Malliotakis: Biden Must Reverse Anti-Energy Policies
U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island, Brooklyn) yesterday released a statement saying while she is pleased that President Biden is banning all U.S. imports of Russian energy and oil, he still refuses to reverse his anti-energy policies that would make the U.S. more energy independent, enhance our national security, and lessen the pain on American families dealing with high energy and food costs.
“On day one of his presidency, President Biden canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline while approving Putin’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline and placed a ban on new oil and gas leases. At our height, the U.S. was producing 12.9 million barrels of oil per day in December 2019, while backfilling our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. At the end of 2021, the U.S. was producing only 11.5 million barrels per day – 1.4 million barrels less than our known potential,” said Malliotakis.
“If Biden wants to ease the financial burden on American families, he must admit his far-left energy policies have failed and simultaneously ramp up domestic energy production to our full capacity, as I and many of my colleagues have previously said. Republicans put a bill on the floor last week to do exactly that, and 220 Democrats voted against it. Banning Russian energy imports without investing in our own energy production will not be enough. Without this investment, American families will continue to suffer.”
Lander Launches Nationwide Search for CIO of NYC’s Pension Funds
City Comptroller Brad Lander yesterday announced the official launch of a nationwide search to hire a new Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for the New York City Retirement System (NYCRS).
Former CIO Alex Doñé stepped down at the end of 2021 to pursue new opportunities, and then-Deputy CIO Michael Haddad is currently serving as Interim CIO.
The Chief Investment Officer is responsible for overseeing the Bureau of Asset Management (BAM), which manages New York City’s $274 billion pension portfolio and spearheads the Comptroller’s responsibilities as investment advisor to the five New York City Retirement Systems. The CIO will be tasked with leading the office’s work to maximize risk-adjusted market returns through responsible fiduciary investing, bringing an equity and sustainability lens to the portfolio, and securing long-term sustainable growth that will guarantee retirement security and a better future for public sector workers and their families.
“I am excited to announce the launch of our search for a permanent Chief Investment Officer for the New York City retirement system,” said Lander. “For the first time, the process to find the right person for the job of stewarding investments for New York City’s 750,000 current and future retirees will be a partnership with the trustees who represent them on the pension funds and will include an advisory committee of industry experts with deep experience in investment and asset management. This consultative process will ensure that we meet strong and diverse candidates and choose the right leader for the Bureau of Asset Management’s critical work to safeguard the futures of public sector workers. I’m grateful to Michael Haddad for stepping into the role of Interim CIO to continue strong leadership at BAM as we conduct this process.”
Nadler Statement on “Reimagining Public Safety in the COVID-19 Era”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) yesterday delivered the following opening statement during a Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security hearing on “Reimagining Public Safety in the COVID-19 Era:”
“After years of crime rates continuing to fall, 2020 and 2021 saw significant increases in certain types of crime, specifically homicides and other gun crimes. While homicide rates remain well below historic peaks in the 1990s, according to research from the Council on Criminal Justice, the number of homicides in 2021, in the 27 major cities studied, increased by 5% from 2020 and by 44% from 2019,” said Nadler.
“Violent crime is an issue that affects every community, and we need community-driven responses to address it. We know that law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem of violent crime, and ensuring public safety requires both effective law enforcement practices and investment in community resources and support systems.
“2021 also saw a record number of individuals shot and killed by law enforcement officers. This deeply troubling statistic emphasizes that there continues to be a need for law enforcement accountability and changes to policing. We know that this need for reform is not at odds with the need to address the rise in violence. Without accountability, communities lack trust in law enforcement and officers are unable to do their jobs effectively,” Nadler added.
Myrie urges passage of the John R. Lewis New York Voting Rights Act
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn), the prime sponsor of the John R. Lewis New York Voting Rights Act (NY VRA), today will lead a virtual press conference with other electeds and advocates to move the legislation forward.
Despite many recent improvements, voters in New York— especially people of color and those whose first language is not English— are still subject to discrimination and voter suppression. With voting rights under attack across the country, and inaction from the federal government, New York State must take the lead by passing the nation’s strongest voter protection law.
The NY VRZ establishes rights of action for denying or abridging of the right of any member of a protected class to vote, establishing and maintaining a statewide database of voting and election data, providing assistance to language-minority groups, requiring certain political subdivisions to receive preclearance for potential violations of the NYVRA, and creating civil liability for voter intimidation
The virtual press conference is slated for 10 a.m., today, March 9. Register here: https://naleo.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BIxIqyN-Q3aMEZlRC0X4fw
