Page 4 - qt edition #52

PAGE 4 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

City Council Passes Council Member Julie Won’s Bill to AG James Celebrates New Nation
Safeguard Against Conflicts of Interest in City Contracting Leading Shield Law Protections for

Int. 479 would establish standards a clause requiring the contractor to reported that “City ethics rules Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care
and procedures to determine the use the standards and procedures ban relatives from lobbying each
existence of conflicts of interest whether there is: other. At minimum, David Banks (Continued from page 3) in an increasingly hostile national
and other misconduct. • Conflicts of Interest: would be required to secure a landscape.”
• Any officer or employee of waiver from the city’s Conflicts sensitive health information and “The passing of Shield Law
At the Thursday, December 18 the contractor, or any officer of a of Interest Board before meeting extend protections to everyone 2.0 is one of the most important
Stated Meeting, the New York City subcontractor—has a conflict of with a company represented by involved in care are so essential. pieces of legislation to ensure NY
Council passed Council Member interest related to the contract. his brother.” Intro 479-2024 would New York is demonstrating how can continue to be a safe haven for
Julie Won’s bill, Int. 479. The • Misconduct: further codify these prevention states can protect access to care. LGBTQ unhoused youth – espe-
bill requires that the City Chief • Any owner, officer, or employee measures and make certifications This bill strengthens New York’s cially after the U.S. House of Rep-
Procurement Officer establish of the contractor or its subcontrac- of these measures public. shield law, further safeguarding resentatives passed H.R. 3492,”
standards and procedures to de- tors has engaged in corruption, “We’ve seen corruption, nepo- patients, providers, and anyone said Nadia Swanson, Director of
termine the existence of conflicts criminal activity, gross misman- tism, and bribery happen again who helps them, ensuring access Advocacy and Global Platforms,
of interest and other misconduct agement, or abuse of authority and again in city contracting. Int. to critical health care, especially The Ali Forney Center. “Gender-
concerning city contracts valued related to the contract. 479 will strengthen integrity in for young people, immigrants, affirming care access supports
over $100,000. The Adams Administration City procurement by proactively people with low incomes, and youths’ ability to heal from the
The Chief Procurement Officer, made headlines for multiple cor- identifying and disclosing conflicts other communities most likely trauma of family rejection, access
in consultation with the Conflicts ruption scandals during the May- of interest and serious misconduct to be targeted and criminalized.” work and school opportunities,
of Interest Board and the Depart- or’s tenure. This includes former for contracts that are $100,000 or “Children and their families and move on to independence to
ment of Investigation, must create DOE Chancellor David Banks, more,” said Council Member Julie must be able to obtain neces- live the life we all deserve.”
rules and procedures for contrac- who signed off on $1.4 million Won. “Creating uniform standards, sary medical care, including “As medical providers, mental
tors to use in determining whether worth of contracts with compa- mandatory reporting, and public legally protected healthcare, health professionals, social work-
any of their officers or employees nies who hired David’s brother accountability will protect taxpay- without being punished,” said ers, and service providers, we
have a conflict of interest related Terrence as a consultant so he er dollars and weed out problematic Alex Dery Snider, Director of live by a shared code of ethics: to
to a covered contract. could set up meetings with “top contractors that have been allowed Policy and Communications of enhance human well-being, advo-
A covered contract must include government stakeholders.” NBC to fly under the radar for too long.” the Empire Justice Center. “This cate for fair access to basic human
is a matter of life and death for needs with dignity, and support
Gillibrand, Schumer, Meng Lead Effort To Preserve New our clients, and the need for patients’ self-determination,” said
York’s Ability To Use Broadband Infrastructure Funds To these protections has only gotten the New York City Trans Queer
more urgent since the bill was Provider Advocacy Coalition.
Support Broadband Adoption And Digital Inclusion Projects introduced. We thank Governor “Shield Law 2.0 protects our abil-
Hochul for signing this important ity to provide safe and accessible
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand ing uncertainty that could result where they live. Broadband adop- legislation. We also are grateful care to our community. Thank
and Charles Schumer, along with in the loss of federal support for tion projects play a crucial role in to Attorney General James and you, Senator Hoylman-Sigal
Congresswoman Grace Meng, increasing broadband adoption ensuring full participation in the sponsors Senator Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Bronson,
raised concerns about the National across New York State. digital economy. This is necessary and Assemblymember Bronson for your leadership, and Gov-
Telecommunications and Informa- The members emphasized because long-term American eco- for their leadership on this issue.” ernor Hochul, for recognizing
tion Administration’s (NTIA) po- that “BEAD non-deployment nomic competitiveness relies on “With the enactment of Shield the urgency and importance of
tential reclamation of Broadband funds would benefit many more a digitally connected and skilled Law 2.0, New York continues expanding protections for gender-
Equity, Access, and Deployment households than the one percent of workforce.” to lead the nation in protecting affirming care.”
(BEAD) non-deployment funds. households eligible for deployment The members closed the letter transgender people, their fami- “Thanks so very much to our
If the NTIA unlawfully withholds funds and would help close the by highlighting that “Workforce lies, and the healthcare providers New York state legislature, our
these funds, New York stands to digital access divide for K-12 stu- development, employment, digi- who support them,” said Patrick governor, and Attorney General
lose at least $273.52 million in dents, veterans, aging adults, rural tal safety education, support for McGovern, CEO of Callen-Lorde James for supporting bodily au-
funding to support broadband communities, and families across remote learning, telehealth, and Community Health Center. “We tonomy and human rights,” said
