Elected Officials to Denounce Antisemitic Graffiti in Gravesend
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park), U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island), City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest), State Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Boro Park, Midwood), City Councilman Kalman Yeger (D-Borough Park, Bensonhurst, Midwood) will stand side by side with Sephardic community leaders to denounce a vile and hateful instance of antisemitic graffiti at a popular cafe in Gravesend.
As hatred and antisemitism have nationally been on the rise, the group will denounce this vile rhetoric and speak up for a community that welcomes all.
This event is slated for 10 a.m. today, Wednesday 28 at Very Juice, 422 Avenue P (Avenue P & East 2nd St.).
Adams Lauds Extension of Early Voting Hours
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams yesterday lauded the city’s Board of Elections (BOE) recent decision to extend early voting hours.
“I’m grateful that the BOE has heeded our call, and the calls of so many others, in agreeing to extend hours for early voting starting Friday. So much is on the line in this year’s election, and we need to do everything in our power to ensure every New Yorker can easily, safely, and efficiently cast their ballot. The high turnout we have seen in recent days across the city has been heartening, but it has also exposed areas where must improve to handle capacity and confusion.
“Yesterday, I stood outside Barclays Center to call for common-sense changes to early voting procedures, like clearer signage at traditional polling sites to guarantee every voter knows where to go, free transportation for poll workers, and extending early voting hours. While I continue to believe we should make the hours uniform across all days of the week to reduce confusion for voters, this is undeniably a step in the direction of greater democracy,” said Adams.
Gillibrand Wants more Funds for New Yorkers
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Trump administration to quickly release the highest possible amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds in order to provide critical financial assistance for low-income households and seniors.
Before the pandemic, more than 1.5 million low-income New Yorkers and seniors depended on LIHEAP to help pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter. Now the economic crisis has pushed vulnerable Americans into deeper financial hardship. The quick release of LIHEAP funds is an essential lifeline to families unemployed as a result of the economic crisis. New York received more than $377 million in LIHEAP funding last fiscal year.
“The financial strain of the COVID pandemic has crippled New York households statewide,” said Gillibrand. “With winter fast approaching, cash-strapped New Yorker’s are facing another crisis: keeping their homes safe and warm. No one should have to make the impossible choice between heating their home or paying for necessities like food and medicine. This funding will provide a lifeline to New Yorkers in need and HHS must release it immediately.”
Felder Lauds State Education Department for Equivalence Meetings
State Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Boro Park, Midwood, Flatbush) yesterday lauded the State Education Department (ED) and Interim Commissioner Betty A. Rosa for their announcement that it will hold a series of regional meetings to engage and gather input from stakeholders in the religious and independent school community, as well as their counterparts in public schools, to inform policy decisions related to the substantial equivalence of instruction in nonpublic schools as required by Education Law Section 3204(2).
The ED will conduct five regional meetings that will take place virtually, in addition to other forms of outreach to communities that may not utilize the internet. A sixth virtual meeting will engage current nonpublic students, parents, and alumni from across the state.
“Interim Commissioner Rosa displays exceptional sensitivity in her vision and approach to this process. I am very pleased to be working with her and look forward to open and respectful dialogue together with the people who are most invested in the outcome. I am hopeful that together, we will re-envision and recreate substantial equivalency guidelines that positively impact the future,” said Felder.
The meetings come as some yeshivas have come under media fire for allegedly not meeting secular equivalency standards.
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