Espaillat Blasts Trump for Response to Shooting
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) blasted President Donald Trump (R) on the Brian Lehrer Show for his response to the El Paso shooting.
After the massacre, Trump suggested instating the death penalty for mass shooters. This, said Espaillat, would have done nothing to deter the El Paso shooter, whose manifesto made it clear that he was ready to die for his cause. Espaillat proceeded to argue that he should be pushing for more stringent gun control instead.
“[Trump] tries to pivot to the death penalty when in fact someone like the shooter in El Paso made up his mind very early on that he would face death when he committed those horrendous acts,” said Espaillat.
Hoylman, Rosenthal Write Op-Ed on Child Victims Act
State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) and Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal (D-Upper West Side, Hell’s Kitchen) wrote an op-ed for the New York Daily News about the Child Victims Act (CVA) and its relevance to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The article states that as more of Epstein’s victims come forward, the public can start to understand why adult victims of child sexual abuse have such a difficult time disclosing their abuse. This, it says, was their motivation for fighting to pass the CVA, which significantly increased the statute of limitations for child sexual assault survivors.
“Beginning on Aug. 14, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse will have one year to file otherwise time-barred civil lawsuits against their abusers and the people or public or private institutions that intentionally or negligently enabled the abuse,” reads the article. “This is a vital opportunity for individuals to pursue justice. It is just as important an opportunity for society to finally reckon honestly with long-buried crimes.”
The entire piece can be read here.
Powers Calls for Improvements to “Treacherous” Bike Lane
City Council Member Keith Powers (D-Carnegie Hill, Yorkville) has started calling for a stretch of bike lane along First Avenue to be renovated.
Powers has argued that the lane, in its current state, constitutes a public safety hazard, since it leads cyclists in between two lanes of traffic.
“As we discuss improving cyclist safety citywide, it’s important that we improve existing bike lanes in addition to installing new ones,” Powers said in a tweet. “This stretch along 1st Ave between 41st & 42nd Streets is treacherous — one has to ride between traffic without real markings or protection. This morning, I witnessed a car driving in the bike lane, almost running over the cyclist that was operating as designed. My office is looking at ways to improve this dangerous situation & any others in the district.”
Johnson: “Diversity is a Gift”
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) sent out a tweet yesterday reiterating that diversity is New York’s greatest strength.
The tweet was written in the wake of the El Paso mass shooting. The shooter’s manifesto, which was released soon afterwards, revealed a strong hatred for Hispanics in general and undocumented immigrants in particular.
“Immigrants make up almost 40% of our city – and I couldn’t be prouder of this fact,” Johnson said in a tweet. “From our food, to our art and everything in between: I love our complex, compassionate, beautiful city. I love NYC.”
