DE BLASIO PREPARES CITY FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
May 24, 2018
Mayor Bill de Blasio this week told the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to issue summonses for smoking cannabis in public, rather than arrests, despite previous opposition to legalization of marijuana.
With a prohibition mindset, De Blasio also announced creating a task force to prepare for the expected legalization of cannabis in New York state.
The task force will consist of city officials who will develop zones for cannabis dispensaries, law enforcement procedure for public smokers, advisory public health campaigns, and regulations for business and economic fairness.
De Blasio also tasked the NYPD for policy recommendations to help reduce the racial disparity in marijuana arrests.
“With marijuana legalization likely to occur in our state in the near future, it is critical our city plans for the public safety, health, and financial consequences involved,” said Mayor De Blasio. De Blasio tasked the NYPD 30 days to develop a plan to “end unnecessary arrests,” without jeopardizing the public safety.
Meanwhile, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. will decline taking up these cases, effective August 1, and provide an “honest assessment” for criminal prosecutions being predominately black and Hispanic New Yorkers.
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez also announced he will not prosecute low-level marijuana arrests.
Low-level arrests for marijuana possessions are 15 times higher for Black people than white people, and five times higher for Hispanics than white people, though marijuana possession is roughly the same rate for these demographics, according to the New York Times.
City Council Member and Lt. Governor candidate Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) lauded De Blasio for his initiatives.
“I want to commend the Mayor for announcing that he will instruct the NYPD not to arrest New Yorkers for public marijuana usage, but rather to issue them a summons. This is one step in a larger process of correcting the many years of injustice that has led to hundreds of thousands of arrests in this city, disproportionately targeting communities and individuals of more color,” said Williams.
Though the mayor pushes forward the necessary steps for cannabis legalization, he remains concerned over the “corporation reality” of marijuana and its “effort to try to hook young people.” Many researchers also remain hesitant over the legalization of marijuana.
A report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found that marijuana may be associated with heart attacks, strokes, asthma and other chronic respiratory problems, and mental health problems.
“However, there is no conclusive evidence about the positive and negative medical effects of marijuana. We just need "more information,” says Dr. Marie McCormick, chair of the NAS committee and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
BLISSVILLE ELECTEDS, RESIDENTS PROTEST YET ANOTHER HOMELESS SHELTER
May 16, 2018
Despite two passionate protests from Queens elected officials and local residents, the city moves forward with their plan to open a third homeless shelter in the seven-block neighborhood of Blissville.
Under the plan, the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will move 154 adult homeless families into the Fairfield Inn by Marriott on Van Dam Street in the next few weeks. The move will bring 550 homeless people to the neighborhood.
Blissville, which has about 475 residents, is a triangle-shaped community at the southeastern end of Long Island City wedged between the 1st Calvary Cemetery, the LIE and the Newtown Creek. Its residents are working class where with languages that span Spanish, English, and Bengali.
“While every community must do its fair share to address the homelessness crisis, Blissville, a small community of only 475 permanent residents in Long Island City, already has two homeless shelters,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-Western Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn). “Putting a third shelter in Blissville, which lacks critical services, including mass transit, parks, schools, laundromats, grocery stores, urgent care facilities and hospitals, fails to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. It will also increase the area’s homeless population to over 500."
Maloney was one of several elected officials along with U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, parts of the Bronx) and State Sen. Michael Gianaris’ (D- Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside) office, who protested the new shelter at Gracie Mansion on Manhattan’s upper east side on Monday.
Yesterday, demonstrations which included the newly formed Blissville Civic Association happened on the steps of city hall before a scheduled city council hearing on the homeless issues.
“This hotel has no kitchen, no laundry machines and a cafeteria that seats only 30. How will someone elderly or with physical challenges carry her laundry bag the half-mile to the laundromat? Where will people eat the three meals a day they’ll ladle out? I don’t care how much lipstick you put on it — it’s still a hotel. Homeless people need homes, not hotels,” said Maria Davis, Blissville Civic Association Vice President.
The two current shelters in the neighborhood are the City View (33-17 Greenpoint Avenue) with about 100 homeless single men (to be temporarily exchanged with families with children for the summer and fall months) and Sweet Home Suites (39-06 30th Street) which houses about 75 families with children — about 150 people.
“It is unfair and unwise to continue to site shelters in a small, isolated area that is lacking many basic services. The administration should realize that they have made a mistake and pull back from this plan,” said City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside).
