Rodriguez Supports Family of Hit-and-Run Victim
City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Washington Heights, Inwood) rallied yesterday in support of justice for hit-and-run victim Jean Paul Guerrero.
Guerrero, known better by his stage name DJ Jinx Paul, was killed in late 2016 by a reckless driver, who then fled the scene of the crime. A trial date for the perpetrator, Kevin Ozoria, has recently been set and announced.
Rodriguez said that Guerrero’s tragic death is symptomatic of a much greater problem – an “epidemic” of hit-and-runs around the City.
“I’m calling the mayor to help with this, to double the funding [for hit-and-run investigation] so that we can have a double number of police officers dedicated to this squad unit,” said Rodriguez.
Velazquez Announces $27.3 Million for Head Start
Rep. Nydia Velazquez just announced that the early education centers in New York’s 7th Congressional District will be receiving $27.3 Million in federal grants for their Head Start and Early Head Start Programs.
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs designed to provide education services for underprivileged and low-income families.
Educational Alliance, an establishment on the Lower East Side that has been servicing low-income families for over a century, is one of the several education centers that have been chosen to receive grant money.
“Time and time again reports released from the Department of Health and Human Services prove the lifetime social benefits of Head Start Programs and their impact on our youth,” said Velázquez. “From testing significantly better in literature and math to showing better social-emotional, language, and cognitive development, the value of Head Start programs are irrefutable. I am proud to see a wide range of local centers receive federal funding to continue the important work of educating our youngest New Yorkers.”
Johnson, Chin Crack Down on Placard Abuse
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) and City Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D-Battery Park City, Chinatown) have announced a package of bills to be revealed tomorrow, all dedicated to addressing the problem of placard abuse.
Placards, or City-issued parking permits, are often used as a means of protecting drivers from repercussions for unsavory parking practices – such as blocking bike lanes, crosswalks, fire hydrants and sidewalks.
“Placard abuse is corruption, plain and simple, and New York City cannot tolerate it any longer,” Said Johnson. “We are in a transportation crisis and the question of how we allocate our street space is of paramount importance. As we try to fight congestion and encourage modes of transportation like buses and cycling, it is clear that cracking down on placard abuse has to be part of any serious attempt to make navigating our City easier and more efficient for all New Yorkers.”
Chin Rallies to Bring Stanton Street Building Back to the Community
City Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D-Battery Park City, Chinatown) will be rallying this Thursday to open the Stanton Street community building to the public again.
The building was constructed for public use in 1934, but was repurposed as a storage center for all of Manhattan’s parks during the 70’s. The City has been promising to reopen the building since 1998, and Chin and her colleagues are tired of waiting.
The rally is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 14 at 3:00 p.m., outside of the Stanton Street Building on the corner of Chrystie and Stanton.
