Monthly Archives: August 2011

Council Member Viverito Responds to NLRB Decision Regarding Central Park Boathouse

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Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, Chair of the New York City Council’s Parks & Recreation Committee, issued the following statement in response to the decision by the National Labor Relations Board to issue a legal complaint against the Central Park Boathouse and to seek a judicial order that would force the restaurant into contract negotiations with the New York Hotel Trades Council:

“The forthcoming NLRB ruling will substantiate what we’ve suspected all along — that the workers of the Boathouse have experienced severe violations of their right to organize,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Now that the NLRB has weighed in, the Parks Department can no longer remain silent on this matter. I urge the Department to step in and ensure that Dean Poll complies with the findings of the NLRB. If he does not, the City should immediately terminate the contract. We as a City should have clear expectations from all those entities we do business with that the rights of their workers must be respected.  We cannot sit idly by and continue to allow an employer operating on city-owned land to willingly and willfully violate workers’ rights.”

Preparing for Hurricane Irene

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As you may have heard by now, there is a strong possibility that New York City could feel the effects of Hurricane Irene, which is forecasted to move up the East Coast of the U.S. as we head into the weekend.  While the extent to which the hurricane will affect the city is still unclear, we are likely to experience a severe storm and possibly up to a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday. 

As we head into the weekend, it is important for all of us to be well prepared and informed for a worst-case scenario, including possible evacuation of some coastal areas.  Parts of El Barrio/East Harlem and Mott Haven are considered low-lying areas.  Residents of these neighborhoods should only expect to evacuate in the event of a stronger hurricane (Category 2 or 3), which is not currently in the forecast.  However, sometimes weather conditions can be unpredictable.  To download a map of evacuation zones and centers in your area, please click here.  You can also find out if you live in an evacuation zone by clicking here.

The City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is encouraging all New Yorkers to do the following, particularly those who live in low-lying areas:

  • Stay up-to-date on weather conditions and other important information at all times by watching the news and checking OEM’s website (http://www.nyc.gov/oem).
  • Stock up on supplies such as water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries and a first aid kit.
  • Prepare an emergency supply kit and a “Go Bag.”  For more information on what to include, click here.

We also encourage you to check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially those with disabilities or special needs, and assist them with their preparation and, if necessary, their evacuation.

If you need additional information, please visit the OEM website or call 311.

We wish you all a safe weekend!

Next Tuesday: Join Us for Our Fifth Annual Youth Fair!

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Next Tuesday, August 30th, please join us for our Fifth Annual Youth Fair, hosted by Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and the El Barrio/East Harlem Youth Violence Task Force.  The event will take place from 12 noon to 4 pm and will be held on 104th Street between Lexington and Third Avenue.  Our goal is to bring local youth together to support them and connect them with services.  The Youth Fair will feature food, give aways, music and a talent show, and will also highlight the work we have been engaged in to stop the violence in our community.

We hope to see you there!

Restricting Local Immigration Enforcement and Pushing Back on Marijuana Arrests

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Melissa introduced a piece of legislation and a resolution in the City Council today that focus on critical issues in our criminal justice system: the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our city’s jails and the rampant arrests for the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Restricting the City’s Collaboration with ICE

Melissa speaks at press conference announcing the introduction of this legislation (Photo by William Alatriste).

The historic piece of legislation introduced by Melissa today, along with Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Danny Dromm, will place limits on New York City’s ability to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our city’s jails.  Thousands of immigrants are deported each year after being sent to our local jails.  The Department of Corrections routinely shares databases of new inmates with ICE, which include information on country of origin.  Armed with this information, ICE places “detainers” on those inmates they suspect to be non-citizens.  After an interview and further investigation, if an immigrant is determined to be “deportable,” he or she is sent to a detention center and is often removed from the country.  Over the last two years, only about half of the detainers issued were for immigrants that had no criminal convictions, and 38% of those individuals had a misdemeanor as their highest immediate charge.

This legislation would prohibit the use of City resources (including space, personnel and funds) to honor detainers on those immigrants that have no criminal records, outstanding warrants or previous orders of deportation, do not have a pending criminal case and have not been identified as a confirmed match in the terrorist screening database.  Under this legislation, City resources could not be used to hold an individual who meets this criteria beyond the time when he or she would otherwise be released, nor could the City notify ICE of his or her release from custody.  We expect to have a hearing on this bill in the fall.

Calling for Changes to State Law on Marijuana Arrests

Tens of thousands of people, primarily from Black and Latino communities, are arrested each year for small-time marijuana possession, even though it was de-criminalized by the State in the 1970s.  However, a loophole allows police to make arrests for marijuana possession if it is in public view.  Police often ask individuals to take out what would otherwise have been concealed marijuana, leading to an arrest.  For the 50,000 plus arrests last year, the estimated cost to taxpayers was over $75 million.  This year, the city is on target to reach nearly 60,000 arrests.

Since the City Council does not have the power to legislate, Melissa has introduced a resolution calling on the State Legislature to enact a bill already introduced by Senator Grisanti and Assemblyman Jeffries that would close the loophole on marijuana arrest policy.

Melissa to Join LGBT Groups as They Mourn the Death of Camila Guzman

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On Thursday, August 11th Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito will join LGBT groups, community leaders and Elected Officials in a candle light vigil mourning the death of Camila Guzman, a transgender woman found stabbed to death in her New York apartment.

“It is important that we denounce any act of violence against the transgender community and send the message that such violence will not be tolerated in El Barrio/East Harlem or anywhere in this city,”

Click here for the full article: http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=33224

 

During yesterday’s vigil Melissa continued to send the message that will not accept violence in our community:

 ”esta comunidad no acepta la violencia, valoramos a todas las personas por igual e instamos a denunciar cualquier tipo de violencia antitransgénero”.

 Click here for the article written in El Diario: http://www.impre.com/eldiariony/noticias/2011/8/12/quien-mato-a-camila-267273-1.html

 

See below for details on the vigil:

Melissa Sends Letter to the New York State Department of Health Commissioner Calling for a Public Hearing Regarding Jewish Home Lifecare (JHL’s) Possible Relocation to 97th Street

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In a letter sent yesterday to the New York State Department of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah, MD, MPH, Melissa writes:

“I am writing to you on behalf of the constituents of my district, many of whom continue to be deeply concerned about a newly-purported plan by Jewish Home and Hospital (now known as Jewish Home Lifecare or JHL) to construct a residential healthcare facility on West 97th Street in Manhattan. Before being able to continue with its plans, I again call upon the State Department of Health to convene a public hearing, where residents’ concerns about the project can be heard and taken into account.”

Read the full letter below: