THOUSANDS ATTENDED MASS MARCH ON BROOKLYN BRIDGE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP

As shown in the photos posted below, this Sunday's rally was a full house. Kudos to all the organizers and participants who are making sure their voices are heard.

Gregory
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Discriminatory policy will evict Houses of Worship from Public Schools on Feb. 12^th, 2012

WHO: NYC Council Member Fernando Cabrera, City Religious Leaders, City Council Members, and Elected Officials

WHAT: Thousands attended mass march opposing Mayor Bloomberg's eviction of houses of worship from public schools
buildings

WHEN: Monday January 30, 2012

WHERE: New York, NY

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NEW YORK — Council Member Fernando Cabrera, elected officials and city religious leaders lead a mass march across the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday, Sunday, January 29^th, 2012. Marchers urged Mayor Bloomberg and the Department of Education (DOE) to reverse the discriminatory policy that will evict Houses of Worship from public schools on February 12^th.

The march began at Cadman Plaza, continued over the Brooklyn Bridge and ended in front of City Hall on Broadway. New York City Police Department Community Affairs personnel escorted the marchers throughout as marchers sang prayer songs and chanted motivational words.

“Communities turned out in mass to show their support,” said Council Member Cabrera “Black, White, Latino and Asian, young and old. Our momentum is growing.” He continued “Our constitution has an anti-establishment clause and we respect that, but it also has a free exercise clause. This policy restricts the right to free exercise by discriminating against religious groups. Our stance against this policy does not ask for special treatment, but for fair treatment.”

Marchers are also urged legislative action. The City Council should pass Resolution 1155 which calls upon the New York State legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation amending the New York State Education Law to afford houses of worship maximum access to school property. The State legislation includes NYS Assembly Bill A8800 and NYS Senate Bill S6087 that would amend NYS Education Law 414 to allow Houses of Worship to meet in schools regardless of the “worship” component of their activities.

Background:

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 Houses of Worship wishing to rent vacant spaces from Public Schools during non-school hours.

Following the announcement, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and Religious Leaders have organized several protests. These include a Prayerful Protest on Thursday January 5^th, where Council Member Fernando Cabrera, pastors and congregants were arrested for kneeling in front of the New York City Law Department in prayer during a display of civil disobedience, and a Prayer Rally during Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City address on Thursday January 12^th, where approximately 500 pastors and congregants gathered for prayer and song and over 40 were arrested while approaching the entrance of Morris High School in another display of civil disobedience. A press conference was also convened in front of the Tweed Court House on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, where 50 pastors, congregants and elected officials participated before marching to City Hall for the New York City Council Stated Meeting.

The January 29^th March on the Brooklyn Bridge was the largest planned demonstration to date.

Speakers: Elected Officials
Fernando Cabrera	New York City Council, 14th District	Bronx
Ruben Diaz Sr.	New York State Senate, 32nd District	Bronx
Marcos Crespo	New York State Assembly, 85th District	Bronx
Hakeem Jeffries	New York State Assembly, 57th District	Brooklyn
Ydanis Rodriguez	New York City Council, 10th District	Manhattan
Robert Jackson	New York City Council, 7th District	Manhattan
Jumaane Williams	New York City Council, 45th District	Brooklyn
Letitia James	New York City Council, 35th District	Brooklyn
Bill De Blasio	New York City Public Advocate	Citywide
John Liu	New York City Comptroller	Citywide

Speakers: Clergy
Pastor Bill Devlin - Co-Chair of Movement Steering Committee	Manhattan Bible Church	Manhattan
Pastor Rick del Rio (affected pastor)	Abounding Grace Ministries	Manhattan
Pastor Gabriel Salguero	National Latino Evangelical Coalition	Manhattan
Pastor Seungho Yang	Korean Council of Churches	Manhattan
Pastor Inhyun Ryu (affected pastor)	New Frontier Church	Manhattan
Minister Kirsten Foy	Office of the NYC Public Advocate	Manhattan
Pastor Dimas Salaberrios	Infinity New York Church	Bronx
Pastor Salvador Sabino (affected pastor)	Heavenly Vision	Bronx
Bishop Fernando Rodriguez	Latin/African American Chaplains Association	Bronx
Bishop Lillian Robinson –Wiltshire (affected pastor)	Cathedral of Christ Community Ministries	Brooklyn
Rev. Dr. Sheryl Anthony	Judah International Christian Center	Brooklyn

Councilman Fernando Cabrera has served the 14th Council District of the Bronx since January 2010 and as senior pastor for New Life Outreach International in the Bronx since 1988.

