The third congressional district of New York — the federal legislative seat that’s been vacated due to the expulsion of former GOP Rep. George Santos — is considered a “toss-up” district in the special election set for early 2024. Santos, who faces 23 federal charges (including fraud and conspiracy) due to his lies to manipulate donors and constituents in his district and beyond…
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Abu Dhabi: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar received a telephone call from Mr. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to discuss progress in the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio from Pakistan.
The Prime Minister is currently on an official visit to the UAE. During the telephone call, the caretaker Prime Minister and Mr. Gates followed up on their discussion in New York when they met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in September.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Gates Foundation’s support to the government’s efforts to secure a polio-free Pakistan.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to rid the country of this debilitating virus. Prime Minister briefed Mr. Gates on the polio vaccination drive currently in progress across Pakistan.
The issues of malnutrition and maternal health also came under discussion. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the excellent cooperation between the government and BMGF. The Prime Minister assured Mr. Gates that the government of Pakistan was fully committed to delivering on the promise of a healthier, safer, and financially inclusive Pakistan and counted on reliable partners such as BMGF in this endeavor.
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United Nations: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged world leaders at the climate conference COP 28 to break the deadly cycle of global warming before a deadly tipping point is reached.
UN secretary was briefing reporters in New York after seeing for himself over the weekend the “profoundly shocking” speed at which ice is melting in Antarctica – three times faster than the rate in the early 1990s.
New figures reveal that sea ice at the South Pole is now 1.5 million square kilometers below average for this time of year; that’s equal to the combined surface area of Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany combined.
“What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay in Antarctica”, Mr. Guterres said. “We live in an interconnected world. Melting sea ice means rising seas. And that directly endangers lives and livelihoods in coastal communities across the globe.
He noted that it’s not just the impact of floods and saltwater on food and water supplies at stake, but the viability of small islands and entire cities on coasts across the world.
“The movement of waters around Antarctica distributes heat, nutrients and carbon around the world, helping to regulate our climate and regional weather patterns”, he told correspondents outside the security council.
“But that system is slowing as the southern ocean grows warmer and less dense. Further slowdown – or entire breakdown – would spell catastrophe.”
With no let-up in fossil fuel extraction “we’re heading towards a calamitous three-degree celsius temperature rise by the end of the century”, he warned.
:If we continue as we are, and I strongly hope we will not, the Greenland and West Antarctica ice sheets will cross a deadly tipping point.” This represents an astonishing rise of around 10 metres.
The vicious cycle means accelerated heating as ice diminishes and more extreme weather.
At COP28 in Dubai, which starts later this week, “leaders must break this cycle”, the UN chief urged.
“The solutions are well known. Leaders must act to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees celsius, protect people from climate chaos, and end the fossil fuel age.”
Only a global pact to triple renewable energy use, a doubling in energy efficiency and access to clean power for all by 2030, will be sufficient, he argued.
“Antarctica is crying out for action”, the Secretary-General added. “I salute the thousands of researchers – in Antarctica and around the world – expanding our understanding of the changes taking place on the continent.
“They are testament to human ingenuity and the immense benefits of international collaboration. leaders must not let the hopes of people around the world for a sustainable planet melt away.”
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New York: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced that the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) and Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) have joined the Labor Rights Investor Network (LRIN), a global initiative of the CWC and its partnering unions.
The network consists of asset managers, asset owners, and investment service providers committed to integrating labor rights into their stewardship practices.
“As financial stewards responsible for the retirement savings of thousands of unionized workers we want to ensure that the companies in which we invest our capital are in turn investing in their workforce. Ignoring fundamental workers rights risks eroding long-term shareholder value,” said Comptroller Lander. “The historic movement to ensure labor rights are respected has led to measurable gains for hundreds of thousands of workers. We are proud to stand boldly with the Committee for Workers Capital to announce this important initiative which centers respecting labor rights as a business imperative key to mitigating systemic risks.”
“Organized labor is the foundation of our City, and a central element of the City workforce whose finances we steward. Worker protections are vital to all New Yorkers. I fully support our membership in the Labor
Rights Investor Network. Membership will strengthen our pension fund and promote positive labor practices that are both prudent and principled,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
The Systems’ membership with the network builds upon an extensive record of prioritizing a company’s treatment of their workforce as a critical factor in their role as fiduciaries responsible for securing strong returns for hundreds of thousands of current and former public sector workers and their beneficiaries. This record includes securing a workers rights assessment by Apple and Starbucks that will conclude this year. The Systems view the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining as a fundamental human right as recognized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations (UN).
LRIN members set expectations for their portfolio companies and request that the boards and senior management of these companies take responsibility for labor rights oversight and ensure respect for workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The LRIN is housed at the Global Unions’ Committee on Workers’ Capital (CWC), a committee of the International Trade Union Confederation, the Global Union Federations and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD that advocates for the responsible investment of workers’ capital.
Comptroller Lander joined network members, representatives from Microsoft and others from the labor and business communities yesterday for an official launch of the Network during an events at the U.S. Department of Labor aimed at highlighting how businesses and investors can become more resilient and competitive by harnessing the growing global movement for worker voice.
In addition to Comptroller Lander, the trustees of the aforementioned New York City pension funds are as follows:
New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS): Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Mark Levine (Manhattan), Donovan Richards Jr. (Queens), Vito Fossella (Staten Island), and Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Richard Davis, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.
Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS): Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; Chancellor’s Representative, Dr. Angela Green, New York City Department of Education Panel for Educational Policy; and Thomas Brown (Chair), Victoria Lee, and David Kazansky, all of the United Federation of Teachers.
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New York: The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has warned that 51,000 drivers who fail to submit their license renewal and vision tests as suspensions would affect drivers whose licenses expired between March 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021.
According to the DMV, due to the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, drivers have temporarily self-verified their vision test and renewed their license online, however, drivers will still be required to submit the vision test otherwise their license will be suspended.
Driving with a suspended license in NY can result in a ticket or fines of $200 to $500. It could also result in possible jail time of up to 30 days.
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NEW YORK – As New York City continues to manage a national asylum seeker crisis largely on its own, New York City Mayor Eric Adams today launched an expansion of the Asylum Application Help Center, scaling up a resource that has helped thousands of asylum seekers complete complex immigration forms as they continue to pursue the American Dream.
With funding from the state, the Adams administration will open two satellite sites to assist asylum seekers submit applications for asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and work authorization — critical steps on the path to securing employment and living independently. As the city continues to pursue its own long-term solutions in the absence of a federal strategy, Mayor Adams also convened a Resettlement Working Group to focus on collaborating with national refugee resettlement organizations and municipalities across the country looking to boost declining populations.
The city continues to work diligently to help asylum seekers move from shelter to alternative housing by intensifying casework, reticketing migrants, and providing legal support so that asylum seekers can become self-sufficient. Thanks in large part to the city’s efforts helping asylum seekers take the next steps in their journeys, more than half of asylum seekers who have come through the city’s shelter system have found alternative accommodations.
