Woodlawn Town Hall Meeting by Dinowitz, Biaggi, Cohen, and Engel

  A Woodlawn Town Hall meeting with elected officials Councilman Andrew Cohen, State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Congressman Eliot Engels went smoothly until there was a question about recently passed state legislation called the Reproductive Health Act. The RHA now allows for a fetus to be aborted much closer to the time of birth than before, which was part of the Progressive agenda by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the new Democratic controlled State Senate. 

  Abortion has long been a controversial point to many, especially in conservative areas such as Woodlawn. When the question came up State Senator Biaggi tried to explain the new law, but a woman then a man stood up to shout her down about killing babies now. For a short period of time Senator Biaggi had to stop as the pair kept interrupting her. Senator Biaggi was finally allowed to finish her comments, and then a well prepared Assemblyman Dinowitz read five points which he said was the new law. After that the Town Hall meeting returned to normal with local issues written on cards being read by Assemblyman Dinowitz's Chief of Staff Ms. Randi Martos. 

  Other questions were about the new LED street lights, local parks, immigration, schools, traffic, other new legislation recently passed in Albany, taxes, land use matters, and the upcoming state budget. 

Above - State Senator Alessandra Biaggi talking about the Reproductive Health Act.

Below - A woman holding a video tape of an abortion, and a man holding a bible kept interrupting Senator Biaggi claiming that babies would be aborted right before they were to be born. Senator Biaggi had to wait until their outbursts were over to continue.

Above - Assemblyman Dinowitz a veteran of many Town Hall meeting came well prepared as he spoke about the five points of the new Reproductive Health Act, and other topics that were asked.

Below - While most questions did not require an answer from Congressman Engel, his Chief of Staff Bill Weitz was well equipped to answer a question about immigration. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEW VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN TO MAKE MOST DANGEROUS STREETS SAFER

Using latest crash data, City to target 424 miles of streets where nearly half of pedestrian fatalities occur

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today released DOT’s new Borough Pedestrian Safety Plans, which target the next wave of streets and intersections the City will make safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The plans use the latest crash data, showing that just 7 percent of the city’s streets – 424 miles – are responsible for nearly half of all pedestrian fatalities. By the end of 2019, the City will change traffic signals on all the newly added corridors to discourage speeding, and give pedestrians exclusive crossing time at 300 intersections to prevent crashes. The new priority streets and intersections are the roadmap for future Vision Zero safety projects and enforcement – ensuring tools like speed cameras, police enforcement and re-engineering are applied where they’ll save the most lives.

The first Borough Pedestrian Plans, released in 2015, saw an average decline in pedestrian fatalities at targeted sites of 36 percent, driving the City’s record fatality declines. The City has addressed nearly all locations from the plans with some protective measures, and will continue to deepen those in the years ahead to keep driving down injuries and fatalities.

“We will never stop working towards our goal of Vision Zero and saving lives across the city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Using our data-driven approach, we have identified hotspots around the city that are driving the majority of traffic fatalities, and are implementing targeted plans there and across the city that will make our streets safer for all. After our success last year with the safest year on record, we will continue building towards a safer and fairer city for all.”

“Over the last four years, DOT’s groundbreaking Borough Pedestrian Safety Plans have enabled us to target our resources where they will save the most lives,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “In these updated plans, we have used the freshest data to identify new crash-prone corridors and intersections most in need of our full menu of safety interventions.”

New Priority Locations

Using crash data, new Priority Corridors were added to the new Borough Safety Plans, including:

• Bronx: Westchester Avenue (3rd Avenue to Bronx River Avenue), Boston Road - 3rd Avenue to Bronx Park East, Soundview Avenue – (White Plains Road to Bruckner Boulevard)
• Brooklyn: Linden Blvd (Flatbush Av to Sapphire St), 8th Avenue – (39th Street to 73rd Street), Surf Avenue – (Ocean Parkway to Atlantic Avenue), Bedford Avenue – (Manhattan Avenue to Flatbush Avenue).
• Manhattan: Columbus Avenue (9th Avenue to Morningside Drive), York Avenue – (Sutton Place to the FDR), 10th Avenue (West Street to 59th Street)
• Queens: Rockaway Boulevard (Eldert Lane to 3rd Street), 37th Avenue – (114th Street to Woodside Avenue), 21st Street (50th Avenue to 20th Avenue)
• Staten Island: Targee Street - (Van Duzer Street to Richmond Road), Bradley Avenue – (Watchogue Rd to Brielle Avenue), Lincoln Avenue – (Richmond Road to Father Capodanno Boulevard)

