PUBLIC ADVOCATE CALLS FOR RESTORING NON-CITIZEN VOTING RIGHTS IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS DURING COUNCIL HEARING

 

Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams called for the passage of legislation restoring voting rights in municipal elections to non-citizen residents during a City Council hearing on Monday. The legislation from Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and of which the Public Advocate is a co-sponsor – the 'Our City, Our Vote' bill – would provide a process for lawful permanent residents in New York city to vote in municipal elections.

"Expanding the franchise through this bill will strengthen civic engagement, government accountability, and immigrant rights..." said Public Advocate Williams before the Committee on Government Operations. "... It is also critical to note that non-citizens had voting rights in this country for much longer than they have not had voting rights. From the founding of the Country until the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, non-citizens had the right to vote in many states and federal territories. Let’s be clear—the exclusion of immigrants from voting is a political choice rooted in racism and xenophobia. We can get this done—and we have a duty to."

The bill would also establish a five-person advisory group, with the Public Advocate as Chairperson, to provide recommendations regarding any problems or potential improvements with respect to the voting process implemented by the legislation. It would include appointees by the Speaker and Mayor.

Public Advocate Williams stressed that "This City has a multitude of priority initiatives that are affecting the immigrant community. It is critical that we amplify their voice in governance by extending them the right to vote... We should allow people who experience the worst impact of our policies the ability to vote on who is making those policies."

The Public Advocate's full testimony is below.

TESTIMONY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS 

TO THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

My name is Jumaane D. Williams and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Thank you Chair Cabrera and a special shout out to Councilmembers Rodríguez and Salamanca for both of their bills. I’ll be speaking primarily on Councilmember Rodríguez’s bill.

 

I’d first like to lift up the plight of the 13,000 Haitian nationals at our border that the President is trying to send back. Very often, the plight of black immigrants is not lifted up as much as it should be—so I want to start off with that.

 

Immigrant New Yorkers shape our City in countless ways, but many are locked out of our electoral processes. This means City residents who fund, use, and provide essential government services have no political voice in how these services are funded and operated. It also means that elected leaders have no political incentive to advance policies that are of interest to these residents. Even when those policies most adversely affect them. As a sanctuary City that prides itself on its immigrant past, present, and future, this must change. 

 

As a first generation American, as the son of immigrants from Grenada, I am proud to co-sponsor the Our City, Our Vote bill, Int. 1867 by Council Member Rodriguez, which would restore—and I think it’s important that we continue to say that, we simply restore— the right of non-citizen New Yorkers who have Green Cards and work authorizations to vote in municipal elections. Expanding the franchise through this bill will strengthen civic engagement, government accountability, and immigrant rights. I strongly urge my colleagues to pass this legislation.

 

I’d like to note that while this bill is transformative, it is not unprecedented. I hear a lot of pushback of legality—maybe it’s one of logistics we can move through. Because there are nine municipalities in Maryland where non-citizens are not excluded from the franchise: Barnesville, Chevy Chase Sections Five and Three, Glen Echo, Hyattsville, Martin’s Additions, Mount Rainier, Riverdale Park, Somerset, and Takoma Park. Additionally, in Chicago and San Francisco non-citizens are able to vote in school board elections. Further, New Yorkers who were non-citizens were previously able to vote in School Board elections from 1969 to the dissolution of the School Board system in 2002. It is also critical to note that non-citizens had voting rights in this country for much longer than they have not had voting rights. From the founding of the Country until the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, non-citizens had the right to vote in many states and federal territories. Let’s be clear—the exclusion of immigrants from voting is a political choice rooted in racism and xenophobia. We can get this done—and we have a duty to.

 

Whether it’s furthering language access, keeping Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) off of our streets, securing labor rights for delivery workers and street vendors, supporting small businesses, or improving and legalizing substandard basements, this City has a multitude of priority initiatives that are affecting the immigrant community. It is critical that we amplify their voice in governance by extending them the right to vote.

