Espaillat Visits the Dominican Republic as a Tourist
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights, Sugar Hill) will be visiting the Dominican Republic from July 1 to July 6, in order to continue supporting tourism on the Caribbean island.
He has scheduled several meetings with representatives from the tourist industry and officials of the United States Embassy. They will be discussing security methods for the protection of tourists to ensure the Dominican Republic continues to be a popular, safe tourist destination.
“I am concerned about the recent deaths of tourists in the Dominican Republic and the unjust media campaign they have undertaken as a result of these events against the country’s tourism industry, which is one of the pillars that sustains the economy of the island,” said Espaillat. “I will visit the country where I was born, as I do every year, to enjoy the varied and rich range of options offered by the Dominican Republic to tourists, and to continue supporting the country’s tourism and offer all my support and collaboration in the identification and implementation of better security models for tourists to ensure the Dominican Republic continues to be a world-class tourist destination.”
Johnson Mourns Luis Alvarez
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) released a tweet yesterday paying respects to the recently-deceased 9/11 first responder Luis Alvarez.
Luis Alvarez was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016. His doctors determined that the cancer was caused by his exposure to the toxic air at Ground Zero after the World Trade Center collapsed. Alvarez went through 68 rounds of chemotherapy before finally succumbing to the disease.
“Rest In Peace, Det. Alvarez,” Johnson said in a tweet. “In the Marines, in the NYPD, & in testimony to Congress on the eve of your 69th round of chemo, you gave it your all. All of us should heed his parting message: ‘Please take care of yourselves and each other.'”
Hoylman Commends Cuomo for Abolishing “Gay/Trans Panic Defense”
State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) gave kudos to Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) yesterday for signing a bill that put an end to the “gay and trans panic” defenses.
“Gay panic” is a legal defense utilized in murder and assault cases, in which the defendant claims that they acted in a state of violent insanity as a result of unwanted same-sex advances. The “trans panic” defense has them claim that they entered a similar state of mind upon learning that their partner was transgender. The new bill signed by Cuomo abolishes them both.
“By banning the so-called gay and trans panic defense, New York is sending a message to prosecutors, defense attorneys, juries and judges that a victim’s LGBTQ identity shouldn’t be weaponized against them,” said Hoylman.
