The Ocean Avenue News - oceanavenuenews.comThe New York Bar Foundation, the charitable and philanthropic entity of the New York State Bar Association, celebrated its 75th anniversary.
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Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn. She also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
“Jamaica is currently confronting widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The storm has left countless residents without homes, electricity, clean water, or access to medical care. Roads and vital infrastructure have been destroyed, communities are struggling to recover, and the Government of Jamaica faces immense challenges in restoring essential services,” the letter says.
“Tens of thousands have been displaced, and recovery is expected to take months — if not years. Under these conditions, it would be unsafe and inhumane to require Jamaican nationals currently residing in the United States to return home,” the letter adds. “The United States has a longstanding and close relationship with Jamaica. Congress established TPS precisely for moments such as this — when natural disasters or humanitarian crises render a country temporarily uninhabitable.
“Extending TPS to Jamaican nationals would reaffirm our nation’s commitments and ensure that individuals are not forced to return to life-threatening conditions,” continues the letter, stating that, pursuant to Section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS when extraordinary and temporary conditions – such as environmental disasters – prevent its nationals from safely returning home.
“We believe the situation in Jamaica clearly meets this statutory standard,” the letter says. “We, therefore, strongly urge you to immediately designate Jamaica for Temporary Protected Status under the Immigration and Nationality Act; allow all eligible Jamaican nationals currently residing in the United States to remain here lawfully and continue contributing to our communities; and coordinate with federal, state, and international partners to support Jamaica’s recovery and strengthen disaster resilience across the Caribbean region.”
The legislators further urged the administration to “stand firmly with Jamaica during this crisis.
“Our nations are bound by shared history, culture, and family ties,” they said. “Many of our constituents are deeply affected by this tragedy, and we respectfully urge you to grant TPS for Jamaica without delay.
“We look forward to your prompt action and remain committed to working with DHS to provide the protection and stability this moment demands,” they added.
Last week, Caribbean immigration advocates in New York also urged Trump to protect Jamaicans in New York by granting them TPS.
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, noted that Hurricane Melissa caused catastrophic destruction in Jamaica, leaving residents across the island reeling from its impact.
“Everything from homes to local businesses has been destroyed, widespread power outages have occurred, and families are struggling to recover,” NYIC President and CEO Murad Awawdeh told Caribbean Life.
“Currently, Jamaica is not designated for TPS,” he added. “Given the scale of this natural disaster and humanitarian crisis that is unfolding, the Trump administration must act with urgency to grant TPS to Jamaica, ensuring that all 230,000 Jamaicans in New York state can stay without the fear of being deported as the island faces a long road to recovery.
“Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath reveals the devastating reality of natural disasters,” Awawdeh continued. “Across Jamaica, many are left with destroyed homes and businesses, and the painful task of rebuilding their lives. As the island faces a long road to recovery, the Trump administration must meet this moment and designate TPS for Jamaica.”
In New York, he said TPS has “enabled our immigrant neighbors to work legally, support their families, and contribute to the local economy.
“In contrast, deporting Jamaicans back to a country in the middle of a humanitarian crisis would be reckless and inhumane,” he said. “We urge the administration to immediately designate TPS for Jamaica, ensuring they have legal protections, stability, and dignity to continue to rebuild their lives without the fear of being ripped away from their loved ones.”
BP Reynoso told Caribbean Life that members of the public and interested organizations are encouraged to donate essential items, including baby products such as diapers and formula, hygienic products like body soap and tampons, and rescue relief items like first aid kits and gloves.
“The pain and devastation in Jamaica right now are absolutely heartbreaking. Even now, more than a week after the Hurricane hit, there are thousands of folks without a roof to call home or electricity to power their lives. It’s times like these when we must have each other’s backs, and I’m so proud to open Borough Hall’s doors as a drop-off site for essential items in partnership with the Consulate General of Jamaica and so many elected officials across Brooklyn,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
Hurricane Melissa was among the strongest hurricanes on record to have formed in the Atlantic Ocean, wreaking havoc across the Caribbean. Jamaica received the brunt of the damage as Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. It’s estimated that more than 600,000 Jamaicans have been affected, with more than 120,000 structures damaged, half of the island without power, and at least 32 dead.
