Espaillat Announces District Winners of Congressional App Challenge
Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) announced the winners in the district’s Congressional App Challenge (CAC), an annual app-coding challenge for middle and high school students.
The purpose of the competition is to engage students in computer science, coding and STEM in general. Participants submitted videos of how their apps work, and were judged by an independent panel of educators.
“Empowering students in STEM is vital to the success of our nation, and the 2020 Congressional App Challenge is an innovative initiative that encourages students across my district to learn how to code and inspires them to pursue careers in TECH and computer science. I am delighted to recognize these incredibly talented young people for their participation in this year’s competition,” said Espaillat. “While working as a group, they were encouraged to explore coding and develop their own original app and learn more about the fascinating world of computer science.”
To view a presentation of the winning app, click here.
Maloney Remembers Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) released a statement yesterday, on the two-year anniversary of the shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue.
On Oct. 27, 2018, a shooter attacked the synagogue during a Shabbat congregation, killing 11 and wounding six. The culprit, Robert Gregory Bowers, was a white nationalist who actively promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media.
“Two years ago, we witnessed the deadliest antisemitic attack in our nation’s history as eleven people were killed at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue on Shabbat,” said Maloney. “This unspeakable act of terror, fueled by hatred and bigotry, stands as a stark reminder of the importance of teaching about the dangers of hate and antisemitism. I hope that with the tools provided to educators through my Never Again Education Act, we can combat antisemitism before it even starts; our children are not born with hate in their hearts. It is up to us to make sure they never learn it.”
Johnson to Host Medicine Recycling Drive
Today, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) will be joining with AID FOR AIDS to hold a recycling drive for unused and unexpired medicine.
Founded in 1996, AID FOR AIDS is a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower the communities most susceptible to HIV/AIDS. Today’s drive will have them accept donations of antiretrovirals, which suppress the presence of HIV in patients’ bloodstreams. They will also be accepting medications for other acute or chronic conditions, including diabetes and Hepatitis C.
The event will take place today from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The NYC AIDS Memorial Park, on Second Avenue at West 12th Street and Greenwich Avenue.
Jackson, Solages to Introduce Game-Changing Legislation for Working Parents
Tomorrow, State Senator Robert Jackson (D-Washington Heights, Fort George, Inwood) and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) will be introducing a new bill offering working parents relief during the COVID-19 crisis.
The bill, based on an idea from Jackson’s Chief of Staff Johanna Garcia, would give parents Paid Family Leave so that they can watch their children who are engaged in remote learning. At such an unstable time, it would spare them from having to choose between their children and their livelihoods.
The announcement will take place tomorrow from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. over Zoom.
Gillibrand Slams Rushed Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) released the following statement after the Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court:
“Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation represents the efforts of the Republican Party to impose an ultra-conservative ideology on the American people, the majority of whom do not share their views. I voted against Judge Barrett’s nomination because her views on reproductive rights, health care, LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, and civil rights are far out of the mainstream, and make her unfit to serve on the Supreme Court.
:But in addition to her unacceptable legal views, the duplicitous and hypocritical manner of this rushed confirmation process demonstrates a flagrant disregard for American democracy. Under Senator McConnell’s leadership, our judiciary has been politicized beyond recognition and it will distort our legal system for years to come.”
