Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman Eric Dinowitz joined Jewish leaders and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from Brooklyn last Thursday to support families with loved ones held hostage by Hamas attackers following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. They joined thousands of people in Times Square to demand the release of all hostages being held in the Gaza strip immediately. There are 212 people held hostage in Gaza, said Israel’s military spokespersons on Sunday. At right, Pro-Israeli leaders spoke in front of an electronic ad in Times Square that showed the faces of the hostages. more

The TikTok bill that the United States House of Representatives approved last week will not ban the social media platform. more

Eylon Levy is truly dedicated to Israel and its people. And he brought that love this past week to students at SAR Academy. Born and raised in London, Levy moved to Israel at 23, enlisting in the military there at the height of the 2014 Gaza war. After his service, Levy decided to stay in Israel, first serving as the international media advisor to the Israeli president before becoming the government’s official spokesman following the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7. more

An advocacy group, the Empire State Local News Coalition, gathered in Albany to rally support for the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, aiming to provide tax credits to local news outlets employing journalists in New York communities. With bipartisan backing and inclusion in the Senate's One House budget resolution, the bill aims to address the crisis facing the local news industry, which has seen significant decline over the past decades, leading to job losses and diminished community coverage. The rally highlights the urgent need for legislative action to preserve local journalism and democracy. more

Community Board 8 is accepting nominations for its annual Betty Campbell Most Valuable Merchant and Irving Ladimer Community Service awards. more

They’re protesting a pair of bills they say would limit their ability to protest. And they have their sights on one of the lawmakers who sponsored that legislation: Assemblyman Jeffrey … more

Following the failure of Signature Bank last March, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has announced has begun the process of selling its $33 billion commercial real estate loan portfolio. more

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres establishes the Congressional Clubhouse Caucus to advocate for improved mental health care, emphasizing the effectiveness of clubhouse models in supporting individuals with severe mental illness. The caucus aims to educate on the clubhouse model, address challenges in mental health care, and promote social integration. Torres, sharing his personal experience with depression, seeks to destigmatize mental illness and raise awareness in Congress and beyond, particularly crucial amid the mental health challenges exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. more

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced legislation last week aiming to advance accessible and comprehensive mental health care services. The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Act of 2024 seeks to modify the existing Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. more

Unionized workers in the Bronx, represented by 32BJ SEIU, rallied at the Bronx Supreme Court against the potential renegotiation of their contract by the Bronx Realty Advisory Board. Threats of strikes emerged as the board considered reopening negotiations, prompting concerns about lowered standards and benefits. Elected officials, including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, voiced support for the union, emphasizing the importance of fair contracts and the role of unions in protecting workers' rights. However, the realty board cited rising expenses and regulatory challenges, urging collaboration with property owners to address housing affordability concerns. more