In February 2015, DOT compiled data on crashes, deaths and serious injuries on our streets to create the Borough Pedestrian Safety Plans. These detailed, data-driven plans provided a new road map for Vision Zero, by identifying the most dangerous areas, intersections and corridors in the city. Since then, the Administration has made these areas the focus of its Vision Zero efforts. DOT has now addressed 90 percent of those intersections and 86 percent of the street-miles targeted in 2015 – leading to a 36 percent drop in pedestrian deaths at these locations, which is driving the downward trend in citywide traffic fatalities.

Using new data, DOT is identifying new Priority Locations around the city. Some locations are receiving more in-depth interventions than they had previously, while new locations will receive critical safety upgrades. Places where crashes declined by the greatest margins will continue to be closely monitored.

As part of the lookback on first half-decade of Vision Zero and the first installment of borough plans, DOT evaluated which treatments to keep a focus on while adding several new actions for 2019.

New Actions for 2019

• Add exclusive pedestrian crossing time (LPIs) at every feasible intersection on all new Priority Corridors by the end of 2019
• Modify signal timing to reduce speeding on all feasible new Priority Corridors by the end of 2019
• Launch Integrated Data-Driven Speed Reducer Program (speed humps & speed cushions)
• Track Vision Zero Violations at the Priority Corridors, Intersections, and Areas
• Launch a High Visibility Enforcement Program on Priority Corridors
• Launch a targeted Corridor Outreach Program
• Launch a Driveway Safety program to address issues with vehicles crossing sidewalks
• Conduct a comprehensive study of senior pedestrian injuries
• Collaborate with the Business Integrity Commission to improve the safety of commercial waste fleets

Actions To Be Maintained

• Implement at least 50 Vision Zero safety engineering improvements annually on the updated Priority Corridors, Intersections, and Areas citywide
• Add exclusive pedestrian crossing time to all feasible new Priority Intersections by the end of 2019
• Prioritize targeted enforcement on Priority Corridors, Intersections, and Areas annually
• Expand a bicycle network that improves safety for all road users
• Install expanded speed limit signage on all new Priority Corridors in 2019
• Target child and senior safety education at Priority Corridors and Priority Areas
• Coordinate with MTA to ensure bus operations contribute to a safe pedestrian environment

The borough plans helped direct the $1.6 billion in Vision Zero resources to targeted areas: new engineering, including safety projects, protected bike lanes and pedestrian head-starts; new education efforts, including work by Vision Zero Street Teams and visits to schools and senior centers; and new enforcement, including a record number of traffic summonses issued by NYPD officers and the addition of school-zone speed cameras.

Dramatic Reduction in Fatalities and Severe Injuries

The DOT plans saw dramatic reductions in the numbers of pedestrians killed or seriously injured (KSI) in areas that received Vision Zero treatments. Among the dozens of streets cited were the following examples.

Bronx: 50 percent reduction in pedestrian KSI from Baychester Ave, from Hammersley Ave to Hoxie Street (2 miles)

• Improvements included: Upgraded markings, New Pedestrian Crossings, Painted Curb Extensions, Pedestrian Refuge Islands, One-Way Conversion, Signal Timing Changes, Turn Bays, Turn Bans

Brooklyn: 50 percent reduction in pedestrian KSI on Bushwick Ave, from Maspeth Avenue to Jamaica Avenue (3.6 miles)

• Improvements included: Bike Friendly Parking Lane, Upgraded markings, New Sidewalk, Painted Median, Pedestrian Refuge Islands, Signal Timing Changes

Manhattan: 40 percent reduction in pedestrian KSI on Adam C Powell Blvd from Central Park North to W 155th Street (2.4 miles)

