Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - Newsletter: Pre-K, SNAP, South America and Immigration

 

Newsletter: Pre-K, SNAP, South America and Immigration

To our neighbors in NY-14,

Congratulations on the start of a new school year! I was at the New York Hall of Science on Thursday, welcoming their new pre-k students. I worked with their program, last year, to secure a $750,000 grant to strengthen STEM learning in Queens (learn more). I’m excited to see these young learners take advantage of their new science and math programs.

Before the summer wrapped up, I visited the community garden at NYCHA's Castle Hill Houses. The garden is one of more than 200 community gardens organized across the City by GrowNYC, with the goal of making it easier for NYCHA residents to afford healthy foods.  I used the visit to talk publicly about the recent cut in SNAP benefits. When we return to Congress next week, I will fight against any additional cuts to food stamps in the Farm Bill, which we expect will pass later this month (learn more). Through the Farm Bill, I will also work to increase halal and kosher food at our food pantries. We recently met with the Parkchester Islamic Center and Met Council, the largest Jewish community social safety net in America, to learn more about the rising food insecurity facing their communities (learn more). 

In August, I also led a trip of Latino Members of Congress to Chile, Colombia and Brazil.  We met with several leaders there, including Presidents Gabriel Boric and Gustavo Petro. Our goal was to grow trust between Latin America and the United States, given our country’s history of harmful interventions in the region. We also discussed with these foreign leaders how we can better handle common challenges, including the climate crisis, migration, and threats to democracy (learn more).

We also are working on immigration issues in New York. I’ve visited three different shelters for migrants, most recently in Astoria. The immigrants I spoke with were all eager to get to work and get their own housing, but most of them faced a minimum of a six-month waiting period to gain the proper work authorization. I am pushing the Biden administration to speed up the process for migrants to receive legal work papers (learn more). We have also secured $100 million in federal funding to support the City's and State’s efforts to house migrants. 

I expect to have more updates to share on migrant housing and other issues after we return to Congress next week. Thank you, as always, for the opportunity to serve you, and I look forward to seeing many of you in person soon. 

In service, 

Rep. AOC

Updates and Resources Student Loan Borrowers: Payments Resume on October 1.  The federal student loan pause is ending, with the first payments due on October 1. It is important to start preparing now.  Lenders are expected to be short-staffed with more than 40 million borrowers all resuming payments in the next several weeks. Your lender may have also changed during the pause, and it is extremely important to verify that your lender is correctly charging you. Additionally, the Biden administration has created several new programs that may reduce your payments or even eliminate your debt - but it can take several weeks to enroll in these programs. To learn more, visit the Department of Education’s website.  Renew Your Passport 6-9 months Before it Expires. Check your passport before you book international travel. Many countries require six months of passport validity to enter, so we recommend applying 6-9 months ahead of expiration date or travel. Learn more about your destination at travel.state.gov/destination. Families: Save on Your Internet Bills. For families enrolled in WIC, Medicaid, SNAP or other qualifying programs, there is a new program to help you save $30/month on your internet bill. Learn more at the FCC’s website.  Gig Workers: Enter to Win $100 from the Astoria Workers Project. Do you drive for Lyft or Uber? Deliver for DoorDash? Or work another gig job? If so, the Astoria Worker Projects wants you to complete this survey, so they can improve working conditions for gig workers across the City.  By completing this survey, you also have a chance to win a $100 gift card.  Students: Service Academy Applications Due November 1.  Students interested in applying to any of the military service academies must receive a letter of recommendation from their Member of Congress or Senator.  If you would like to be considered for a nomination to a service academy, please complete the nomination form.  Students: Congressional App Challenge Due November 1. Every year, middle and high school students are invited to create a software application as part of the Congressional App Competition. Each Member of Congress then selects a winner from their district, and all of the winners from across the country are invited to D.C. to celebrate. Learn more about the challenge on our website.  Veterans & Families: Get Healthcare and Benefits under the PACT Act. The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve. Learn more here.

