SAGE Condemns the Trump Administration's Ban on Transgender People in the Military

SAGE will not stand by quietly as the Trump administration continues its attempts to erase members of the transgender community -- this time from the ranks of the U.S. military, in which they have patriotically served for generations.

There are an estimated 135,000 transgender veterans, among them countless elders. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality's 2016 U.S. Trans Survey, more than half of transgender people over the age of 75 -- and 40 percent of respondents between the ages of 65 and 74 -- are veterans who fought valiantly for our country and our freedoms.

President Trump's blatant act of discrimination against trans service members is yet another example of his pattern of marginalizing, erasing, and discriminating against trans people. That pattern includes the current effort by the Trump administration to erase transgender elders from a critical federal aging survey that allocates billions of dollars to vital elder services.

SAGE is aggressively fighting the administration's erasure of transgender people. As a testament to that commitment, this Monday we submitted more than 6,000 letters from all 50 states demanding that the Trump administration restore transgender elders to the annual survey.

President Trump's most recent anti-transgender policy statement discounts and disrespects the professionalism of all of our troops, undercuts our national security, and harms our country. Our military and our nation are better than this. SAGE is pushing back against the Trump administration's latest efforts. Thank you for standing with us.

Statement from State Senator Gustavo Rivera on Current Administration's Ban of Transgender Americans From Serving in the U.S. Armed Forces

  "It is appalling, but not surprising, that this administration continues its attempt to destroy President Obama's legacy. This time around, this administration took the dreadful decision to ban transgender individuals from serving in any capacity within the U.S. military. 

Transgender Americans on active duty and in the reserves are neither a disruption nor a burden. These American patriots have served and continue to serve our nation with the dignity and the courage that only a few can claim to possess.

This discriminatory directive will undoubtedly set us back as a country in our ongoing pursuit to make every American equal under the law. I want to reiterate my unconditional support to the transgender community in New York State and across the country as they face another vile assault to their rights. As a member of the New York Legislature, I will continue working diligently to provide them and our brother and sisters in the LGBTQIA community the support they need and deserve."

MAYOR’S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT UNIT’S AUGUST COMMUNITY EVENTS

  Throughout August, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Public Engagement Unit has planned events citywide to help New Yorkers access resources and information from the Tenant Support Unit, Home Support Unit and GetCoveredNYC.

The Tenant Support Unit engages and provides assistance to New Yorkers who may be at risk of displacement or experiencing harassment in zip codes covered under the Human Resources Administration (HRA)’s Anti-Harassment Tenant Protection legal service funding. In addition, TSU proactively engages New Yorkers who may be eligible for the Department of Finance’s Rent Freeze benefits to assist them through the application process. Outreach specialists go door to door to inform tenants of their rights, identify any housing-related issues and connect them with a range of resources, such as anti-eviction legal assistance, to keep them in their homes. In addition, outreach specialists’ partner with elected officials and community groups to hold weekly office hours and attend local events.

The Home Support Unit partners with landlords and brokers to identify apartments for clients transitioning out of shelter with rental subsidies. HSU partners closely with the Human Resources Administration, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), and community-based providers to match prospective tenants to apartments, coordinate viewings, and navigate landlords and brokers through the City’s leasing process. Specialists remain engaged with the landlord even after lease signing to ensure new tenants are supported and have access to resources that help them remain stably housed.

The Homebase Outreach Team proactively engages families at risk of entering shelter to connect them to Homebase, a homelessness prevention program that provides casework services and referrals to existing resources. Specialists make phone calls and attend community events to provide families at risk with information about the preventive services available in the community and, when appropriate, help them access those services, so they avoid entering shelter.

GetCoveredNYC is a citywide initiative to enroll New Yorkers in health insurance and provide them with access to primary and preventive care at NYC Health and Hospitals. The initiative is a partnership between NYC Health and Hospitals, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Human Resources Administration and MetroPlus.  The initiative includes a robust team of outreach specialists, who proactively go door to door and call uninsured New Yorkers to discuss their health insurance options, schedule them for free in-person enrollment assistance and case manage them through the enrollment process. In addition, the initiative launched a city-wide paid media campaign to promote the importance of coverage and how New Yorkers can receive free in-person enrollment assistance – including calling 311 or texting CoveredNYC to 877877.

   

For more information on these initiatives, New Yorkers can call 311 or visit nyc.gov.