adoption and digital inclusion the state. To fully ensure that all the other non-deployment ac- are grateful to Attorney General Scott Hartman, MD, Secretary,
efforts. New Yorkers can participate in an tivities approved under the NTIA’s Letitia James for defending ac- New York State Academy of Fam-
The BEAD program is a increasingly digital era, they not original 2022 guidance are foun- cess to evidence-based care and ily Physicians. “And thanks to the
$42.45 billion federal grant pro- only need access to broadband, dational to delivering high-speed for standing up to efforts that many organizations that worked
gram that aims to connect every but also access to affordable broad- reliable internet to New York’s threaten New Yorkers as well as tirelessly on the passage of this
American to high-speed internet band, internet-enabled devices, most underserved communities.” patients and providers across state bill, including the NY State
by funding partnerships to build and digital literacy programming The members urged Commerce lines; and we thank Governor Academy of Family Physicians,
broadband infrastructure. BEAD to maximize internet connectiv- Secretary Howard Lutnick and Kathy Hochul for her leadership NY State Psychiatric Association,
non-deployment funds refer to the ity.” NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth in signing this critical legislation NYCLU, Planned Parenthood,
funding left over after a state meets “BEAD non-deployment funds to “preserve the flexibility states into law and providing necessary and Human Rights Campaign.”
BEAD’s infrastructure deploy- are meant to complement BEAD’s retained prior to the issuance of protections for New York’s pro- “At the end of one of the worst
ment requirements. In May 2022, universal connectivity goals, and the NTIA’s June 2025 restructur- viders of vital and life-affirming weeks of attacks on gender af-
the NTIA outlined acceptable uses federal statute explicitly authorizes ing notice and allow states to use care. At Callen-Lorde, we believe firming care and the right of
for these funds, clarifying that these funds for a broad range of BEAD non-deployment funds for every person deserves to be seen, trans people to bodily autonomy
states may be able to use BEAD non-deployment activities, includ- digital inclusion efforts.” affirmed, and cared for—without in the U.S., I celebrate Governor
non-deployment funds to support ing accessibility, affordability, Along with Senators Gillibrand exception. Medical decisions Hochul’s signature on Shield Law
digital inclusion projects, includ- and digital readiness. If the NTIA and Schumer and Congresswoman should be grounded in science 2.0 to protect trans youth’s access
ing expanding access to afford- restricts or reclaims these funds, Meng, the letter was cosigned by and remain between a patient, to life-saving care and the physi-
able broadband internet services, broadband infrastructure invest- Representatives Hakeem Jeffries their family, and their clinician. cians and families who provide it
internet-enabled devices, digital ments risk creating a two-tiered (D-NY-08), Dan Goldman (D- Partisan politics have no place in to them,” said H. May, Organizer
literacy programming, telehealth system where broadband avail- NY-10), John Mannion (D-NY-22), the clinic.” for FLX Beacon: A Coalition for
services, and cybersecurity educa- ability exists but remains out of Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), “The National Council of Jew- LGBTQIA+ Liberation Across
tion initiatives. reach for those who need it most,” Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Pat Ryan ish Women New York celebrates the Finger Lakes. “I am grateful
However, the NTIA’s June 2025 the lawmakers stressed. (D-NY-18), George Latimer (D- the passage of the Shield Law that Governor Hochul continues
BEAD restructuring policy notice The members continued to un- NY-16), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY- 2.0, a critical victory that ensures to follow the science that over-
rescinds states’ flexibility to use derscore the importance of broad- 07), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Greg- New York state continues to pro- whelmingly supports the safety
these funds as Congress intended. band access in an increasingly ory Meeks (D-NY-5), Adriano tect medical professionals who and value of gender affirming
As of today, the NTIA has yet to digital era, stating that “Every Espaillat (D-NY-13), Yvette Clarke provide reproductive healthcare medical care for trans people of
clarify whether states will be able New Yorker deserves affordable, (D-NY-09), Laura Gillen (D-NY- and gender-affirming care,” said all ages, empowering them to
to retain these funds at all, creat- high-speed internet, regardless of 04), and Paul Tonko (D-NY-20). Andrea Salwen Kopel, Executive live full and meaningful lives. I
Director of the National Council am also buoyed by the Attorney
Gillibrand, Hyde-Smith Applaud Senate Passage Of Their of Jewish Women New York. General’s statements of unwav-
“Jewish texts and traditions value ering support for trans youth in
Bill To Support Victims Of Human Trafficking, Urge the life and health of pregnant New York and beyond following
President Trump To Promptly Sign It Into Law people and support their right HHS’s announcement that it will
to seek and receive the care they deny hospital systems essential
U.S. Senators Kirsten islation also unanimously passed victims of human trafficking and need without fear or coercion. funding in order to force them
Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cindy the House earlier this month and help them reestablish their lives,” Ensuring legal protection for both to terminate gender affirming
Hyde-Smith (R-MS) lauded the now goes to President Trump for said Senator Gillibrand. “This providers and patients aligns with care for all trans youth. As the
Senate’s unanimous passage his signature. Senator Gillibrand legislation will help shield traf- these core Jewish values and up- national government increases
of their Trafficking Survivors fought for this bill for nearly a ficking survivors from further holds justice and compassion for its existential attacks on the trans
Relief Act, which would enable decade. undue harm, protecting them all. At a time when access and community, state leadership is
survivors of human traffick- “The passage of my Traf- from the threat of criminaliza- safety are under attack across the essential.”
ing to have nonviolent offenses ficking Survivors Relief Act tion, prison sentences, and subse- country, Shield 2.0 solidifies New For more information on New
that they were forced to commit through Congress is an enormous York’s role as a beacon of repro- York’s shield law protections,
vacated and expunged. The leg- milestone in the effort to support (Continued on page 8) ductive freedom and protection visit OAG’s website.