Assemblymember Catherine Nolan (D-Sunnyside, Ridgewood, Astoria, Woodside, Long Island City Maspeth, Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Dutch Kills, Blissville) also voiced her support saying that the Mayor and the DHS need to take a step back and develop a plan that actually helps the homeless.
“Our community has always done our share, having been the location for the Borden Avenue men’s shelter in Long Island City for many years. Our community worked with the providers to help our veterans who were homeless. There has been over-saturation of our western Queens Neighborhoods, often times without adequate notice, and we have had enough,” said Noland.
The DHS responded that the new shelter is in keeping with de Blasio’s “Turn the Tide” strategy, which recognizes that homeless New Yorkers come from every community in the city and that shelters are distributed equitably to meet the need in all five boroughs.
“The City and not-for-profit social service provider partner Home/Life are opening this facility as soon as possible to give adult families from Queens the opportunity to be closer to the communities they called home as they get back on their feet. We are ensuring the building is ready for occupancy, finalizing all required reviews, and expect to open this facility this spring after all has been completed,” said DHS Spokesperson Isaac McGinn.
DINAPOLI REPORT: IMMIGRANTS PRAISED AS BACKBONE OF QUEENS’ ECONOMY
May 21, 2018
Queens increases in immigrant population and number of jobs and businesses, according to the economic report released by state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli last week.
Private sector employment will reach a record of 567,800 jobs, which is an increase of 24 percent since 2009. The unemployment rate decreased from 8.6 percent in 2010 to 4 percent in 2017, which is lower than the citywide rate and lowest on record.
“The Queens economy is booming, setting employment records in each of the past six years,” DiNapoli said. “Immigrants, who make up nearly half of the population, are an important part of the borough’s success.”
The report also found Queens is the most racially and ethnically diverse county in the nation, with a population of Hispanics and Latinos making up 28 percent, whites for 25 percent, Asians for 25 percent, and Blacks or African American for 17 percent. Nearly half of New York City’s Asian American population reside in Queens.
Queens shares the second-highest amount of immigrants. In 2016, immigrants occupied 47 percent of the population and represented 69 percent of the start-up businesses.
“State Comptroller DiNapoli’s economic snapshot strongly underscores that Queens is hot and on the move,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “We’ve experienced growth in nearly every category, from population to jobs and small businesses, while our unemployment rate fell and incomes rose.”
Healthcare, transportation, and retail trade remain Queen’s largest employers, responsible for 105,200 jobs, 67,100 jobs, and 63,700 jobs, respectively. The two airports located in the borough remain pivotal for Queen’s economy. It generated $64.4 billion in economic activity in New York-New Jersey metropolitan region in 2017, and created a combined 436,000 jobs, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
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“I look forward to the new jobs that will be created as our two airports each get a facelift and major construction projects, like the Resorts World Casino expansion, begin. I envision an even brighter future for Queens,” states life-long borough resident State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Ozone Park).
Though elected officials celebrated the developments of Queens, many others addressed still apparent issues.
“Queens still face crippling high rents, school overcrowding, and transportation deficiencies,” said State Sen. James Sanders, Jr. (D-South Ozone Park).
During the 2016-2017 school year, elementary schools in Queens operated at 116 percent of capacity, marking it the most overcrowded in the City. Education attainment remains below the citywide share of 37 percent, with nearly one-third of the population (31 percent) attaining a bachelor’s degree or higher.
To view the entire report click here.
QUEENS GOP ENDORSES SIMON MINCHING IN STATE SENATE RACE
May 30, 2018
The Queens County Republican Party and Queens County Conservative Club endorsed earlier this month newcomer Simon Minching over Vickie Paladino - both are running for the State Senate District 11 seat.
Minching, a Douglaston resident with a vast background in technology, government finance, and education, thanked the parties for their endorsements and anticipated the upcoming election.
“I am honored to have the endorsement of both the Republican and Conservative Party,” Minching said. “By focusing on issues and running a positive, data-driven campaign, we will overcome the tribalism and corruption that has beset Albany.”
The 30-year-old candidate runs with a platform that includes smart regulation, improving the education system, and reforming government ethics and transparency.
Both challengers challenge incumbent State Sen. Tony Avella (D-College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Flushing, Jamaica Estates, Fresh Meadows, Bellerose, Floral Park, Jamaica, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Kissena Park, Briarwood). Avella will face the winner of the Republican primary held on Sept. 13 (Disclaimer: The author is a former staffer for Tony Avella).
