Velázquez Demands Accountability from Secretary Carson
Yesterday, Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-LES, Brooklyn, Queens) grilled Secretary of HUD Ben Carson (R) at a hearing over the delay of federal aid to Puerto Rico.
On Oct. 17, two HUD officials admitted that the agency missed a mandatory deadline that would have made hurricane relief funding available to Puerto Rico. The agency was supposed to have issued funding notices for 18 states and territories damaged by natural disasters by Sep. 14; they met the deadline for all of the notices except Puerto Rico’s.
“The simple answer for this is the disdain and contempt for this administration towards the people of Puerto Rico,” said Velázquez. “This is an abuse of power. It speaks to this administration’s disregard for the people of Puerto Rico. Three thousand people died in Puerto Rico under your watch. And I will ask for your agency, HUD, to send to Congress and this committee, every communication related to Puerto Rico. And you know what, sir? We will find out what motivated you to withhold this money.”
Maloney, Engel, Schiff Reprimand John Sullivan for Failing to Comply with Subpoena
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn Queens), Eliot Engel (D-Bronx, Westchester County) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter to Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan (R) regarding the Department of State’s failure to comply with a congressional subpoena.
Earlier, the House of Representatives had determined the existence of vital documents under the Department’s custody that are directly relevant to the impeachment inquiry. The Committees on Oversight and Reform, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence – chaired by Maloney, Engel and Schiff, respectively – issued a subpoena for the documents, which the Department of State has yet to answer.
“The Committees consider the refusal to comply with a duly authorized congressional subpoena as obstruction of the lawful functions of Congress and of the impeachment inquiry,” reads the letter. “Because the Committees have gathered evidence about the direct relevance of these documents, including highly significant information contained in these materials that pertain to allegations that the President abused the power of his office for personal political benefit, the Committees may draw the inference that their nonproduction indicates that these documents support the allegations against the President and others.”
Read the full letter here.
Brewer to Speak at Charter Revision Town Hall
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (D) will be speaking at a charter revision town hall meeting tonight.
On Nov. 5, New Yorkers will get the chance to vote on five ballot measures to revise the NYC Charter. The town hall will educate attendees on what each of the measures are, and what they could mean to the community.
The event will take place tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the P.S. 59 Auditorium, 233 East 56th St.
