Engel addresses U.N. college summit

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel addressed students from all over the country last week as part of the 2019 Global Engagement Summit held at the United Nations.

The summit is the largest gathering of U.S. supporters in the United States, bringing together more than 1,500 college students and other United Nations Association of the United States leaders to explore the vital mission and work of the United Nations.

“I’m so happy to stand here before a future generation of public servants and thinkers — the people who will claim the mantle of leadership and carry on the work of building a safer, more prosperous world,” Engel said in his remarks, according to a release. “I’m grateful for your commitment.”

Engel’s speech addressed the role the United States and United Nations play in addressing global challenges, with a particular focus on ending the crisis in Yemen.

“Even as the most powerful country in the world, we can accomplish a great deal more when we partner with other countries rather than go it alone,” Engel said. “By working together through the United Nations, the U.N., becomes a critical instrument in addressing some of our global challenges.”

Following the event, Engel met with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss a host of international issues, according to his aides, including the critical need to address climate change.

Biaggi hosts long-overdue hearing

How long has it been since the state senate has held public hearings on sexual harassment? Bill Clinton was just being sworn in as the 42nd President of the United States, the first nicotine patch was introduced to the commercial market, and Alessandra Biaggi was just starting the first grade.

Now a state senator, Biaggi chaired the first joint public legislative sexual harassment in the workplace hearing in 27 years just before Valentine’s Day a couple weeks ago.

The 11-hour meeting included testimony from experts and survivors.

“Our task is urgent,” Biaggi said in her opening statements at the hearing, according to a release. “It’s intolerable, absolutely maddening, that sexual harassment persists. We must remember that right now, as I speak, someone is being harassed and does not know what to do about it. But we must take the time to get it right this time.”

Biaggi has pushed for updates to New York’s laws, policies and protocols when it comes to sexual harassment, and also has called upon everyone to take “personal responsibility to support a culture of mutual respect and care.”

Biaggi’s predecessor, Jeff Klein, was accused of harassing a staffer, which he has denied.