• Improvements included: Concrete Median Tips, Traffic-calming road diet which included the addition of bicycle lanes

Queens: 30 percent reduction in pedestrian KSI on Hillside Ave, from Myrtle Ave to Langdale Street (7.7 miles)

• Improvements included: Concrete Curb Extension, Concrete Medians, Concrete Triangle, Lane Removal, Signal Timing Changes, Turn Bays

Staten Island: 18 percent reduction in pedestrian KSI on Richmond Ave, from Morningstar Rd to Fresh Kills Br (4.4 miles)

• Improvements included: Bike Friendly Parking Lane Stripe, Concrete Median, Upgraded markings, Painted Median, Pedestrian Refuge Islands, Turn Ban

“The data for traffic injuries and fatalities due to traffic crashes has been surprisingly high as we begin 2019. I thank Mayor De Blasio and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg for focusing on expanding traffic safety measures throughout the five boroughs to enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists when encountering busy intersections, and overall reduce the speed of vehicles and limit traffic fatalities. These street improvements will positively impact all residents. We must continue to move forward to meet our City’s Vision Zero goals by 2030 and as Chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee, I remain committed to that effort,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

Another Violation to my Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Councilman,  Rubén Díaz Sr.
District 18 Bronx County, New York

You should know that for more than 16 years I have written a column called “What You Should Know”.   I write this column as a way to keep my constituents and community at large informed on my point of view regarding pieces of legislation, actions and events that may in one way or another our community especially my constituents.  

For more than 15 years I sent out my column using the email address assigned to me by The New York State Senate. However, when I became a New York City Councilmen in 2018 that changed.  

At the City Council, I was assigned a new email address, as are all members of the city council.   Those e-mail addresses are a privilege granted to all members to help us communicate with our constituencies.    As soon as I got to the City Council the first thing launched at me was an investigation, due to a complaint filed by an “unknown” source.     I was then prevented from using my City Council e-mail as a way to communicate with my constituents which I did through my “What You Should Know Column”.  

I was then forced to use my own funds to enter into a contract for a private email server.   So I entered into a contract with a private e-mail company called “Mailchimp.com” and acquired my private e-mail.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, someone got to them, and again through “unknown” sources filed complaints which have led “mailchimp.com” to cancel my contract, blocking my ability from emailing my column.     Clearly, I am being censored.   This is in violation of my civil liberties, and constitutional rights to free speech, freedom of expression, and religious freedom.

It is important for you to know that stipulated at the bottom of all my emails there is an “unsubscribe” option.   Any recipient can “unsubscribe” and will never receive another one of my emails by simply clicking on the“unsubscribe” option.   So why file a complaint to shut me down?

Meanwhile, we have people, who without impunity, can use social media, emails, tweets, and even their City Council email addresses to spew their venom instigating violence against me, again without impunity but that’s ok.  

Time after time my life has been placed in danger, my constitutional rights, and civil liberties are and have been violated, and my words taken so out of context that even friends have joined my adversaries.   

I will not dwell on their actions.   May God’s blessings be upon them.   Meanwhile, I know that I will continue to be the subject of these abuses because I will not be a part of “group think” and I will not sell out on my beliefs and principles.  

MAYOR DE BLASIO, GOVERNOR CUOMO, SENATOR SCHUMER & CONGRESSMAN ROSE ANNOUNCE SEAWALL ON STATEN ISLAND'S EAST SHORE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FEDERAL FUNDING GUARANTEED

Major victory clears the path for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct 5.3 mile seawall to protect waterfront communities in Staten Island

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, United States Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and United States Congressman Max Rose today announced that they have successfully brokered a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York State to lock in funding for the construction of the Staten Island Levee project. This PPA also ensures that the $400 million federal contribution to this $615 million project is unlikely to be re-allocated should the federal government declare a national emergency on the southern border.

“This is a huge win for the people of Staten Island, who will be better protected from future storms,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “It is critical that we invest in the resiliency of our city in the face of climate change. I want to thank the US Army Corps of Engineers, and my colleagues in Congress, Senator Schumer and Congressman Rose, as well as Governor Cuomo, for working together to make this happen for our constituents.”