“While we continue to call for a national strategy to solve a national crisis, New York City continues to do its part to support asylum seekers,” said Mayor Adams. “For over a year, we have asked the federal government to put forward a resettlement strategy, expedite work authorizations for asylum seekers, and provide New York City with much needed and meaningful financial support. In the absence of that national strategy, New York City continues to lead — building out the legal and resettlement infrastructure needed to address this crisis. We hope the federal government will join us in these efforts and finish the job they started.”
“Our city has done a nation’s work — without a nation’s resources — in responding to the asylum seeker crisis, and our Asylum Application Help Center is the tip of the spear in our efforts to help asylum seekers take the next steps in their journeys,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “These satellite sites will allow us to process even more applications, getting asylum seekers one step closer to work authorization and self-sufficiency.”
“In less than six months, the Asylum Application Help Center has assisted thousands of individuals and families take important and necessary steps to ultimately continue on their path to self-sufficiency and the American Dream,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This work will be bolstered by additional satellite sites across the city in order to help even more people. We continue to do our part as a city, and we thank the federal government for their support with work authorizations — but more federal support is needed to help asylum seekers transition more quickly to independence.”
Since opening this summer — bolstered by critical funding from state partners — the city’s help center has supported the filing of over 7,200 asylum applications, approximately 2,900 work authorization applications, and nearly 2,900 TPS applications — more than 13,000 total. The city has additionally helped asylum seekers file over 3,100 work authorization applications during two clinics hosted in partnership with the federal government and city-based nonprofits — totaling more than 16,000 asylum, work authorization, and TPS applications filed thanks to the city’s efforts in recent months.
This month, the city also launched its first satellite sites for immigration application assistance in Harlem and Lower Manhattan, and, in the coming weeks, the city will open additional sites to serve more asylum seekers in the city’s care. Interested asylum seekers can schedule one-on-one appointments at help centers, where trained application assistants provide individualized support to the applicant based on their needs. The city remains on track to identify, screen, and schedule appointments for all eligible Venezuelans who are in the city’s care and qualify for the federal government’s extension and redesignation of TPS by the end of the year.
Comprised of city officials working on the asylum seeker response, the Resettlement Working Group is meeting with immigrant and refugee resettlement organizations and experts to understand best practices from across the country and the world. The working group will also continue to connect with leaders of cities dealing with large influxes of asylum seekers, as well as with cities in need of people to fill vacant jobs. For over a year, the city has asked the federal government to lead a national resettlement and decompression plan. In the absence of action, New York City continues to lead and invest in long-term strategies like resettlement, legal services, and casework to move asylum seekers out of shelter and onto a path to stability.
Since this humanitarian crisis began, the city has taken fast and urgent action, opening over 210 emergency sites to provide shelter to asylum seekers, including 17 additional large-scale humanitarian relief centers; standing up navigation centers with support from community-based organizations to connect asylum seekers with critical resources; enrolling thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms; and more. Earlier this spring, the city released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the city will continue to manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and state partners.
As the Adams administration continues to prioritize helping asylum seekers live independently, without significant or timely state and federal assistance, the city plans to pursue a 20 percent reduction in spending on the migrant crisis in the Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget, which will be released in January 2024.
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BY ERIC ADAMS, NYC MAYOR
The upcoming holiday season is a festive time of year. It’s getting colder, so we try to stay warm, we invite friends and family over, cook more, light candles, maybe burn a fire in the fireplace or use space heaters, buy Christmas trees and string them up with lights, and fill our homes with other decorations. That is why the winter season is also unfortunately known as the fire season, and more than one-third of all home fires occur between December, January, and February.
Early during our administration, in January 2022, 17 people were killed and many more were injured in a tragic fire at the Twin Parks apartment building in the Bronx. The fire was caused by a defective space heater and self-closing doors that didn’t work properly. That loss and devastation remains with us, which is why we are asking all New Yorkers to work together and take some basic precautions this winter season so that we can make this a safe and happy time of celebration.
Smoking materials, like cigarette butts, ashes, lighters, and matches, are the leading cause of home fires. Make sure they are discarded properly in large, deep ashtrays. Smoking is followed by home heating as the second leading cause of home fires. Make sure your equipment —including central heating units, portable and fixed space heaters, as well as fireplaces — are installed by a qualified technician, and inspected and cleaned regularly. All space heaters should have the “Underwriters Laboratories” (UL) mark on them. Never use an extension cord with a space heater, and avoid using space heaters in places like bathrooms, where they can come into contact with water. And make sure to put out the fire in your fireplace completely before you go to sleep.
Candle fires have tripled in the past 10 years — most of these happen when the candles are left unattended or are lit next to combustible materials like paper or fabric. If you enjoy candles in your home, make sure to be present at all times while the candle is burning; keep candles away from flammable materials like curtains, decorations, and bedding; and also place them out of reach of children and pets.
Electric blankets and extension cords are another source of potential danger. They should also have the (UL) mark. Please replace your electric blanket if it is more than 10 years old and buy ones with an automatic shut-off. Also, inspect the condition of your extension cords, make sure that all outlets and switches have cover plates that are not discolored (a possible sign of overheating), and however much you have going on, please don’t overload your outlets with more than two appliances.
If you are buying an artificial Christmas tree, buy one that is flame retardant. Position your trees near outlets so that you don’t have to use extension cords and unplug tree lights when you are not in the room or are going to sleep.
If you own an e-bike or other micro-mobility device, never charge it overnight or leave batteries unattended while charging. Don’t store devices between you and the exit of your home (the batteries can explode, trapping you inside.) Ideally, do not store your batteries or devices indoors at all.
Finally, remember that smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide detectors save lives. Make sure to check your smoke alarms and replace the batteries twice a year. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is released during fires or by malfunctioning heating equipment. Carbon monoxide kills, so a working carbon monoxide detector is essential. It is also required by law in New York City.
Let’s make 2023 the safest holiday season ever so that we can all celebrate our festivals, families, friends, and this beautiful city we call home. Happy holidays!
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Buffalo, New York, has been a key hub within the current uptick of worker-led, store-level union organizing, especially among baristas and food service and grocery workers. From SPoT Coffee to Starbucks, the Lexington Co-op to Remedy House, the city has generated a collection of inspiring union victories and a growing layer of skilled labor organizers. Now, another well-known Buffalo shop may be…
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New York: Apna Women’s Club has been established for the Pakistani-American community’s women in New York as the announcement came at Apna’s Meena Bazaar which was set up on Cony Island Avenue in Brooklyn.
The participating women shop for oriental colorful clothes, beautifully designed jewelry, and cosmetics products at discounted prices at the Meena Bazaar.
The Mena Bazaar was inaugurated with the recitation of a few verses of the Holy Quran.
Chairman of Apna Community Center Pervez Siddiqui, Executive Director Shazia Watto and founder of Apna Women’s Club Samreen Hussain inaugurated the event with a ribbon cutting.