OVER 40 PASTORS AND CONGREGANTS ARRESTED DURING BLOOMBERG’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, WHILE PROTESTING THE CITY’S DECISION TO EVICT HOUSES OF WORSHIP

Here is the latest related to the debate raging over houses of worship and their right to rent space from public schools and or other city owned properties. Besides my past rants on the topic, it seems as if MANY Bronx residents and MANY elected officials agree that evicting these houses of worship is a real threat to the community.

From the list of elected officials below who support the houses of worship, I want to point out that it's not just the standard conservative “church” crew of elected officials that are making the stance against these evictions. Many of the more “liberal” elected officials like Council member Maria de Carmen Arroyo and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio ,who in the past have been steadfast supporters on “liberal” issues like marriage equality, also support the houses of worship in their quest to not be evicted based on esoteric philosophical debates or perceived threats. When local elected officials form conservative and liberal ideologies all agree on a specific issue, I think it’s clear that there position has merit. The Bronx public and our elected officials have spoken. If this is a democracy they should be listened to.

I am curious how Chancellor Walcott forgot about his "hands on" prayer service in the Bronx when he first becomes NYC School Chancellor which took place on PALM SUNDAY. Why has our self proclaimed messiah abandoned us in our time of need? I am sure we will see our present Chancellor employed by Murdock in some capacity much like our past Chancellor is presently employed by Murdock. That is, of coarse contingent on Walcott’s success on his helping to privatize our school system so Murdock and his associates can reap the benefits. In addition, I am sure the elected officials on the list below are prime candidates for frivolous press attacks by Murdock’s daily NYC rag; AKA the New York Post.

Gregory

More on Former NYC School Chancellor Joel Klein and Rupert Murdock

http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2011/jul/20/why-ex-nyc-schools-chancellor-joel-klein-murdochs-fixer/

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WHO: New York City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, Religious Leaders and Congregants

WHAT: Over 40 Pastors and Congregants were arrested today during a Civil Disobedience demonstration
held during the Mayor’s State of the City Address. The Prayer Rally was organized by City
Religious Leaders to Oppose Mayor Bloomberg’s Decision to Evict Houses of Worship from |
Public Schools.

WHEN: Thursday January 12, 2012 12:00PM -2:00PM EST

WHERE: Morris High School, 1100 Boston Rd. (at corner of 167th St.), Bronx, New York

Flier attached.

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NEW YORK — Over 40 pastors and congregants were arrested today during a Civil Disobedience demonstration during the Mayor’s State of the City Address, according the Bronx NYPD representatives. The Prayer Rally was organized by City Religious Leaders and New York City Council Member (“CM”) Fernando Cabrera. The rally received public support from some NYS Senators, NYS Assembly Members and NYC Council Members. Present were: CM Letitia James, CM Jumaane Williams, CM Ydanis Rodriguez, CM Robert Jackson, CM David Greenfield, CM Maria del Carmen Arroyo, CM Joel Rivera, NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, NYS Assembly Member (“AM”) Nelson Castro, NYS AM Marcos Crespo and NYS Senator Ruben Diaz.

Pastors and Elected Officials came together at 12:00PM to speak against the Mayor’s discriminatory decision to evict Houses of Worship from public schools, after Elected Officials spoke; Religious Leaders lead a crowd of 300 in prayer and song. At approximately 12:45PM members of the crowd began approaching the entrance of Morris High School to kneel in prayer, and were arrested by the New York Police Department (NYPD). Approximately 45 individuals, in groups of 5-8, were arrested throughout the demonstration. The NYPD behaved courteously to the protestors.

“The theme of the protest was peaceful. We are here to make a statement. We have approached the Mayor’s Office to try to come to an agreement on this policy and we are open to negotiations,” said Council Member Fernando Cabrera. “The eviction of Houses of Worship from schools, especially from poor communities, is nothing but detrimental to the communities they serve. Houses of Worship bring so many tangible and intangible benefits to communities, that we just don’t understand the logic behind this policy.”

Bills have been introduced in the NYS Assembly (#A8800) and the NYS Senate (#S6087) that would change State Law to allow worship services in schools, and a resolution (#1155) supporting these bills has a super-majority of co-cosponsors (35) in the NYC Council.

Background: (from 1/9/2012 Media Advisory)

“Houses of worship throughout the city consider this policy to be nothing short of discrimination, and we will make that known on Thursday,” said Cabrera. “I applaud the New York City Housing Authority’s efforts to work with religious groups that meet in their spaces, but the Department of Education needs to follow suit.”

Cabrera explained that the city is in perilous economic times and that houses of worship provide social services that take the burden off the city and its taxpayers.

“Treating houses of worship equally with other community groups helps our communities,” said Cabrera. “Evicting them hurts people and neighborhoods by denying them the social and spiritual services they desperately need, which in my district includes tutoring services, soup kitchens, and more. Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott need to listen to what the citizens of this city want.”