"This innovative project will protect Staten Islanders from future devastating storms, enhance access to the shore, create thriving wetlands and bring peace of mind to the diverse communities that live along the coastline," said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. "Today's agreement will allow New York to move forward with this critical resiliency project, which will ensure vulnerable communities have the resources they need to build back stronger after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and better prepare for the next 100-year storm."

“The signing of this PPA was the final key to locking in hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding for the desperately needed Staten Island Seawall project. Now that the bureaucratic hurdles have all been jumped, the Army Corps can finally move forward with designing and building a more resilient shoreline that will protect our Island, homeowners and local businesses against the kind of devastating flooding we saw during Superstorm Sandy,” said United States Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

“Getting the seawall built as quickly as possible is a top priority, which is why it was my first piece of legislation and I’ve been pushing the Corps and the Administration on this since my first day in office. This agreement will finally allow construction so Staten Island families can get some relief before the next storm season – but until we pass the easement into law and construction is complete, there’s more work to be done,” said Congressman Max Rose.

The Staten Island Levee project is comprised of a series of interconnected levees, berms, and seawalls stretching from Fort Wadsworth to Great Kills on Staten Island's East Shore. This system, which is designed to withstand a 300-year storm, will protect against the growing threats of sea-level rise and storm surge and will dramatically strengthen the resilience of the area, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy. According to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) study, the Staten Island Levee project is projected to reduce damages to the area by $30 million annually over a 50 year timeline.

USACE, which is responsible for managing the design and construction the project, has made significant progress in recent years by completing a feasibility study, conducting geotech and groundwater monitoring, and starting final project design. USACE plans to break ground on the project in 2020 and expects full completion in 2024.

In addition to the $400 million in federal funds allocated to the project, New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation is contributing $150 and New York City is contributing $65 in City Capital funds.

Public Advocate Candidate Jumaane Williams Comes to North Central Bronx Hospital

  City Councilman and candidate for Public Advocate Jumanne Williams speaks at a meeting Monday evening at North Central Bronx Hospital. He took a few questions and photos with some of the people in attendance. When asked what does a public advocate do, he replied that the position really has been around since 1890 under different names. When the City Charter was revised in 1993 the position was created, and lately it has become a stepping stone to higher office. If he is elected he wants to have an office in every borough with local staff, but that the Public advocate other than having a Bully Pulpit really only appoints people to commissions and sits on the City Pension Board. 

When I asked him why he is in the Bronx now, but was not at the Public Advocate debate at Lehman College his answer was that he had other commitments. I also asked his feelings about candidate Dawn Smalls, to which he replied that Ms. Smalls is going to be very hard to beat since she is very knowledgeable on the responsibilities of the job of the Public Advocate. Jumaane Williams said that he would be the winner on February 26th to be the next Public Advocate. 

Above - Candidate Jumaane Williams answers a question from the audience.

Below - He poses with the host of the event Ms. Hernandez.

Above - Candidate Williams with the girls from BTE.

Below - Candidate Williams with Ms. Nicole Watson (L), and Ms. Sharien Perez.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Declared Disaster in Many Counties of New York Including Bronx County

DECLARING A DISASTER IN THE COUNTIES OF ALBANY, ALLEGANY, BRONX, BROOME, CATTARAUGUS, CAYUGA, CHAUTAUQUA, CHEMUNG, CHENANGO, CLINTON, COLUMBIA, CORTLAND, DELAWARE, DUTCHESS, ERIE, ESSEX, FRANKLIN, FULTON, GENESEE, GREENE, HAMILTON, HERKIMER, JEFFERSON, KINGS, LEWIS, LIVINGSTON, MADISON, MONROE, MONTGOMERY, NASSAU, NEW YORK, NIAGARA, ONEIDA, ONONDAGA, ONTARIO, ORANGE, ORLEANS, OSWEGO, OTSEGO, PUTNAM, QUEENS, RENSSELAER, RICHMOND, ROCKLAND, SAINT LAWRENCE, SARATOGA, SCHENECTADY, SCHOHARIE, SCHUYLER, SENECA, STEUBEN, SUFFOLK, SULLIVAN, TIOGA, TOMPKINS, ULSTER, WARREN, WASHINGTON, WAYNE, WESTCHESTER, WYOMING, AND YATES.

