Richards On O’Neill Retirement
City Council Member Donovan Richards (D-Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens) chair of the council’s Committee on Public Safety, yesterday saluted retiring New York Police Department Commissioner James O’Neill, but questioned replacing him with another white commissioner – Dermot Shea.
“Over the last three years I’ve had the opportunity to work with Commissioner O’Neill in making the way our city polices fairer and more equitable. As a true believer in the benefits of community policing and the impact that it has on our neighborhoods, he has served our city well. Though we still have a lot of work to do, having someone like Commissioner O’Neill made getting closer to that goal of better police community relations easier,” said Donovan.
“While I wish him well in retirement, I know that he will be missed by many. As we look towards a new commissioner, I am concerned with the direction we are going. The faces of everyday officers is changing, as the NYPD shifts to a majority minority department. The top of the department should reflect that. Even as we see great progress, there is still much more work to be done to ensure our department represents the communities it so severely polices,” he added.
Suozzi Bipartisan Resolution To Protect Good Friday Agreement Passes Committee
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Little Neck, Whitestone, Glen Oaks, Floral Park, Long Island) last week saw the House Committee on Foreign Affairs pass the bipartisan resolution he introduced with U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY), that calls for strict adherence to the Good Friday Agreement during Brexit negotiations.
The passage of this resolution through House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which has over 40 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, ensures that any trade deal post-Brexit between the United Kingdom and the United States will require the UK to uphold the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace between the British and Irish governments.
“During these difficult times of often partisan and divided government in the United States, it is gratifying to see such overwhelming bipartisan support to ensure that Brexit and other political challenges don’t threaten the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process by reintroducing a hard border. Ireland is one of the oldest and closest friends of the United States, and the Irish people have been a crucial part of the fabric of our nation for well over a century,” said Suozzi. “I thank my colleague Peter King, as well as applaud Chairman Engel and the Foreign Affairs committee for passing our bipartisan legislation and hope it will be passed by the House of Representatives in short order.”
Katz Wraps Up Queens DA Race
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz today will wrap up her campaign for Queens District Attorney by voting today at a Forest Hills school.
She is scheduled to vote at 8 a.m. at Public School (PS) 144, 93-02 69th Avenue in Forest Hills.
Later, Katz will host an Election Night Results Watch Party for the Queens District Attorney race with her supporters.
The watch party is slated for 9 p.m., tonight, Nov. 5 at 72-50 Austin Street in Forest Hills.
