Clarke Lauds Biden For Ending Title 42 Policy
U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) yesterday lauded the Biden Administration for its announcement would end the Trump and Biden Title 42 policy, which barred immigrants from entering the U.S. for health reasons during the height of the COVID Pandemic.
“As the daughter of immigrants and a lifelong advocate for their fair chance and access to the American dream, the Biden Administration’s decision to lift the harmful, malicious, and discriminatory policy that is Title 42 is a welcome blessing and one that I have long awaited. While this policy endured, countless hopeful migrants suffered under its authority as we circumvented our obligations under international and domestic law. This harmful policy disproportionately affected Black migrants and created life-threatening conditions for immigrants seeking refuge at our borders. Untold unaccompanied children, families, asylum seekers; none were spared the denial of due process entitled to them by law,” said Clarke.
“Though it is difficult and perhaps impossible to undo this pain caused by Title 42, it is my hope that its end will signal the beginning of a national commitment to compassionately and safely welcome new Americans to our country. But let me be clear: our nation owes these communities, particularly the Haitian people who were disproportionately and vastly victimized under its cruelty, more than the apologies and empty words they are so tragically accustomed to. They deserve our promise for a better, more accepting, more loving future. And I intend to keep it.”
AG James Delivers $900,000 to 200 NYCHA Construction Workers Denied Fair Pay
New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber announced yesterday their joint efforts to combat wage theft by securing nearly $900,000 for more than 200 workers who were underpaid by Lintech Electric (Lintech).
An investigation found that over the course of three years, Lintech disregarded the prevailing wage rate and underpaid its employees by almost $900,000 on multiple New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) projects in all five boroughs. As a part of the agreement, Lintech will repay the impacted workers the money they were cheated plus interest and will be banned from public works projects in New York for five years.
“Every worker deserves fair pay for their hard work,” said James. “The prevailing wage was established for a reason — to protect the hardworking New Yorkers who built our city and keep it functioning. No employee should fear that they will be cheated at the hands of greedy employers, especially at the expense of the public good. I am proud to finally return the money owed to these dedicated workers and I will do everything in my power to ensure that Lintech does not deceive or exploit any more workers.”
James and the DOI began a joint investigation into Lintech in September of 2019 after a DOI investigation and audit revealed that Lintech underpaid its employees. Between 2015 to 2018, Lintech failed to pay workers the prevailing wage rate and supplemental benefit rate on multiple NYCHA Housing Complex public work projects. The workers were hired to install and maintain lighting and electrical outlets on scaffolding surrounding multiple NYCHA apartment buildings throughout the city but were not adequately compensated.
AOC Formally Files Petitions for Re-Election Campaign
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ (D-Queens, Bronx) campaign yesterday formally presented nearly 5,000 signed petitions for her re-election to the New York Board of Elections, well exceeding the 1,250 signatures required.
Team AOC’s field team and volunteers knocked over 10,000 doors in NY-14, completed 395 volunteer shifts, and ran over 85 petitioning events in 35 days. In addition to those efforts, Team AOC organized joint petitioning events with Senators Jessica Ramos, Michael Gianaris and Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymembers Zohran Mamdani, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Catalina Cruz, Karines Reyes and Nathalia Fernandez.
“Our field team, volunteers, supporters, and partners crushed it on the streets and doors of NY-14 to collect the signatures we needed to put Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the ballot”, said Field Director Jeremy Parkin, “Our movement is strong going into 2022. The signatures we gathered show that the Congresswoman and her vision continue to inspire and move people in our community. Team AOC worked day and night for the last month to recruit and train volunteers in multiple languages and organize petitioning events all across NY-14.”
New York is one of a handful of states that still requires all candidates to file petitions with voter signatures to secure a place on the ballot.
Myrie Introduces Resolution Honoring Lubavitcher Rebbe
State Sen. Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie (D-Brooklyn) yesterday saw the Senate pass his Resolution J2129 honoring the 120th anniversary of the birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
The Resolution was presented to Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman, Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe was a pillar not just of the Jewish community, but of Crown Heights and New York City, revered by Jews and non-Jews alike,” said Myrie. “The rebbe was known for building partnerships across communities, and inspiring good deeds, philanthropy and scholarly pursuits that reverberate to this day.”
Early in his career, the Rebbe spoke about food insecurity with then-Rep. Shirley Chisholm. Inspired by the Rebbe’s call to faith in action, Rep. Chisholm spearheaded the creation of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
“Representing Crown Heights, the community that raised me, is a great honor of my life,” concluded Myrie. “While some look to sow division, I know the rebbe and so many others worked to build bridges across communities. That work continues, and I am proud to fight for the rebbe’s abiding belief in a world that honors the light and goodness in everyone.”
CM Williams Chair Hearing to Revise Salary Disclosure Law
City Council Member Nantasha Williams (D-Queens), chair of the Civil and Human Rights Committee, today will hold a hearing to revise Local Law 32 for 2022, the salary disclosure law.
Under the law, employees are required to post minimum and maximum salary information. The proposed revision will exclude employers with fewer than fifteen employees. It would also clarify that the law applies to employees who are paid hourly or through a salary. The law would not apply to notices that an employer is hiring without specifying the position and to positions that are not required to be performed in New York City.
This bill would also move the effective date of Local Law 32 of 2022 to November 1, 2022.
The public remote hearing is slated for 10:30 a.m., today, April 5 at Virtual Room 2.