WHEREAS, on January 19, 2019, and continuing thereafter, a severe winter storm is anticipated to impact New York State and poses an imminent danger to vital public transportation, utility service, public health, and public safety systems within the counties of Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, and Yates.

WHEREAS, this winter storm is forecasted to produce snowfall amounts of up to 25 inches, at a rate of one to two inches per hour, wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour, ice and freezing rain, and artic temperatures with the potential to cause widespread power outages and road closures, travel disruptions, and damage to public and private property throughout the impacted areas, and therefore poses an immediate threat to the public health and safety.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby find that a disaster is imminent for which the affected local governments are unable to respond adequately.  Therefore, I hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency effective January 19, 2019 within the territorial boundaries of the counties of Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, and Yates.  This Executive Order shall be in effect until February 2, 2019; and

FURTHER, pursuant to Section 29 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I direct the implementation of the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and authorize, effective January 19, 2019, the State Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the Division of State Police, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Public Service Commission, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Labor, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Office of General Services, the Thruway Authority, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, other State agencies as necessary, and the American Red Cross to take appropriate action to protect State property and to assist affected local governments and individuals in responding to and recovering from this disaster, and to provide such other assistance as necessary to protect the public health and safety.

FURTHER, I have designated Roger Parrino, Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, as the State Coordinating Officer for this event.

IN ADDITION, this declaration satisfies the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 390.23(a)(l)(A), which provides relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). Such relief from the FMCSR is necessary to ensure that snow removal crews can clear vital roadways and hasten the movement of utility power restoration crews into New York State.

FURTHER, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend specific provisions of any statute, local law, ordinance, orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such provisions would prevent, hinder or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster, hereby temporarily suspend, for the period from the date of  thisExecutive Order through February 2, 2019, the following laws:

Section 38(1), (2) and (3) of the Highway Law and Article 4-C of the Economic Development Law, to the extent that the Commissioner of Transportation determines it necessary to authorize the award of emergency contracts and/or to combine design and construction services in contracts and to use such services when needed;

Section 97-G of the State Finance Law, to the extent that the Commissioner of General Services or the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services determines it necessary to purchase food, supplies, services, and equipment or furnish or provide various centralized services, including but not limited to, building design and construction services to assist affected local governments, individuals, and other non-State entities in responding to and recovering from the disaster emergency;

Section 112 of the State Finance Law, to the extent consistent with Article V, Section I of the State Constitution, and to the extent that the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of General Services, or the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services determines it necessary to add additional work, sites, and time to State contracts, to award emergency contracts or award leases for relocation and support of State operations under Public Buildings Law Section 3, to award emergency contracts under Public Buildings Law Section 9, to award emergency contracts for professional services under Section 136-a of the State Finance Law, and to award emergency contracts for commodities, services, technology and materials pursuant to Section 163 of the State Finance Law;

Section 136-a of the State Finance Law, to the extent that the Commissioner of Transportation or the Commissioner of General Services determines it necessary to combine design and construction services in one contract and/or to obtain design and construction inspection services;

Section 163 of the State Finance Law and Article 4-C of the Economic Development Law, to the extent of allowing the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of General Services, or the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to purchase necessary commodities, services, technology and materials without following the standard notice and procurement processes;

Section 359-a and Section 2879 of the Public Authorities Law to the extent of allowing the New York State Thruway Authority to purchase necessary goods and services without following the standard procurement processes;

Sections 375, 385 and 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to the extent that exemption for vehicles validly registered in other jurisdictions from the vehicle registration, equipment, and dimension requirements is necessary to assist in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts; and

Part F of Chapter 60 of the Laws of 2015, and Chapter 59 of 2017 to the extent of allowing the Commissioner of Transportation or the Commissioner of General Services to award design-build and best value contracts without following the proscribed procurement process.

FURTHER, actions pursuant to this emergency necessary for the replacement, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of structures are Type II actions not subject to further review under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.5(c)(33).

