Friday, December 1, 2023
On World AIDS Day, Justice Department Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Civil Rights of People Living with HIV and AIDS
On World AIDS Day 2023, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the civil rights of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) more than 30 years ago, the department has worked vigorously to protect and advance the rights of the more than one million Americans living with HIV and AIDS.
“The Justice Department strives to defend the rights of all Americans, including people living with HIV and AIDS,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “On World AIDS Day, we recognize our responsibility and reaffirm our commitment to prevent discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. We continue our fight to stop the spread of stereotypes and misinformation about the disease to remove senseless burdens and to ensure that those living with HIV and AIDS are treated fairly. We carry out this work with a commitment to racial equity given that Black and Latino communities are disproportionately affected by HIV.”
Over the past year, the Civil Rights Division has prioritized enforcement of the ADA and other laws to seek equal opportunity for and to combat discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.
For example, today, the Justice Department announced its finding that Tennessee, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office violated the ADA by enforcing the State’s aggravated prostitution statute against people living with HIV. The Tennessee aggravated prostitution statute elevates misdemeanor conduct to a felony based on an individual’s HIV status and mandates registration on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry.
In addition, in August, the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services secured a settlement resolving allegations that a home healthcare provider discriminated against a person with HIV. The agreement requires the home healthcare provider to ensure that people with disabilities, including those who have or are perceived as having HIV, receive equal opportunities to obtain the provider’s services. The provider will also train its employees and pay damages to the person who experienced this discrimination.
The department also continues to monitor recent settlement agreements and consent decrees that involve alleged discrimination against people with HIV, including:
A consent decree resolving a lawsuit against the Town of Clarksville, Indiana. The lawsuit alleged that the town’s police department prevented a qualified applicant from becoming a police officer based on his HIV diagnosis. The agreement requires Clarksville to pay monetary damages to the complainant, revise its policies and train its personnel;
A settlement agreement with an in-home caregiving agency in Wisconsin that allegedly refused to provide in-home services to an individual with HIV. The agreement requires the agency to pay monetary damages to the individual, adopt a non-discrimination policy and train its staff;
Two settlement agreements with tattoo studios in California and Colorado that allegedly refused services to clients who informed the studios of their HIV-positive status. The agreements require the tattoo studios to pay monetary damages to the complainants, develop a non-discrimination policy and train their employees;
Two consent decrees resolving cases alleging that doctors in California refused to provide routine medical care to a patient because of her HIV status. One lawsuit alleged that when the patient tried to make an appointment, she was told that the doctor could not see her because she had HIV, and the second lawsuit alleged that another doctor denied the patient a Pap smear, a regular preventative procedure, because he found her a “high risk” patient. The consent decrees require each doctor to pay monetary damages to the complainant and a civil penalty to the United States, to receive training on the ADA and the care of patients with HIV and to implement a non-discrimination policy; and
A settlement agreement with the Nevada Department of Corrections to resolve systemic discrimination in its correctional practices. The department’s investigation found that the state impermissibly isolated and segregated inmates with HIV, failed to keep their HIV status confidential and denied them equal employment opportunities as well as classification and housing at lower custody levels. The agreement requires Nevada to develop or amend policies and procedures to ensure equal and integrated housing, classification and employment opportunities, to train staff on the ADA and to implement an ADA grievance procedure.
Along with its enforcement efforts, the department continues to engage in outreach to educate people living with HIV and AIDS, businesses, state and local governments and other covered entities on their rights and responsibilities under the ADA. The department also provides technical assistance and responds to questions from individuals and covered entities through our ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 833-610-1264 (TTY).
To learn more about the Civil Rights Division’s work, please visit Civil Rights Division | Department of Justice and ADA.gov.
Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Expulsion of George Santos from Congress
“I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York’s 3rd District by scheduling a special election. The people of Long Island and Queens deserve nothing less.”
By law, when there is a vacancy in the House of Representatives, a governor has 10 days to issue a proclamation for a special election. The special election must be scheduled 70-80 days from the date the proclamation is issued
When you look at his lack of ethics and the fact that, you know, he has not served the people of our state, particularly New York 3 where he resides, it's been an abysmal run for him.
And he has not done what he has to do for New Yorkers, and I'm glad he's gone because I need people I can work with to fight for New York, to bring federal money to our state, to create jobs and opportunities. And George Santos just took up space.
VCJC News & Notes 12/1/23
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes
Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! |
Reminders |
- ShabbosShabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.Here are the times you need:Shabbos Candles Friday 12/1/23 @ 4:11 pmShabbos morning services at 8:40 am. Please join the services if you can do so safely.Shabbos Ends Saturday date @ 5:14 pm
Sisterhood meeting, Sunday 12/3/23 at 11:00 AM
- First Chanukah Candle, Thursday 12/7Second candle on 12/8 should be lit before the Shabbos candlesThe Sisterhood is selling Chanukah candles in the office.
