Kallos to Cut Ribbon on Blackwell House
Next Thursday, Councilmember Ben Kallos (D-Yorkville, Lenox Hill) and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation will be cutting the ribbon on the newly renovated Blackwell House on Roosevelt Island.
Blackwell House, built in 1796, is one of the oldest historical landmarks in New York City. Once open, the first floor will be open to the public for viewings and tours, and the house will become home to Roosevelt Island’s most valuable historic records and archives.
The event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. To RSVP, click here.
Gillibrand Urges Barr to Rescind Support of Anti-ACA Lawsuit
Last Friday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) joined Senate Democrats to urge U.S. Attorney General William Barr (R) to rescind his support of the Supreme Court lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The case in question is California v. Texas, which is slated for oral argument today. The lawsuit asks the Supreme Court to rule the ACA unconstitutional and overturn it entirely; if successful, it would strip coverage from over eight million New Yorkers with pre-existing conditions. It would also jeopardize the healthcare of those suffering the long-term effects of COVID-19.
“Striking down the ACA would have devastating consequences for New Yorkers who rely on the law’s guaranteed access to quality, affordable health care, especially in the midst of a pandemic,” said Gillibrand. “Rather than working to deliver a COVID relief package, Republicans rushed to confirm Judge Barrett with the expectation that she would support their efforts in the Supreme Court to strike down the ACA. It’s unconscionable for the DOJ to pursue this cruel attempt to rip quality affordable health care from tens of millions of Americans. I’m urging the administration to rescind its support immediately and instead focus on delivering economic relief to families in need.”
James Defends ACA on Eve of Supreme Court Oral Arguments
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) released the following statement yesterday, in anticipation of the oral arguments for California v. Texas:
“For years, Donald Trump and Republicans across the country have tried to repeal the ACA and strip health coverage away from millions of Americans, but we will continue to fight this assault on our health care,” said James. “Even more dangerous is that this attack comes in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 237,000 Americans and infected more than 10 million. That’s 10 million Americans who now have a pre-existing condition and who Republicans want to charge more for coverage. Eight years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the ACA was legal, so we will not allow President Trump and his Republican allies to dismantle the ACA, piece-by-piece, or undo all the progress made since the law’s passage after failing to get Congress to do its dirty work.”
