Good Morning, Brooklyn: Thursday, August 11, 2022

COMMUNITY VIGIL FOR BATH BEACH MURDER: The robbery and killing of a young man at a BJ’s garage in Bath Beach has sparked Assemblyman William Colton (D –47) to hold a community vigil this evening, Thursday, August 11th at 5:30 pm in front of his district office at 155 Kings Highway. Last Friday, 19-year-old Dereck Chen was fatally shot during an armed robbery at a BJ’s garage, directly across the street from the Colton district office, which covers Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights and Gravesend.

Colton stated that he will remain personally involved in overseeing the progress of the case. Commending the NYPD’s 62nd^n.d Area to quickly apprehend and charge the gunman, Colton also said his office is asking BJ’s Wholesale Club headquarters for “a security presence and surveillance on the premises for the safety of customers and employees.”

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GREENLIGHTS SCHOOL BUDGET WRITING TO THE COURT OF APPEALS: An appeals court ruling Tuesday greenlighting cuts to the city’s Department of Education budget threatens to throw the start of the new school year into confusion. Yesterday’s ruling placed an automatic stay on last week’s ruling by State Supreme Court Justice Lyle E. Frank that had asked the City Council to hold a re-vote on the education budget on the grounds that due process had been violated.

The budget cuts can now be implemented — at least until an Aug. 29 hearing that runs just one week before the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

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STATEMENT FROM SCHOOL BUDGET CLAIMS: Laura D. Barbieri – Special Counsel, Trial Attorney and Counsel for the Petitioners in Tucker v. City of New York, has criticized the above-mentioned appeals court decision that reinstates school budget cuts, noting that “The judge did not review or consider the merits of either party’s arguments or the city’s documents.” Expressing disappointment that “the City asked for a hearing date at the end of August, and not right away,” so that principals, teachers and parents can work on school budgets, Barbieri asks “the City Council and the Mayor to negotiate and implement an amendment budget to immediately restore these harmful cuts, because our public school children deserve a safe and productive return to school in the fall, which our president seems determined to deny.”

The appeals court and Judge Frank’s rulings only dealt with the education budget, not the entire city budget.

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DEPT. TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE EMPLOYMENT RATE OF TRANS PEOPLE: The Department of Labor has been directed to conduct a study on the statewide employment rate of trans individuals in the state, under legislation that Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Wednesday. Bills passed by the Senate and State Assembly (S.5933-A/A.8133) will direct this study, which will be conducted in consultation with the Division of Human Rights, will be used to determine whether there is a disparity in employment rates between transgender New Yorkers and other New York State residents.

This survey will also enable the drafting of further legislation that is specifically tailored to the needs of trans New Yorkers, especially in the wake of statewide studies that reveal that transgender people face higher rates of unemployment, workplace discrimination, harassment and violation.

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