 

Very often in these situations it is people of privilege trying to prevent people from getting that privilege. The question we have to ask is: Why? Whether it’s marriage or voting rights—it’s what are we trying to prevent and why are we trying to prevent it? We should allow people who experience the worst impact of our policies the ability to vote on who is making those policies. And as I mentioned, we are simply restoring something that was I believe wrongly taken away from people in the first place.

 

I don’t have any questions, I just wanted to make that statement. I want to thank all of the panelists for all of the work they are doing to get this forward. Special shout out to Assembly Member Catalina Cruz who has been doing this work for quite some time and is a shining example of the people we are speaking about. This should be a proud moment for New York City. This should be a proud moment for our nation as we are pushing back on the xenophobia we are seeing. I hope that our colleagues support it and that our Mayor shows some leadership in a time where leadership is lacking from that side of City Hall.

Consumer Alert: The Department of State and Division of Consumer Protection Warn of Fraudulent Letter Scheme Impersonating the Secretary of State

 

Scammers Create Fictitious Certificates Claiming to be from the Secretary of State

Matter is Under Investigation by NY Attorney General

 The New York State Department of State and the Division of Consumer Protection today warned New Yorkers of a fraudulent letter scheme. These illegitimate letters have the heading “Executive Letter of Guarantee” and claim that recipients are due to receive a large payment, supposedly being held by the Department of State, to settle debts relating to the sale of timeshares.

The letters, which include a fraudulent signature from New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado and illicit use of the New York State seal, are not genuine and were not issued by the Secretary of State.

The following image is a sample of the letter sent:

The Department of State has referred the matter to the New York State Attorney General to investigate these fictious certificates for possible criminal prosecution. Anyone who has received a similar letter should immediately report it to the New York Attorney General’s Office at the following address: Real Estate Enforcement Unit, NY State Office of the Attorney General, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005.

To help protect against these types of scams, the Division of Consumer Protection recommends the following tips:

• Exercise caution with all communications you receive, including those that appear to be from a trusted entity.
• Inspect the sender’s information to confirm the message was generated from a legitimate source – be suspicious if the reply to address is different from the sending address.
• Independently verify the entity’s contact information through an online search engine.
• Consider calling the sender at a known good number, not listed within the communication, to confirm they sent the communication.

The Division reminds New Yorkers that government entities will never partner with for profit businesses to solicit consumers hard earned dollars. The Department of State actively responds to the needs of the New Yorkers who engage its services, and will never send consumers solicitations for engagement in the mail.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. For more consumer protection information, call the DCP Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer

Two Members Of The Mount Vernon Goonies Street Gang Sentenced To Federal Prison For The Murder Of 13-Year-Old Innocent Bystander

 

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that DAVID HARDY, a/k/a “Mooka,” was sentenced to 372 months in prison for the 2016 murder of Shamoya McKenzie and his participation in a 2012 shooting.  In July 2021, codefendant MARQUIS COLLIER was sentenced to 324 months in prison for his participation in the McKenzie murder and the affairs of the Goonies gang.  COLLIER and HARDY previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román, who imposed COLLIER’s and HARDY’s sentences.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Nothing can undo the senseless killing of Shamoya McKenzie, an innocent young woman, or the trauma experienced by her mother, who witnessed it.  Justice requires that those responsible be held accountable, as Marquis Collier and now David Hardy have been.  Rightly, both will spend decades in federal prison for their crimes.”

According to allegations in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings: 

Between 2007 and 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, HARDY, COLLIER, JERMAINE HUGHLEY, and SINCERE SAVOY were members of a racketeering enterprise known as the “Goonies.”  In order to fund the enterprise, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of the Goonies committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder and robbery; they conspired to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute narcotics; and they obtained, possessed, and used firearms, including by brandishing and firing them. 

