BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACT AND PROMOTING PROSTITUTION

Defendant Forced Prostitutes To Get Tattooed With His “Brand;” Sex Workers Were Given Cocaine, Held Captive 

   Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a Criminal Sex Act and Promoting Prostitution stemming from a sex trafficking operation that held young women captive in a Bronx apartment. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant treated young women not only as sex slaves, but like animals, getting them tattooed with his initial and year of birth. He forced the victim in this case to perform a sex act on him, and threatened her when she wanted to leave the sex trade. He will serve 12 years, and we hope his victim will be able to reclaim her life.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Glen Bowman, 42, of 1850 Cross Bronx Expressway Extension, was sentenced yesterday, March 22, 2017, by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary to 12 years in prison with five years post-release supervision and must register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty on February 15, 2017 to first-degree Criminal Sexual Act, and third-degree Promoting Prostitution. The judge issued a full final order of protection against the defendant, valid until March 21, 2037. 

  According to the investigation, Bowman and a co-defendant, Jessica Copeland, forced the victim and other young women to engage in sex for money at Bronx motels and got the women hooked on cocaine. Copeland pleaded guilty to sex trafficking on January 13, 2017 and was sentenced to two to three years in prison. 

 In July 2012, the victim, then 19, was made to get a tattoo on her arm depicting a stack of money with “GDT” and “established 1975” written on it. The “GDT” stands for Glen, Diamond, Tamia, the name of the defendant and two of his children. The 1975 stands for the year the defendant was born.

  At the sentencing hearing, the victim read an impact statement that said in part, “You are a monster. The way you treated me and many others like me is inhumane. We are people not property! We are not dogs, ATMs, sex slaves or whatever else you think we are.….. You have ruined so many lives, so many, but not mine.”

News From Congressman Michael Blake

Statement on the House Republicans attempt to repeal Affordable Care Act

In celebration of the 7th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday while we anticipate a potentially catastrophic vote on Friday, New York State Assembly Member and DNC Vice Chair Michael Blake released the following statement:

“On Thursday, we celebrated the 7th Anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, a bill which provides health insurance for millions of Americans who could not afford it or were denied it because of a pre-existing condition. We celebrated the lives that were saved due to this bill and the families that are able to rest easier because they are not sacrificing healthcare for basic necessities while reaffirming the belief that the right to affordable health care must be a core value of our democracy.  However, we now face a challenge to our values.

Since its passage, Republicans have prioritized repealing the Affordable Care Act and taking away healthcare for 24 million Americans. This obsession with denying people their basic needs is inhumane and we must reject this unacceptable action when the House Republicans intend to vote on repealing health care later today.

President Trump and the Republicans in Congress have hitched their wagon to a bill that would be devastating to the American people, and as a result have found it nearly impossible to gain a consensus, resulting in endless revisions and delays on a bill that is simply unwanted. The House GOP didn't have the votes yesterday, and instead of trying to help people by expanding the law, they are going to to try again today to repeal it.

One of the greatest honors of my life was to serve President Obama in his administration to help with the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The A.C.A. is personal for me as I was born with a heart murmur, my mother beat Breast Cancer and to this day deals with asthma, and my father succumbed to skin cancer. Healthcare is not just a policy on paper; it is saving lives. Yes, the law can have improvements but repealing it as absolutely unacceptable and inhumane. I urge all Americans to denounce this bill and stand up to oppose the repeal. We must continue to #Resist by calling 202-225-5265 to demand answers from Congressman Chris Collins on his horrendous proposal that would severely impact the coverage of 2.1 million New Yorkers who enrolled under the medicaid expansion and call on all House Republicans to answer why they are absolutely adamant in trying to take away health coverage for 24 million Americans. Congress must work in the best interest of the American people.  Healthcare reform should benefit all people not just profit CEOs of Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies. As an Assembly Member from the diverse county in America and a DNC Vice Chair, I will continue to fight for those most at risk, because true public service requires it.  We should do everything we can do to provide health care not take it away."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

There was no vote on Friday as the House Republican leader withdrew the legislation for now.

STATEMENT FROM IDC LEADER JEFF KLEIN - NEW YORK IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

   Our immigrant communities nationwide are living in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety under the Trump administration. That’s why it’s critical that we show leadership at the state level to let New York’s immigrant community know that we have their back.

Last year, the Independent Democratic Conference—working with immigration and legal advocates— announced funding for the Vera Institute of Justice’s New York Immigrant Family Unity Project to provide public defenders to those facing deportation—an initial down payment to ensure due process and prevent more families from being needlessly torn apart. Additionally, we created the Immigrant Defense Coalition to operate out of each of our member’s district office to provide legal services and resources to immigrants and their families.