Free shopping stalls were set up in Meena Bazaar to promote women’s small businesses where oriental clothes, beautifully designed jewelry, and cosmetics products were available at discounted prices.
On this occasion, the special guest and Chairman of Apna Community Center Pervez Siddiqui also contributed a donation to encourage women.
Along with the purchase of beautiful women’s dresses and embellished jewelry, women also applied Mehendi to their hands on this occasion.
While addressing the participants, the executive director of Apna Community Center, Shazia Watto, said that efforts have always been made to empower and stabilize the women of the community, so there will be a meet and greet every month and Meena Bazaar will be held regularly.
In Meena Bazaar, children got a chance to roam around and women got the opportunity to meet each other, eat food and chat with each other. They said that their aim is to bring educated, skilled and unskilled women together.
Women were very happy with the provision of free stalls and the availability of discounted and quality items in Meena Bazaar.
On this occasion, famous singer Saima Jahan presented songs in her melodious voice, which was appreciated by the audience.
The women praised the establishment of Meena Bazaar and expressed the hope that consumers will get good products from here, while women associated with small businesses will also get better business opportunities.
The founder women of Meena Bazaar presented a bouquet to the special guest Pervez Siddiqui and cut a cake together in celebration of the establishment of their women’s club.
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ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday said that the welfare of the overseas Pakistanis and the resolution of their issues on a priority basis were among the top priorities of the interim government, according to APP.
Jilani further said that the European Union (EU) was an important partner of Pakistan and welcomed the continuation of GSP Plus status for Pakistan, adding these steps would further promote bilateral economic links with the EU.
The minister expressed these views during his visit to Pakistan Embassy in Belgium where he was warmly received by Pakistan Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Amna Baloch and other members of the diplomatic staff, a press release said.
The caretaker foreign minister visited different sections of the embassy including consular section and expressed his satisfaction over the facilities being provided to the Pakistani community.
On the occasion, he also penned down his expressions in the visitors’ book placed in the embassy.
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New York: One of the two Pakistani-American brothers who sustained fatal burn injuries after a fire broke out in their house in Brooklyn, has passed away.
As per details, the 23-year-old Nadeem Maqsood succumbed to his burn injuries while his brother – 20-year-old Khalil Maqsood is under treatment at a Staten Island hospital.
The victims are grandsons of the late Haji Maqsood, former secretary of Makki Masjid, and sons of Naeem Maqsood.
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UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations was able to scale up delivery of humanitarian assistance into and across bombed-out Gaza during the humanitarian pause that went into effect on Friday following an agreement reached this week between Israel and Hamas, according to APP.
Gaza has a population of over two million, with the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, hosting more than a million displaced people in 156 of its installations across the enclave.
The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said on Friday that 200 trucks were dispatched from Nitzana, a town in Israel, to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
From there, 137 trucks of goods were offloaded by the UNRWA reception point in Gaza, making it the biggest humanitarian convoy received since the start of hostilities on 7 October, it said.
Additionally, 129,000 litres of fuel and four trucks of gas also crossed into Gaza, and 21 critical patients were evacuated in a large-scale medical operation from the north of the enclave.
“Hundreds of thousands of people were assisted with food, water, medical supplies and other essential humanitarian items,” OCHA said.
The UN welcomed the release of 24 hostages held in Gaza since 7 October and renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Nearly 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Oct 7– mostly women and children, according to Palestinian’s Health Ministry.
Humanitarian teams from the UN and partners will continue to ramp up humanitarian operations to meet the needs of people throughout Gaza in the coming days.
Separately, UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland issued a statement welcoming the start of the implementation of the agreement, while expressing hope for an extended humanitarian ceasefire.
He said the development saw the release of 13 Israeli hostages, 39 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, and several foreign workers held in Gaza.
Wennesland – the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process – looked forward to additional releases that are expected over the coming days.
He noted that the humanitarian pause went into effect with relative calm, allowing truckloads of aid to enter Gaza.
“These developments are a significant humanitarian breakthrough that we need to build on. More assistance and supplies must enter the Strip safely and continuously to alleviate the immense suffering of civilians,” he said.
He again called for the release of all hostages, and commended the Governments of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States for their determined efforts to facilitate the agreement.
“I call on all concerned parties to uphold their commitments and refrain from provocations or any actions that could impact the full implementation of this agreement,” he said, while also urging the parties “to exhaust every effort to achieve an extended humanitarian ceasefire and pursue a more peaceful future.”
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New York: ICNA-Relief distributed Halal chicken among the needy families as part of the Thanksgiving Day in New York City.
The volunteers also organized a one-dish party for each other to make the day more special.
The organization distributed halal chicken and other daily essential items to more than 200 families in the Flushing area of New York on Thanksgiving Day.
A long queue was seen on the occasion, in which people of all races and colors were present.
ICNA-relief volunteers, including women and children, cheerfully shared their joy and happy moments with each other and area residents.
The community has highly appreciated ICNA’s contributions towards the society.
After distributing food to the needy families, these volunteers celebrated Thanksgiving Day and organized a one-dish party for each other in which the women prepared and brought different types of dishes from their homes.
ICNA-Relief New York Area Manager Ishaq Alpar and other guests praised the role of volunteers. They said ICNA-Relief has arranged the event to share their happiness with the needy ones. On this special occasion, one must remember the the marginal segments of the society and bring smile to their faces.
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UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Wednesday “welcomed” the temporary truce deal reached between Israel and Hamas, but said it was not enough, with his spokesperson emphasizing that he stands for a humanitarian ceasefire in besieged Gaza.
“I welcome the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas. It’s an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done,” the UN chief said in a statement read out at the regular noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
In his statement, Guterres added that the UN “will mobilize all its capacities to support the implementation & maximize positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” which after six weeks of relentless Israeli attacks is in ruins and its 2.3 million population traumatized.
The temporary humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas has been welcomed by the international community, from neighboring Arab countries to multinational organizations.
It is expected to come into force on Thursday and in a first phase, Hamas will hand over at least 50 hostages, almost all of them women and children, of the more than 240 it seized on Oct. 7, and Israel will release a first batch of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement includes a temporary truce of at least four days, which may be extended to a maximum of 10, in which the fighting will be completely paused and will involve the entry into the strip of between 100 and 300 trucks of food and medical aid and fuel.
The top UN official leading efforts to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, echoed the secretary-general’s comments and also welcomed the announced 96-hour “humanitarian pause” in war-shattered Gaza.
“This pause must be used to its fullest extent to facilitate the release of hostages and alleviate the dire needs of Palestinians in Gaza.”
The development comes as UN humanitarians reiterated that they remain ready to seize the opportunity to ramp up lifesaving aid to the enclave.
Following the four-day temporary truce announcement the UN World Health Organization (WHO) issued fresh calls for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access in the Strip.
“The fighting needs to stop so that we can quickly scale up our response,” said Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “We cannot keep providing drops of aid in Gaza in an ocean of need.”