Avella proclaims to be a nontraditional politician who works as an outsider within the system.
“Throughout my career in government, I have prided myself on being an outsider who made it to the inside and got things done,” Avella said.
A representative from Queens County Republican Party explained that Minching was endorsed for his bipartisanship.
“Conversely, the incumbent is a politician in the worst sense of the word. He changes like a chameleon from Democrat to caucusing with the Republicans as a member of the IDC and then slithering back to the Democrats again,” stated a representative from Queens GOP.
Minching highlighted this ability to work with people from both sides of the aisle. He pledged to work with City Councilmember Paul Vallone (D-Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, East Elmhurst, Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Little Neck, Whitestone) if elected.
“I would seek to have a collaborative relationship with Vallone, which I don’t think Senator Avella has,” Minching said.
Vickie Paladino, known for her comments against Mayor Bill de Blasio for his controversial trip to Germany, pledged to stay in the race despite the lack of endorsements. The campaign released a statement noting the local GOP’s “credibility with the voters is on the line here.”
“We would not accept their endorsement even if it was offered. The individuals running the Queens GOP represent everything wrong with politics today, and I call on all Queens candidates who’ve received an endorsement to demonstrate their commitment to good government by immediately disavowing the corruption within their own party,” the statement read.
PROGRESSIVE MILLENNIALS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS
June 4, 2018
A new class of progressive millennials emerges challenging incumbent Democratic members of Congress before the Democratic primary on June 26th, inspired to challenge the status quo.
Suraj Patel and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez run with creative fundraising and relatable campaign, which expresses a dissatisfied sentiment with issues of immigration, Wall Street, and Black Lives Matter.
Suraj Patel runs for the 12th congressional district seat and raised $1,086,514, close at hand of incumbent Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) with $1,359,272 - according to Federal Election Commission figures.
The 34-year-old, previously a lawyer who lectured on business ethics at NYU and campaigned for former President Obama, runs a similar campaign as left-wing challenger Bernie Sanders, who performed well in the race against Hillary Clinton.
The tech-savvy candidate runs a digital-heavy campaign with a central presence on social media outlets, posting pictures on Instagram of his hip new merch, “New Blood,” and uploading eye-catching YouTube videos. Targeting the youth, he also holds non-traditional events like service days, bar crawls, and workout classes.
Patel’s campaign team includes handpicked big-brand members, such as Chief of Staff Michael O’Donnell who was the asset manager for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, and Campaign manager Anjelica Triola who designed ad campaigns for brands like Adidas, Pepsi, and Microsoft.
The 12th district includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg, which houses young liberal voters who supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Patel’s campaign runs with similar energy and excitement for change that Sander’s campaign emitted.
“The status quo isn’t good enough,” Patel said in a statement. “Our values are under attack by leaders that don’t share or understand our lived experiences, and it’s going to take new ideas and louder voices to make real change."
One of the emblems of the 2018 class of millennial candidates expresses frustration towards the political establishment and political campaign finance system. The 28-year-old native from the Bronx, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, will challenge the 4th highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representative, Rep. Joseph Crowley, who secured the seat for nearly two decades without a primary challenger in 14 years.
Defeating the power-house incumbent will be a difficult challenge, financed by a comparatively well-funded campaign, $2,787,706, in comparison to Ocasio-Cortez lightweight $126,896 campaign – according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Ocasio-Cortez remains unintimated by Crowley’s comparatively better-funded campaign. Echoing likenesses to her former employer’s campaign, Bernie Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez pledges to run a transparent campaign without the influence of corporations and its money.
Crowley “takes about $3 million per cycle from Wall Street, pharmaceuticals, luxury real estate developers, private equity groups, and in fact, he takes the same money from the people who finance the Trump presidency,” states Ocasio-Cortez.
The young insurgent criticizes Crowley for representing a district while accepting money from the wealthy and special interests, accepting also their profits and favors.
Being raised by a working-class Puerto Rican family in South Bronx, Ocasio-Cortez pledges to run “with the spirit and with the support of the people who actually live” at the Bronx. She says personally experiencing the challenges of different public schools, hospitals and opportunities at the Bronx is the key difference between herself and Crowley, who runs as a politician with no attachment or identity to the area.
“This race is about people vs. money. We’ve got people, they’ve got money,” states Ocasio-Cortez.