Meng, Meeks, Cuomo Respond To Trumps Shutdown & Wall Speech
U.S. Reps Grace Meng (D-Bayside, Flushing, Forest Hills, Fresh Meadows, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park) and Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, The Rockaways, and JFK Airport) along with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) yesterday responded critically to President Trump’s address to the nation about his proposed border wall along the county’s southern border of the United States – the cause of the partial federal government shutdown.
“Tonight, President Trump addressed the nation to make the case for his long-sought border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. For over 18 days, he has misled the American people about the situation at the southern border and the need for a border wall,” said Meng.
“Only President Trump is responsible for the government shutdown and the impasse between the White House and Congress. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrats have passed clean spending bills to fund the federal government that are identical to the ones that the Senate passed back in December. Democrats support smart, effective border security solutions, not an ineffective border wall. The only person who is keeping federal employees from receiving their paychecks is President Trump. Democrats are ready to re-open the federal government if only President Trump would agree to fund the federal government at levels the Republican Senate has already approved,” she added.
Meeks, whose district includes JFK Airport, said in his regular travel between New York and Washington D.C., he speaks TSA agents every week and that yesterday was no different except that worked with no pay as a result of Trump’s continued government shutdown.
“I expressed my sympathy for the hardship caused by Trump’s latest political publicity stunt, as he holds everyday Americans hostage in order to strong-arm Congress into funding a symbolic wall for a fabricated crisis,” he said.
“However, in manufacturing a threat he has created a real one. In leaving agencies like DHS (Department of Homeland Security) understaffed, he is endangering national security in the name of upholding it. As the Congressman representing one of the largest ports in our nation, JFK airport, I’m increasingly concerned by the growing number of TSA agents calling-out or resigning altogether because of the lack of pay. And, while boarding my plane today, I was well aware of the fact that FAA safety inspectors are considered non-essential staff and are therefore furloughed during the Trump shutdown.
“This shutdown is political, it is petty, and most importantly it is reckless. I will be proud to vote for bipartisan continuing resolutions throughout this week that will reopen our Government at current funding levels. I suggest that President Trump no longer use the safety of Americans as a bartering chip, sign these appropriation bills, and end this prolonged tantrum,” Meeks added.
Cuomo said Americans know truth when they hear it.
“A wall is not a response to a humanitarian crisis nor is it a solution to keeping our country safe. If the president is serious about border security, he will join with the Democrats to support smart, high-tech security instead of wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on his absurd wall,” said Cuomo.
“In New York, we know that a wall does not represent who we are as Americans – we are a nation of open arms and we know our diversity is our greatest strength. Earlier today, I met with members of the New York Congressional delegation who are determined to stand up for our New York principles and get government back to work. In these challenging times, we will fight for New York’s interests and New York’s values.”
Katz Gets Hotel Union Endorsement In Her DA Bid
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz yesterday received the endorsement of the New York Hotel Trades Council (HTC) in her bid for Queens District Attorney later this year.
This is the first major labor endorsement of the race and HTC’s first endorsement of 2019.
“I am proud to have the support of the New York Hotel Trades Council, one of the state’s strongest unions and most dedicated to criminal justice reform. From advocating for discovery reform to successfully securing protections against wrongful convictions, HTC has been at the forefront demanding criminal justice reform for years. I look forward to working with HTC and other advocates to bring meaningful reform to Queens,” said Katz.
Addabbo To Co-Host E-Waste Recycling Event In Ridgewood
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, parts of South Ozone Park, Ridgewood, Woodside, The Rockaways) this month will partner with the Lower East Side Ecology Center and others to hold an e-waste recycling event where residents can get rid of their old and broken electronics at an e-waste event in Ridgewood.
“I truly love co-hosting these e-waste recycling events throughout the year because it gives my constituents an easy way to recycle their old or broken electronics at a central location right in their neighborhood,” Addabbo said. “With the sanitation laws seemingly always changing, it can get confusing on what can legally be thrown out with your curbside recycling. So if you got some new electronics over the holiday season and need a place to get rid of your old ones, come down to Rosemary’s Playground and take part in this great event.”
Electronics accepted at the event include working and non-working computers, monitors, printers and scanners, keyboards, mice, cables, TVs, VCRs and DVD players, phones, audio/visual equipment, cell phones and PDA’s.
The event is slated between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26 at Rosemary’s Playground on Fairview Avenue between Woodbine and Madison streets in Ridgewood.