The Goonies have been engaged in a long-standing and violent feud with several rival Mount Vernon street gangs, including, among others, the “Boss Playa Family,” the “Get Money Gangstas,” the “Gunnas,” and the “Much Better Gang,” among others.  On December 31, 2016, HARDY, COLLIER, HUGHLEY, and SAVOY attempted to murder a rival gang member in broad daylight by firing multiple shots at him in the vicinity of Tecumseh Avenue and Third Street in Mount Vernon, New York.  HARDY fired the shots, with COLLIER at his side.  The rival gang member suffered gunshot wounds but survived.  One of the bullets, however, missed the intended target and struck the head of 13-year-old Shamoya McKenzie, who was in the front passenger seat of a passing car, which was being driven by her mother.  Shamoya McKenzie died as a result.

HARDY, 26, pled guilty to one count of using a firearm in connection with the murder of Shamoya McKenzie in aid of racketeering and one count of using a firearm in connection with an assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering for committing a separate shooting in 2012 in furtherance of the Goonies.  In addition to the prison term, Hardy was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

COLLIER, 29, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of discharging a firearm in connection with the murder of Shamoya McKenzie in aid of racketeering.  In addition to the prison term, Collier was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

HUGHLEY and SAVOY are awaiting sentencing. 

HUGHLEY, 28, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of discharging a firearm in connection with the murder of Shamoya McKenzie in aid of racketeering.  Together, the crimes carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison.

SAVOY, 24, pled guilty to one count of using a firearm in connection with the murder of Shamoya McKenzie in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Ms. Strauss thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their extraordinary cooperation and assistance with this case, and praised the outstanding investigative work of the Mount Vernon Police Department and the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises agents and detectives from the FBI, Yonkers Police Department, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Westchester County Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, New York City Police Department, and U.S. Probation. 

Governor Hochul Announces Help Available for SNAP Recipients to Replace Food Lost During Hurricane Ida

 

Residents of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties Eligible for Replacement Benefits

SNAP Recipients in Those Communities Temporarily Permitted to Purchase Prepared Foods with Benefits

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that assistance is available to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in New York City, Long Island and Westchester to replace food lost as a result of power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Ida. Additionally, residents of those communities will be able to temporarily use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot and prepared foods.

"The power outages and damages caused by Ida continue to affect tens of thousands of New York households, and we need to make sure families are able to put food on the table as they recover from this terrible storm," Governor Hochul said. "This assistance from the federal government will help New Yorkers purchase food and feed their families in the aftermath of a destructive weather event. I encourage affected individuals and families to apply for replacement SNAP benefits to help ensure that their nutritional needs are met as they navigate this difficult time."

The replacement SNAP benefits are limited to all of New York City and to Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, the areas most severely impacted by the flash flooding on September 1 caused by heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. 

SNAP recipients whose food has spoiled as a result of flooding, power outages or other damage caused by the storm can receive replacement benefits up to the amount of their August SNAP benefits, including the SNAP emergency allotment, an additional benefit that has ensured SNAP recipients continue to receive the maximum monthly benefit during the pandemic.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Mike Hein said, "We will be working closely with local officials to ensure that SNAP replacement benefits are issued to eligible households in a timely manner. It is vital that New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Ida can feed themselves and their families as they begin the process of recovering from the storm."

Residents of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties who think they may be eligible for replacement SNAP benefits must return a signed and completed form, found here, to their county department of social services office or SNAP center in New York City by October 1. The application is also available in several other languages at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/applications/.

SNAP recipients in these communities are also now able to use their SNAP benefits to purchase hot and prepared foods through October 3. Many residents have evacuated to shelters or other temporary housing arrangements due to ongoing power outages and damage to their homes. Many are also unable to store food and access cooking facilities. SNAP recipients are normally prohibited from purchasing hot and prepared food with their benefits.

Information on how New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Ida can meet their basic needs, including how to apply for SNAP, public assistance and emergency assistance, can be found at: https://www.governor.ny.gov/governors-relief-and-response-resources/meeting-basic-needs.

Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr- Why people of faith opt out of getting vaccinated

 

You Should know why so many people of faith, especially Christian Evangelicals, are opting out of getting Covid Vaccines.  The causes are several, but the main reason is due to the tenets that followers of Jesus Christ hold sacred when it comes to our bodies. According to the Holy scriptures, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  

 

As a result, it is strictly prohibited for believers to submit their bodies to any behavior or substance, be it legal or illegal that can bring harm, not only to our bodies, but that which can risk the temple wherein the Holy Spirit resides.   We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, according to (Phillipians 4:13).  However, this is only possible because we believe in the power of the Holy Spirit who takes up residence in our bodies when we repent, recognize that we are sinners, and invite Him into our hearts.

   

It is written in {1 Corinthians 6:19-20} “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”  Christian believers want to honor God with their conduct and with their bodies. 

 

You should know that as the pastor of the church I was vaccinated. However, our church does not pressure anyone, be they members or visitors, to get vaccinated. We respect the decision of individuals who choose NOT to get vaccinated. We recognize that many choose to not to get vaccinated because of deeply rooted religious beliefs, fears, confusion or simply because they already have acquired “Natural Herd Immunity”.

 

We recognize that people are different.  Some people may suffer adverse side effects after having been vaccinated, while others may not have any side effects.  Who is liable, when one gets vaccinated under pressure and as a result suffers a serious complication? Is no one liable?

 

Therefore, as a church we empower our brothers and sisters to do what THEY feel is right and beneficial for them, be it spiritually, emotionally, or physically.   Respect and love for one another override’s all else in our community of believers as mandated in scripture.

 

You should also know that regarding “Natural Herd Immunity” an article in the American Spectator, dated 08/22/2021, states that “More and more research confirm the predictable superiority of natural immunity over artificial immunity…That’s not a surprise.  In immunology….that means infection beats injection.”

 

A peer reviewed study, published in the Journal Nature, states that patients who have recovered from Covid develop “long-lasting immunity, with antibody-producing cells that live and produce antibodies for the rest of people’s lives.”

 

There was also a massive study by Cleveland Clinic conducted on 52,238 employees, that “concluded categorically that individuals who had Covid….do not get additional benefits from vaccination.”

 

During the height of the covid pandemic, prior to the development of the vaccine, persons who had been infected and survived covid were asked to donate blood because it helped save lives due to the antibodies present in their blood. So why are these people with “Natural Herd Immunity” now being ignored and mandated to get vaccinated or else?

 

To ensure that the tenets of our faith are not violated, during these difficult times, I would like to ask our elected leaders, employers, businesses, schools, colleges, etc, to take our community of faith into consideration when deciding on matters regarding covid vaccine policies or anything else that can affect the emotional, and religious state of a person’s faith. Also please acknowledge the millions of people who have “Natural Herd Immunity”.  

 

 

This is Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know. 

Bronx Dems - Annual Dinner Gala Honorees & Tickets Wednesday September 29th

 

Join special guests:

Governor Kathy Hochul Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin NYS Attorney General Letitia James NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

RSVP

In accordance with City of New York requirements, all attendees must present proof of vaccination showing attendee has received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Persons who are unable to get vaccinated because of a disability will be provided reasonable accommodation.

Honorees

The Bronx Democratic Party’s Annual Dinner Gala is an opportunity for our organization to honor individuals who have played a key role in our borough's recovery through their work during the pandemic and continued dedication to the betterment of the Bronx.

Join us in recognizing this year's honorees

If you have any questions, please contact Darren at darren@dynamicsrg.com  or 845-405-6412.

New York State Office for New Americans and CanCode Communities Announce Fall Schedule for Digital Literary Training

 

NewAmericansCanCode Offers Digital Literacy and Advanced Computer Training for Immigrants 

Program Developed in Partnership Between ONA and CanCodeCommunities Enables New Americans to Gain Essential Computer Skills 

Remote Classes begin Week of 9/27 – Register Online or By Calling (518) 238-6808

 The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) and CanCodeCommunities today announced the opening of registration for the Fall 2021 session of Digital Literacy Training. Known as NewAmericansCanCode, the program provides digital literacy training to assist newcomers to New York State in gaining basic computer skills.

