Stringer, Sweet Call Attention to Plight of Homeless Students in Remote Learning Classes
Last Wednesday, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) co-wrote an op-ed with Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) Executive Director Kim Sweet about the importance of ensuring that students living in homeless shelters receive the instruction they need.
Since schools started shifting to remote learning, students in shelters have had significant trouble accessing their classes. This is because the majority of shelters lack any internet access. Although Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has pledged to bring internet access to all family shelters by the beginning of next summer, Stringer and Sweet asserted that homeless students can’t afford to wait that long.
“New York has both a constitutional mandate and a moral obligation to provide a free and full education to every child, regardless of where they live,” they wrote. “Next summer is simply too late to give these students the essential tools they need to keep learning – during the global pandemic, and in the transformed world that will follow. The City must provide immediate solutions to ensure that all children living in temporary housing can get access to the education they deserve.”
Read the full article here.
Velázquez, Gillibrand Probe NYCHA on COVID-19 Response Plan
Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) sent a letter to NYCHA, inquiring about their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in public housing.
The lawmakers expressed concern that the subpar standards of NYCHA housing could facilitate the spread of the virus within the facilities. As such, they are requesting details on how NYCHA intends to use federal funds to prevent and contain outbreaks, as well as how they intend to ensure that any new ventilation systems abide by the CDC’s coronavirus mitigation guidelines.
“The health, safety and wellbeing of NYCHA residents will remain our number one concern when it comes to the future of our city’s housing authority,” they wrote. “It is a responsibility we take with immense seriousness and one from which we will never shy away.”
Read the full letter here.
Johnson to Host Shred Days
This month, Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) will be hosting two free document shredding events, the first of which will take place tomorrow.
At the events, attendees will be able to safely dispose of any documents that may contain personal information. Social distancing and mask guidelines will be enforced, and there will be a limit of three boxes of documents per person.
The first shred day will take place tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West 26th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. The second will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on West 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenue.
James Responds to Statements Made by Trump
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) released a statement yesterday after President Donald Trump (R) held a press conference to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election.
At the conference, Trump claimed that the lead held by former Vice President Joe Biden (D) is bolstered by “illegal votes”.
“Regardless of Trump’s inflammatory, misleading, and divisive rhetoric, Americans across the country should be assured that this election was administered fairly and securely by state officials of both major political parties,” said James. “Election workers around the nation are hard at work counting all legal votes, just as they have done in every election before.
“In America, the people choose their president; the president doesn’t choose his or her voters. To suggest it be done otherwise is a blatant power grab and an attempt to steal this election. Each state will continue to count all legally cast ballots. The will of the people will be heard.”
