Politics

Biaggi, Senate Majority Pass Law Aimed at Strengthening State’s Sexual Harassment Protections

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State Senate passed new legislation on March 2 sponsored by Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) to expand protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace and provide survivors the opportunity to openly speak their truth, without fear of retaliation.   The legislation includes the following laws: Let Survivors Speak Act: This legislation, Senate Bill S.738, sponsored by Biaggi, would reform current Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) laws that financially penalize survivors who speak out about their abuse by prohibiting settlements that require plaintiffs to pay liquidated damages for violating their NDA. Workplace Sexual Harassment Hotline: This bill, S.812A,


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

By DAVID GREENE
    This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.   “I feel that with this war, the Russians are unjust at what they’re doing…like a bully, and I’m glad that people of other countries are coming together and putting the pressure on him [President Vladimir Putin]. I don’t think it’s going to last too much longer. If you don’t have money, you can’t run a country, right? That’s how I feel about it. But I hope that this thing stops soon, because it’s going to spread like cancer in Europe if it doesn’t. He’s


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Op-Ed: Puerto Rico Status and Finances

By GENE ROMAN
  After five years of haggling, debate, and protests, Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York finally approved a debt restructuring agreement for Puerto Rico in January.   The Fiscal, Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico (FOMB) was able to reduce the government of Puerto Rico’s total debt obligations from $33 billion to $7.4 billion, according to recent reporting by The New York Times.   FOMB was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. It consists of seven members appointed by the President


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Norwood: Students and Staff Evacuated following Bomb Alert at P.S. 20

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Students and teachers were evacuated from P.S. 20 in the Norwood section of the Bronx on Friday, March 4, due to a reported bomb threat. The area was later declared clear by police and safe for reentry.   A police official told Norwood News that an anonymous call had been placed with the school, located at 3050 Webster Avenue, next door to the 52nd precinct, at around 8.50 a.m., advising that there was a bomb on the premises. The NYPD spokesperson was unable to confirm on which extension or number the call had been placed, but confirmed that the


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AG James Warns New Yorkers to be Cautious in Charitable Giving Amid Ukrainian Crisis

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  New York Attorney General Letitia James warned New Yorkers on Thursday, March 3, to be wary of sham charities attempting to take advantage of the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis and to ensure they are donating to credible organizations. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also provided tips to those seeking ways to support the Ukrainian people amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia military forces which began on Feb. 24.   “At a time of great chaos, confusion, and destruction, it is imperative that New Yorkers be on alert for potential risks to when donating to charitable causes,”


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Our Revolution Endorses Melanie D’Arrigo in New York’s 3rd Congressional District Race

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Our Revolution announced its endorsement of organizer and mother-of-three, Melanie D’Arrigo in New York’s 3rd congressional district race on Tuesday, March 1. The organization is described as “the United States’ leading grassroots-funded, political organizing group,” launched by Bernie Sanders following the 2016 election to help everyday Americans take on the corporate establishment.   Campaign officials for D’Arrigo said the organization’s endorsement of her candidacy shows that her progressive platform – centered on getting dark, corporate money out of politics – is resonating both across the district and across the country. “Melanie is dominating the ‘Left Lane’ in this race, and Our


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Biaggi Earns Endorsements of 12 New York State Senators in NY-3 Congressional Race

By SÍLE MOLONEY
State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) announced on Feb. 18 that she had secured the endorsements of twelve New York State senators in her bid to win the race for NY congressional district 3, the parameters of which have recently been redrawn and now encompass parts of the senator’s current senatorial district 34 in The Bronx and Southern Westchester, as well as the area spanning the Sound from Northern Westchester to Suffolk County.   In the context of the announcement, Biaggi’s campaign said the senator quickly earned support from her colleagues in the State Senate who campaign officials said have


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UPDATE New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics Hit with Malicious Cyberattack

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) has provided an update on the cyberattack reported at the end of February. The commission reported that it had learned that it had been the target of a deliberate malicious cyberattack, specifically to the web server that houses, among other systems, JCOPE’s Lobbying Application and Financial Disclosure Statement Online Filing System.   JCOPE officials released a statement on Friday, Feb. 25, confirming the commission’s systems were taken down as a precaution earlier that week by the State Office of Information Technology Services (“ITS”) when the agency received an alert of suspicious


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