New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the importance of digital skills to carry out life’s everyday functions from working to learning to having access to key information. Through the NewAmericansCanCode program, we are providing new Americans with more tools to help them succeed in today’s job market and make meaningful contributions as members of the community.”

CanCode Communities Founder and CEO Annmarie Lanesey said, “We are proud to partner with the New York State Office for New Americans to provide computer education and training to immigrants across the state. Digital literacy is essential for building a career in today’s information economy, and by equipping more New Yorkers with those critical skills, we are enhancing the tech talent pipeline to support the needs of employers.”

As part of NewAmericansCanCode, students learn Microsoft Office, how to manage calendars and email, basic internet safety skills, and basic computer usage. The course is available to any immigrant living in New York, regardless of status, who meets income eligibility requirements. 

Fall courses will be offered remotely, with real-time instruction and hands-on learning. Classes will begin the week of September 27, run for 10 weeks, and be conducted on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.cancode.org/virtual-digital-literacy-program, email info@albanycancode.org, or call (518) 238-6808.

NewAmericansCanCode was first launched in 2020 as the Immigrants Can Code program to ensure low-income immigrants, particularly those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have access to digital literacy education and more advanced software training that are essential to building careers in the Empire State’s fast-growing innovation economy. ONA and CanCodeCommunities expanded the program in response to the continued need created by the pandemic, which illustrated how important digital literacy is for those who are now working from home, or who are seeking new employment that requires them to work remotely.

This program is supported with approximately $150,000 through Federal CARES Act funding, and is open to any immigrant with a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. 

This program is supported by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $150,000 with 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements.

Launched in 2016 as AlbanyCanCode and rebranded this year as CanCode Communities, the organization now includes 7 entities: AlbanyCanCode, KingstonCanCode, NewAmericansCanCode, SaratogaCanCode, HerkimerCanCode, NewYorkCanCode, and BerkshiresCanCode. More than 300 students have graduated from its courses, securing tech jobs with leading employers – including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, New York State Office of Information Technology Services, MVP Healthcare, and Zones, among others – and receiving average annual salary increases exceeding $18,000.  

The New York State Office for New Americans, founded in 2012, is the nation’s first statutorily created immigrant services office. ONA assists all new Americans with accessing and navigating a variety of free services and support through its statewide network of community-based providers.

For any immigrant in need of assistance, or to connect with ONA’s programs, call the New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 9:00am to 8:00pm, Monday through Friday. All calls are confidential. Assistance is available in over 200 languages. For more information, visit https://dos.ny.gov/office-new-americans or follow ONA on Twitter at @NYSNewAmericans or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYSNewAmericans.

CanCodeCommunities is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2016 to develop non-traditional talent and advocate for a vibrant, inclusive tech talent pipeline in New York State. The organization designs and delivers workforce training courses, hands-on K-12 coding programs, and community code literacy workshops, in alignment with the needs of employers, educators, talent and the community in general. Its mission is to shift mindset about who can work in technology, remove cultural and economic barriers to joining the tech workforce, and establish and promote pathways to tech careers throughout the region. For more, visit www.cancode.org.

105 Days and Counting

 

Let me see here there is so much stuff in front of me, now where do I start. It look like you people are going to be here a long time, because I have to go through all of this. We are in Queens this week for our 'City Hall in Your Borough Week', and this week it is Queens. All I have left is Brooklyn since I am in Manhattan nearly every day. 

Yes I heard there was another death on Riker's Island, and some of those pesky reporters are probably going to ask me about all those closed classrooms due to COVID, and the one school in Manhattan that is closed. Chancellor Porter, what are parents are complaining about now, their children being rushed through lunch where they don't wear their mask. Ten minutes should be enough for anyone to eat lunch, that is why it is called a lunch break. After this, I am off to help break ground for the new 116th police precinct here in Queens.