We applaud Governor Cuomo’s leadership on this issue. It sends a strong message that New York will never turn its back on the immigrants who make our state great. We look forward to working with him further to advance this important cause.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT

   “When President Trump was elected, it was a foregone conclusion that the new president and his Republican Congress would immediately throw millions of people off their health insurance. But a grassroots movement made up of millions of Americans standing together stopped that from happening. While the fight is far from over, Obamacare repeal efforts are now on life support as the law continues to keep Americans alive. I commend New York City’s Congressional delegation for standing up against repeal efforts and a related amendment targeting New York City taxpayers.”

Congressman Engel on House GOP Failure to Pass Trumpcare

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on the failure by House Republicans to pass the American Health Care Act, also known as “Trumpcare”:

“Today represents a remarkable example of the power of the American public to bring about real change.

“The American people overwhelmingly opposed Trumpcare, and they made it known to those who represent them in Congress. I am proud to be one of those Representatives who stood up and spoke out against this bad piece of legislation, and I’m encouraged by the engagement and persistence I’ve seen in recent weeks.

“I hope that today will be a turning point for my Republican colleagues. The Affordable Care Act shepherded tremendous progress. Over 20 million more Americans are insured thanks to the ACA, and important new protections were put in place. We ought to work together to build on that progress, without turning back the clock on people for whom the ACA has been life-saving.

“Thank you to the people of New York’s 16^th District for making your voices heard. I pledge to keep working to protect your care, and to keep listening.”

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF 15 MEMBERS TO THE ARCHIVES, REFERENCE AND RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD

    Mayor de Blasio announced the appointment of 15 members to the Archives, Reference and Research Advisory Board, which will consult with Commissioner Pauline Toole of the Department of Records and Information Services.

DORIS has begun an extensive effort to revitalize the Municipal Archives and Municipal Library, to have these institutions serve a larger public and to help frame ongoing public policy discussions within a historical context. The revitalization efforts include digitizing holdings, making resources available online, developing exhibits to augment debates, forming partnerships with non-traditional organizations, and engaging new audiences. The Archives, Reference and Research Advisory Board will help develop and shape this revitalization by offering guidance, setting strategic goals, identifying funding sources, and connecting communities. 

“It is vital that we remember the rich history of the city and that we bring available historical resources to the forefront in order to engage new audiences,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This group of appointees will work diligently to revitalize these resources and to display the relevance that our history has had in the formation of the city and government that we see today. We appreciate the board’s efforts and I look forward to working with all of the new members.”

“I am grateful to the Mayor and the new board members for their support as we work towards making the truly amazing holdings of the Archives and Library more broadly available. This is a diverse group who will help us develop and implement strategies for demonstrating the relevance and historical context of decisions made by government leaders that have affected communities throughout the City’s 400-year history,” said DORIS Commissioner Pauline Toole.

“I have long been a fan of the Municipal Archives and Library and I am so pleased  the Mayor has asked me to Chair the Advisory Board.  I look forward to collaborating with my distinguished colleagues in strategizing how to bring City government’s historical treasures to new audiences,” said Incoming Chair Joan Millman. 

The following board members are community leaders, historians, librarians, and archivists who will aid with this transition and provide insight on evolving practices in relevant fields.

The Honorable Joan Millman – Chair: Former NY State Assemblymember

Pamela Cruz: Archives Strategist and Advocate 

Dr. Johanna Fernandez: Assistant Professor, History Department, Baruch College of the City University of New York

Glenda Grace: General Counsel & Chief of Staff, Queens College 

Idilio Gracia Peña: Chief Archivist, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute 

Kayhan Irani: Writer/producer         

Lillian Jean-Baptiste: Community Engager, Family Advocate & Cultural Ambassador

Gregory Jost: Partner, Designing the WE

Richard Moylan: President, Green-Wood Cemetery and Historic Fund

Tom Shcherbenko: Community and political activist        

Dr. Robert Snyder: Professor of Journalism and American Studies, Rutgers University-Newark

Dr. Jack Tchen: Professor, New York University 

Peter Williams: Executive Vice President for Programs, NAACP

Mark Winston Griffith: Executive Director, Brooklyn Movement Center

Mary Yearwood: Director of Collections and Information Services, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Elvin Garcia Candidate for City Council - Celebrate with us next Thursday, March 30th

We are exactly 7 days away from my 30th birthday -- and I want to celebrate with you -- the genuine friends, family, and neighbors that have molded and shaped the man I have become. I hope to see you on March 30th as we usher in a new milestone and #ANewBronxTale for Council District 18 - new leadership with the stamina to go the extra mile for our communities. 

What: Elvin's 30th Birthday Celebration

When: Thursday, March 30th 6:00PM - 9:00PM

Where: Havana Cafe, 1247 Castle Hill Ave, Bronx NY 10462

Best,

Elvin Garcia Candidate for City Council - District 18