HOUSE OF WORSHIP TAKES IT TO THE STREETS

Here is more on evicting perfectly good tenants that help their communities and put a few extra dollars into the coffers for Bronx pubic schools.

Gregory

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WHO: Council Member Fernando Cabrera, Pastor Salvador Sabino & other Affected Religious Leaders

WHAT: Houses of worship that did not receive cancellation notices from the Department of Education plan to meet in schools today and one homeless Manhattan church will meet on a sidewalk.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 18, 2012, 5:00PM -6:30PM

WHERE: Front sidewalk of IS 52 (South of 204 St. in Northern Manhattan), 650 Academy Street, New York, NY 10034

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NEW YORK — On Thursday, Bronx Household of Faith’s attorneys won a temporary restraining order that would allow houses of worship to continue meeting for worship services in New York City public schools for the time being. Late Friday evening, the district court order was tempered by the 2nd Circuit and will apply only to the Bronx Household of Faith. While some houses of worship were notified their permits were revoked, others were not. Many still plan on meeting inside schools later today.

One house of worship that was denied a permit will be taking its worship services to the streets today at 5:00PM, right outside of the school where they met each Sunday. Heavenly Vision Christian Center lead by Pastor Salvador Sabino will be holding an outdoor service with music and congregants, some of whom were formerly in gangs or incarcerated, will be sharing their stories.

"I understand what these small houses of worship are doing," said Council Member Fernando Cabrera, "They have nowhere to go now. What is better, having religious groups out on sidewalks and inside parks, or having them pay the City to meet inside empty school buildings? This policy is simply ridiculous. Albany must act."

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DISTRICT COURT TEMP. RESTRAINING ORDER: HOUSES OF WORSHIP CAN CONTINUE TO MEET IN SCHOOLS

Here is the latest on the scheduled eviction of Houses of Worship from NYC Public Schools.

Gregory

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NEW YORK — Bronx Household of Faith’s Alliance Defense Fund attorneys won a court order today, that allows churches to continue meeting for worship services in New York City public schools for the time being.

“Now that the courts have spoken up on the side of fairness,” said Council Member Fernando Cabrera. “I call on the New York State Legislature and Speaker Sheldon Silver to move forward with bills that would rapidly solve this issue.” He continued, “This court order is a fantastic victory and will calm the 60 plus congregations that were frantically searching for space. I commend the US District Court for ruling justly.”

The temporary restraining order is in effect for 10 days while the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York more fully considers constitutional arguments about the city’s unique-in-the-nation prohibition on worship services in vacant public school buildings on weekends.

“Churches help communities; evicting churches hurts communities. Empty buildings offer nothing to communities that need hope,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence, who argued before the court on Tuesday. “The court’s order is a message of hope for fundamental freedoms in New York City because it means that, for the time being, the city must welcome churches as it does other groups. ADF will continue to fight this battle relentlessly until the city no longer unconstitutionally prohibits activity for purely religious reasons.”

ADF sought the order on Feb. 3 to stop the evictions based on violations of the First Amendment that had not been ruled on previously in the case, Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education of the City of New York. According to the court, it issued the order because “the Plaintiffs have demonstrated irreparable harm and a likelihood of success on the merits of their Free Exercise and Establishment Clause claims….”

Many New York City churchgoers have been protesting the city’s plans to evict them ever since the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case on free speech grounds on Dec. 5 of last year. A bill that would compel the city’s Department of Education to allow the worship services passed the state senate this month and is awaiting action by the state assembly.

“This order from the court in no way should stop efforts by the New York Legislature to overturn this policy,” Lorence explained. “The courts have consistently ruled that the Constitution does not require New York City to ban religious worship services, so the city or the state legislature is free to repeal the policy.”

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY REVERSES ITS POSITION TO EVICT HOUSES OF WORSHIP

Fortunately, NYCHA reversed its decision to evict houses of worship from city owned projects. In communities were youth are confronted with temptations such as gangs and drugs on a daily basis, it is good to see that the modern day saints working in our city housing projects will NOT be evicted. Is it our goal to leave our children ignorant and morally defenseless against merchants of death feeding on our community? Do we want our prisons filled to capacity with our youth because there was no one to help put them on the right path? Under this scenario we would have evicted Mother Teresa when she was doing her work in impoverished gang riddles housing projects in the Bronx.

Major Kudos to Councilman Cabrera, all the religious leaders and all the community members who made noise on this issue. If there ever was a litmus test proving how out if touch the ruling elite are in regards to the housing projects that feed, house and put their children through private schools; this is it. The officials in NYCHA, who made this original decision to evict houses of worship from city owned properties need to be reminded that their role as city employees is to run the projects; not use government edicts to impose their atheist or agnostic beliefs on a community that they know nothing about or left behind in disdain. Our religious institutions, no matter what denomination, provide communities with a higher self imposed standard of humanity. Degradation of these religious institutions are a direct genocide on our community. Every registered voter should be aware of what side of the battle line their elected officials are on related to this and similar issues. If you are not registered you should make a point to register.

If you don’t believe the assault on “religion” is well funded and orchestrated, just drive south on the Buckner and see the large billboard put up for the holidays advocating for a religion free society.

Gregory

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City Council Member Fernando Cabrera comments on news that the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) has reversed its position to evict Houses of Worship from its facilities.

Details:

After the Supreme Court declined to hear Bronx Household of Faith vs. New York City Department of Education on December 5^th, 2011, the New York City Department of Education announced it would ban religious worship inside public schools, as permitted by the June 2011 decision of the U.S. 2^nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Subsequently, religious groups begun to be evicted from other public spaces, including Bronx Bible Church from Justice Sonia Sotomayor Houses, and Infinity New York Church from Bronx River Houses.

