Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Chaim Deutsch

Chaim Deutsch

  • WATCH: Clarke Debates Democratic Primary Challengers in New York's 9th Congressional District

    Gotham Gazette:

    Left to right: Yvette Clarke, Adem Bunkeddeko, Isiah James, and Lutchi Gayot


    Representative Yvette Clarke is facing four challengers in this month's Democratic primary in New York's 9th Congressional District, which includes a large swathe of central and southern Brooklyn. Clarke and three of those opponents -- Adem Bunkeddeko, Isiah James, and Luchi Gayot -- met for a virtual debate on the evening of Sunday, June 7. The debate was hosted by South Central Brooklyn United for Progress; Pakastini American Youth Society; Brooklyn Movement Center; and Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid; and

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  • Rep. Yvette Clarke Faces Several Democratic Primary Challengers: Watch the NY-9 Candidates Debate on Sunday June 7

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    Left to right: Yvette Clarke, Adem Bunkeddeko, Isiah James, and Lutchi Gayot


    Four of the five candidates in the Democratic primary for New York's 9th Congressional District, which includes a long swath of central and southern Brooklyn, will debate on Sunday, June 7, from 7-8:30 p.m. Incumbent Rep. Yvette Clarke will debate three of her four challengers: Adem Bunkeddeko, Isiah James, and Lutchi Gayot, while the other challenger, Chaim Deutsch has not agreed to participate.

    The debate is hosted by the Pakistani American Youth Society, South Central

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  • New Veterans Services Commissioner Lays Out Agenda at Council Oversight Hearing

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    DVS Commissioner Hendon (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    At a City Council oversight hearing on Tuesday, the new commissioner of the city’s Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), James Hendon, outlined two main priorities for the next chapter of his department’s work and its efforts to help the city’s hundreds of thousands of military veterans.

    Testifying before the Council’s Committee on Veterans, Hendon, who was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in October 2019, said he is focused on internal restructuring of DVS and outreach to the

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  • Without Chair, Council Committee Hears Bills Aimed to Help Discharged Military Veterans

    Council Member Chaim Deutsch

    Council Member Deutsch (photo: Emil Cohen/City Council)


    A bill that would require the New York City Department of Veterans Services to help veterans discharged from the military solely for their LGBTQ status to upgrade or change the narrative of their discharge status and “extend all city benefits and services” to them was introduced to the City Council’s Committee on Veterans at a hearing on Monday.

    Introduced alongside it was a bill that would require DVS to create a unit to assist veterans with discharge characterization upgrades and offer

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  • City Council Checks In On Department of Veterans Services, Discusses Reporting Bill

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    Veterans Services Commissioner Loree Sutton, middle (photo: Emil Cohen/City Council)


    The New York City Council’s Committee on Veterans met Monday to discuss a bill that would require the city’s Department of Veterans Services to release an annual report detailing certain information about its work to help the city’s military veterans, including the number of its employees and types services it is

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  • Advancing an Inclusive Approach to School Meals

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    School food inclusivity rally (@safest)


    We as faith leaders are most privileged to cooperate on a project that will benefit our respective communities. For far too long, students who follow religious dietary guidelines have found their public school cafeteria lacks sufficient accommodation in the food offered. Typically students who require a kosher or halal meal have very limited options in school lunch offerings, often choosing to eat nothing. At this time in history, with persistent and growing incidents of discrimination based on religious and racial animus, New York

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  • Three City Council Members Don't Support 'Fair Fares'

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    Speaker Johnson on the subway (photo via City Council)


    A budget proposal to provide half-priced MetroCards to low-income New Yorkers has the New York City Council’s full weight this year. Well, almost.

    Only three City Council Members -- Joe Borelli, Steven Matteo, and Ruben Diaz, Sr. -- in the 51-member body have so far declined to support Fair Fares, the proposal that would cost the city about $212 million to offer discounted fares to nearly 800,000 city residents living below the federal poverty line.

    City Council Speaker Corey Johnson has

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  • City Council Members Still Navigating Outside Income Divestment Ahead of Deadline

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    Council Member Paul Vallone (photo: John McCarten)


    Legislation barring City Council members from making outside income will go into effect on January 1, forcing several sitting and incoming Council members to make tough decisions about their side jobs.

    The regulations, which were linked to a significant pay increase for all city elected officials, including a salary bump from $112,500 to $148,000 for City Council members, were approved by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council last

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  • Southern Brooklyn Candidates Pitch Democratic Club

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    City Council Member Gentile (photo: Sam Raskin)


    Brooklyn Democratic office-seekers pitched their candidacies to the Brooklyn Young Democrats (BYD) club at a forum the group hosted in Bay Ridge Wednesday night.

    The event was part of the candidate and club endorsement circuit leading up to the September primary elections for City Council and other offices, including Mayor.

    The BYD meeting featured candidates for several offices, but was centered around the race for City Council in District 43, which includes parts of Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, along with Bath

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  • The New Yorker's Guide To The New City Government

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    Photo by Bill Alatriste/City Council

    NEW YORK — The historic overhaul of New York City government this year goes well beyond the mayor's office.

    There are 21 new members of the City Council, four new borough presidents, and fresh, yet familiar, faces in the offices of Brooklyn district attorney, comptroller, and public advocate. With the city’s politics taking an increasingly liberal turn, there are few outright conservatives left in city government.

    “Reapportionment and term limits combined to make the City

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