CM Hudson writes Biden to free Brittney Griner
City Council Member Crystal Hudson (D-Brooklyn) over the weekend penned a letter to President Biden alongside nearly two dozen Black queer elected officials from across the country supporting the Administration’s efforts to bring WNBA star Brittney Griner back home as quickly and as safely as possible and demanding Secretary of State Anthony Blinken routinely check-in with Griner to ensure her mental and physical wellbeing.
It’s been more than 150 days since Griner was detained and imprisoned in Russia for attempting to leave the country with vape cartridges containing marijuana byproduct.
Since her detainment nearly three months ago, the media’s coverage and the public’s awareness of her situation has been lackluster. As Roxane Gay questioned, “‘We are B.G.’ should be a viral rallying cry, but it isn’t — and why? Is it misogyny? Racism? Homophobia? The unholy trifecta?” We must, then, let the world know that #WeAreBG, creating “enough of a groundswell to bring her home. We are not free until all of us are free.”
Speaker Heastie appoints AM Pheffer Amato to Commission on the Future of LIPA
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) this week appointed Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) to the new legislative commission to analyze and decide the future of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), which encompasses PSEG, the known provider of electrical power to the Rockaway Peninsula.
This Commission is heavily coveted due to its firm potential to dictate the future of electrical power in a major area of New York State. The Commission will be able to investigate and craft potential reforms that LIPA, and it’s subsidies like PSEG, would respond to in the areas of transparency, overall operations, electrical rates, storm response and many other areas in an effort to create needed change.
“We have high rates, inexcusable delays and a lack of transparency with our electric company. This Commission has the impact to restructure the current standards and allow us to shift towards the potential of a public power authority,” said Amato. “My priority is to decrease the cost to the ratepayers of Queens and make a lasting impact for our community.
The Commission is expected to begin its work shortly with public hearings and input from those serviced by LIPA.
Colton announces success in drive to bring NYPD back into the subways
Assemblyman William Colton (D- Brooklyn) yesterday declared the completion of part one of his public safety drive to bring more police presence on public transit extremely successful.
“For the past six weeks, I visited every subway station in the 47th Assembly District and have distributed thousands of petitions calling for more transit police presence on our subways. These petitions were taken to community groups, meetings, rallies, and street distributions in support and funding for more police presence to make our subways safe,” Colton stated.
“The community has demonstrated solid support for the Mayor, a former transit police officer, who was elected on a pledge to restore public safety on the decision of Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Sewell to assign more police officers on the subway. This was all done despite negative attacks by cheap talkers who were motivated to use crime to benefit themselves politically but had no track record of doing anything to help stop it and protect the public. Beware of those candidates who attack a certain party but who have no track record of doing anything themselves to help to solve the issue,” Colton added.
Colton said within the time period of six weeks, his team succeeded in getting more police presence in the subway stations.
“Kudos to Police Commissioner Sewell for making public broadcasts telling riders that police presence has been increased to reassure riders of their safety. The Commissioner also is heard urging the public when they see something to say something,” Colton said.
AM Mamdani call for special legislative session on public renewables
Assemblymember Zohran K. Mamdani (D-Queens) today will join the Public Power New York Coalition, climate advocates and other elected officials to call on Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to hold a special legislative session to address the climate crisis and pass Assembly Bill A1466D, the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA).
As a member of the Assembly’s Energy Committee, Mamdani will join Thursday’s hearing with the Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Energy, and Environmental Conservation on the role state authorities have to play in meeting the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act passed in 2019, which sets a goal for 70% renewable energy generation by 2040.
“On Thursday, 522 of my constituents woke up to no electricity. On Saturday, a New Yorker died due to heat exposure. On Monday, we marked the seventh consecutive day of 90 degree and above temperatures. The climate crisis does not abide by the legislative calendar, and neither can we. We must hold a special legislative session, pass BPRA, and finally provide energy to New Yorkers that is reliable, renewable, and at a reasonable cost.” said Mamdani. “Three years ago, we passed the CLCPA, which set nation-leading standards in combating the climate crisis. Now, it’s time for us to deliver on its promise. BPRA ensures we do just that.”
The rally is slated for 12 noon, today, July 27 on the sidewalk outside 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.
