Brannan to Distribute Vegan Roasts for the Holidays
City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) will be teaming up with NYCLASS and PETA to give away vegan roasts in time for the holidays.
“After our last giveaway was such a success, we figured we would make a tradition out of it! As a vegetarian myself, I love giving our constituents an opportunity to try a karma-free holiday dinner, and hopefully this is another opportunity to make sure no one goes hungry this holiday. Thanks to NYCLASS and PETA for once again making this possible in our district” said Brannan.
The giveaway will take place at 1 p.m. today, December 18 in front of Councilmember Brannan’s office at 8203 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge.
Adams to Address Vaccine Roll Out
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will join public health officials, clergy leaders, and elected officials for a virtual town hall on New York’s vaccine distribution plan.
Earlier this week, the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the first phase of the rollout, which prioritizes frontline health care workers, as well as residents and staff of long-term care facilities. New York State is expected to receive 170,000 doses of the vaccine this week, with an additional 346,000 expected next week.
Joining Adams will be New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer Torian Easterling, MD, who will provide and an overview of the City’s distribution plan, and former New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) President Ram Raju, MD, who will provide helpful information to New Yorkers on the basics of the vaccine. The medical professionals will also address some of the concerns surrounding the vaccine.
This meeting is slated to take place at 11 a.m. today, Dec 18 at this link: https://zoom.us/j/91694236605?pwd=cUQ4SEFnQ1N1U0xMbEtjMExUMEsxQT09
Ortiz: Think Before You Holiday Shop
Assistant Speaker Félix W. Ortiz (D-Kings) is calling on people to think before they shop this holiday season to protect worker’s rights and the environment.
Consumers buy 43 percent more clothing items during the holiday season. Much of what is purchased is considered “fast fashion”, attire sold in stores that receive new shipments of clothing each week. Most of it is made from oil-based polyesters and synthetic fabrics, according to Ortiz.
The overseas factories, where much of the clothing is manufactured, do not follow appropriate labor standards. Many workers are forced to work long hours for little pay and some factories still employ child laborers. The oil-based fabrics used to create the garments shed microplastics when they are washed, polluting lands, waterways and food sources, according to Ortiz.
“I want to thank Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) for bringing this issue to the forefront during the holiday season. As Co-chair of the Leadership Council of EOPA, I’m aware of the human and environmental costs of fast fashion,” said Ortiz. “It’s imperative from a human rights and environmental preservation perspective that the general public is knowledgeable as well, so they can make informed choices.”
Senators Protect NY’s Water Resources
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that essential provisions to protect and harness New York’s water resources are included in the final 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
In the legislation, called “America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020,” the senators secured language that would authorize new studies and projects to protect communities across New York and restore critical ecosystems in the Hudson River Estuary.
This includes authorization for a new feasibility study for Lake Ontario coastal resiliency, as well as authorization to construct the Hudson-Raritan Estuary Ecosystem Restoration Project, the Army Corps East Rockaway Inlet to Rockaway Inlet and Jamaica Bay Hurricane Sandy Reformulation Project, the Hashamomuck Cove coastal storm risk management project, and several projects critical to New York’s water resources, navigation and watershed restoration.
“In order to protect our communities from flooding, preserve our shorelines, and restore New York’s precious water ecosystems, it is imperative that we properly rehabilitate our invaluable resources through the Water Resources Development Act every year,” said Schumer. “I am proud to have secured so many vital projects this year that will help preserve and improve water resources in New York, including addressing harmful algal blooms, mitigating Lake Ontario flooding, protecting the Hudson River, and restoring Jamaica Bay. These projects are vital to ensuring New York’s long-term water resource viability, and I will work tirelessly to get the WRDA across the finish line.”
“Throughout the year I have fought to secure important projects to protect New York’s water resources in this year’s Water Resources Development Act. I’m pleased that so many new projects have been authorized, including a key study to improve shoreline resiliency and flood protection along Lake Ontario, which has experienced repetitive flooding in recent years,” said Gillibrand. “These projects will make our state more resilient to the impacts of climate change and restore important ecosystems like the Hudson River Estuary and Jamaica Bay. I’m proud to have secured these critical provisions for our state in this bill and I will continue working until it is signed into law.”
