📢Assembly District 42 Community Newsflash:

• NYC Hits Record-High Employment, for the 8th Time in a Row

• Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn Speaks with Mayor Eric Adams on Migrant Crisis Budget Spending

• Calling on Nominations for Our Women of Distinction Awards!

RODNEYSE IN THE COMMUNITY

Celebrating Justice Inga M. O’Neale's Induction

Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn presenting a citation to Hon. Inga M. O'Neale at her swearing-in ceremony as a NYS Supreme Court Justice

Hon. Inga M. O’Neale was inducted as a Supreme Court Justice, Kings County; and Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn joined elected officials, District Leaders, judges and community advocates to celebrate Justice O' Neale's ascension to the Supreme Court Bench.

Born in Antigua, O'Neale was raised in her parents’ hometown of Grenada, Following in their footsteps as a community builder; she then immigrated to the U.S., becoming the first attorney and judge in her family. O'Neale most recently served as a Civil Court Judge.

RODNEYSE IN ALBANY

Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn Speaks with

Mayor Eric Adams on Migrant Crisis in a Budget Hearing

Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn spoke with New York City Mayor Eric Adams yesterday, during a joint budget hearing on Local/General Government, applauding the progress made in addressing asylum seekers in New York City, while questioning if additional funding is required from New York State's upcoming Budget for FY 2025-2026 to continue these positive results and actions.

Click here to watch.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Honoring the Late Rosa Parks' 115th Birthday

Throughout Black History Month, we are proudly spotlighting past and present Black changemakers.

In this week's Newsflash, we are honoring hero Rosa Parks, whose 115th birthday anniversary was yesterday.

Rosa Parks, born on February 4 in 1913, is widely known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" for her pivotal role in sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Alabama. Her arrest for this act of defiance ignited a 381-day boycott of the city's buses led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., resulting in the desegregation of Montgomery's public transportation.

Parks passed away in 2005, at the age of 92. Her legacy endures, as she remains an enduring symbol of courage, resistance, and the fight for equality.

Read More Here!

Today at 6:30 PM, Virtual Event -

Know Your Rights: Resources for at-Risk Immigrants

Join an informative and anonymous seminar with resources and advice from elected officials and advocacy organizations, to help protect you and your family’s immigration rights.

Where and When: Virtually via Zoom, today (Wednesday, February 5) from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.

Register here.

For more information, call (718) 629-2900

SAVE THE DATE: 2025 Women of Distinction Awards

Join Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn for her Annual Women of Distinction Awards, celebrating the incredible women making a difference in Assembly District 42.

This special evening, held during Women's History Month, will honor trailblazers in the arts, business, education, health, community service, and more, recognizing their leadership and impact in our community.

📅 Date/Time: Thursday, March 6, 2025 | 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Woody Tanger Auditorium, Brooklyn College

Stay tuned for more details!

RSVP here.

Is there an exceptional woman in our community you'd like to be honored? Please nominate them here.

NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT NEWSFLASH

Photo credit: AM New York

•  Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation to strengthen New York as a sanctuary for reproductive health care in America.

The bill protects privacy for patients getting reproductive healthcare; allowing their names to be removed from prescription labels (and replaced by providers').

Read more.

• NYS Attorney General Tish James called for medical institutions to continue providing gender-affirming care, after some providers stopped due to an Executive Order issued by President Trump. Read more.

NEW YORK CITY GOVERNMENT NEWSFLASH

Photo credit: Mayor's Office

• Mayor Eric Adams celebrated that New York City has set another record high total number of jobs in the city's history, with 4,770,981 total jobs - the 8th time NYC hit a new record high under the Mayor

Read more here.

• The Mayor continued the momentum, announcing an additional $2M investment in and expansion of a Hiring Hall Program, bringing job opportunities directly to economically disadvantaged areas.

Read more here.

In a press release with the Mayor's Office, Assemblymember Bichotte Heremelyn hailed the progress and reaffirmed her commitment to boost the economy:

"New York City is truly the city of opportunity for all; hitting record-high employment for all demographics for the eighth time.

The $2 million investment to expand ‘Jobs NYC,’ builds on that marvelous momentum...our commitment to making NYC the best and most affordable place to raise a family are not just words, it’s action.” 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEWSFLASH

Photo credit: Axios

• FBI officials complied with demands to provide the Justice Department with details of thousands of employees who worked on investigations related to the January 6 2021 US Capitol Riot.

Read more.

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday unveiled a 10-part plan for House Democrats' efforts to counter many of President Trump's moves, such as the FBI compliance.

Read more.

Latest News On Haitian Crisis

More than $13 million in U.S. funding for an international security force helping fight armed gangs in Haiti has been frozen under President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on foreign aid, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Read more.

Latest News on Israel/Hamas War

President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that displaced Palestinians be permanently resettled outside Gaza and proposed the U.S. take “ownership” in redeveloping the area, which were certain to roil the ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel.

Read more.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES, EVENTS & ADVISORIES

Brooklyn Public Library:

Clarendon Branch Has Re-Opened!

Clarendon Library recently re-opened, following renovations and a revamp - which Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn was honored to assist in expediting.

(read more here)

We hope you enjoy the new amenities and a bevy of free upcoming events, including:

• World Read Aloud Day: Storytime

Date: Wed, Feb 5, Time: 10:30am to 11:00am

• Teen Time: DIY Fridays

Date: Fri, Feb 7, Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm

• Saturday Storytime

Date: Sat, Feb 8, Time: 10:30am to 11:00am

See more events here.

Join Congressman Jeffries and Executive Director of Center for Law and Social Justice, Lurie Daniel Favors, to celebrate Black History Month, with a night of conversation and more.

When and Where: Friday, Feb. 7 at 6:30pm | Medgar Evers College (1650 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn.)

Free and open to the public, RSVP here.

Brooklyn Community Board 14's Youth Conference provides youth (ages 14-21) with the opportunity to participate in mock interviews, interact with elected officials and local community leaders, apply for internships, and much more!

Where: Flatbush YMCA: 1401 Flatbush Ave

When: March 12th, 2025 | 4:00pm-7:00pm

The free event is open to the public with programs for ages 14-21

RSVP here or email CB14youthconference.com with questions.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS

 Grants Action News - New February 2025 Edition!

The New York State Assembly’s Monthly Grants Action Newsletter (click here to view) is an invaluable resource for non-profits: listing vast federal, state, and city upcoming grant deadlines and how to apply.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn covering Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood. She is currently the NYS Assembly Majority Whip, Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and serves on the following committees: Housing, Government Operations, Education, Banks, Health, and Higher Education. She also sits on Governor Hochul's Domestic Violence Advisory Council and Mayor Adams' MWBE Task Force.

As a current Assemblymember, District Leader, and Chair of Brooklyn Democratic Party, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn has been an outspoken advocate on issues concerning immigration, education, economic development, unemployment, education reform, health care access, senior citizen centers, affordable housing, school safety, women's and LGBTQ rights, as well as other issues affecting the quality of life in the community.

Learn more about 

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn by visiting her websites:

http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Rodneyse-Bichotte

and www.rodneysebichotte.net