, in partnership with Brooklyn Community Board 4 (CB 4) and organizations like Clean Bushwick Initiative and Bushwick Youth Coalition.
The event came in response to recent drastic budget cuts at the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), which has resulted in skyrocketing complaints about litter, overflowing trash cans, and other sanitation issues throughout Brooklyn and the rest of the city.
“Communities across our borough are contending with a major rise in sanitation issues, which has affected the bottom lines of already-struggling small businesses and quality-of-life for our residents. Letting New Yorkers’ trash complaints fester in the trash pile of bureaucracy is unacceptable at any time, and it’s even more dangerous amid a pandemic and economic recovery effort. While DSNY is struggling to adapt to a new budgetary reality, I have outlined clear steps they can take to engage with communities in particular areas of concern and modernize their outdated operations. We can’t continue employing an 8-track mindset in a smartphone age, especially at a time when our resources are already stretched thin,” said Adams.
Gillibrand Introduces Bill to Strengthen Public Health
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand proposed a bicameral plan to strengthen state, local, and Tribal public health infrastructure in anticipation of a seasonal flu outbreak that could compound the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For months public health officials have warned that the changing seasons could put the health of even more American’s at risk for the seasonal flu and COVID-19. Routine immunizations have decreased during this crisis and Congress must be proactive in ensuring all American’s receive this year’s flu vaccine,” said Gillibrand. “The Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act will deliver vital support to New York’s vaccine communication, readiness, and distribution programs so that families, especially in our Tribal communities, have the resources to stay safe and healthy.”
Public health experts and health-care providers are increasingly worried about a “twindemic,” caused by an overlap of seasonal flu and COVID-19, that would double the burden on already strained health care facilities. The Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act would help prevent the nation’s health care system from being overwhelmed by providing federal support to state, local, and Tribal public health infrastructure to boost flu vaccination rates, promote routine immunizations that have declined during the pandemic, and combat vaccine misinformation. The legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14).
Lander on Vote to Remove Andy King
Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) yesterday explained his vote to remove Andy King (D-Bronx) from the New York City Council:
“I am voting today to remove Andy King from the New York City Council. This is a serious vote, but it is not a difficult one. Council Member King’s behavior has been egregious, and it shows contempt for City Council staff, for the Council as an institution, for the goal of building a world free of gender-based harassment, and for his responsibilities to his constituents.
“I should have voted to remove Council Member King last year, when the Council first considered the charges against him, and voted instead for a suspension, fine, and monitor. At the time, I failed to listen carefully enough to Council staffers, especially the courageous staffer who came forward to report his harassment. While I genuinely appreciate the extensive work of the members and staff of the City Council’s Committee on Standards and Ethics, and acknowledge the challenge of accountability in democratic institutions like the City Council, there is a flaw in a process where accusations of harassment — of an abuse of power of a Council Member over staff — are brought to, investigated by, and disposed by a group comprised entirely of the peers of the Member in question.
“Thank you to the members of Harassment Free New York City Council, primarily for their work to demand a City Council free from harassment, and also for pushing me not only to understand the Council’s mistake last year, but also to see the need for systemic changes in how the City deals with accusations of harassment by elected officials. We should comply with their demand to hold a hearing on harassment in the City Council, and then move forward to establish a new system for investigation and consequences.
“Today, we are doing what is necessary, and what we should have done a year ago. Going forward, I am committed to learning from this abuse, and working with my colleagues and Council staff to build a City Council that better supports and protects all its people,” he said.
Colton Outraged at Anti-Semitic Act at Jewish Center
Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) is outraged by the heinous act of a hate crime committed at the Shore Parkway Jewish Center,
A Brooklyn man has been arrested and charged with hate crimes for allegedly vandalizing a Jewish center.
“Leslie Bresowsky a member of the board of directors of the Shore Parkway Jewish Center notified me of the horrific hate crime that took place on the morning of October 5, 2020, at around 2:00 am at the Shore Parkway Jewish Center. The perpetrator intentionally targeted the house of worship during the holiday of Sukkot. He broke windows and viciously damaged and destroyed symbols of the Sukkot holiday, which is a very disturbing act of a hate crime. Police were called and luckily the perpetrator was apprehended while he was still inside. We must condemn any hate crime. An attack on one group is an attack on all of us and we will not allow it,” Colton stated.
“Anyone who commits a hate crime must fully be condemned and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Hate crime against any ethnicity is a despicable act and it will not be tolerated. The strength of our neighborhood has always been bringing people together. I will continue to work to bring us together and to ensure that this attack on our neighborhood will not divide us, but will make us stronger and more united than ever,” Colton added.
Rose Calls on DOT to Return Street Sign
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) was joined by Adelaide Laurie, wife of fallen New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Rocco Laurie, at a press conference calling for the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to return the street sign honoring Officer Laurie to its original, prominent location.
“Rocco’s sacrifice shouldn’t be hidden from the world because of DOT red tape,” Rose “He was a hero and at a time like this, when the extremes of both parties are demonizing each other, his story and Officer Gregory Foster’s story, is one that should be screamed from the rooftops. They have been rightfully honored in a variety of ways since this world lost them—including with this street sign. The least this city can do is take every, single opportunity to remind the world of Rocco’s story. He is who we all should aspire to be—a North Star for our city and country. So I am asking DOT to fix this immediately.”