- Chanukah Party, Tuesday 12/12/23Night of the Sixth Candle at 7PMEntertainment by Chaim Zadok, Latkes and Jelly Doughnuts, Raffle with great prizes.Free Admission
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Bronx, NY 10463MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES WIN FOR DELIVERY WORKERS, COURT ALLOWS NATION’S FIRST MINIMUM PAY RATE FOR APP-BASED RESTAURANT DELIVERY WORKERS
New York City Mayor Eric Adams celebrated a win for working New Yorkers with two rulings from the Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division, First Judicial Department that allow enforcement of the nation’s first minimum pay rate for third-party app-based restaurant delivery workers. The rulings follow an earlier ruling in the city’s favor from the New York State Supreme Court in September 2023. In line with the rulings, apps — including Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub — must pay workers at least $17.96 per hour, increasing to $19.96 per hour when fully implemented in 2025 and adjusted annually for inflation.
“Our delivery workers have consistently delivered for us — now, we are delivering for them,” said Mayor Adams. “This court decision is yet another promise made and promise kept by our administration on behalf of working New Yorkers, and it is a powerful tool to hold apps accountable. This minimum pay rate will guarantee our delivery workers and their families can earn a living and keep our city’s legendary restaurant industry going strong.”
“Delivery workers are a critical part of our city’s workforce and play a critical role in our local economy, yet to date, they have not been able to earn a living wage,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “We are grateful for the appellate court’s decision today and expect the delivery apps to start implementing the minimum pay rate immediately. When we lift up working New Yorkers, the whole city succeeds.”
“Today’s appellate court decision represents a win for all working New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “The minimum pay rate of at least $17.96 per hour will help lift thousands of New Yorkers and their families out of poverty, while still allowing flexibility for both apps and workers. The apps should immediately pay delivery workers the minimum pay rate, as the New York State Supreme Court ruled on September 28, 2023. We thank the court for making the right decision and thank the hundreds of delivery workers who fought for their right to earn a dignified wage.”
“We are pleased with the court’s decision. The minimum pay rule benefits both the city and the dedicated delivery workers whose contributions are invaluable to our economy,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix. “All New Yorkers deserve just compensation for their efforts. I commend the Law Department attorneys and other city personnel who played a pivotal role to ensure the implementation of this important initiative.”
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Foreign National Convicted of Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
A federal jury in the District of Columbia convicted a national of the Dominican Republic yesterday of a felony drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cesar Gomez Almonte, aka Jhonny Gomez and Johnny Gomez, 51, was a member of a drug trafficking network based in the Dominican Republic. The network facilitated the transportation of multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine by boat from the Caribbean to the United States. The drug trafficking network insulated itself by compartmentalizing operations and covering up true ownership of the boats used to transport cocaine. Gomez Almonte’s role within the organization was to search for and acquire new boats the network could use for future drug ventures, to coordinate the straw transfer of a boat used in a prior drug venture, and to broker the use of a boat for a cocaine shipment knowing that the cocaine was bound for the United States.
On Dec. 12, 2020, Gomez Almonte was arrested in the Miami International Airport.
The jury convicted Gomez Almonte of conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York made the announcement.
The case is supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
HSI New York investigated the case.
Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Melanie L. Alsworth and Trial Attorneys Samantha Thompson and Janet H. Turnbull of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Customs and Border Protection’s Miami Air and Marine Branch also provided significant assistance.
Attorney General James Takes Action to Protect Laws Restricting Large-Capacity Gun Magazines
AG James and a Coalition of 19 Attorneys General Filed an Amicus Brief to Support California Law Challenged in Federal Court
New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 19 attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in support of a California law that restricts large-capacity gun magazines. The case, Duncan v. Bonta, concerns the constitutionality of a California law that allows for possession and sale of firearms magazines that accept up to ten rounds of ammunition, but prohibits larger capacity magazines.
“Large-capacity magazines make weapons even more deadly and can lead to horrific mass-casualty events,” said Attorney General James. “These dangerous accessories are intended to ensure the maximum number of bullets can be fired without the shooter needing to take time to reload. The pain, suffering, and loss of life that can be inflicted by a single shooter utilizing large-capacity magazines is horrific, which is why these dangerous accessories have no place in our communities. I am proud to step up and work with my fellow attorneys general to ensure this commonsense gun safety measure is not stripped away.”
Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general argue that California’s large-capacity magazine law is a constitutionally permissible restriction by asserting that states have widely adopted reasonable restrictions on the public carry, possession, and sale of many types of weapons, accessories, and forms of ammunition that are not suitable for self-defense and undermine the public’s safety. The coalition also noted that large-capacity magazines are not protected by the Second Amendment because they are not “arms,” and they are not commonly used or suitable for self-defense.
Additionally, Attorney General James and the coalition assert that California’s law is consistent with a historical tradition of regulating and imposing restrictions on new and distinctively dangerous forms of weaponry, and urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold this law.
Joining Attorney General James in filing this amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.