The rally comes on the heels of the first big victory for equal access in New York City this year. Following a series of rallies and demonstrations organized by Pastor Dimas Salaberrios and other religious leaders (including a rally on Thursday January 5^th where Council Member Fernando Cabrera, Pastor Dimas Salaberrios, Pastor Bill Devlin and Pastor Michael Carrion were arrested along with three congregants): the New York City Housing Authority relented from its efforts to evict at least five churches meeting for worship services in the community centers of the city’s public housing properties. Pastor Joe Fletcher of Bronx Bible Church and Pastor Dimas Salaberrios of Infinity New York Church received calls from Housing Authority officials who told the pastors that the city is willing to sign long-term agreements so the churches can continue conducting their services in the projects.

“Churches and other religious groups should be able to meet in public buildings on the same terms as other community groups,” said Lorence. “These churches offer the people in hurting communities hope and help for their daily needs. To drive out the churches based on a discredited, extreme notion of ‘separation of church and state’ benefits no one and harms people who need help most.”

In December, after the U.S. Supreme Court denied review in the Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education of the City of New York case, the Housing Authority sought to expand the ban on worship services from the city’s public schools to include the community centers at public housing developments. ADF attorneys explained the relevant constitutional law to the Housing Authority and warned of legal action if it did not allow the churches to keep meeting.

Councilman Fernando Cabrera has served the 14th Council District of the Bronx since January 2010, and he has served as senior pastor of New Life Outreach International since 1988.

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDO CABRERA PRESENTS $2 MILLION DOLLAR CHECK TO MORRIS HEIGHTS HEALTH CENTER

Here is positive news for a community health organization serving the Bronx. The NYC Council approved a $2,071,000 grant to MHHC. Kudos to the NYC Council members that made the allocation possible. In a time when many people cannot afford quality health insurance, I am sure the funds will make a difference in the quality of health care received by Bronx residents. For more information on the organization, their web site can be found below.

Gregory

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NYC COUNCIL MEMBER FERNANDO CABRERA PRESENTS $2 MILLION DOLLAR CHECK TO MORRIS HEIGHTS HEALTH CENTER

WHO: NYC Council Member Fernando Cabrera

WHAT: Councilman Cabrera presented a ceremonial check for $2,071,000 to Morris Heights Health Center on behalf of the City Council

WHEN: 8/11/11

WHERE: Morris Heights Health Center

57-69 West Burnside Ave

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“Morris Heights Health Center is a beacon in my community that serves tens of thousands of residents every year. This is the reason I fought so hard to bring this capital investment to the district,” said Councilman Cabrera.

This funding will allow MHHC to overhaul 36 newly outfitted patient examination rooms; upgrade all accessory spaces including patient waiting areas, corridors and reception areas.

“When you’re having health issues, it affects all areas of your life,” said Councilman Cabrera. “Institutions like MHHC don’t just help improve the health of our community; they help improve the lives in our neighborhoods. I am happy to allocate funds together with my colleagues and Speaker Christine Quinn to ensure that they are fully equipped to continue the work that they’ve been doing for over three decades.

Morris Heights Health Center (MHHC) is a not-for-profit federally qualified health center serving more than 60,000 residents annually in the Bronx Community. MHHC provides a wide range of primary, specialty, dental, mental health, educational and social services at fourteen convenient locations. For more information, visit http://www.mhhc.org/.###

AS STRIKE LOOMS, BRONX APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS TO RALLY

Here is more on the possible strike and rally set for tomorrow.

Gregory
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AS STRIKE LOOMS, BRONX APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS TO RALLY
-- Thousands of Bronx Workers Could Walk Off the Job on March 15th--
New York, NY—With a potential strike less than a week away, apartment building workers will march and rally in the Bronx to call on the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB), an industry association representing building owners, to sign a fair agreement before their contract expires at 12:01 A.M. on March 15th.
Contract negotiations between 32BJ SEIU, the union representing the workers, and BRAB have been underway since early February, and several issues, including health care and retirement savings remain, outstanding. The current contract covers building superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers. Failure to reach a new contract could trigger a strike of more than 3,000 apartment building workers at over 1,000 residential buildings throughout the Bronx.
WHAT: Bronx Apartment Building Workers Rally for New Contract

WHO: --Thousands of apartment building workers
--32BJ Vice President Kyle Bragg
--Congressman José E. Serrano
--State Senator Jeffrey Klein
--Assembly members Carl Heastie, Vanessa Gibson
--Council members Larry Seabrook, Fernando Cabrera
--Community supporters

WHEN: Thursday, March10, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Franz Segal Park in the Bronx @ 153rd Street & Grand Concourse
Take 2, 4, 5 train to 149th Street -- Grand Concourse

With more than 120,000 members, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country. For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org .