Following a series of rallies and demonstrations organized by Pastor Dimas Salaberrios and other religious leaders, including a rally on Thursday January 5th where Council Member Cabrera and pastors were arrested, the New York City Housing Authority has offered to work with houses of worship that meet on its properties. Pastor Dimas Salaberrios of Infinity New York Church was contacted by NYCHA on Friday January 6th and informed that NYCHA is willing to work with him and the other five pastors on new lease agreements. Pastor Dimas Salaberrios is the senior pastor at Infinity New York Church, which has met in the community center of the NYCHA Bronx River Houses for the last 5 years.

“This is a great victory,” said Councilman Fernando Cabrera “But the fight isn’t over and more rallies are being planned. We will continue to call on Mayor Bloomberg to lift the ban on Houses of Worship from meeting in public schools. I hope Mayor Bloomberg will follow the example of NYCHA’s and allow Houses of Worship to continue to meet in New York City Public Schools without restriction based on content.”

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER CABRERA ARRESTED ALONG WITH A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 6 PASTORS FROM ACROSS THE CITY

It's neither duck season or rabbit season. It's open season for arresting NYC Council members. Last months it was Ydanis Rodriguez who was arrested at Zuccatti Park during the Occupy Wall Street eviction. Today it was Fernando Cabrera who was arrested while protesting the NYC Law Department stance on evicting "Houses of Worship" from city owned or operated spaces. To review the issues please do read the press release sent posted below. Kudos to our representatives who have the conviction to get arrested for stances they take. Please do let us know where you stand on the issue.

Gregory

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NYC COUNCIL MEMBER CABRERA ARRESTED ALONG WITH A GROUP OF APPROXIMATELY 6 PASTORS FROM ACROSS THE CITY, WHEN PARTICIPATING IN A PEACEFUL PROTEST AGAINST THE CITY’S BAR ON HOUSES OF WORSHIP FROM RENTING NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SPACES

WHO: Council Member Fernando Cabrera and City Pastors

WHAT: NYC Council Member Cabrera arrested today along with a group of approximately 6
Pastors from across the City, were arrested today when participating in a peaceful
Protest against the New York City Law Department’s stance to evict Houses of Worship from City owned or operated spaces

WHEN: 8:00AM – 9:30AM Thursday 1/5/2011

WHERE: New York City Legal Department offices at
100 Church Street, New York, NY 10007


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New York City Council Member Fernando Cabrera and a group of approximately 6 Pastors from across the City were arrested when participating in a peaceful protest against the New York City Law Department’s stance to evict Houses of Worship from City owner or operated space. The Prayer Protest was organized by Pastor Dimas Salaberrios of Infinity New York, which met at the NYCHA Bronx River Houses.

Details:

After the Supreme Court declined to hear Bronx Household of Faith vs. New York City Department of Education on December 5th, 2011, the New York City Department of Education announced it would ban religious worship inside public schools, as permitted by the June 2011 decision of the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Subsequently, religious groups have begun to be evicted from other public spaces, including Bronx Bible Church from Justice Sonia Sotomayor Houses, and Infinity New York Church from Bronx River Houses.

New York City is the only municipality in the nation that bans Houses of Worship from meeting in public spaces.

“Today we are seeing the first indication that the churches in New York City, and nationally, are awakening,” said Council Member Cabrera. “Together, we will fight these restrictive laws that discriminate against hundreds of thousands of Church-goers.”


CM Cabrera, Pastor Dimas Salaberrio, & Others Kneeling in Prayer in front of 100 Church Street

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER CABRERA TO COMMEMORATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRAGIC FLIGHT TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

There is a memorial service tomorrow commemorating the 265 lives lost 10 years ago on flight 587. Anyone wishing to show their respect can join NYC Councilman and Pastor Fernando Cabrera at tomorrow’s service. Many of the victims were Bronx residents. May they all rest in peace.

Gregory

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WHO: NYC Council Member Fernando Cabrera

WHAT: Councilman Cabrera will speak at a memorial ceremony commemorating the 265 lives lost 10 years ago on Flight 587. 90% of the passengers on the flight were Dominican

WHEN: Friday, November 11^th, 2011

11:00AM

WHERE: Memorial Garden (Between the B and C buildings) at Hostos Community College

500 Grand Concourse

Bronx, NY 10451

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American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300, crashed into the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens, a borough of New York City, New York, shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 12, 2001. This is the second deadliest U.S. aviation accident to date, after American Airlines Flight 191.With 260 fatalities on board and 5 on the ground, this accident has the third highest death toll of any accident involving an Airbus A300

“As one of the first members of the clergy to arrive on the scene that tragic day, I know firsthand the impact this tragedy had—given how close it was to 9/11—on the entire city,” said Councilman Cabrera. “It was particularly impactful on the Dominican community as over 90% of those killed on the flight were of Dominican descent,” he continued. “I ask that New Yorkers join me in remembrance of those who lost their lives that day, as we ensure that we never forget the impact they had on our community.”

Community Health Day at Saint James Park Scheduled for Saturday, June 18th

Community Health Day, co-sponsored by Council Member Fernando Cabrera, is scheduled to take place at Saint James Park tomorrow. Free health tests are available.

Gregory
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Morris Heights Health Center will provide screenings for:
• Blood Pressure • HIV Testing • Glucose & Diabetes

Date: Saturday, June 18, 2011
Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Place: Saint James Park192 Street, Jerome AvenueBronx, NY 10468

For more information about Healthfirst, call: 1-866-GO-FOR-HF (1-866-463-6743)
TTY 1-800-662-1220 (for the hearing or speech impaired)
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.