Clarke’s Celebrates Fifth Anniversary Of DACA Program
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) is celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.
DACA was established in 2012 by President Barack Obama, as an immigration policy that allows certain illegal aliens who enter the country as minors, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.
“Since DACA was created in 2012, more than 750,000 young women and men have used the program to expand their participation in our civil society, attend college, and start careers, all in the pursuit of the American Dream. Their contributions have been invaluable and their remarkable stories are now stitched into the fabric of this nation,” said Clarke.
Clarke continued, “But the DACA program remains under threat. DACA recipients have been unlawfully arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and needlessly detained. We cannot in good conscience allow Donald Trump to undermine their expectations or diminish their contributions. Congress must act to secure their permanent status in the United States.”
Espinal Announces Extension of Protective Netting; Introduces Nightlife Task Force Legislation
City Council Member Rafael Espinal (D-Cypress Hills, Bushwick, City Line, Oceanhill-Brownsville, East New York) had a busy day applauding NYC Major and Minor League baseball teams for extending their netting and introducing a Nightlife Task Force bill yesterday.
The New York Mets, pushed by legislation introduced by Espinal last month and a series of hazardous accidents at Citi Field, decided to extended their protective netting. The expansion will more than triple the square footage of the existing netting and include an additional eight-foot high netting (from field) to extend from far ends of camera wells to turn in building at Sections 109 (right field) and 126 (left field) and will extend the span of the 30-foot high (from field) netting behind home plate, beyond the dugouts, to the far ends of the camera wells (to the near aisles at Sections 111 and 124). The new extensions will be in place for all home games beginning this Friday, July 14.
“My sincerest applause goes to the New York Mets for taking this big step in extending protective netting at all of their ballparks. So many families and fans will be kept safe because of this bold action. Since the introduction of my bill in the City Council to extend ball park netting, the Mets have been engaged and willing to work me throughout the process. They truly proved that they are willing to play ball and go above and beyond on behalf of their fans,” said Espinal.
Later in the day, Espinal introduced legislation to establish a Nightlife Task Force and an Office of Nightlife, which would study New York City laws, rules, regulations and policies to make findings and recommendations that address common issues and trends in the nightlife industry.
According to the bill, The Office of Nightlife will be responsible for monitoring complaints against nightlife establishments and serving as a liaison between such establishments, residents, and government, while also assisting nightlife establishments in navigating city licensing requirements, permits, or other approvals. The Office will also monitor the number and types of violations as well as trends, and make policy recommendations on an ongoing basis. Introduction comes ahead of a Consumer Affairs Oversight Hearing on “NYC’s Nightlife Industry” scheduled for this weekend to discuss the cabaret law and Office of Nightlife bill.
“This is an issue I have been working on for a long time as a way to preserve and foster what makes NYC so great: its iconic nightlife. New York City’s nightlife industry is not only a jobs creator, it’s part of the cultural fabric of our city, providing spaces for socialization, culture and free expression. Yet, for so long the nightlife industry has not had anyone advocating on its behalf,” said Espinal.
CM Williams Applauds Creation of Shirley Chisholm Community Center
City Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) is applauding the City Council’s funding for a new community center in East Flatbush to be named after Shirley A. Chisholm.
The funding for the Chisholm Center comes as part of the recently passed $85.2 billion city budget for Fiscal Year 2018, in which Mayor Bill de Blasio contributed $40 million in funding, with an additional $10 million that Council Member Williams secured with the help of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
The Shirley A. Chisholm Community Center would be located on the grounds of the existing Tilden Park, located in the East Flatbush district on Tilden Avenue, between East 48th and East 49th Streets. The center would include a gymnasium with accompanying men and women’s locker rooms, cardio / weight room, multipurpose room, and a game room.
The center will also feature a computer resource center, classrooms, audiovisual room and a greenhouse on the roof. Once completed, the center will be the only such facility serving residents of the 45th District, and would offer residents of all ages access to recreation, educational and employment opportunities.
“I am blessed to walk in the distinguished footsteps of Shirley Chisholm, both as a Caribbean-American and as an elected representative of this community. I feel personally connected to her trademark ‘unbought and unbossed’ brand of leadership – a brand I endeavor to represent in my work every day. Every African-American, Caribbean-American and woman seeking public service stands on her shoulders, and I believe the best way to commemorate her many contributions is to establish a community center bearing her name which will serve generations to come,” said Williams.
Golden Bill Protecting Vulnerable Children Passes Senate
State Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) yesterday saw his bill (S3146) that would help protect the state’s most vulnerable children by establishing workload standards for child protective services (CPS) workers pass the senate.
Under the measure, full-time CPS workers would have no more than 15 active cases to help further ensure effective investigations of child abuse and maltreatment.
“There is a great and urgent need to place a limit on the number of cases assigned to a child protective service investigator. These caseworkers are charged with protecting our children and when they are overburdened, they cannot be as successful as we need them to be. This legislation must be a priority for the Assembly to pass before the end of session for it will surely better protect our children and save lives,” said Golden.
The measure was one of several the senate passed to protect the health, safety and well-being of at-risk children. The bills – including two that have passed both houses – prevent abuse and maltreatment, increase school safety, and improve children’s welfare. They will now go to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature.
Mosley “Phone Home” Bill Passes Assembly
Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) yesterday saw his bill (A. 1730) allowing inmates to make a telephone call when they are transferred from correctional facilities pass the assembly.
The transfer process can take up to a week, and families of inmates have no information about where their loved one is during this process. Currently, inmates are not allowed to make phone calls until their transfer is complete. The measure would allow inmates to make a single phone call within 24 hours of arriving at a new facility, unless such a phone call would create an unacceptable risk to the facility of its personnel.
“Families of inmates deserve to know the whereabouts of their loved ones. Currently, families receive no notice about transfers until the inmate is in a new facility. This had led to families continuing to visit the former facility, only to be told their loved one isn’t there. Not only does that lead to immense stress and anxiety, it places extra travel burdens on families, who have now traveled hours for no reason. This bill would ensure that people are informed, within reason, about the movements of their relatives,” said Mosley.
“Families don’t stop worrying about their loved ones when they are in correctional facilities. This bill would ensure that relatives do not face the anxiety that comes with not knowing where their loved one is, and it is my hope that this bill makes the transfer process smoother for all involved,” the lawmaker added.
Donovan’s Anti-Terrorism & Disaster Preparedness Bill Passes Committee
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, yesterday announced that his bill to bolster the nation’s capabilities to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks and emergency situations unanimously passed the House Homeland Security Committee.
The measure is part of the of the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act of 2017. The Promoting Resilience in Preparing for Attacks and Responding to Emergencies (PREPARE) Act reauthorizes grants for, and improves efficiency of, critical disaster and emergency preparedness programs.
“Recent terror attacks and natural disaster across the globe remind us of the need to constantly analyze and improve our preparedness capabilities. This bill provides our first responders and communities with the resources they need to prevent and prepare for emergency situations, while also helping ensure that our agencies are constantly improving our federal response capabilities. We can’t always control when a disaster will strike, but we can put in place policies that mitigate the effects and protect Americans,” said Donovan.
This action highlights Donovan’s continued focus on improving national security defenses. Earlier this year, the House passed three homeland security bills sponsored by Donovan, which bulk up the country’s defenses against nuclear, transit, and cybersecurity threats.
Last year, Donovan helped lead the fight to reverse proposed cuts to the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), which provides hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-terror funding, including $180 million to New York City, to high-risk jurisdictions.