Meanwhile, WHO said that a new evacuation was underway at Gaza City’s embattled Al-Shifa hospital, with more to follow in northern Gaza.
According to media reports, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was due to begin within 24 hours of its announcement. In his statement, Mr. Wennesland welcomed the efforts of the Governments of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in “facilitating” the agreement.
WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, said that any news of a humanitarian pause and of a release of hostages was welcome, but that a true end to the fighting was needed.
At the same WHO press conference in Cairo, Dr. Al-Mandhari called for a “permanent ceasefire” and said that the parties to the conflict should “put the welfare and health of their people as their first priority”.
The UN health agency official also led a minute of silence to honour WHO staffer Dima Alhaj, killed in Gaza, along with many relatives. “As we grieve, we are reminded of the senseless nature of this conflict and of the fact that in Gaza today nowhere is safe for civilians, including our own UN colleagues,” he said.
Dr. Peeperkorn revealed on Wednesday that a mission was under way in close coordination with humanitarian partners the Palestinian Red Crescent and Médecins Sans Frontières, to evacuate patients and health workers remaining in Al-Shifa.
The mission follows the initial inter-agency evacuation of 31 premature babies on Sunday. Out of the 220 patients and 200 health workers still at the hospital, the priority evacuees would be 21 dialysis patients, 29 patients with spinal injuries and those in intensive care, Dr. Peeperkorn said.
He also informed that in the meantime, the UN health agency has received evacuation requests from three other hospitals in northern Gaza: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital, and planning was under way, with WHO and its partners sparing no efforts to “make sure this happens in the coming days”.
He said that such evacuations are only undertaken upon request and as a last resort.
Dr. Al-Mandhari deplored the fact that even hospitals are not being protected from the “horrors” of the conflict in Gaza. WHO has documented 178 attacks on healthcare in the Strip since 7 October and out of the enclave’s 36 hospitals 28 are not functional anymore, his colleague Dr. Peeperkorn told journalists.
The eight remaining hospitals, all in the south, are “overwhelmed”, he said, and all efforts must be made to keep them functional and expand their bed capacity.
The enclave had some 3,500 hospital beds prior to the current escalation and that number is now down to less than 1,400.
The possibility of a ceasefire has raised hopes for improved access to desperate Gazan civilians and an increase in the volume of relief items coming through.
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New York: As the annual Thanksgiving Day is being celebrated across the United States today, the American-Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) distributed more than three hundred halal turkeys amongst needy families in New York.
APAG set up its stalls in New York on Thanksgiving Day, the festival of sharing happiness as the organization distributed Halal turkey along with fresh fruits, vegetables, and essential food items among more than three hundred families.
Speaking on the occasion, Assemblyman David Weprin and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “Be it tough times or any festival, we have always seen APAG bring joy to the community.”
There were a large number of needy people outside the stalls of APAG, on this occasion.
APAG President Ali Rashid thanked everyone and said that he would continue all such activities in the future.
Volunteers of the American-Pakistani Advocacy Group also actively participated in the Thanksgiving Day event.
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New York: The incidents of Islamophobia and hate crimes are apparently on the rise again in New York as a passerby named Abdul Rahman Mirza was subjected to the worst torture by unknown assailants while he was going to Fajr prayer early in the morning in Suffolk County, Long Island.
Following the incident, there was a wave of concern in the Muslim community.
As per details, Mirza was on his way to the Mosque for Fajr prayers around 5:30 a.m. when he was allegedly stopped on the way by some unknown persons and then severely beaten, tortured, and fled from the scene.
When the victim reported the incident that happened to him, it caused a wave of concern in the Muslim community.
Raja Hassan, a political and social figure of the Pakistani American community, met with the victim Abdul Rehman and his family and he assured the victim that the whole community stands with him.
Suffolk County Police Department Deputy Inspector and Commanding Officer Joseph of the 6 Percent is investigating the incident to determine whether it was a hate crime or something else.
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New York: The American Council of Minority Women (ACMW), an organization consisting of Pakistani women in New York has distributed halal turkey among as many as five hundred needy families, as part of the Thanksgiving Day, being observed across the United States, Today.
The American Council of Minority Women, in partnership with Islamic Relief of the USA, celebrated the third annual Day of Thanksgiving on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn.
A large number of needy people from different areas gathered outside ACMW to get halal turkey and other items.
On this occasion, the chairperson of the organization, Baza Ruhi said that they are trying to contribute their part while providing assistance to the people, who cannot afford to eat halal turkey throughout the year.
The distribution ceremony of halal turkey was attended by Pakistan Consulate staff, ACMW team members, volunteers and staff from Councilwoman Rita Joseph’s office who expressed their happiness to participate in the process of sharing happiness.
Thanksgiving Day participants included a large number of women and older adults. The staff of the American Council of Minority Women compiled lists before distributing the halal turkey to ensure fairness.
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New York: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander wrote to Tesla’s Board of Directors expressing concern regarding CEO Elon Musk’s explicit support of antisemitic statements, which have not yet been removed, and the Board’s silence about the comments.
The New York City retirement systems have approximately $946 million in Tesla shares as of September 30, 2023.
“As CEO, Mr. Musk is the face of Tesla, and his behavior here, for better or worse, directly reflects on the Company,” the letter reads. “As Chair of the Board, you have a responsibility to all shareholders to hold Mr. Musk accountable for actions when they harm the Company and contravene the Company’s Code of Business Ethics. If the Board takes no action against Mr. Musk, it sends a message to all Tesla employees that the behavior of the company’s CEO is unassailable, the Company’s Code of Business Ethics is toothless, and employees are free to take any action or utter any words, no matter how hateful or harmful.”
On November 15, Musk stated that an antisemitic post on X was “the actual truth.” Because the dangerous language in the post was written by Musk it poses a threat to all his portfolio companies including Tesla. On November 16, X CEO Linda Yaccarino condemned antisemitism on the platform but Musk’s original comments still remain active.
The impact has already presented a financial and reputational impact, with condemnation by the White House and major advertisers pulling advertising, including but not limited to Apple, Disney, IBM, Warner Bros, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures and Paramount on the platform X. Lander insisted that shareholders, as well as employees, customers, and decent people everywhere are counting on the board to take action and that Tesla should not condone this troubling behavior. The behavior stands contrary to Tesla’s Code of Business Ethics, which reads in part: “Tesla has been, is and always aspires to be a Do the Right Thing company—in other words, engaging in conduct that you and your family would be proud of.”
Musk’s social media usage has drawn negative attention to his portfolio companies in the past. Prior behavior led to a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over his posts regarding taking Tesla private.
In the correspondence, Comptroller Lander also notes that the Tesla Code of Business Ethics has a specific section for CEO and Senior Financial Officers, which reads:
“The Board of Directors shall determine, or designate appropriate persons to determine, appropriate actions to be taken in the event of violations of the Code of Business Ethics or of these additional procedures by the CEO and Tesla’s senior financial officers. Such actions shall be reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote accountability for adherence to the Code of Business Ethics and to these additional procedures, and shall include written notices to the individual involved that the Board has determined that there has been a violation, censure by the Board, demotion or re-assignment of the individual involved, suspension with or without pay or benefits (as determined by the Board) and termination of the individual’s employment.”
