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Friday, March 31, 2023
Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use
Attorney General James’ Office of Special Investigation Releases Report on the Death of Eudes Pierre
New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation today released its report on the death of Eudes Pierre, who died on December 20, 2021, following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Following an exhaustive investigation, including thorough review of body-worn camera (BWC) footage, street surveillance cameras, and security video, OSI determined that criminal charges could not be pursued against the officers in this matter.
At 4:15 a.m. on December 20, 2021, an individual called 911 and reported that a tall, bald, Black man, approximately 26-years-old, was on the sidewalk near 1090 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn with a gun and a knife. The investigation would later reveal that Mr. Pierre had made the call to 911 and was describing himself.
The responding NYPD officers encountered Mr. Pierre on the street with a knife in his hand. Mr. Pierre then walked down into a subway station. The officers followed and saw Mr. Pierre on the other side of the turnstiles with the knife still in his hand. The officers attempted to engage with Mr. Pierre and asked him to drop the weapon multiple times. Mr. Pierre then began walking towards the officers with the knife in his hand and the officers fired tasers at him. Mr. Pierre did not react to the tasers and continued to walk towards the officers to exit the station. The officers retreated.
Once above ground, back on Eastern Parkway, the officers continued to retreat until Mr. Pierre, still wielding the knife, charged at one officer. The officer tried to outrun him, but when Mr. Pierre got within a few feet of the officer, he turned and fired his weapon as he stumbled to the ground. A second officer also fired his weapon. Officers called for emergency medical services and Mr. Pierre was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a knife at the scene.
Under New York’s justification law, a person may use deadly physical force to defend against the imminent use of deadly physical force by another. To convict a person of a crime when the defense of justification is raised at trial, the prosecution must disprove justification beyond a reasonable doubt.
In this case, officers repeatedly engaged with Mr. Pierre in an attempt to deescalate the situation and get Mr. Pierre to drop the weapon. Ultimately the officers retreated from the subway station when Mr. Pierre was not responsive to those directives. Video evidence shows Mr. Pierre then charging at an officer with the knife. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the officers who shot Mr. Pierre reasonably believed that their lives or the lives of other officers were in danger. Under these circumstances, given the law and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers who fired were justified, and OSI determined that criminal charges could not be pursued against the officers in this case.
New York City Comptroller Lander and Pension Funds Call on Chipotle to Adopt a Policy of Noninterference with Worker Unionizing Efforts
Shareholder proposal urges Chipotle’s board to halt anti-union tactics
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, on behalf of the five New York City Retirement Systems, filed a shareholder proposal at Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (Chipotle) calling for the Board of Directors to adopt and disclose a policy of noninterference which clearly upholds worker rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The five Systems have a total of 48,870 company shares, valued at $80.46 million as of January 31, 2023.
Chipotle, which was recently ordered to pay more than $20 million to 13,000 workers after the company violated New York City’s worker protection laws, has demonstrated a pattern of anti-union tactics and retaliatory firings. This week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that Chipotle violated federal labor law by closing a Maine restaurant where workers voted to unionize; it ordered the company to reopen the restaurant, reinstate dislocated employees’ jobs, and provide back pay.
“Protecting workers’ fundamental rights to organize is not just good ethics, it’s good business. As long-term shareholders we expect responsible employers to respect the labor rights of their workers. Chipotle must catch up with companies like Microsoft that have recognized that noninterference with worker organizing is a basic standard for responsible employers,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.
The proposal requests that the board adopt a noninterference policy aligned with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The ILO defines freedom of association as the “right of workers and employers to create and join organizations of their choice freely and without fear of reprisal or interference.” In addition to adhering to ILO standards, the proposal requests that the policy prohibit the company from interfering with workers exercising their right to form or join a trade union and require timely collective bargaining. It also calls for the creation of robust accountability processes if the policy is violated.
As major shareholders representing the interests of hundreds of thousands of retired and current unionized workers, New York City’s five public pension funds are troubled by reports of anti-union behavior by Chipotle and other portfolio companies. The NLRB has investigated numerous complaints of anti-union tactics by Chipotle, including closing restaurants that vote to unionize, firing workers for organizing, and hiring anti-union consultants.
These aggressive, anti-union practices clearly violate international standards on human rights and pose serious long-term reputational, legal, and operational risks to the company and its shareholders.
MAYOR ADAMS, SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR BANKS, DYCD COMMISSIONER HOWARD ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF SUMMER RISING ENROLLMENT PORTAL
Applications for Summer Rising 2023 Seats Open on April 17, 2023
Updated Summer Rising Enrollment Process Built on Community Feedback
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor David C. Banks, and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard today announced that the application portal for 2023 Summer Rising seats will open on April 17, 2023 and will close on May 1, 2023. Based on feedback from families, community-based organizations (CBO), and schools, the Adams administration is rolling out a new enrollment process for the approximately 110,000 Summer Rising seats available in 2023 in an effort to make the application process more equitable, inclusive, and family-friendly.
Changes to this year’s enrollment process comprise a shift away from a first-come, first-served approach, with families now being asked to rank multiple program preferences, ensuring that more families receive placements that work for them. Placements will be assigned with a focus on equity, prioritizing students in temporary housing, foster care, 12-month Individualized Education Program (IEP) programs, and students mandated for summer school and with a local connection to a school-year CBO program or school community. Similar to last year, families will utilize an online application portal to submit their enrollment request. The portal will be able to be translated and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. The DOE will be training parent coordinators to assist families who need support completing the application.
“I’m thrilled to announce that applications for Summer Rising will go live on April 17th just in time for families as they start the summer countdown,” said Mayor Adams. “This year’s Summer Rising program will build off of last year’s very successful program, starting with changes to the application process based on feedback from families and providers. Up to 110,000 students from kindergarten through eighth grade will have the chance to grow, learn, and explore their talents and imagination. We can’t wait to welcome them back.”
“As Summer Rising enters its third year, the Adams administration is excited to continue to bring this program to new heights for students, families, and communities,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “At its heart, Summer Rising is an opportunity to keep students engaged, active, and enriched as they transition from one school grade to the next. This program ensures working parents have peace of mind during the summer months and that their students experience a new way of learning, discovery, and fun with their peers.”
“Last year, families across New York City saw firsthand the benefits of a robust summer program that provides not only academic support — addressing challenges we continue to face combatting learning loss from the pandemic — but fun and enriching activities, allowing our youngest to play, create, and develop new passions and interests,” said DOE Chancellor Banks. “I’m thrilled we will once again be offering these exciting opportunities for young people this summer, now with a more equitable and inclusive application process.”
In addressing the needs of young people, Summer Rising stresses “cultivating curiosity” and a lifelong joy of learning through:
- Activities to develop their interests, build skills, foster conversations, and generate new experiences;
- Helping young people feel more socially connected to their peers, caring adults, school community, and city; and
- Social, emotional, and academic support.
Kindergarten through grade eight students will also have access to other resources and academic support, including teacher-led English language arts and mathematics activities tailored to meet their needs, alongside field trips and arts activities.
DYCD-funded community-based organizations will provide kindergarten through eighth grade programming at New York City public schools in all five boroughs. Six weeks of programming for middle schoolers and seven weeks for elementary school students will be available in July and August.
Any student attending school in New York City, who is currently in kindergarten through eighth grade (in the 2022-2023 school year) is eligible for Summer Rising. On April 17th, the link to the application portal will be posted online. The application window will close on May 1, 2023, and placement confirmations will be communicated by email approximately a week after the application window closes.
VCJC News & Notes 3/31/23
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes
 
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