U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Caribbean Life, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2020 3
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Borough President
Eric Adams on Friday
announced $493,216 in long-awaited
state funding to support partnerships
with community-based organizations
to increase the count for the 2020
Census especially in neighborhoods
that currently have low response
rates relative to the previous Census
10 years ago.
With just under two weeks left
before the enumeration ends, Adams
said only 57 percent of Brooklyn’s
households have responded to the
Census as of Sept. 15 — the lowest
response rate of any borough in the
city.
Brooklyn is considered the hardestto
count county in New York State.
Adams said roughly 80 percent of
Brooklynites live in hard-to-count
neighborhoods, “making it critical
that every effort be made to reach out
to Brooklyn residents who haven’t
responded to the Census.
“Ensuring a complete count is
essential to make certain that Brooklyn
and New York City as a whole
receive their fair share of federal representation
and resources for transportation,
health care, education,
and more,” the borough president
said. “The future of Brooklyn and
our city is on the line in this year’s
Census.
“The twin economic and public
health crises of COVID-19 have underscored
the importance of making
Brooklyn count, so we can get the
federal resources and political representation
our borough needs to aid
our recovery process,” he added.
“Brooklynites: if you haven’t yet
filled out your Census form, you have
until Sept. 30,” Adams urged. “It
takes 10 minutes, but the impacts
will be felt for the next 10 years. Let’s
get this done.”
By Nelson A. King
Caribbean American Democratic legislators
have honored the life of United
States Supreme Court Justice Ruth
Bader Ginsburg, who died at her home
in Washington on Friday. She was 87.
The US Supreme Court announced
that Justice Ginsburg, the second
woman to serve on the highest court
in America and a pioneering advocate
for women’s rights, died from complications
of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
“Today, the world mourns the loss
of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsburg,” Congresswoman Yvette D.
Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants,
told Caribbean Life on Saturday.
“Since 1980, Ginsburg has been a
champion of equality for all and justice
for every American, regardless of their
race, gender or background,” added
Clarke, representative for the largely
Caribbean 9th Congressional District
in Brooklyn. “She embodied all the
values of the American justice system
that we will strive to uphold for future
generations.
“Although this news is devastating
for all those who have admired the
incredible work of Justice Ginsburg, we
must remember the magnitude of the
impact she left on our laws and values,
and strive to uphold her legacy however
possible,” continued Clarke, vice chair
of the Energy and Commerce Committee,
member of the Homeland Security
Committee and chair of the Congressional
Black Caucus Immigration Task
Force in the US House of Representatives.
“As a fierce advocate for feminism and
equality, we must remember the work of
the incredible Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
and continue the mission she left
for us to complete,” she said.
Other Caribbean American legislators
in Brooklyn have joined Clarke in
expressing sadness over the passing of
Brooklyn-born Ginsburg.
“The country has lost a brilliant mind,
a fearless fighter, a diligent public servant
who spent her life dedicated to protecting
and advancing the rights of the vulnerable,”
New York City Public Advocate
Jumaane D. Williams, the son of Grenadian
immigrants, told Caribbean Life.
“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy as
a jurist was incredible – inspiring, progressive
and just.
“Her impact on the court was tremendous
in scope and in value as we strive
for an America that lives up to its promise,”
he added. “Her resilience seemed
unmatchable as she worked to fulfill that
promise.
“Her passing in this time, in this
moment of history, is an unfathomable
loss, which will reverberate with the
volume of her legacy, her volumes of
work, for many years to come,” Williams
continued. “No matter who the
next president nominates to the court,
Justice Ginsburg is, and always will be,
irreplaceable.”
New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse
Bichotte, the daughter of Haitian
immigrants, said the nation lost “a
preeminent judicial scholar and champion
for gender equality.”
Bichotte, the chair of the Brooklyn
Democratic Party, noted that Ginsburg
passed away on the evening of Rosh
Hashanah, a Jewish holiday.
She said Ginsburg started her legal
career as an advocate for gender equality
and that Ginsburg’s “legal opinions and
powerful voice on the country’s highest
court made her a role model to women
across the nation and globe.”
Bichotte, who represents the predominantly
Caribbean 42nd Assembly District
in Brooklyn, said Justice Ginsburg’s
example “compelled” her to pursue her
Juris Doctorate, a law degree, at Brooklyn
Law School.
“Justice Ginsburg’s contributions to
the court will be sorely missed,” she
said. “Her leadership, her wisdom and
her brave fight against the illness that
eventually took her life should inspire not
only the country in the days and years
ahead but the nation, as it confronts
extraordinary challenges.
“Justice Ginsburg’s legacy must be
carried on by the next justice to serve on
the court,” Bichotte urged.
New York City Councilman Dr. Mathieu
Eugene, the first Haitian to be elected
to New York City Council, said: “It is with
great sadness that our country mourns
the passing of Supreme Court Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“Justice Ginsburg was a monumental
figure in the fight for the women’s rights,
and was a role model for the current and
future generation of leaders,” said Dr.
Eugene, who represents the 40th Council
District in Brooklyn.
“She was a dedicated public servant
who spent her life committed to upholding
the rule of law and justice for all
Americans,” he added. “My deepest sympathies
and prayers are with her family
during this very difficult time.”
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who
represents the Caribbean community in
parts of Brooklyn and Queens, said “our
nation mourns the loss of a brilliant
jurist, trailblazer for equality and fearless
advocate for gender, racial and social
justice.
“Justice Ginsburg’s native Brooklyn
mourns the loss of its favorite daughter,
whose grit and courage have forever left
their mark on America,” said Jeffries,
chairman of the US House of Representatives’
Democratic Caucus. “Justice Ginsburg
occupies a singular place in history
for her life’s work defending our Constitution
and ensuring our laws meet the
promise and values of our great nation.
“She used her voice time and again to
defend the Constitution and uphold our
democracy for all Americans, especially
the least, the lost and the left behind
among us,” added Jeffries, representative
for the 8th Congressional District, which
includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric
L. Adams. Brooklyn Borough President
Eric L. Adams
Caribbean American pols honor life of US
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Adams funds
community
groups to make
Brooklyn count