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New York: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli penned a joint letter to eBay’s Board of Directors urging them to take swift action and ensure that company management complies with eBay’s stated Human Rights Policy as well as restore key language they removed from describing their commitment to workers’ rights. Specifically, the company’s current statement removed the following language: “eBay also respects workers’ rights to unionize and commits to bargain in good faith with any relevant associations or labor unions.”
“Companies thrive when their workers are supported and respected,” said New York Comptroller Lander. “The stealthy removal of the language expressly referencing the fundamental freedom of workers to unionize threatens eBay’s legacy and deepened our concern as shareholders. Either eBay ignored our previous concerns or responded by removing the language about respect for workers’ rights and good faith bargaining without telling anybody–I’m not sure which would be worse. We urge the board to genuinely engage with us now. and I am thankful to Comptroller DiNapoli for his commitment to ensuring that we hold companies accountable for their promises.”
“When companies are accused of acting contrary to their stated principles and policies, it prompts concerns among shareholders,” New York State Comptroller DiNapoli said. “eBay should be working to build constructive and positive bonds with its workforce, not removing commitments to fundamental human rights. Alongside Comptroller Lander, we encourage companies to uphold their commitments on labor rights, safeguarding employees and shareholder value. We strongly urge eBay to do just that.”
The comptrollers’ letter notes that despite the company’s removal of the language, the current policy conveys plainly that eBay must strive to conduct business consistent with the principles set forth in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Fundamental Conventions. International human rights and labor standards include freedom of association and collective bargaining that are fundamental worker rights. The New York City and New York State pension funds are long-term investors in eBay, with 2.5 million shares in the company valued at $111 million as of June 30, 2023.
A group of investors including Comptrollers Lander and DiNapoli previously raised concern in June regarding reports of violations of worker rights at eBay subsidiary TCGPlayer, the online trading card marketplace and seller of games including Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh and more. In that letter to eBay Board Chair Paul S. Pressler and CEO Jamie Lannone, the Comptrollers and other signatories expressed concern over an apparent misalignment between eBay’s stated human rights commitments and the conduct of management. In response to allegations of management’s violation of U.S. labor law by surveilling employees at work, holding anti-union meetings, and noting employees who displayed support for the union at TCGPlayer, the company has seemingly altered the language of the Human Rights Policy to align with management’s actions.
Comptrollers Lander and DiNapoli gave eBay until December 4 to respond to this correspondence.
As of June 30, 2023, both pension funds collectively hold more than $500 billion in assets under managemen
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New York: On Thursday afternoon, taxi and for-hire-vehicle drivers in a massive class action against New York City won the first test case trial for 10 drivers whose licenses were suspended based on arrest and not given a fair opportunity to challenge their suspensions, awarding these drivers $190,000.
There are more than 8,000 individual class members in this case. Friday morning, November 17th, drivers, attorneys and organizational plaintiff New York Taxi Workers Alliance will hold a press conference to discuss this major development.
Triumphant Drivers and Attorneys held Press Conference to brief media on major developments in Taxi and For-Hire-Vehicle Drivers’ Class Action on Friday outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, United State District Court, 500 Pearl St, New York, NY
Drivers involved in the lawsuit were Bhairavi Desai, New York Taxi Workers Alliance Executive Director Attorneys Shannon Liss-Riordan, Daniel Ackman, David Goldberg, Bradley Manewith
Over the last 20 years, nearly 20,000 NYC taxi and for-hire-vehicle drivers licensed by the TLC were suspended based on arrests alone– before the drivers were convicted or even tried and without any consideration of the driver’s record or the facts underlying the arrest. A group of drivers and NYTWA filed a lawsuit in 2006 challenging the constitutionality of the TLC’s practices. In 2019, a federal appeals court found the TLC violated the drivers’ constitutional rights by not providing them a fair hearing to allow them to get their licenses reinstated if doing so would not threaten public safety.
After that, a federal district court certified this case as a class action including drivers who were suspended based on an arrest between 2003 and 2020.
More than 8,000 class members sought a hearing to recover damages, and the court set the first test case trial that was held this week. Today, a federal jury awarded the 10 plaintiffs in the test case trial a total of $190,000.
Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, said: “This is an incredible affirmation by a jury of their peers that the hard-working taxi drivers of New York City were wrongly denied their constitutional rights and need to be made whole from the financial impact they suffered as a result. It’s now 10 down, and 8,290 to go, and we look forward to obtaining justice for all of these drivers who were unconstitutionally deprived of their right to their livelihoods without a fair chance to show they were able to continue safely working while resolving their criminal charges.”
Attorney David Goldberg, said: “Today’s verdict, rendered unanimously by 8 fair-minded New Yorkers, is an important, but long overdue, step toward justice. The practices at issue in this case are cruel and pointless. That the City’s government has, for decades, maintained and defended them is shameful —and rooted in failure to respect the humanity of tens of thousands of hard-working immigrant New Yorkers who toil daily, under harsh conditions, to provide services that make life easier for the City’s most privileged residents.”
“With great power comes great responsibility. Voltaire said it. Spider-Man said it and I say it, too. I think the TLC is starting to get that message, but slowly, “ said attorney Dan Ackman, who first filed the lawsuit in 2006.
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New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned of a potentially serious economic crisis in the near future due to the unprecedented influx of immigrants, saying if the federal government does not provide funds as required, the New York City government may face a deficit of $7 billion, that may prompt the administration to go for considerable cuts in the budget of some key civic departments.
Adams revealed this at a press conference at City Hall. He said that more than 124,000 immigrants have arrived in the city, and the number of immigrants is increasing by 2000 to 4,000 every week.
“Considering the situation, it is estimated that if this grim situation continues for one and a half years, we will need funds of $12 billion during the next two years to deal with the problems. If the federal government does not provide funds as required, the city government may face a deficit of $7 billion,” the Mayor said.
The mayor added that the city administration is following the federal government’s policy for the arrival of immigrants and their care, but due to the unusual arrival of refugees, the budget of the city government has become unbalanced.
If necessary, the police department, fire department, and sanitation department may face cuts next year. Therefore, the federal government has a responsibility to help New York City in the current situation.
The mayor was asked if the civic services are being affected by the budget cut, so will he contact the federal government, the mayor said that the consultation on the whole situation is going on.
Every time I have been to Washington, I have presented the problems caused by the unprecedented influx of immigrants like limited resources, budget imbalances, and requested them to resolve problems.
He said the Federal government should play its role for the influx of immigrants.
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New York: The New York City Comptroller’s Office released its monthly update to the Department of Correction (DOC) Dashboard, as of November 1st, the number of people housed in DOC jails was 6,162, a decrease of 10 from the previous month.
People admitted to the jail increased to 1,847 in October, with 39 more people admitted than in September. People discharged from the jail increased to 1,853, higher by 67 month-over-month.
