Krueger Introduces Sex Trade Survivors Act
Yesterday, State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Upper East Side, Lenox Hill) helped introduce a bill to the New York State legislature that would decriminalize sex work.
The Sex Trade Survivors Act, which she introduced alongside Assemblymember Pamela Hunter (D-Syracuse), would decriminalize prostitution, while still keeping brothel owning, sex buying and sex trafficking illegal. In this manner, the law seeks to ensure that survivors of the sex trade receive rehabilitation and support, rather than punishment.
“I think the real issue is we don’t want to have throwaway people and so many of the young people I’ve spoken to feel like they’ve been thrown way and no one cares if they spend their life in a form of slavery,” Krueger told the New York Post. “We want to make sure that instead of criminal penalties and jail, we are providing healthcare, mental health care, services to get them out of the life and into better options for themselves…. generations of young people’s lives are being destroyed when we could be helping them.”
Stringer, de Blasio Announce $4 Billion Divestment from Fossil Fuels
Yesterday, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D), Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and trustees of two of the City’s pension funds announced that those funds have voted to divest $4 billion from fossil fuel companies.
In 2018, New York became the first major city to commit to divesting pension funds from fossil fuels. Since then, hundreds of governments and institutions around the world have made similar commitments.
“Climate change is the fight of our lives, and we must face it head on with everything we’ve got – for our planet, for our children, and for our retirees,” said Stringer. “Since we announced our first-in-the-nation divestment goal, the urgent environmental and financial risks of climate change have only grown more clear. New York City is leading the way forward because we know the future is on the side of clean energy – not big polluters. I’m proud of the trustees, advocates and investment experts who worked with us to ensure a fiscally prudent and environmentally responsible divestment process and a greener future for generations to come.”
Nadler Releases Statement Ahead of Second Trump Impeachment
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) released the following statement prior to the House transmitting new articles of impeachment to the Senate.
H. Res. 24 is an article of impeachment charging former President Donald Trump (R) with incitement of insurrection, for inciting the attempted coup at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
“Today, our team of managers will deliver the article of impeachment to the Senate and formally begin the second trial of Donald Trump,” said Nadler. “Although I remain hopeful for our country after the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we must not give Donald Trump a pass for inciting a deadly insurrection on our Capitol just a few weeks ago.
“The future of this country is at stake. The House has done its job by impeaching Trump, and now the Senate must complete the task by ensuring that he is never again in a position to directly harm the United States.”
The impeachment trial will begin the week of Feb. 8.
