Local Issues
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More on Local Issues
Brooklyn, NY – Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) released the following statement on the decision by Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson to take the Akai Gurley case to a grand jury:
Washington, DC – Rep. Jeffries released the following statement in reaction to the failure of a Staten Island grand jury to bring charges against Daniel Pantaleo, an NYPD officer whose unauthorized chokehold caused the death of unarmed Staten Island man Eric Garner:
CITY HALL — Police Commissioner William Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio heaped praise Wednesday on Benjamin Tucker, the new pick as the NYPD's First Deputy Commissioner following Friday's abrupt resignation of Philip Banks III. But the response from politicians and community leaders has been lukewarm at best.
Not long after Philip Banks III, the New York Police Department’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, abruptly resigned on Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio phoned several black elected officials to convey his disappointment.
Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) released the following statement on the New York Police Department’s change to its minor marijuana possession arrest policy:
"This change appears to be a step in the right direction and a good-faith attempt by the Mayor to achieve a more equitable approach to minor marijuana possession in New York City. However, the new policy must be enforced equitably across all races.
New York, NY– Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) released the following statement on the appointment of Ben Tucker as the First Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD:
"The departure of Chief Banks, which seems to have been unnecessarily provoked, left a gaping hole that the police department will struggle to fill. Ben Tucker has an interesting background, but there is no recent evidence of any meaningful community-based experience. Let's hope he will be successful, but the jury is out."
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For all the rebuilding since Superstorm Sandy, damaged houses of worship have been left out in the cold due to federal prohibitions on direct aid to religious institutions. An attempt to amend the law and allow for such assistance in the case of natural disasters passed in the House but died in the Senate, and now one Congressman is asking local financial institutions to step up to the plate instead.
Community leaders in Brooklyn say a church there has been ignored in the two years since Sandy damaged it.
The pastor of the United Community Baptist Church in Coney Island says he needs about $2.5 million to repair the building.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries sent letters to the four biggest banks in the country asking for help in funding the work.
He says the federal government can't help houses of worship because of the separation of church and state, but banks have a responsibility to the community.
BROOKLYN, NY: Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) released the following statement condemning the act of vandalism of the 9/11 Memorial in Coney Island, New York on October 17.