FURTHER, I hereby temporarily modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through February 2, 2019, the following laws:

Section 24 of the Executive Law; Sections 104 and 346 of the Highway Law; Sections 1602, 1630, 1640, 1650, and 1660 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law; Section 14(16) of the Transportation Law; Sections 6-602 and 17-1706 of the Village Law; Section 20(32) of the General City Law; Section 91 of Second Class Cities Law; Section 19-107(ii) of the New York City Administrative Code; and Section 107.1 of Title 21 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, to the extent necessary to provide the Governor with the authority to regulate traffic and the movement of vehicles on roads, highways, and streets.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this nineteenth day of January in the year two thousand nineteen.

BY THE GOVERNOR         

Secretary to the Governor

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

This State of Disaster was declared on January 19, 2019 for a period of time ending on February 2, 2019.

This Executive Order by the governor is dated February 15, 2019 at 10:30 AM EST.

We will be informing you of items such as this as they come in.

Attorney General James Files Brief In Lawsuit Against Federal Bureau Of Prisons Over Conditions At Metropolitan Detention Center

Files Amicus Brief in Lawsuit Over Emergency Procedure Failures, Inhumane Conditions, and Lack of Access to Counsel at MDC  

  Attorney General Letitia James filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Defenders of New York over the federal government’s failed response to the power and heating outages that occurred at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The lawsuit alleges that the federal government’s response to the loss of maintenance services and failure to institute and execute emergency proceedings resulted in days of inhumane conditions for individuals detained at the facility. 

The amicus brief, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, cites New York State’s extensive experience and preparedness handling emergencies (including heat and power outages) in correctional and other secured facilities and highlights the utility of appointing a special master to monitor conditions at the MDC. 

“The reported conditions at MDC were unacceptable and inhumane,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Being incarcerated should not result in being denied basic human rights. Our facilities must have proper protocols and procedures in place in the event of emergencies. I will continue to support the call for stronger policies and practices at the federal level to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers."

Federal Defenders of New York, a public defender organization, recently sued the Bureau of Prisons and MDC Warden Herman Quay, on the grounds that they violated the constitutional rights of inmates at MDC by denying legal visits during the outage. The lawsuit called for the appointment of a special master to inspect the MDC and assess current conditions at the facility to ensure the rights of detainees are not being denied.  

New York State’s extensive experience maintaining secured facilities and developing emergency procedures makes the State well-positioned to advocate and advise the court on protocols and oversight. New York State maintains a criminal correctional system that houses close to 47,000 individuals across 54 state-operated facilities, has extensive procedures in place to respond effectively to natural disasters, weather-related emergencies, maintenance and service failures, fires, and other major disruptions in the facilities that it operates and oversees.  

House Dems Reintroduce Assault Weapons Ban

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and a record 190 House Democrats have reintroduced H.R. 1296, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, legislation that would ban the sale, manufacture, or possession of new military-style assault weapons. The bill, authored by Rep. David Cicilline and originally cosponsored by Engel, would reinstate the ban on assault weapons that was allowed to lapse 15 years ago under Republican leadership.

“Last week marked the one year anniversary since 17 lives were taken by a weapon of war at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Nearly 40,000 Americans have been killed by guns since then. The American people, our children, our communities—we’ve all endured enough horror from gun violence,” Rep. Engel said. “Mass shootings have become so common in this country that most of the time they don’t even make the news cycle. This should give us all pause. What’s more, the prevalence and wide availability of assault weapons has increased fatalities during mass shootings substantially. This madness has to end. We banned assault weapons in 1994 because we recognized that weapons of war don’t belong on our streets. I proudly voted for that bill then, and I’m proud to support a reinstitution of it now. The NRA doesn’t run the U.S. House of Representatives anymore. House Democrats do.”   

Assault weapons have been the weapon of choice in many of country’s worst mass shootings. In the ten years after the previous assault weapons ban expired, mass shootings where six or more people were killed increased by 183%.

In response to these continuing tragedies, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 would ban the sale of:

• Semi-automatic rifles and pistols with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
• Semi-automatic rifles with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
• Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
• Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
• And 205 specifically-named and listed firearms.