Judges assigned cash bail to over 1,000 people (1,147) in September.
In September, the average length of stay increased to 109, a 17-day increase from the prior month.
Incarcerated people missed medical appointments 13,610 times in September, a decrease of 2,836 from August.
The average number of uniformed staff decreased by 78 officers between August and September, totaling 6,340.
Although 2023 saw a drop in total uniformed staff compared to the previous year, the annual average of incarcerated people increased.
The total number of uniformed staff declined by 769 (11 percent) in 2023 compared to the 2022 according to the most recent Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
The annual average persons incarcerated increased to 5,873, an increase of 314 (6%) from the prior year.
The ratio of inmates to staff in Fiscal Year 2023 is 0.93, an increase from 0.78 from the previous fiscal year.
The total number of officers on sick leave decreased to 414, continuing the Department’s downward trend.
Violence indicators mostly increased in October.
Assaults on staff increased to 56, an increase of 1 from September.
Fights increased to 447, an increase of 76. This was a reversal from the previous month, in-line with previous numbers.
Slashings and stabbings decreased to 38, a decrease of 8 since September.
Both the rate and the total number of Use of Force incidents increased in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024.
At least 9 incarcerated people died on Rikers this year.
H+H did not publish statistics on the percentage of people with serious mental illness this month. The most recent update was as of September 2023.
“As the urgency for reform intensifies, Rikers faces a growing consensus that in order to address its persistent incidents of violence and death, the jail complex requires a federal receiver. A system shrouded in secrecy and shielded from public scrutiny should not and cannot operate without adequate oversight and transparency. The horrific realities of City jails demand a united call for change that brings an end to the longstanding issues plaguing Rikers to ensure a safer, more just future for all,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.
Comptroller Lander was the first citywide elected officials to call for a federal receiver of Rikers Island in October 2022. Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, on November 17, 2023.
The Comptroller’s dashboard, first published in August 2022, monitors pervasive issues in the City’s jails, including staff absenteeism, missed medical appointments, and incidents of violence among detained people and staff. It also tracks the jail population every month and length of stay. The Comptroller’s office publishes data to this dashboard monthly to provide increased transparency and accountability over the City’s jail system.
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New York: The New York City Emergency Management Department has issued a travel advisory for Tuesday, November 21, through Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in anticipation of wet and windy weather conditions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts 1–2 inches of rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, potentially causing minor flooding in low-dying and poor drainage areas, most notably on Tuesday night. Accompanying the rainfall, wind gusts are expected to reach 30 –40 mph citywide, with the possibility of up to 45 mph along the southern coastlines overnight on Tuesday. No thunderstorms are expected. The weather system is expected to move out by mid-morning Wednesday, yielding to dry conditions with brisk northwest winds and gusts between 20 and 30 mph persisting into Thursday.
The NWS has also issued a Freeze Warning for tonight beginning midnight through 8 AM Tuesday morning for the Bronx and Staten Island, with temperatures forecasted to drop below 30°F. The NYC Department of Homeless Services has issued a Code Blue and outreach teams will canvass all five boroughs to connect our most vulnerable New Yorkers to shelters. For the most immediate response, New Yorkers who see individuals they believe to be experiencing homelessness and in need should contact 311 via phone or mobile app and request outreach assistance.
“This week, as we gear our focus towards family, friends, and all of the things we’re grateful for, New Yorkers should also remember to keep an eye on the weather,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “We are preparing for heavy rains and strong winds over the next few days, which means everyone should bundle up and wear extra layers when heading outside. If you are traveling, please leave room for extra travel time and remember to check on friends, relatives, and neighbors. As always, we encourage everyone to sign up for Notify NYC to stay informed on the latest weather information based on where you are located. New Yorkers should take comfort in knowing that their city is looking out for them and is preparing to ensure this weather event causes as few disruptions as possible.”
“As we all prepare to spend time with our friends and families this week, we encourage New Yorkers to also prepare for potential heavy rain and strong winds this week,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We know from experience that weather patterns can change very quickly, and it’s always best to be proactive. To that end, we’ve begun working with our partners to ensure that the city is prepared and urge New Yorkers to monitor the forecast, especially, during holiday travel.”
New Yorkers and visitors are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free Notify NYC app for your Android or Apple device. You can now text to 692-692, using the code NOTIFYNYC, NOTIFYNYCESP (Spanish), and NOTIFYFRE (French) to be instantly enrolled to receive the highest-priority, verified alerts across all the five boroughs. You can also follow @NotifyNYC or @nycemergencymgt on social media.
Safety Tips
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Dallas: In a world where government actions are suspect and political division rules, a rare moment
of unity was on display in Southwest Dallas today as the Council District 4 welcomed City, Local, State, and Federal officials, along with officials of the National Cricket League, to announce that a cricket ground and a sports complex would be built on Roland G. Parrish Park on Morrell Avenue, minutes from Interstates 30 and 35 in Dallas, Texas.
After conducting two comprehensive environmental cleanups, TCEQ is now expected to issue
a clean bill of health. With persuasion from Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, working
directly with the EPA, the community became eligible for a federal grant for financing,
procurement spending, and staffing costs to help set up the cricket and sports complex.
Most Americans have limited exposure to cricket, a game somewhat similar to baseball with
similar terms (batter, dugout, ball, catch, run, inning, umpire) but vastly different. Created
in England, cricket has been popular for decades in the erstwhile countries of the
Commonwealth (Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa) and spread to South Asia
(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka) during the British Raj.
Today, cricket is a mammoth sport attracting over 2 billion viewers as diaspora populations
from these original countries have settled worldwide. It is growing steadily in America. In
August, India and the West Indies played a series of five T-20 games, fully sanctioned by the
International Cricket Council, with the first two held in the West Indies and the last three in
Broward County, Florida. In the T-20 format, each team pitches (or bowls) 120 balls to the
other side. Whoever scores the most runs wins.
The National Cricket League ( NCL), headquartered in Dallas under the leadership of Az
Qasmi, ( CEO ) aims to bring the exciting 10 overs format to America. Called Sixty Strikes
cricket, each team will bowl 60 balls to the other side. Six franchisee teams are already up
and running, with team logos and branding – from Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta,
Houston, and Dallas. The 2024 tournament will be played from May 24th, to June 2nd , 2024
in Texas.
Local leaders, including Carolyn King Arnold, Deputy Mayor Protem, and Arun Agarwal, the
president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board and NCL’s Chairman and part owner of the
NCL Dallas franchise, joined State of Texas officials such as former Secretary of State John
Scott to work with Congresswoman Crockett to bring the project’s vision to fruition. All were
present at the event’s kick-off today.
The new cricket complex at Roland G. Parrish Park won’t be ready for the 2024 tournament,
but when it returns in 2025, the event is likely to bring significant economic development and
cheer to this once-neglected Southwest Dallas community. ESPN, Willow Cricket, and Star
Sports, ARY TV & Many Ohers Tv Channels will cover all games live.
