Stringer Releases Startling Report on Domestic Violence
Yesterday, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D) released a sobering report on the connection between domestic violence and homelessness.
What he found was that today, domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness in New York City, outpacing causes like eviction and mental illness. In FY 2018, domestic violence accounted for 41 percent of the people entering DHS-operated shelters.
“It’s a crisis that explains so much about how and why the City is failing to make any dent in its homeless population,” said Stringer. “Thousands of young, vulnerable children are living in DHS shelters in our city because of domestic violence. It’s devastating to contemplate.”
The report is available here.
Hoylman Presents “Empire Award” to Li-Lac Chocolates
Recently, State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Chelsea, Midtown) presented an Empire Award to Li-Lac Chocolates, in honor of the store’s sixth location opening in Greenwich Village.
The Empire Award is the State Senate’s highest award for local businesses, awarded for excellence and community involvement. Li-Lac Chocolates received the award in recognition of being Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house. The award ceremony took place on Saturday, Oct. 19 in front of the store’s Greenwich Village location.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods,” said Hoylman. At a time when multinational corporations and big landlords are making it difficult for small businesses to survive, it’s wonderful to see this local Greenwich Village small business thriving. I’m proud to present Li-Lac Chocolates with the New York Senate Empire Business Award to honor their years of success and sixth location. What could be sweeter than that?”
Ayala to Host Community Dialogue on Opioid Crisis
Council Member Diana Ayala (D-East Harlem, Mott Haven) will be hosting a community discussion on Mott Haven’s opioid crisis.
Earlier this year, a new report from the NYC Department of Health revealed that the opioid crisis has disproportionately affected the City’s poorest neighborhoods – Mott Haven among them. At the event, Ayala will brief the community on what the City is doing to address the neighborhood crisis, and what we can do to contribute to their efforts.
The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at the Mott Haven Reformed Church, 350 East 146th St.
Rivera Rallies to End Solitary Confinement
Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-East Village, Gramercy Park) rallied on the steps of City Hall yesterday to abolish solitary confinement.
Rivera was accompanied by representatives from the NYC Jails Action Coalition and the Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement. The two advocacy groups have compiled a comprehensive plan for abolishing the practice in New York State completely.
No person should be required to spend +22 hours a day in a cell w/o meaningful human contact, programming, or therapy,” Rivera said in a tweet. “Solitary confinement is torture, plain and simple, and I was proud to stand with Jails Action Committee and NYCAIC for the release of their blueprint to end solitary in NYC.”
