Stringer, A Better Balance Launch New Work and Family Survey
Last Thursday, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) and the advocacy organization A Better Balance launched a new Work and Family Survey to gather information on the problems facing working New Yorkers.
The survey will help City agencies analyze how the lives of workers and families have changed since the pandemic, amid schools closing and businesses shifting to remote models.
“We want to hear directly from working New Yorkers about their experience with workplace flexibility, especially during the pandemic,” said Stringer. “I encourage New Yorkers to complete the survey to help policymakers deliver informed solutions that ensure modern workplace practices. This is about more than just work-life balance – no family should have to choose between taking care of their kids and earning a paycheck. If we want to tap our city’s full economic potential, we have to provide protections for New Yorkers who need it the most – including women, single parents, low-income workers, and frontline workers who are facing extraordinary challenges of full-time caregiving while trying to make ends meet.”
To take the survey, click here.
Espaillat Continues to Push for Small Business Relief Amid COVID-19
Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) released a statement reaffirming his belief in supporting small businesses with federal funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October, he participated in a virtual discussion on the topic, along with U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern (D-OK) and Biz2Credit, Inc. Co-Founder and CEO Robit Arora. Following the discussion, he released the following statement:
“I want to thank Rohit Arora and Biz2Credit for bringing to the fore these very pressing issues that small businesses are and have been dealing with and trying to work through.”
A recap of the discussion is available here.
Williams, De La Rosa, Rodriguez, Espaillat to Host GOTV Event
On the day before Election Day, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams (D), Assemblymember Carmen De La Rosa (D-Upper Manhattan), Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights, Inwood) and U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) will be making an effort to get out the vote in New York.
The four electeds will meet in Hudson Heights to distribute masks and remind New Yorkers about the overwhelming importance of this upcoming election.
The event will take place today from 3-5 p.m. on the intersection of West 181st Street and Broadway. For any inquiries, email RSVP@advocate.nyc.gov.
Rivera Introduces Bill to Remove “Mental Retardation” from Administrative Code
Last Thurdsay, Councilmember Carlina Rivera (D-East Village, Gramercy Park) introduced legislation to strike all uses of the term “mental retardation” from administrative code.
Although the term used to be commonplace in the medical field, it has since become outdated; today, the term “retarded” is widely recognized as an ableist slur. Rivera’s bill would change all mentions of mental retardation to “intellectual and developmental disability” instead.
“New York City is woefully behind in its continued use of the term in its laws and rules,” said Rivera. “The term is outdated, and using it sends the message that derogatory, hateful language like the R-slur is socially acceptable. Removing ‘mental retardation’ and replacing it with the term ‘intellectual and developmental disability’ will ensure the City can provide inclusive, person first services to all New Yorkers.”
