8 minute read
Diana Richardson: Serving Brooklyn In a Different Way
From the Assembly Chambers to Borough Hall: I'm Here for You In a Different Way
To my extended family of the 43rd Assembly District (Constituents of Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Garden, East Flatbush and Wingate), I write this letter to you today with bittersweet news that I want you to hear from me directly. After six years serving as your Assemblywoman, I will be leaving this role to serve you in a different way; as Brooklyn’s next Deputy Borough President. It has been a deep honor to represent the 43rd Assembly District, a vibrant community that has raised me, with its own distinct presence, so rich in culture, and an unyielding spirit like no other. Your willingness to take a chance on my leadership means the world to me and the bond we have built has been incredibly special. I will be the first to admit I am not like the traditional elected official — I am shaped differently and move through political spaces in my own way, yet I am so grateful for your ongoing commitment and support over the years. When I ran for Assembly in 2015, I knew I wanted to serve the community, I knew I wanted to impart change and I knew I wanted to make a real difference. Through my years of service, I have learned so much — I now have a stronger understanding of the interconnectivity of people and government. I have advocated for this community with clean hands and a clean heart, with everything I have inside of me, but I believe that there is more my destiny has in store for me not only for Central Brooklyn but for the entire Borough, and I hope you continue this journey with me. When I look back and think on all of the things we have been able to accomplish during my tenure as a state legislator, I feel a sense of pride. Together, we got 15 laws signed by the governor, a tremendous feat, and remember all of this happened because of you:
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Assembly Committees Assembly Membership Committees: Chair of the Commission on Government Administration, Chair of the Subcommittee on Gun-violence & Violence Prevention - BPHA Caucus, Member of Committee on Banks, Member of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, Member of the Committee on Education, Member of the Committee on Labor, Member of the Committee on Mental Health, Member of the Committee on Small Business, Member of the Black, Puerto Rican, continued on page 9
Newly-elected Borough President Antonio Reynoso with his new Deputy Diana Richardson. Photos: Diana Richardson College Students With Kids/ continued from page 7 ports might work best to improve outcomes for college students who are parents, but there are several potential solutions. On-campus child care at colleges in the U.S. currently serves only about 5% of student parents’ needs and has declined over the last several decades. One possible approach could be to invest more systematically in on-campus child care centers at colleges to support student parents. Another approach could be to increase federal financial aid awards to automatically cover the costs of child care that student parents need in order to study or attend class.
What’s next Time poverty may be a challenge also for students who are not parents. Currently, we are looking at time poverty rates for other groups, such as students who enroll in online courses, women and students of color, to explore the extent to which time poverty is unequally distributed, and whether it may explain inequitable college outcomes for these groups. This may help us to understand whether different groups finish college at different rates because of differences in how much time they have to devote to their studies.l
Claire Wladis is a Professor of Urban Education, CUNY Graduate Center
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Diana Richardson/ continued from page 8 Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, Member of the Legislative Women's Caucus & Member of the Taskforce on Women's Issues.
Community Violence Intervention Co Championed the 2021 Community Violence Intervention Act-A5505 (Richardson). This trailblazing piece of legislation was the first in the nation to be enacted. It proclaimed gun violence a public health issue while creating a dedicated funding stream for hospital based and community-based violence prevention programs.
Rent Laws Richardson championed the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 - Inclusion of A6465 (Richardson).
Criminal Justice & Gun Violence Developed the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus 2021 Gun Violence Legislative Package, where 8 bills passed including the Passage of A7243 (Richardson) Requires the division of criminal justice services to publish quarterly reports providing information related to firearms, rifles and shotguns used in the commission of crimes in the state of New York & A7957 (Richardson) - Authorizes the court to order the search and seizure of firearms in connection with an order of protection. Sponsor of Resolution Proclaiming June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in the New York State Assembly. Co-Championed the 2020 Police Accountability Legislative Package
Education Additionally, Richardson delivered millions of dollars in aid to the public schools in her district—funding capital and technology improvements, and advocating for civic education. In the Community ·Brought a sense of pride back to the community ·Empowered community residents through civic education ·Empowered Community residents to elevate their voices and advocate for themselves ·Thousands of cases and issues resolved
Considering all that we have accomplished together, the memories we have formed and shared together have formed a special place in my heart including, the block parties, faith services, senior events, and community activities. I appreciate our endless conversations talking out ways to solve problems, and our ability to learn from one another, and to grow from both our differences and the commonalities we share. The connection I have to my district is very deep, and I know that many of you may be saddened by this news. Please know, that I do not make the decision to transition to this new role lightly. It is important that I remind you that there was a time when I was unknown to many and yet our partnership flourished and became strong. I look forward to working alongside Borough President Antonio Reynoso to continue to uplift our communities and build a stronger Brooklyn for all of us. I am not leaving you – I am still here and will now serve you in a different way, from a different seat and at a different angle. While I will go on to serve the entire Borough, never forget that I am your neighbor and your ally. Leadership is visible, and you will never have to look hard to find me. You will hear from me in the coming days. Onward and Upward, because in unity there is strength, Forever Your Favorite Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson l
Supreme Court Hears Arguments Addressing the Legality of Detention Without Bond
BY CAROLINE WALTERS AND KATE MELLOY GOETTEL , AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL LEGAL STAFF
This week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two related immigration cases. Each asks whether certain noncitizens are entitled to bond hearings before a judge after the government has detained them for a prolonged amount of time. The question of prolonged detention for certain noncitizens has been before the Supreme Court before. But this case is different—it asks the Court to consider what procedures are required for those noncitizens with removal orders who have a reasonable claim for protection from removal but endure detention for months to years waiting for a court to decide that claim. This question is particularly important. As Justice Gorsuch recognized, U.S. constitutional requirements of due process place great value on physical liberty. Both the Garland v. Gonzalez and Johnson v. Arteaga-Martinez cases involve noncitizens who have been ordered removed from the United States but are seeking withholding of that removal because they fear persecution in their home country. For that reason, the government cannot remove them from the United States until a judge has made a decision on their claim for protection. The attorneys in both cases argued that in a past decision—Zadvydas v. Davis— the Supreme Court determined that noncitizens who are detained after they have received a removal order cannot be held longer than six months. The government can only hold the noncitizen if it can show they will be removed in the “reasonably foreseeable future.” The government’s position is that although review of the detention may be required after six months, noncitizens in this situation should not be given an opportunity to explain their case before a judge through a bond hearing. Instead, the government argues that internal administrative review by a government officer is a sufficient process to decide whether a noncitizen should be released. Significantly, the government officer conducting the review is from the same agency that is responsible for detaining the noncitizen in the first place. More than one Justice questioned whether such an internal process was sufficient, given the long U.S. legal history of affording a more substantial and neutral process—specifically an opportunity to be heard before a judge—when prolonged detention is at stake. Justice Breyer expressly listed that the government grants such hearings in criminal cases, cases of mental capacity, historically for debtors in debtors’ prisons, and for persons challenging extradition. Justice Breyer summarized his concern with the government’s position in this way: I looked at every case we could find. I didn’t find any that said you don’t get eventually a bail hearing when you’re detained for a reasonably long length of time. Also at issue in Garland v. Gonzalez is whether the immigration statute allows
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