REMARKS
Speaker Adrienne Adams addresses the council
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6 min
Speaker Adrienne Adams addresses the council.
In her address, she acknowledges the tragic loss of two residents, reflects on the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., recognizes numerous holidays and achievements, celebrates council member birthdays, and announces additional members of the council leadership team.
Speaker 2
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We will now have communication from speaker Adrian Adams.
Speaker 4
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Thank you, Matt, a majority leader, and good afternoon, everyone.
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Before we begin, I want to acknowledge the death of 2 residents who died in a fire last week in Council member Williams District.
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Sixty three year old, Richard Jackson, and his mother, eighty six year old Doris Jackson.
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Our hearts are very hairy from this tragedy.
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Rockdale Village is also praying for their family.
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This week, we celebrated the life and legacy of the great reverend Doctor Martin Luther King junior.
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Doctor King called on all of us to work together to usher in a just world that rejects discrimination, inequality, and poverty.
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His message inspired people across the nation and their contributions propelled a movement that continues to influence the nation.
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We each bear the responsibility to advance these efforts and grow the seeds of progress to bestow upon future generations.
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This obligation means we have to confront long standing inequities.
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Which have been a focus for this body.
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From maternal and mental health to community safety and victim services, This council has taken a comprehensive approach that prioritizes solutions to the challenges facing New Yorkers.
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Although the equitable future we seek may take years and even decades to achieve, every ounce of progress we secure today will bring us closer as we struggle for equity and justice.
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Next, I want to recognize several holidays that are important for our city's diverse communities January 1st was Haitian Independence Day, which commemorates Haiti's liberation from colonial rule in 18 0 for as the world's 1st black led republic to our members of Haitian descent and all Haitian New Yorkers I hope you had a wonderful Haitian Independence Day.
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January 6 was 3 Kings Day, a significant holiday that is also known as the feast of epiphany.
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For many New Yorkers, the holiday season does not end on Christmas, but on 3 Kings Day, where family members gather to exchange gifts and share meals together.
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I hope that everyone that celebrated had a happy 3 Kings Day.
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January 13th was Korean American Day, which commemorates the day in 1903 when the first Koreans arrived in the United States.
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Our historically diverse council includes the first 2 Korean American council members in Linda Li and Julie Wang.
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We celebrate your historic representation, and we wish all New Yorkers a happy Korean American day.
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January 15th, special for me for the Sisters of Alpha Capa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
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And this year, we celebrate 116 years of Sisterhood scholarship and service.
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I'm so proud to be a life member of Alpha Capa Alpha.
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And I am joined with our own majority leader as a sorority sister in Amanda Fabies.
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On Monday, we lit up 1 way 1 World Trade Center in Pink And Green, a moment that we will always remember happy founders' day to all of my soul wars.
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On January 22nd, we will observe Rovi Way Day, which marks the anniversary of the landmark supreme court decision that granted us the federally protected right to safe and legal abortions.
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This year would have been the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade.
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But with the Supreme Court's actions to overturn 5 decades of legal precedent, reproductive health care for millions of people is under attack across this country.
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Our women majority council has prioritized safeguarding and spanning access to abortion care by passing the New York City abortion rights act and investing an unprecedented $1,000,000 in municipal funds to support abortion care access for those who cannot afford it.
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New York City remains a beacon of hope, but we know more must be done across the country.
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To ensure everyone can safely and legally access abortions and reproductive health care.
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And January 27th is Holocaust remembrance day when we honored the memory of millions of Jewish people and other victims who were murdered during the Holocaust.
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We uplift their memories and do make a solemn pledge never again.
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Now I want to wish a happy birthday to all of our council members who were born in the month of January.
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Council members Althea Stevens on the second.
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Council member, Carlina Rivera, on the third, council member, Sean Abreio, on the 8th, Council member Francisco Moyah on 9th council member Alex Avila's on 15th, and council member Susan Zhuang on 30th.
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I also must shout out that today is the birthday of my amazing first deputy chief of Saf Faiza Ali.
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Happy birthday, Faiza.
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I hope that everyone who celebrates their birthday this month had or will have an amazing birthday.
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At our charter meeting, I announced several members of the council's leadership team, including deputy speaker Diana Ayala, Majority leader Amanda Fabillos and majority whip Silvina Brooks Powers.
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Today, I want to announce additional members of the leadership team, including Council member Justin Brennan.
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Council member Keith Brewer.
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Keith Brewer.
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Keith Brewer.
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Keith Powers.
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Council member Carlina Rivera, Council member Raphael Salamanca, and council member Sandra Ng.
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Together, yeah, that's good.
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Together, this group will help guide the council's efforts to support members execute the body's priorities, and advance solutions to the challenges facing all New Yorkers.
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Today, we're also announcing the chairs and members of each committee and sub committee.
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Every decision was made with careful consideration of the needs of our city and this body's ability to confront them.
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I'm confident that the members of our committees will play important roles in carrying out the council's charter mandated oversight and legislative responsibilities at such a critical moment for our city.
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Thank you very much.
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And now I turn it back over to our majority leader.