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Harlem, NYC — The Office of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander hosted a Trans Awareness event at the American Negro Theater in the Schomburg Center. Harlem Pride and Destination Tomorrow co-hosted the event, which honored Kiara St. James, Founder and Co- Executive Director of The New York Transgender Advocacy Group, and Cristina Hererra, Founder of the Translatinx Network. The evening also included a screening of the video “Outlandish” by Ayodeji Otuyelo, a song performed by singer Frank L. Humphrey III, and featured words by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Michael Bowman of the Schomburg Center, and artist Noni Salma.
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A group of over 20 elected New York officials, including lawmakers such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), is urging Columbia University to reverse its recent decision to suspend two pro-Palestine student organizations amid Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. The push by progressives in the state comes as free speech rights for groups and individuals who support Palestinian rights is quickly…
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New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of hospitality industry veteran Jeffrey Garcia to lead the Office of Nightlife (ONL) in its new home at the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS).
Joined by SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim and business leaders, Mayor Adams also announced actions to support small businesses through his “Small Business Forward” initiative, better connect nightlife establishments to SBS resources, and reduce financial burdens on local businesses. These steps come as part of Mayor Adams’ “Working People’s Tour,” continuing to create jobs and power New York City’s economic recovery after the city set an recovered all of the nearly 1 million jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, Mayor Adams signed three pieces of legislation — Intro 687-A, Intro. 845-A, and Intro. 1083-A that implement dozens of regulatory reforms to help New York City’s small businesses, move ONL under SBS, and provide New Yorkers with more information to make healthy food choices.
“From the dance venues of Brooklyn to the Latin clubs of Queens and everything in between, nightlife has always been part of what makes New York City so vibrant and unique. Today, we are taking steps not only to bolster the businesses that make nightlife special, but also to usher in a new chapter in our efforts to support the industry,” said Mayor Adams. “By transferring the Office of Nightlife to SBS and cutting red tape for the nightlife industry, this legislation will make sure that nightlife establishments get the resources they need to thrive and help our economy grow to new heights. With the appointment of Jeffrey Garcia — an experienced entrepreneur and hospitality veteran who has long advocated for minority-owned businesses — we are also ensuring that the Office of Nightlife has the strong leadership needed to uplift nightlife businesses across the city.”
“This administration is focused on making it easier for this city’s small businesses to grow and thrive, and the bills passed today exemplify that. With the passage of Intro. 845, we have now cleared the path for over 100 reforms to be implemented that will reduce fines and fees for this city’s small business community, saving them millions of dollars a year. And with the move of the Office of Nightlife to SBS under Jeffrey Garcia’s leadership, the city’s nightlife community will have a fierce advocate in their corner and access to more resources than ever before,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria-Torres Springer. “Thank you to the Council for the partnership, and congratulations to Executive Director Jeffrey Garcia. I am confident that under his leadership ONL will flourish in its mission of elevating the city’s nightlife and businesses in every neighborhood across the entire city at a critical time for the industry.”
“New York’s 25,000 nightlife and hospitality establishments are more than just engines of economic growth — they are part of the fabric that makes up the city,” said SBS Commissioner Kim. “At SBS, ONL will be able to help bars and restaurants across New York City grow and expand while also fostering positive relationships in their respective communities. All of us at SBS are excited to work with Executive Director Jeffrey Garcia and his team in our shared mission of lifting up New Yorkers and building the ‘City of Yes’ for small business.”
“As the son of a single mom from the Dominican Republic, born and raised in Washington Heights, I am grateful to Mayor Adams and Commissioner Kim for entrusting me with this opportunity to serve my city as executive director of ONL. This is my dream job,” said ONL Executive Director Garcia. “My family knew struggle, but we had a strong foundation of hard work and service, which I brought with me as I rose through the ranks at the NYPD, opened my own hospitality businesses, and went on to elevate minority-owned bars and restaurants across New York as an advocacy leader. I am looking forward to this transition to SBS, as ONL grows to provide more resources to support the nightlife industry across New York City.”
“Today signifies a major milestone as we advance two bills with a clear mission: cutting red tape and streamlining regulations for small businesses through codifying portions of the mayor’s ‘Small Business Forward’ executive order and providing crucial assistance to our nightlife establishments,” said New York City Councilmember Julie Menin, chair, Committee on Small Business. “As the former MOME commissioner who created the Office of Nightlife, I believe it is a logical shift of the Office of Nightlife to the Department of Small Business Services for enhanced small business support. Thank you, Mayor Adams, for signing my bills into law.”
Intro. 687-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Keith Powers — requires chain restaurants with 15 or more locations to prominently post added sugars to menus, allowing New Yorkers to make informed decisions about their health. The new law builds on the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy’s work to increase food security; promote access to and consumption of healthy foods; and support economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and equity in the food system.
Intro. 845-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Menin — implements more than 30 regulatory reforms that stem from Mayor Adams’ Executive Order 2 “Small Business Forward” initiative, which required city agencies to review existing business regulations and ensure local businesses face fewer fines and penalties without jeopardizing public health or safety. These reforms were identified by Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, and SBS Commissioner Kim to save small businesses time and money when navigating city regulations.
Intro. 1083-A — also sponsored by New York City Councilmember Menin — and Executive Order 37 will integrate ONL under SBS. ONL’s move to SBS will help broaden the office’s reach and deepen its impact on New York City nightlife businesses, while doubling down on promoting public safety and addressing quality-of-life concerns. The move will also foster a strong industry partnership between nightlife and city government, ensuring that more nightlife businesses directly benefit from SBS services, such as connections to affordable financing, free legal assistance, a pipeline of qualified New Yorkers looking for work, and the NYC Business Express Service Team program, which helps businesses expedite permits and licenses, accelerating the process of opening a business, and more.
Small business creation has boomed since Mayor Adams took office, with approximately one in seven businesses in New York City launched since January 2022. In that time, the Adams administration has delivered on the promise of Small Business Forward, developed the MyCity Business site, created the historic NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund, and undertaken additional efforts to save small businesses millions of dollars in avoided violations, fines, and fees. In addition to dozens of reforms implemented over the last year through agency rulemaking and policy changes, the full savings to small businesses is estimated at close to $8.9 million annually.
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By Eric Adams, NYC MAYOR
Last month, New York City hit an economic milestone, with more total jobs than ever before in our city’s history. Our administration is proud of the work we have done to ensure our economy has made a full recovery — and we are determined to keep working to create jobs and opportunity for all New Yorkers.
Our “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” proposal is one of the many ways we are aiming to create new pathways to prosperity. We are seeing transformative changes in how we live and work, and our city’s rules and regulations must adapt to these new realities — especially when it comes to antiquated zoning laws from decades ago. Rules that made sense in the days of the rotary telephone are getting in the way of doing business in the age of the smartphone.