The Bronx

August 1

10 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Community Food Pantry at Highbridge

1363 Ogden Avenue

Bronx, NY 10452

(Home Support Unit)

August 1 (Weekly on Tuesdays)

11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

Assemblyman Blake’s Office

780 Concourse Village West

Bronx, NY 10451

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 1 (Weekly on Tuesdays)

11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

State Senator Rivera’s Office

2432 Grand Concourse

Bronx, NY 10458

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 2 (Weekly on Wednesdays)

11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

Assemblyman Blake’s Office

780 Concourse Village West

Bronx, NY 10451

(GetCoveredNYC)

August 3 (Weekly on Thursdays)

11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

Assemblyman Pichardo’s Office

2175 Jerome Avenue

Bronx, NY 10452

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 3 and 17 (Biweekly on First and Third Thursdays)

11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

Assemblyman Joyner’s Office

910 Grand Concourse Ave

Bronx, NY 10451

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 3 and 17 (Biweekly on Thursdays)

11 A.M. - 6:30 P.M.

University Neighborhood Housing Program Refuge House

2715 Bainbridge Ave

Bronx, NY 10458

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 3

3 P.M. – 6 P.M.

Grand Concourse Branch – New York Public Library

155 East 173^rd Street

Bronx, NY 10457

(Tenant Support Unit)

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 4 and 18

10:30 A.M. – 2 P.M.

Assemblyman Rivera’s Office

1 Fordham Plaza

Suite 1008, 10^th Floor

Bronx, NY 10458

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 5

12 P.M. – 5 P.M.

7^th Annual Bronx Summer Walks

Burnside Ave between Jerome and Davidson Ave.

Bronx, NY 10453

(Home Support Unit and GetCoveredNYC)

August 10

3 P.M. – 6 P.M.

Francis Martin Branch – New York Public Library

2150 University Ave.

Bronx, NY 10453

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 15

11 A.M. – 3 P.M.

Council Member Gibson’s Office

1377 Jerome Avenue

Bronx, NY 10453

(Tenant Support Unit)

August 15

11 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Morris Heights Health Center

National Community Health Center Week 2017 Family Funday

E 156^th Street and Cortlandt Ave.

Bronx, NY 10451

(Home Support Unit and GetCoveredNYC)

August 16

11 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Morris Heights Health Center

National Community Health Center Week 2017 Family Funday

137^th Street and Brook Ave.

Bronx, NY 10454

(Home Support Unit and GetCoveredNYC)

August 18

10:30 A.M. – 1 P.M.

Evelyn Place Senior Center

2 Evelyn Pl.

Bronx, NY 10468

(Tenant Support Unit)

Bronx Borough President - Bronx Summer Concert Series

Senator Jeff Klein calls on AMTRAK and NYC DOT to replace hazardous fence outside Bronx school that’s been damaged since Hurricane Sandy

Fence outside The Bronx Charter School for the Arts has been endangering the safety of students for four-and-a-half years

Senator Jeff Klein on Tuesday stood outside the Bronx Charter School of the Arts with Principal Brenda Daniels, faculty members, parents and students to call on AMTRAK and the city’s DOT to finally take action and replace a rusty, jagged fence next to the Longfellow Avenue school that’s jeopardized the safety of students since it was damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

“In this day and age, and in this city, it is unacceptable for such a simple repair to be put off for this length of time,” said Senator Klein. “While these two agencies pass the buck over who owns what, our children are being subjected to this unnecessary safety hazard. Today I urge the city’s DOT and AMTRAK to come to an agreement and take action.”

“We are grateful for the fact that Senator Klein is making the safety of children a priority. We look forward to a quick resolution, as the safety of our students is paramount,” said Principal Brenda Daniels.

Senator Klein in February 2017 organized a meeting at the site between his office and representatives from AMTRAK and the city DOT to determine who owns the downed fence, and therefore who’s responsible to replace it. At the meeting, AMTRAK officials claimed the fence, and the wall it’s attached to, was transferred to the city in the 1950s. However the city has no record of that alleged property transfer. Neither agency has taken ownership of the fence since it was damaged.

The fence is attached to a concrete wall that separates the dead end block where the school is located from the adjacent AMTRAK train tracks. Nearly half of the metal fence is toppled over into the street. The wall even has artwork devoted to the Bronx Charter School of the Arts.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE UNITED STATES SENATE HEALTH CARE VOTE

“We have come to the moment of truth. Republicans are voting to take health care from millions of Americans. The only thing that can stop them is millions of Americans standing up and raising their voices. Let Congress know they cannot send us back to a time when families were forced to choose between going to the doctor and feeding their kids – not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”

-Engel On President Trump Banning Transgender Service Members in the Military

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel released the following statement:

“Today the President has taken steps to weaken the strongest military force in the world by banning transgender individuals from any form of military service. This decision is disgraceful, discriminatory, and severely insulting to all current and future transgender service members who want nothing more than to serve the country they love. The language the President used in announcing his decision, stating our military ‘cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail’ is brazenly ignorant of how the military operates and the contributions transgender service members are already making. The United States of America faces grave threats from evil forces every day. We need every person who is willing and capable to help face those threats.

“Every day we struggle to make our society better, but this decision by the President to exclude certain patriots from service does the exact opposite. Discrimination doesn't make America great. This decision cannot stand and we must do everything within our power to fight it.”