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Friday Extra - Gala Edition

 

Friday Extra - 2023 Gala Edition A Salute to Our Honorees

The Board of Directors and leadership team of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the 2023 Gala - The Bronx is Building Honorees. Madeline Marquez, Ponce Bank - The Joseph P. Kelleher Award of Excellence Sentry Management Solutions - Business of the Year MDB Housing - Community Organization of the Year Galaxy Contracting Corporation - Developer of the Year Tickets are almost sold out! Join us in celebrating their contributions and commitment to the Bronx on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 6:30pm at Marina Del Rey, 1 Marina Drive Bronx, NY. The evening is the Bronx's #1 business networking event of the year and features a two-hour cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment, dancing, and so much more. All while raising critical funds to support our borough's small businesses, economic recovery and development.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Business to Business - Financial Education & Networking September 14 from 6:00pm-8:00pm The Living Room 2883 Dill Place Bronx, NY Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Councilmember Marjorie Velazquez for an evening of business to business networking and financial education in the Throggs Neck section of Council District 13. Reserve Your Spot

2023 Gala - The Bronx is Building September 21 from 6:30pm - 10:30pm Marina Del Rey 1 Marina Drive Bronx, NY Join The Bronx Chamber of Commerce for our flagship event of the year the 2023 Gala! Join over 600 attendees for an evening of entertainment, great food, dancing, and networking. Reserve Your Spot

Business to Business Networking - City Island October 26 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm Scavellos of City Island 101 City Island Avenue Bronx, NY Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Councilmember Marjorie Velazquez for an evening of business to business networking and coalition building in the City Island section of Council District 13. Reserve Your Spot

For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!

Permits Filed For 1169 Washington Avenue In Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story residential building at 1169 Washington Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between East 167th Street and East 168th Street, the interior lot is closest to the 167th Street subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. Salvatore D’Avola of Neighborhood Restore is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 95-foot-tall development will yield 28,215 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 34 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 829 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Andrew Knox of ESKW/A is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

MAYOR ADAMS, CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER DR. GRAHAM ANNOUNCE TWO NEW IDENTIFICATIONS OF WORLD TRADE CENTER VICTIMS

 

Represent 1,648^th and 1,649^th Persons Identified Since 2001 Using Advanced Testing by City’s DNA Laboratory

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham today announced two new identifications of victims from the September 11^th attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. The man and woman, whose names are being withheld at the request of their families, are the 1,648^th and 1,649^th persons to be identified by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) using advanced DNA testing of remains recovered from the attack that took the lives of 2,753 people.

 

“As we prepare to mark the anniversary of September 11, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that terrible morning and their families who continue to live every day with the pain of missing loved ones,” said Mayor Adams. “We hope these new identifications can bring some measure of comfort to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner attest to the city’s unwavering commitment to reunite all the World Trade Center victims with their loved ones.”

 

“More than 20 years after the disaster, these two new identifications continue to fulfill a solemn pledge that OCME made to return the remains of World Trade Center victims to their loved ones,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Graham. “Faced with the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of our country, we stand undaunted in our mission to use the latest advances in science to serve this promise.”

 

The two new identifications used all the current capabilities of the city’s DNA laboratory operated by OCME to generate results after more than two decades of negative testing attempts. Techniques include recently adopted next-generation sequencing technology — more sensitive and rapid than conventional DNA techniques — which has been used by the U.S. military to identify the remains of missing American servicemembers.

 

The identification of the man was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001. The identification of the woman was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001, 2006, and 2013. The two identifications are the first new identifications of World Trade Center victims since September 2021. Some 1,104 victims — 40 percent of those who died — remain unidentified. In addition to the two new identifications this year, OCME has identified 60 human remains associated with previously identified individuals. The latest World Trade Center operational statistics are available from OCME upon request.

