Brooklyn Political Roundup, January 24: Nadler pushes for censure of President Trump

In Public Service, From The Political Staff Of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

January 24, 2018 By Paula Katinas & John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Rep. Jerry Nadler wants to censure President Donald Trump. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Share this:

Fight Back Bay Ridge on the march!

Members of Fight Back Bay Ridge, the local resistance movement against President Donald Trump, took part in the NYC Women’s March, the massive demonstration in Manhattan on Jan. 20 marking the first anniversary of Trump’s inauguration.

More than 40 protesters from Bay Ridge made the trip to midtown to make their voices heard. They were part of a massive crowd of protesters estimated to be 200,000 strong.

Members of the Bay Ridge Democrats also joined in the protest march.

“That is what democracy looks like!” Bay Ridge Democrats leaders said in a statement. – PK

* * *

Eugene to celebrate his inauguration

Councilmember Mathieu Eugene (D-Kensington-Flatbush-Crown Heights), who won re-election in November, will be sworn into office during a ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 28, at Erasmus Hall High School, 911 Flatbush Ave., starting at 5 p.m.

Eugene’s office recommends that those attending the ceremony use the entrance to the school located on Flatbush Avenue between Church and Snyder avenues. – PK

* * *

Richardson to host town hall

Assemblymember Diana Richardson (D-Crown Heights) will host a town hall on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Dr. Gladstone H. Atwell Middle School, 400 Empire Blvd., starting at 2 p.m.

Community leaders, merchant organizations, block associations, clergy members, representatives of civic organizations and local residents are among those who will be attending the town hall, according to Richardson’s office. The assemblymember said she wants to hear from members of the public about issues of concern to them.

For more information, call Richardson’s office at 718-771-3105. – PK

* * *

California Rep. Ted Lieu endorses Max Rose

Democrat Max Rose has picked up two major endorsements in his race for the Democratic nomination to run against Republican-Conservative U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan later this year.

Both U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles) and U.S. Rep. Jason Kander (D-Missouri) have announced their support of Rose.

Rose is one of several Democrats running in the primary in the 11th Congressional District. The district, which Donovan has represented since 2015, includes parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst in Brooklyn as well as the entire borough of Staten Island.

Rose’s campaign said the endorsements from Lieu and Kander are significant because the two lawmakers “have become major progressive leaders in the country.” – PK

* * *

Donovan wanted own pay withheld during government shutdown

The government shutdown lasted only three days, but things could have been a lot worse, said U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-C-Bay Ridge-Southwest Brooklyn-Staten Island).

Members of Congress would have received their paychecks no matter how long the federal government shutdown lasted, he said.

But Donovan wasn’t happy about the prospect of getting a paycheck while federal workers did without.

Prior to the end of the shutdown, Donovan asked the House of Representatives payroll administrators to withhold his paycheck until the government shutdown ended.

“I never have and never will vote to shut down our government. Still, I’ve requested that my salary be withheld because members of Congress and senators shouldn’t be treated differently than men and women in uniform,” Donovan said in a statement.

* * *

Nadler pushes for censure of President Trump

U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Bensonhurst-Upper West Side), the top member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined forces with U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, to introduce a resolution to censure President Donald Trump over the “s***hole” remark he allegedly made during a meeting on immigration with senators in the White House on Jan. 11.

The resolution currently has nearly 150 Democratic co-sponsors, according to Nadler’s office.

“We were deeply disturbed and offended by President Trump’s remarks regarding Haiti and African countries. The countries he called ‘s***holes’ produce immigrants that are remarkable and make significant contributions to our country. A high percentage of those immigrants have college degrees and when they get here they create businesses and jobs. This censure resolution is important because America is a beacon of hope. We have to show the world that this president does not represent the real feelings of most of the American people which is part of the reason why he lost the popular vote,” Nadler and Richmond said in a joint statement.

In addition to Nadler and Richmond, the resolution’s co-sponsors include House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn and House Democratic Chairman Joe Crowley. – PK

* * *

City’s biggest politicians attend Brannan inauguration

“This is really a good news day for this community and for Brooklyn and for all the city. It is nice to be in what I call the one true borough,” Mayor de Blasio said at Justin Brannan’s inauguration in Bay Ridge.

He was joined by a veritable who’s who of politicians, community leaders, family and friends as Brannan was sworn in as City Councilmember representing the 43rd City Council District, which includes Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst.

Attending the ceremony were party leaders from both sides of the aisle.

Speakers included de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Public Advocate Letitia James, Assemblymember Peter Abbate, Democratic district leaders Joanne Seminara and Joseph Bova and Bay Ridge activist Maureen Sanders.

Brannan was sworn into office by his former boss Vincent Gentile. Gentile said that Brannan’s experience at City Hall, with the Department of Education, as his communications director — and ultimately chief of staff — will help him to hit the ground running. “He has an exuberance about the job that he is about to do. That exuberance is something that you can’t teach. You either have it or you don’t and Justin has the exuberance to do this job well.”

An emotionally moved Brannan called Brooklyn a rich mosaic of traditions and cultures. “We are at a critical time for our city, state and nation,” Brannan said. “And while some inexplicably see diversity as a threat, I know our diversity is our true strength. Our community has a long and beautiful tradition of welcoming new immigrants with open arms — I don’t care if you’re a new arrival or a native — my door will always be open to you, and I swear today to make sure that on these streets, from Colonial Road to Cropsey Avenue, from Shore Road to Shore Parkway, everyone will be treated with respect.” – JA

* * *

Golden joins correction officers at City Hall rally for safer jails

State Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), a former New York City Police Officer, joined correction officers on the steps of City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 18 for a rally for safer jails.

“Today we reaffirm our commitment to do more to protect the men and women who are New York’s boldest from the dangers they face while performing their duty,” Golden said. “Over the last several years, jail violence has risen in all major categories.”

Golden explained how everyday corrections officers face some of the most dangerous inmates in the world while doing their job. Many of the prisoners are mentally ill, unpredictable and extremely violent, according to Golden.

“Let us stop talking about closing Rikers and let us start real conversations on how to make our jails safer for all,” Golden said. “We must ensure that corrections officers have the resources, programs, equipment and technology that creates a safer jail facility. Our corrections officers patrol the toughest jails in the nation and we owe them every opportunity to return safely to their loved ones the end of their shift.” – JA

* * *

GOP district leader calls on Harris to resign

Republican District Leader Ray Denaro is calling on Assemblymember Pamela Harris (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Coney Island) to resign. Harris, who represents Assembly District 46 (Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Coney Island), was indicted on 11 counts in federal court.

The charges include two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of making false statements, two counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of witness tampering and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Harris is also accused of stealing $25,000 worth of Sueprstorm Sandy funds from FEMA and defrauding the City Council of close to $23,000 in funding for not for her not-for-profit group.

“The actions of Assemblymember Harris are disgusting, criminal and show a blatant disrespect to the people she claimed to serve” Denaro said. “While many of her constituents were suffering, she used their money to purchase lavish items from clothing stores and taking her friends and families on vacations. I truly feel for the people of the 46th Assembly District and more importantly Assemblymember Harris’ supporters who thought so highly of her. Clearly she was not the person many of her constituents thought she was.”

Denaro recently ran on the Republican and Conservative lines for City Council in District 47 (Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Seagate) and lost to incumbent Democrat Mark Treyger. – JA