The “Brooklyn Backs Jamaica” resource drive is held in partnership with the Consulate General of Jamaica, Representative Yvette Clarke, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, State Senator Roxanne Persaud, Assembly Members Monique Chandler-Waterman, Brian Cunningham, and Phara Souffrant Forrest, and Council Members Crystal Hudson, Mercedes Narcisse, and Chi Ossé.
“I’m proud to join Brooklyn Borough President, the Jamaican Consulate, and my colleagues in government to support relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa. By coming together and using Brooklyn Borough Hall as a collection site, we’re showing that our community stands united in compassion and action when our neighbors are in need,” said State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud.
“I’m proud to partner with the Brooklyn Borough president and my colleagues in government to support our constituents and their loved ones in Jamaica, whom the devastation of Hurricane Melissa has impacted. This is the true meaning of solidarity,” said Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest.
“Our hearts are with Jamaica and all who are enduring this devastation, and we feel this pain deeply here in New York, home to the largest Jamaican community in America. Brooklyn will never falter in our commitment to stand with our neighbors in hardship. My office is proud to stand with the Brooklyn Borough President and our elected officials to support those affected by Hurricane Melissa,” said Council Member Chi Ossé.
Kings County Supreme Court honored veterans, highlighting their service and its connection to upholding justice.
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The family of a Brooklyn man shot and killed by an NYPD officer during a road rage incident in 2016 joined elected officials and supporters outside of police headquarters on Thursday to call upon Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to file charges against the cop who killed him.
Some 33 New York politicians signed off on a letter addressed to the top cop, urging her to proceed with a trial against Police Officer Wayne Isaacs for the nearly decade-old killing of the unarmed black man, despite Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado’s recommendation to dismiss the charges.
Gathering in the shadow of One Police Plaza, holding images of Tisch and Delrawn Small, who was fatally gunned down by Isaacs, speakers charged that Tisch should prove why Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani asked her to stay on in the role.
“There’s been a lot of talk about her efforts to clean up the NYPD, and this is a very clear test right here. This is a line in the sand, and this is an opportunity to remove someone who clearly cannot do his job and did not do his job and actually murdered someone in front of his family,” Brooklyn Council Member Sandy Nurse said. “If this commissioner wants to move forward in this city where we are talking about a new era of accountability for public safety. Put your words into action. We want to see results.”
Video from the deadly shooting on Atlantic Avenue and Bradford Street in East New York appears to depict Isaacs firing several gunshots out of his window as Small approached his vehicle, killing him in front of his family. After a long legal battle and even criminal charges being brought against him, Isaacs has remained on the job and is currently stationed at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennet Field.
“For almost 10 years, our family has been dealing with New York City Police Officer Wayne Isaacs. He killed Delrawn — excuse me, he murdered Delrawn. This cop killed an unarmed man in front of his baby and his family,” Small’s cousin, Eric Eleam said.
When reached out for comment, an NYPD spokesperson stated that the disciplinary process remains ongoing.
A police source pointed out that Officer Isaacs was indicted, went through a criminal trial but ultimately was acquitted in 2019, adding that is more about whether or not CCRB has jurisdiction over off-duty incidents.
But Small’s family has pushed back against this statement, believing that police are trying to skirt the law by using their position as police officers to protect him against criminal charges while using the fact that he was off-duty as a reason to allow him to continue on the job.
Meanwhile, the officials who signed the letter — including Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and others — told Tisch that they are greatly concerned over the officer’s actions and demanded accountability.
“As elected officials who are committed to building a safer and more just New York, we are deeply alarmed by Officer Isaacs’ self-serving legal distortions and the DCT’s faulty stance on this matter, ” part of the letter reads. “Isaacs and his attorneys cannot both claim he was acting as an NYPD officer to defend him from liability and secure indemnification in federal court, and now claim he was not acting as an officer to evade discipline. Unfortunately, DCT Maldonado was fooled by these antics. We urge you not to be.”
NYU Langone hospitals, including the campus in Brooklyn, have received 11 consecutive “A” grades from The Leapfrog Group.
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