Congressman Eliot Engel Responds to President’s Executive Order Repealing Environmental Regulations

   Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement today in response to President Trump’s executive order rolling back the Clean Power Plan and eliminating the consideration of climate change and the social cost of carbon when evaluating government actions: 

“President Trump has been ruthlessly chopping away at our nation’s environmental regulations since he took office, and today’s Executive Order takes his misguided efforts to a new and dangerous level. It seeks to dismantle President Obama’s efforts to combat climate change in the name of bringing back coal and other dirty-energy jobs. This effort rests on a false premise and threatens the health and security of the American people.

“Coal mining jobs are not disappearing because of regulations. They are disappearing because natural gas is cheap, wind and solar are booming, and automation has allowed coal companies to produce more fuel with fewer employees. Clean energy jobs across the country outnumber fossil fuel jobs by more than 2.5 to 1. Solar and wind jobs are growing at a rate 12 times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy. But this executive order, much like the President’s proposed budget, is a job-killer that throws obstacles in the way of innovation and job creation in the renewable industry in favor of sweetheart deals for fossil fuels.

“Repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which aims to slash greenhouse gas emission from electricity by 32 percent by 2030, will lead to billions of additional tons of carbon being released into the atmosphere contributing to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths. 

“The Department of Defense has viewed climate change as a national security concern for at least a decade, and ignoring it threatens our military installations and infrastructure, while raising the potential for increased conflict across the globe. 

“Today President Trump failed the American people by rejecting the overwhelming scientific evidence and economic benefits supporting climate action.”

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER DISMANTLING CLIMATE POLICIES

   “President Trump’s order to begin rolling back the progress we have made on climate change represents an existential threat to New York City. We’re already experiencing rising seas and hotter weather, with the last three years on record as the hottest yet. At the same time, the effects of climate change will fall disproportionately on our most vulnerable communities, exacerbating inequality. We are choosing to meet this challenge head-on, investing to make our neighborhoods more resilient and doing our part to reduce the pollution that drives climate change. Faced with presidential orders that reject sound science and common sense, I am proud to join mayors across the country in offering bold solutions capable of leaving our children a healthy planet.”

IMMIGRATION WORKSHOP SUNDAY, APRIL 2, and Job Fair Wed. April 5th

   A "Know Your Rights" Workshop for Immigrants organized by Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda will be held this Sunday, April 2, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 2158 Watson Avenue, at Castle Hill Avenue.

Co-sponsored by state Senators Jeff Klein and Ruben Diaz, the workshop will feature a number of speakers from city government and private agencies discussing immigration issues and taking questions from the audience.

 

A recent similar workshop organized by Sepulveda at St. Helena's Catholic Church in Parkchester drew 500 participants.

"I urge those in the community who may have issues with their immigration status, or even possibly face deportation, to attend this workshop," said Sepulveda. "This will be a chance to connect with a number of agencies and organizations that are there to help."

For more information, contact Assemblyman Sepulveda's office at 718 931-2620

A job fair organized by Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda for Wednesday, April 5, is expected to draw several hundred job seekers to meet with several dozen potential employers from city and state agencies, retailers, general contractors, colleges and the healthcare/hospital industry.

Co-sponsored by Senator Ruben Diaz and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, the job fair will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Sotomayor Community Center, 1000 Rosedale Avenue, just off the Bruckner service road.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney And Nypd Commissioner Announce Arrest Of Narcotics Dealer Responsible For Heroin Overdose Death In A Hospital Rehabilitation Clinic

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a complaint charging ANTHONY DODAJ with narcotics dealing that resulted in the heroin overdose death of a 41-year-old woman while the victim was a patient in a hospital rehabilitation clinic.

The complaint alleges that DODAJ participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, and that heroin distributed by DODAJ on January 1, 2016, resulted in the death of Ivy Katz in New York, New York. DODAJ was arrested this morning and presented today in Manhattan federal court before United States Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV. DODAJ faces a mandatory minimum term of 20 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim stated: “As alleged, Anthony Dodaj hand-delivered a fatal dose of heroin to a recovering addict inside a rehabilitation facility. Together with our partners at the NYPD, we will continue to prosecute those who prey on others’ addictions, as alleged here.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill stated: “As alleged, the defendant preyed on the vulnerable – peddling poison to those seeking help. Today, the defendant finds himself under arrest with the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison for the crimes alleged in the complaint.”

According to the complaint[1]:

From December 2016 up to January 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, ANTHONY DODAJ and others conspired to sell heroin. As part of that conspiracy, on January 1, 2016, DODAJ delivered heroin to Ivy Katz, a 41-year-old recovering heroin addict. In mid-December 2016, Katz had voluntarily checked herself into an inpatient rehabilitation program for opioid dependence at a hospital located in New York, New York (the “Hospital”). On January 1, 2016, DODAJ entered the Hospital and met with Katz in the Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation ward. Approximately 30 minutes after DODAJ left the Hospital, Katz was found comatose in her room with a needle containing heroin in her arm. Katz never regained consciousness, and ultimately died on January 16, 2017.

DODAJ, 46, of the Bronx, New York, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD.

This matter is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney David W. Denton Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

FORMER NYC CORRECTION OFFICER INDICTED FOR SMUGGLING MARIJUANA, TEQUILA AND TOBACCO INTO RIKERS ISLAND JAIL

Inmate and Wife Charged with Bribery, Promoting Contraband 

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a former New York City Department of Correction Officer, an inmate and the inmate’s wife have been indicted on charges they brought marijuana, alcohol and tobacco into a Rikers Island jail. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “Contraband fuels beatings and slashings in jail because it is so lucrative. This defendant allegedly took bribes to bring in forbidden items after only 10 months on the job. He was betraying his fellow officers and endangering staff and inmates by adding to the violent atmosphere in the facility. We will not tolerate employees, inmates or visitors bringing in contraband.” 

  District Attorney Clark said that James Brown, 45, of Queens, who became a Correction Officer in January, 2016, was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice William Mogulescu. Bail was continued at $50,000. He is due back in court on April 17. Dene Morris was previously arraigned, and Shane Morris, 31, is due to be arraigned at a later date.

  Brown was charged with third-degree Bribe Receiving and Official Misconduct, Shane and Dene Morris were charged with third-degree Bribery and second-degree Rewarding Official Misconduct, and all three defendants were charged with fifth-degree Conspiracy, second-degree Promoting Prison Contraband, and fourth and fifth-degree Criminal Possession of Marijuana. They face a maximum of seven years in prison if convicted. 

  According to the investigation, between November 2, 2016 and December 9, 2016, Brown allegedly accepted $700 from Dene Morris to bring in the contraband to her husband, who is being held on a Queens attempted murder case. As Brown was entering the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on December 9, 2016, a Department of Investigation canine detected marijuana. Brown was found to have four ounces of marijuana, tobacco and an Arizona Iced Tea bottle filled with Patron tequila on him. He was arrested by DOI investigators.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt. 

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj - 4th Annual Bronx Immigration Forum

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto and Senator Jeff Klein  

invite you to the

4th Annual Bronx Immigration Forum 

Join us as we share important steps toward protecting yourself regardless of your immigration status.

-Panel Discussions on Immigration Policy 
-Community Resource Table  
-Q & A's 

Thursday, April 6th,2017 

5:30pm - 8:30pm

Bronx House 

990 Pelham Parkway S 

Bronx,New York 10461 

Between Bogart Ave/Hone Ave 

Train to Morris Park/Buses BX12SBS, BX12

For additional information, please call Lilyanna at (718) 655- 5000
or (718) 409-0109 

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON SENATOR SESSIONS’ THREAT TO CUT FEDERAL FUNDING

  “President Trump’s latest threat changes nothing. We will remain a city welcoming of immigrants who have helped make our city the safest big city in the nation. Any attempt to cut NYPD funding for the nation’s top terror target will be aggressively fought in court. We won’t back down from protecting New Yorkers from terror – or from an overzealous administration fixated on xenophobia and needless division.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We also welcome immigrants to this country, but as the world has evolved having terror strikes all over the globe we have to disagree with those like Mayor de Blasio who want to give safety to anyone who would harm citizens of the United States. 

Rep. Engel Responds to AG Sessions Refusal to Give DOJ Funding to Sanctuary Cities

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement in response to Attorney General Sessions promising to withhold Department of Justice funding to sanctuary cities:

“Today Attorney General Sessions took aim at New York City and hundreds of other municipalities across the country by threatening to cut off Justice Department funding to any city that refuses to go along with the Trump Administration’s outrageous deportation policies. This is political hostage taking: fall in line with the White House, or AG Sessions will strip the NYPD and other state and local law enforcement agencies of billions in funding. Denying state and local agencies access to these Justice Department grants would have a devastating impact, jeopardizing public safety for New Yorkers and millions of other Americans who live in sanctuary jurisdictions across the country. This is particularly shocking given that New York City is already stuck with a bill of hundreds of thousands of dollars a day just to secure Trump Tower. Now the White House wants to put an even bigger burden on the NYPD. If DOJ refuses to support New York’s Finest, then maybe they should be responsible for paying to secure the first family.

“New York is a sanctuary city because New Yorkers understand how important immigrants are to the fabric of America. And while sanctuary city policies are about American values, they’re also about ensuring public safety by letting undocumented people feel safe reporting crimes to police. Punishing a city that stands in solidarity with its immigrant community and protects its citizens is shameful and morally abhorrent. Mr. Sessions—who shouldn’t even be AG due to his untruthful confirmation testimony—is wrong to push this dangerous maneuver, and I intend to fight it every step of the way.”