Johnson to Host Donation Drive for Unhoused Neighbors
Today, Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) will be accepting donations of goods to help homeless New Yorkers.
The drive will accept items in any of the following categories: unused clothing, toiletries and personal care items, school supplies and baby supplies. Those who wish the donate can leave the items at Johnson’s District Office; donators must wear a mask and abide by social distancing guidelines.
The event will take place today from 12-5 p.m. at Johnson’s District Office, 224 West 30th St., Suite #1206. If you have a question about donation materials, contact speakerjohnson@council.nyc.gov.
Hoylman Issues SOS for Broadway
State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) issued a statement last Friday urging emergency relief for Broadway’s theater industry.
The statement came shortly after an announcement that Broadway will be suspending its productions until May 30, 2021. Hoylman said that the City cannot afford to let the industry die; as he pointed out, Broadway employs nearly 100,000 New Yorkers and contributes $14.7 billion to the City’s economy every year.
“As the New York State Senator representing Broadway, I’m ringing every alarm bell. Broadway is facing its greatest crisis in modern history,” said Hoylman. “We have to confront the question of the entire industry’s survival, especially for independent and small theaters, and the livelihoods of all the people who make a living through the arts.
“Theater cannot survive without help from our federal government, and our nation and New York cannot survive without the arts.”
Maloney Recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) sent out a letter to her constituents in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
In 1971, our country established the federal holiday of Columbus Day, in honor of the explorer who (purportedly) discovered America and proved the earth was round. As the years went on, however, the public became more and more aware of the true nature of Columbus’s voyage – specifically, his horrific treatment of the native Taino people he encountered in the Americas. For this reason, many Americans choose to instead celebrate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, to honor the contributions of Native Americans.
“From its earliest days, NYC has benefited from the rich cultures of the Lenape & other Native Americans,” said Maloney. “It is essential that we all take the time to learn about and recognize the peoples whose land we inhabit.
“We must also acknowledge that Native American communities also continue to face their own unique hardships. Native women and girls endure disproportionately higher rates of violence — and their disappearances and murders often go unsolved. And now, the coronavirus pandemic is once again highlighting the disparities in access to public health resources and outcomes for Native American communities.
“Although many in-person events and festivities are canceled this year, we can still celebrate our Native American friends and neighbors by learning more about their exciting culture, honoring their rich history, raising awareness of their unique struggles, and committing ourselves to a more intersectional future.”
Rodriguez Calls on Biden to Pass Immigration Reform
Yesterday, Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights, Inwood) released a video on Twitter urging former Vice President Joe Biden (D) to prioritize immigration reform, should he win the election.
The video came shortly after reports of ICE officers in New York using underhanded tactics to detain and deport immigrants. According to the reports, they have been gaining access to their targets’ homes by falsely claiming to be NYPD officers. Such was the case with Upper Manhattan resident Fernando Santos-Martinez, who was detained last Thursday.
“Let’s work together; let’s stand up together supporting the great community of Americans that don’t have their immigration status in place, but contribute billions of dollars to our economy, paying their taxes,” said Rodriguez. “And let’s also be sure that the new administration, that we hope is going to be led by President Biden, will make an immigration reform in the first 100 days.”