 

Established in 1918 as the nation’s first comprehensive medical examiner office, OCME provides the public with the highest standards of service across the forensic sciences. The agency operates the largest and most advanced DNA public crime laboratory in North America and houses laboratories in toxicology and histology, in addition to the nation’s only public molecular genetics laboratory. OCME is home to the country’s largest forensic pathology training program, having produced more than one-fifth of the nation’s board-certified forensic pathologists since 1990. OCME also houses a department of forensic anthropology and maintains a division of specially trained experts to respond to any and all mass fatality events and disasters.

Justice Department Finds State of New Jersey Violated U.S. Constitution with Deficient Care at Two State Run Veterans’ Homes

 

The Justice Department announced today that it has concluded an investigation into whether New Jersey subjected residents of two veterans’ homes to conditions that violate the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The department found reasonable cause to believe the residents of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus face unreasonable harm and risk due to inadequate infection control practices and inadequate medical care, in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs operates the homes, which provide long-term nursing care to veterans and their families.

“We owe the veterans who served our nation our deepest thanks, and those veterans and their family members who live in these facilities have the right to appropriate care,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Based on our investigation, we have found that these facilities have provided inadequate protection from infections and deficient medical care, which have caused these veterans and their families great harm. We look forward to working with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to improve the conditions in these homes they operate and ensure these veterans and their families receive the care they need and deserve.”

“Those who served to protect this nation and their families are entitled to appropriate care when they reside at a veterans’ home,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “The Paramus and Menlo Park veterans’ homes fail to provide the care required by the U.S. Constitution and subject their residents to unacceptable conditions, including inadequate infection control and deficient medical care. These conditions must swiftly be addressed to ensure that our veterans and their families at these facilities receive the care they so richly deserve. We will not stop working until they do.”  

The inadequate infection control practices and inadequate medical care at the homes are compounded by a lack of effective management and oversight. Such deficiencies expose residents to uncontrolled, serious and deadly infections and have resulted in the veterans’ homes suffering among the highest number of resident deaths of all similarly sized facilities in the region.

The investigation was conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes the Justice Department to act to address a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to state or local government-run residential institutions.

As required by CRIPA, the department provided the state with written notice setting out the department’s conclusions and the supporting facts. The department also notified the state of the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations.

The Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey conducted the investigation.

 Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.  

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Help High School Students Excel in the Classroom and in Extra-Curricular Activities

 

Legislation (A.514-A/S.5650-A) Requires School Districts Provide Parents and Students with Information on Advanced Placement Course Offerings, Their Benefits, and the Support the District Provides for Participating Students

Legislation (S.1732/A.6091) Requires the Establishment of Student Governments in High Schools and School Districts Where They Do Not Currently Exist

  Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to help high school students succeed — both in and out of the classroom. Legislation (A.514-A/S.5650-A) ensures parents and students receive information on what advanced placement courses are offered, how to enroll in them, and the benefits of participation. Legislation (S.1732/A.6091) establishes peer selected student governments either in high schools or district-wide where there currently are none. This is Governor Hochul's latest commitment to New York's students as they head back to school, building on multiple announcements this week to expand and support a diverse teacher workforce, expand childcare centers at SUNY campuses, and ensure school districts and BOCES have COVID-19 tests and masks available.

"Education is the great equalizer for young New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “This legislation proves that we're not just changing policy — we are creating environments where every family has the knowledge to best support their kids on their educational journey and students have the opportunity to practice civic engagement through opportunities in their own classroom.”

Legislation (A.514-A/S.5650-A) amends the education law to require all school districts and charter schools to provide information to parents and students about the availability and benefits of Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the school on an annual basis. Such notices shall include the benefits of participating in AP courses, a description of the courses offered in the current and following school years by a district or charter school and how to prepare and enroll in them, as well as a description of the academic and non-academic support the district or charter school provides, including financial assistance relating to the cost of participating in AP courses. Such notice must be provided electronically or by mail and be posted on the website of the district or charter school.

Legislation (S.1732/A.6091) amends the education law to require that student governments in high schools or district wide are established where they currently do not exist. The board of education or trustees of every school district serving high school students in grades nine through 12 with no districtwide or school building peer selected student government must establish a student government system.