Day: April 24, 2025

Eight Democratic candidates for the Mayoral race made their case for a Black Agenda for New York at the Medgar Evers College on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 in front of a packed hall.

Dr. Patricia Ramsey, President of Medgar Evers College speaking at the opening said, “The views expressed by these candidates in this forum are their own and not necessarily reflect the view or opinions of  Medgar Evers College.”

Henry Butler, led the forum and introduced the candidates.

Ms. L Joy Williams – NAACP New York State Branch president said, “I am not here to endorse anybody, I am personally seeking candidates to rank myself.” She reminded the audience that how the importance of ranking candidates. “It is not just picking one, it is making sure that we are ranking the candidates that we would hear from.”  “I also want to remind you about the power of our vote when we vote collectively with purpose and strategy,” she added.

Emmy Award-winning journalist Ayana Harry of Spectrum News NY1 who hosted the event focused her questions on Black Maternal Health, public security, affordable/low income housing, affordable child care, gentrification and the establishment of an ICE office on Rikers Island.

Mayoral candidates who participated in the event were Scott Stringer, Michael Blake, Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Jessica Ramos, State Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams

Scott Stringer speaking on the housing crisis said, “I believe we need to have a mayor who is going to represent the bottom up and build the housing that we need.” There is no reason who “We need to think about what do do with a thousand vacant lots. These thousand lots should not go to wealthy speculators but to non-for-profits, to the people. Give back city lands and build Mitchell-Lama 2.0.”

Speaking on public security Stringer said he would like to add 3,000 to the NYPD.

Assembly Member Mamdani said many politicians would say New York city is the greatest in the world but what good is it if you cannot afford the rent, your child care, your groceries and your Metro card. “I am running for mayor so that you can finally afford these thing,” said Mamdani.

Blake said he is running so that policies can be made so that people can make and keep more money in their pockets. He said that he does not believe that credit scores should be used for rent, and home ownership application.

Regarding a question from the moderator about his experience as vice chair of the DNC and lessons learned as to how he would apply the lessons as mayor while dealing with President Trump, Blake said, “You have to check the bully. You can’t be silent when you are dealing with a facist, sexist, demogogue.”

Speaker Adams responding to a question about President Trumps involvement in New York including congestion pricing and Penn Station said that the city has begun “Trump proofing” New York City. “We know that New York City Council has been the most fiscal responsible body,” she said. “We are now looking at the 2 billion as reserves we have put aside to begin ‘Trump proofing’ the city,” she added.

State Senator Myrie respsonding to the question as to what steps he would take to protect the health care safety net said, “We are in an existential crisis with the person that we have in the White House now. The proposal to cut Medicaid, and to cut it by the t billions would have a profound impact on health care in city. Six out of 10 New Yorkers rely on Medicaid. Our safety net hospitals rely almost exclusively on Medicaid.” “The first order of business is to go after Donald Trump,” said Myrie.

Former Governor Cuomo speaking on gentrification said, “People should not be forced to leave their community because they cannot afford to pay the rent.” He noted that more than 400,000 people left the city. “We lost middle class, we lost working  families who just couln not afford to live here anymore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

a group of Congressmembers from both houses filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of reproductive health care.

The post Brooklyn Congressmembers join amicus brief to protect Medicaid’s free-choice provision appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

Susan Zhuang, after assault charges dropped in court for biting a police officer during a protest last year, is facing a lawsuit.

The post NYPD deputy chief sues Zhuang following assault charges being dropped appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso endorsed New York City Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander on Thursday as his top pick in the  June primary election.

At a press conference at City Hall Park, the beep praised Lander’s progressive positions on issues like affordable housing and police reform and ability to bring “meaningful” change to New Yorkers.

Reynoso pointed to their close working relationship while they served on the City Council, where he said Lander empowered younger elected officials to take “big, bold” steps. They collaborated on a slew of issues, advocating for comprehensive city planning to improve land-use decisions, and in 2019, Lander supported Reynoso’s push to pass Local Law 199, designed to overhaul the commercial waste industry by establishing new safety standards for workers and reducing emissions from waste hauling vehicles.

“Every issue that we’ve worked on together, whether it’s affordable housing, police reform, transportation, Brad has been by my side,” Reynoso said.

Reynoso, the son of Dominican immigrants, will also be hitting the campaign trail for Lander, talking to Latino voters across the five boroughs about Lander’s track record of supporting the Latino community while making sure that the same leaders that “sold” them Eric Adams, didn’t “sell” them Andrew Cuomo as mayor.

“It’s about time we look to a new way that we finally have effective leadership that has already done the work for decades, not mired in corruption,” Reynoso proclaimed. “That’s the type of leadership that we’re going to have with Brad Lander when he becomes the next mayor of the City of New York.”

Lander, who endorsed Reynoso for Borough President and in both city council races, said he was honored to receive the endorsement from someone who wasn’t afraid to stand up to “bullies,” whether it was Andrew Cuomo, Donald Trump, or the late Vito Lopez, the disgraced Brooklyn politician, who ran against Reynoso for city council in 2013.

“When I’m mayor, I am going to push forward with that model of courage, of integrity, and of actually making government work and deliver,” said Lander, who said he plans to  work closely with borough presidents and the City Council on issues like affordable housing and transportation and end corruption at City Hall.

“We need a mayor with honesty and integrity, with a proven track record of leadership and the executive experience, the bold vision, the partnerships, and alliance to deliver the safer, more affordable and better-run city that all Brooklynites, that all Latinos, that all New Yorkers deserve,” Lander said.

The comptroller is one of nine Democrats running in the June primary — including former governor Andrew Cuomo, state Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Sitting mayor Eric Adams is running as an independent, and won’t face the Democratic challengers until the general election in November. 

Lander and Reynoso, who were two of the co-sponsors of New York City’s sanctuary law, called out Adams’ executive order to allow federal immigration agents to set up an office on Rikers Island. On Monday, a judge temporarily halted the order ahead of an April 25 hearing in a lawsuit challenging the plan.

Lander and Reynoso said the mayor’s executive order violated the sanctuary law, and disregarded due process.

“The [executive order] violates the law, but it certainly violates the spirit of the law,” Lander said. “They are showing they don’t respect the process. The President is saying he doesn’t respect due process. We know everything we need to know that this is a bad idea.”

Reynoso added that due process was a bipartisan issue.

“I think across the board, the conversation about due process everyone can agree is important and a tenant of our Constitution and who we are as a nation,” he said. 

The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 27, and since the election is ranked-choice, voters will be able to choose up to five candidates in order of preference.