City Hall – Today the New York City Council will vote on legislation that creates a wide range of reforms at the Department of Correction, including requiring the utilization of innovative techniques in interacting with needy inmates, establishing due process in determining admission to the Department’s nursery program, requiring all criminal defendants to undergo a medical screening before arraignment, streamlining procedures for obtaining inmates’ health information, and enhancing oversight of inmates with mental health issues and programming offered to Department of Correction inmates.

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“Today is a somber day for New Yorkers as we mourn the loss of FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, who lost his life in the line of duty courageously battling an explosion in the Bronx. Every day, the bravery and selflessness of our first responders is exemplified in the work they do to keep us safe. FDNY Battalion Chief Fahy was a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect New Yorkers.

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City Hall – Today the New York City Council will vote on legislation that will provide the public and city officials with better information to hold agencies accountable for meeting the objectives of the city’s minority and women-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) program, as well as promote collaborative efforts to encourage greater participation by minority and women-owned businesses in city contract procurement.

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CITY HALL– Today, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced a package of legislation that will ensure that inmates are not brought to court in DOC uniforms, provide inmate transportation to all criminal court appearances, and allow for the return of bail fees collected by the City if an inmate makes their court appearances.

The package is part of a long line of criminal justice reforms created by the City Council, which have included legislation transforming the way in which NYPD enforces low-level, non-violent offenses, creating the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform and enacting a series of laws promoting transparency at the DOC, NYPD, and Department of Probation.

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QUEENS, NY – Today, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Council Queens Delegation, CUNY Vice Chancellor for Facilities Judy Bergtraum and CUNY Queensborough Community College President Dr. Diane Bova Call celebrated $50.7 million in capital funding for much-needed upgrades on CUNY campuses across the five boroughs. This comes in addition to $22.6 million in funding being granted through the state matching the Council’s FY2017 budget.

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“This Labor Day, let us reflect upon the sacrifices of all of the hard working Americans who helped build our city and country. Over the last year, we have seen the raising of the state minimum wage, improved overtime laws, and the City Council has established the Office of Labor Standards to help promote worker protections and safety. While we are proud of the progress that has been made, we will continue to fight for reasonable working conditions and employee protections.

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“On this day, 94 years ago, women in the United States had their right to vote cemented into law through the certification of the 19th amendment. We celebrate Women’s Equality Day every August 26 to commemorate the monumental undertakings of the suffragists who came before us, the initiative of those who represent us across the nation now and the promising future of the women leaders who are still waiting in the wings.

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City Hall-  The New York City Council this week voted to rename the Council’s Holocaust Survivors Initiative in honor of Nobel Laureate, humans rights activist, author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. The Elie Wiesel Holocaust Survivors Initiative is a $2.5 million program established by the City Council to provide Holocaust survivors living at or below the federal poverty line with a wide range of services, including preventive health care, medical appointment transportation, case management support and home delivered meals to help maintain and improve their quality of life.

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