This morning, Melissa did an interview on the WBAI show City Watch, where she discussed the newly-formed City Council Progressive Caucus, as well as efforts to preserve affordable housing, bring more resources to NYCHA developments and her work at the community level.
Click here to listen to the WBAI Interview.
Melissa’s segment begins at around the 7-minute mark.
Yesterday, Melissa introduced several pieces of legislation at the City Council’s Stated Meeting:
Int 122: Establishing a pilot commercial waste audit program, which will help different businesses in our City to establish industry standards and best practices for waste management, recycling and the use of environmentally-friendly materials.
Int 123: Requiring a review process, including consideration for safety, health and environmental concerns, for any new surface materials to be used on playgrounds and fields in our City.
Res 119: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to create a tax incentive program for green businesses.
Res 120: Resolution calling upon the State to pass legislation that would provide tax incentives for food-service businesses that use environmentally-friendly alternatives to disposable food ware made from styrofoam and other non-recyclable or non-biodegradable materials.
You can access a running list of bills and resolutions introduced this term by clicking the Legislation tab at the top of the page.
Melissa speaking at Paid Sick Days conference.
Paid sick days legislation was also re-introduced yesterday by Council Member Gale Brewer. Prior to the Stated Meeting, Council Members and advocates gathered outside City Hall to call for the legislation’s passage this term.
This bill, now re-introduced as Int 97, would require that employers provide their workers with earned paid sick time. Currently, over a million employees lack this protection and often have to make the choice between going to work sick and losing a day’s pay.
The paid sick days bill has been identified as one of the priorities of the new Progressive Caucus of the City Council, which is co-chaired by Melissa.
Yesterday, Melissa and 11 of her colleagues announced the formation of the New York City Council’s new Progressive Caucus. Melissa will serve as Co-Chair of the Caucus, along with Council Member Brad Lander of Brooklyn.
The Progressive Caucus was created to be an entity that will push for a more just and equal city that offers genuine opportunity to all New Yorkers. The Caucus plans to tackle a number of issues including pushing for the passage of paid sick leave legislation, addressing the Section 8 voucher crisis and the creation of quality, living wage jobs.
Click here to see an article on the Caucus from yesterday’s New York Times.
Melissa and Brad Lander also published an op-ed piece on The Nation’s website yesterday explaining the rationale behind the formation of the Caucus. The article was cross-posted on Huffington Post.
The Census Road Tour Van will be stopping in El Barrio/East Harlem this Thursday promoting the critical importance of the 2010 Census for our community and our city. They will be at 110th Street and Lexington Avnue from 1 pm to 6 pm.
We hope that you can stop by to learn more about the Census, and also to lend your voice and photo to the Census’ “Portrait of America” media project.
If you have not done so, please complete your Census form and drop it back in the mail. Please be sure to encourage family members, friends and neighbors to do the same. It only takes a few minutes, and your answers are confidential.
Getting a complete and accurate count from our community for the 2010 Census will help us to receive our fair share of resources in the future.
The immense crowd at March for America (Photo courtesy of Reform Immigration FOR America)
Yesterday, nearly 100 members of the East Harlem community went down to Washington D.C. to rally and march in support of comprehensive immigration reform. Over 200,000 people joined in this historic event, 11,000 of which were from New York State.
We gathered near our district office at around 5:30 a.m. and got onto two buses, which were sponsored by Melissa’s Office, Senator Serrano’s Office, Community Board 11, Congressman Rangel, East Harlem Against Deportation and the Violence Intervention Program.
The East Harlem Contingent
On the bus ride, we listened in on a live conference call with Senator Schumer, who updated marchers on his blueprint for immigration reform.
Once we arrived in D.C. we began walking to the National Mall, where we joined in a rally featuring elected officials, union representatives, community organizers, and a video message from President Obama. Following the rally, we took to the streets in an energetic march.
Marching through the streets of Washington!
We met immigrants and community organizers from as far away as Tennessee, which sent 10 busloads of people to the event, braving a 13 hour bus ride.
For many of the community members that joined the trip, this was their first time traveling to Washington D.C. In reflections after the trip, they expressed feeling inspired and excited to continue the struggle for comprehensive immigration reform.
Another photo from the rally (Courtesy of America's Voice)
As you may have seen on the blog, Melissa and other local partners have organized two buses from East Harlem to join the historic March for America in Washington D.C. tomorrow. Over 100,000 people will be marching in support of just, humane immigration reform.
We will be posting updates and photos live all day long on Twitter. Please follow us!
Visit this address to access our account: http://twitter.com/newsfrommelissa. Note: you don’t need to have a Twitter account to view the updates.
Be sure to check our blog on Monday for a re-cap of this exciting trip to Washington!
This Monday, March 15, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez will hold a large event in the Bronx to continue to build momentum for the March 21st rally in Washington DC and the passage of immigration reform this year.
The Congressman will be joined by a number of New York City elected officials, including Melissa, along with hundreds of members of the city’s immigrant communities. The event will be held at the Latino Pastoral Action Center at 14 West 170th Street in the Bronx.
Please take a look at the flyer by clicking here and spread the word. We hope you can join us on Monday!
Also, this weekend, Melissa is being featured on the NY1 Noticias show Pura Politica, where she talks about next Sunday’s immigration march in D.C. and the frustration being felt by the Latino community with the lack of progress on immigration reform. She also discusses her efforts to end the City’s collaboration with ICE at Rikers Island. Click below to open the video.
Click to open link.
Melissa speaking at press conference.
Immigrant rights leaders and organizers packed the steps of City Hall today to announce an unprecedented national mobilization to Washington D.C. on March 21st to demand the passage of comprehensive immigration reform and an end to harsh immigration enforcement policies.
Melissa and several of her Council colleagues joined these community, faith-based and labor organizations to call for immigration reform and to raise awareness about the March 21st mobilization. Over 10,000 people from New York State alone will be heading to D.C. on the 21st, where they will be joined by thousands from all over the country.
Click here for a press release from the New York Immigration Coalition on today’s event.
Be sure to check back soon for more information on how to get a seat on one of the buses leaving NYC on March 21st.
Last week, Melissa joined friends and supporters of Alberto Arroyo, a well-known jogger who has been called the “Mayor of Central Park,” in honoring his contributions to our city.
The Park’s reservoir, where Mr. Arroyo once jogged regularly, will soon feature a bronze plaque that will immortalize his presence at the track for generations to come.
Melissa with Alberto Arroyo.
Sadly, Mr. Arroyo, who is now 93 years old, is in frail health after suffering a stroke that ended decades of jogging.
Mr. Arroyo’s dedication to jogging has been a source of inspiration for many New York City joggers and runners, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who used to jog with him around the reservoir.
Here is a short video of Mr. Arroyo, filmed in 2002:
