civil rights

Day 1: Nurses at Three NYC Private Hospital Systems Strike as Gov. Hochul Declares “State of Emergency”

By DAVID GREENE & SÍLE MOLONEY
Nearly 15,000 nurses across the City walked off the job before 7 a.m. on Monday Jan. 12, as nurses from three private hospitals Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and New York-Presbyterian, kicked off the largest nurses strike in New York City history. The strike was anticipated as negotiations over contracts failed to reach a resolution by the stated deadline. Read more about the nurses’ concerns in our previous story here. 

Mamdani Appoints Dina Levy as Housing Commissioner, Announces Series of “Rental Ripoff” Hearings  

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Newly inaugurated New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani paid a visit to The Bronx on Sunday, Jan. 4, to announce the holding of a series of “Rental Ripoff” hearings in defense of tenants, and the appointment of longtime housing leader Dina Levy as the new commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD). The announcement was made during a press conference held at the birthplace of Hip Hop at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Morris Heights section of The Bronx.

UPDATE Norwood: Family of Allan Feliz Holds Rally outside NYPD HQ Calling for Justice

By DAVID GREENE
Family and friends of Allan Feliz, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Woodlawn Cemetery in the Norwood section of The Bronx on Oct. 17, 2019 by a police sergeant, held a rally outside NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan on July 8, to urge Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to change course after she announced on July 3 that she decided not to fire the involved sergeant, now an NYPD lieutenant, Jonathan Rivera. Tisch took the decision not to fire Rivera despite the recommendation of NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado. 

Dinowitz, Harckham Introduce Bill to Protect Residents from Civil Arrest at Polling Places

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York State Senator Pete Harckham (S.D. 40) and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) introduced legislation on Dec. 3 which aims to protect residents from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, or returning from polling places in New York State. According to the both Harckham and Dinowitz, civil arrests supported by a judicial warrant or a court will still be allowable under this new bill, however.

What Does the Latest U.S. Military Build Up in Puerto Rico Mean?   

By GENE ROMAN
Puerto Rico has a long and proud tradition of U.S. military service. Increases in the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean have set the region on edge. According to an ABC article dated Nov. 24, entitled Top U.S. military Adviser Visits Caribbean as Trump Ramps Up Pressure on Venezuela, high level officials from the Pentagon visited troops on the Island during Thanksgiving to thank them for their service. Is this military build-up temporary, and does it presage a larger conflict with Venezuela?