State Republican Leaders push capital punishment for Buffalo Shooter
Assembly Republican Leader Will A. Barclay (R-Oswego County) and Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt (R-Niagara & Orleans County) yesterday introduced legislation that would bring capital punishment back to New York state in the wake of this weekend’s tragic mass shooting in Buffalo.
The bill would reinstate capital punishment in cases of mass murder, fatal hate crimes and acts of terrorism, among other acts of extreme violence.
“There are instances when a crime is so egregious and the damage so devastating the punishment must be commensurate to the act. The evil that we saw in Buffalo was a senseless tragedy and leaves a scar on our society. For this reason, I am calling for the Legislature to reinstate the death penalty in New York in certain cases, like the one we witnessed this weekend,” said Barclay. “New Yorkers are living in fear, and it is growing worse by the day. Events like the one that took place in Buffalo reinforce the need to act swiftly and comprehensively. I urge my colleagues in the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul to take the steps needed to protect those in their charge. The path we are on now is unsustainable and dangerous. We must levy the full measure of the tools of justice we have available.”
“Some crimes are truly unforgivable. This past weekend in Buffalo, one of those crimes occurred when a hate-filled terrorist took the lives of 10 innocent people in cold blood. Heartbreak becomes outrage. Now it is clear that New York must send a message to those who would deliberately target our neighbors based on the color of their skin. We must bring the death penalty back to our state today, and deliver the only justice that is appropriate in this case,” said Ortt.
Maloney Lauds Biden’s Signing of Safe Sleep for Babies Act
U.S. Rep. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn), the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, yesterday lauded President Biden for signing the Safe Sleep for Babies Act into law.
“I am pleased that President Biden has signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which bans dangerous inclined sleepers and crib bumpers that have been linked with hundreds of infant deaths. My Committee’s nearly two-year investigation revealed that deficient safety reviews, unscrupulous marketing practices, and flaws in our nation’s consumer product safety system allowed companies to keep these products on the market,” said Maloney.
“Too many families have suffered an unimaginable and totally avoidable loss. While nothing will bring back their loved ones, with the passage of this law, we can at least ensure that babies will no longer be put at risk by these dangerous products,” she added.
Myrie, Walker to Launch the Youth Justice & Opportunities Act Campaign with Rally and Day of Events
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brooklyn) on Saturday will launch a new campaign for the Youth Justice and Opportunity Act (S5749A/A3536A) with a rally and day of events including basketball games and performances.
The Youth Justice and Opportunities Act is a proposed bill that would strengthen and expand New York’s Youthful Offender status law, allowing more young people to move forward and fulfill their potential after an arrest without having a criminal conviction to hinder their chance of being hired at certain jobs or be eligible for housing and schools.
The day will start off with a rally, hearing from young people who this bill will directly help, residents from neighborhoods this bill would directly impact, advocates who support this bill, adults who could have benefited from this bill when they were young, and from Myrie and Walker, who are sponsoring the measure.
The event is slated for 12 noon, Saturday, May 21 at the Lincoln Terrace Basketball Courts, 1100 E New York Avenue in Brooklyn.
Colton Continues Fight Against Homeless Shelters in his District
Assemblyman William Colton (D-Brooklyn) is continuing his fight against the former Mayor’s plan to build homeless shelters at 137 Kings Highway and at 2147 Bath Avenue.
“In the fight, our community showed its united opposition by staging rallies with hundreds of people, collecting over 10,000 signatures against each of the two proposed shelters, and stopping any movement toward building these facilities. We showed that building temporary homeless shelters is not a real solution to homelessness and does not help homeless families. Such temporary shelters often make money only for the developer and provide little services or security, while damaging communities. The real solution is to build permanent affordable housing for families and seniors,” Colton said.
“Now with a new Mayor, our fight enters a new stage. I have met with the new Commissioner and revealed to him all the failings of the location and the poor records of the developers and operators of both proposed sites. We need to show the new Mayor and the new Commissioner that the communities are united in opposition to these proposed shelters and why these shelters will not help homeless people but doing harm to our community and why we demand that both of these proposed shelters be stopped, “ he added.
Colton has slated a community Zoom meeting for 7 p.m., this Thursday, May 19 to update the community on the continuing fight against the proposed homeless shelters. Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84237408565?pwd=RnNYMDlEc2xHQ01uYXpRT1IrVVJTZz09.
