Espaillat Lauds Opening of Juan Pablo Duarte Community Space
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) praised Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) yestetday for the announcement of the grand opening of the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation Community Space in Washington Heights.
The namesake of the park, Juan Pablo Duarte, was a Dominican politician and military leader considered to be one of the Dominican Republic’s “founding fathers”. The opening of the new Dominican cultural and educational center was celebrated with a pre-Dominican Day parade breakfast for the community and a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
“This community space is the setting where we will have the opportunity to share our traditions and culture,” said Espaillat. “It is no coincidence that the community space is located within the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station, a transportation hub that has served so many immigrants. Thank you to Governor Cuomo, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the George Washington Bridge Development Venture LLC for supporting the Dominican community.”
Johnson Blasts Trump for New Public Charge Rule
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) released a statement yesterday blasting the Trump Administration’s new “public charge” rule for immigrants.
The new rule increases the government’s ability to reject green cards for immigrants who are likely to depend on government assistance, such as food stamps and public housing.
“The new public charge rule approved by the Trump Administration is yet another hateful and destructive policy proposal to attack immigrants,” said Johnson. “It will disproportionately impact low-income communities, particularly communities of color, forcing families to make the difficult decision to leave medical, food, or housing supports for fear of exacerbating immigration consequences. This is inhumane.”
Rivera, Brewer Break New Ground on Union Square Tech Training Center
Last Monday, City Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-East Village, Gramercy Park) and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) broke ground on the new 21-story building that will house the Union Square Tech Training Center.
The center will include a digital skills training space where New Yorkers can gain the experience and knowledge needed to thrive in a modern, digital economy. It will also provide affordable offices and resources for start-ups and established companies to grow and hire within the building.
“With tech jobs surging by 38 percent in New York City over the past seven years, it is imperative that job opportunities reach New Yorkers in the neighborhoods that need them most,” said Rivera. “That’s why I’m so excited to see ground break on the Union Square Tech Training Center, a first-in-the-nation, city-developed center that will provide free and subsidized tech training to thousands of low-income women and people of color, and connect them to subsidized spaces in the same building to grow their ideas into start-ups.”
Maloney Pays Respects to Heather Heyer
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) released a tweet yesterday paying respects to the late activist Heather Heyer.
On Aug. 12, 2017, Heyer was killed by a white supremacist at the infamous “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville; she was 32. Yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of her death.
“Today we remember #HeatherHeyer who was murdered by a white supremacist in #Charlottesville,” said Maloney. “Tragically, innocent lives are still claimed by #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism which continues to fester in our nation. We must never forget Heather and her bravery to stand up against hate.”