We recently kicked off the public review process for this ambitious proposal to advance 18 essential changes to our citywide zoning code that will boost our economic recovery, help New Yorkers access goods and services in their neighborhood, and make it easier to expand or start new businesses. Over the next several months, all New Yorkers will have the chance to learn about this proposal and make their voices heard.
The “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” initiative includes plans to foster vibrant neighborhoods with more kinds of businesses in more kinds of places. For example, our plan would allow a successful bakery to expand closer to your neighborhood, rather than having to move to a different area zoned for heavy manufacturing and away from customers who would benefit most from having that business nearby.
The plan is also the largest initiative to support industrial jobs and businesses in the history of New York’s zoning, including by making more space available for small-scale clean manufacturing — including designers, retailers, artists, craftspeople, and makers of all kinds — and creating new zoning tools for industrial businesses.
The current zoning was crafted for the industrial businesses that existed 60 years ago, and our proposal will update these rules to allow businesses to grow in New York, providing good-paying jobs for New Yorkers. Our plan will modernize regulations for New Yorkers who want to run a business from their home and set new standards for using existing buildings in new ways, something that is clearly a priority with the rise of remote work.
This plan will also address the ongoing issue of vacant storefronts in our city, getting more of them re-rented and re-activated by loosening rules about which types of businesses can locate where, and by modifying a counterproductive regulation that prevents some storefronts from being reoccupied if they are vacant for more than two years.
We are also upgrading and reforming zoning to support our café and nightlife sector, the life sciences, film production, urban agriculture, and more.
From food to fashion to tech and art, these small and specific changes will have an outsized impact on our economy. This new way of doing things will create a new and more collaborative culture going forward — one where city government is a partner working to streamline solutions, not an obstacle to be overcome.
That is what being a City of Yes is all about. Yes, to new businesses, new industries, and new ideas. Yes, to new housing and opportunity. Yes, to change and creativity. And yes, to ensuring that New York remains a place where you can put your ideas into action and succeed.
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UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan, on behalf of a group of 17 countries, called on the United Nations to urgently establish a mechanism to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians being subjected to relentless bombardment in Gaza by the Israeli military and to intensify efforts to promote a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict.
“The people of Gaza are desperately looking up to the UN to save them from further death and destruction that is being wreaked upon them with impunity,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the UN General Assembly at an informal meeting held to discuss the dire situation in the besieged enclave.
According to associate press of Pakistan, the Pakistani envoy did not specify the form of the proposed mechanism, which, he said, “Shall be set up in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.”
“The obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, particularly in regard to the protection of civilians and civilian objects, as well as the protection of humanitarian personnel, must be fully adhered to,” Ambassador Akram added.
The group of countries he spoke for are: Algeria, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
The Pakistani envoy told the 193-member Assembly that more than 11,000 Palestinians had lost their lives, two-thirds of them women and children. Another 27,000 have been injured, with about 2,700, including 1,500 children, reported missing, dead, or trapped under the rubble.
“Over 1.6 million Gazans have been displaced, and over 41,000 housing units have been destroyed. More than half of the hospitals in Gaza are non-functional due to lack of fuel, damage, attacks, and insecurity. Essential supplies of food, fuel, and medicines are blocked. Schools and places of worship are being targeted indiscriminately by Israeli strikes. No place is safe: women, children, and the elderly, as well as other civilians with specific vulnerabilities, are bearing the brunt of the onslaught by the occupying power”.
He paid tribute to UNRWA’s 102 staff members who have perished in Gaza, the highest number of UN aid workers killed in a conflict in the organization’s history.
“The whole world expects the member states to take decisive action to end the conflict,” he said.
Condemning all atrocities against Palestinian people, in line with the General Assembly’s Oct. 27 resolution, Ambassador Akram, speaking for the 17 countries, called for a durable “humanitarian truce” leading to a cessation of hostilities; the immediate provision of essential goods and services to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip, including but not limited to water, food, medical supplies, fuel, and electricity; the establishment of humanitarian corridors to facilitate aid delivery; and the establishment of a mechanism for civilians’ protection.
“We firmly reject and condemn any attempt at the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population and the illegal evacuations and relocations inside Gaza and consider it a grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and its 1977 Protocol,” the ambassador said. We stress the need for the immediate return of displaced Palestinian people to their homeland.”
“We call on the international community and concerned countries not only to promptly address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, compelling Israel to cease its occupation and hostilities, put an end to atrocities, guarantee unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, and accelerate the prompt delivery of vital supplies to Gaza, but also to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their criminal acts against the Palestinian people.”
Ambassador Akram reiterated the demand to advance the peace process in accordance with the resolutions of UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state according to the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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WASHINGTON: The recent visit to Pakistan of New York State Assembly’s Deputy Speaker, Phil Ramos, has paved the way for establishing sister-state relationships between New York State and the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, Pakistani Ambassador Masood Khan was told recently, according to APP.
In a Zoom link meeting with members of the American-Pakistan Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) delegation, which accompanied speaker Ramos, the ambassador welcomed the visit’s outcome, which would facilitate the Pakistani business community in organizing tradeshows and holding exhibitions in New York and other U.S. cities to showcase Pakistani products.
Practical steps would be taken to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector, leading to greater opportunities for paramedical staff from Pakistan to serve in the United States, said a press release from the Pakistani embassy issued here.
Ambassador Masood Khan was also apprised that three committees, comprising representatives of the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, APPAC, and Deputy Speaker’s Office, have been constituted to prepare a roadmap for the implementation of the decisions.
In his remarks, the ambassador commended APPAC’s role in strengthening trade and investment ties and promoting people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and the United States.
Appreciating the move to establish a sister-state relationship, Masood Khan said that the arrangement would help forge multifaceted long-term ties in diverse areas. Sister-state agreements between California and Punjab, as well as Sindh and Georgia, provide a blueprint for New York’s partnership with Punjab and Sindh.
The Ambassador assured all possible support from Pakistani trade officers in working out a concrete set of actions with timelines.
He also highlighted huge trade and investment opportunities that awaited US investments, especially in IT, renewable energy, agriculture, and extractive industries.
Pointing out the exponential growth of tech startups in the country and the significant investment from Silicon Valley’s Venture Capital (VC) firms, the Ambassador said that the digitalization of the economy and efforts to introduce IT-based solutions for service delivery have created huge opportunities for profitable investments.
“Contribute towards making Pakistan economically strong by scaling up your investments in the country,” the ambassador said.
APPAC members thanked Ambassador Masood Khan for his continued support in fulfilling its mission of serving the two countries and their peoples.
Separately, the Ambassador also had a virtual meeting with the representatives of Pakistan Information and Cultural Organization (PICO) Arizona, Pakistan Society of North Texas (PSNT), and the Pakistani American Association in Tampa Bay, Florida. Consul General Los Angeles Asim Ali Khan and CG Houston Aftab Ahmed Chaudhry were also present in the meeting.
The representatives of various diaspora bodies briefed the Ambassador about the social and philanthropic activities of the Pakistani community in their respective areas. They also highlighted the role being played by community members at the county, district, and state levels.
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