Latest news with #GaleBrewer
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Grisly NYC dog attack inspires new ‘Penny's Law' to hold negligent pet owners criminally accountable
New York dog owners would be held criminally accountable if their dog harms another animal under a new proposed state bill — which advocates say would close a legal loophole and help get justice for mauled pooches. 'Penny's Law,' introduced by Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar this week, seeks to create criminal offenses for careless owners — including 'cruelty to animals through negligent handling of a dog' and 'leaving the scene of an animal attack.' The new bill is named for 16-pound Chihuahua pup Penny, who was attacked by a pair of pit bulls on the Upper West Side Saturday. The 16-pound pooch was left with multiple puncture wounds after the ambush, in which one of the dogs also bit a woman who tried to rescue the pup, PIX11 reported. The same pit bulls are believed to have killed a dog in Central Park earlier this year while the dogs were illegally off leash, Rajkumar's office said. The state legislation would also impose harsher penalties for those who repeatedly violate city leash laws. 'This lack of accountability has permitted numerous dog owners to allow their pets to attack other dogs,' she added. 'The same owners will allow the behavior repeatedly, often dismissing it as 'playing' or 'a dog being a dog.'' The weekend attack left Upper West Side locals fuming, prompting a town hall attended by hundreds of concerned locals Wednesday. City Council member Gale Brewer, who is drafting similar legislation at the local level, confirmed at the meeting that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating Penny's case. '[From] East Harlem to Brooklyn, there are people who came from all over the city … because they have the same concern: somebody has dogs who attack other dogs and nobody does anything about it,' Brewer told The Post. 'The agencies try, but they operate in a silo. We need to have everyone working together.' Dogs are considered property under state law, and police often don't get involved unless a human is attacked or a human owner participates. State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal is separately seeking to change that by pushing a bill to swap the 'property' classification to 'sentient beings.' Penny's tragic case is far from isolated, Rajkumar's office added. On Thursday, a dog and person were injured by an illegally off-leash dog at Riverside Park, whose owner fled the scene. Roughly 1,300 reports have been made to 311 regarding off-leash dogs this year alone. A German shepherd that mauled several dogs and killed one on the Upper East Side struck again last summer after its owner said she planned to put it down. Rajkumar's own staff member's pooch was attacked twice by the same dog, including once in which the attacking dog was illegally off leash. Last year, The Post exclusively reported the case of an unlicensed dog boarder who is still operating despite at least three dogs being killed by raging mutts while there, according to grieving owners. 'Everywhere I turned, I was told there's nothing that can be done,' lamented one of the tragic Brooklyn dogs' owners. A rep for the NYPD told The Post at the time that 'harm or death to an animal caused by another animal is not a criminal matter.''
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lefty NYC Councilwoman Gale Brewer demanding free dental care for illegal migrants: ‘I'm already out $8,000-$10,000'
A lefty Upper West Side councilwoman is demanding free dental care for illegal immigrants — and revealed she's shelled out more than $8,000 of her own dough to keep their pearly whites intact. 'Is someone paying attention to all of their health needs!' Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) roared at NYC Health Department officials during a May 23 budget hearing. 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000-$10,000 on the dental. So who is paying attention to them?' she scolded. Brewer, who earns $148,500 as a council member, told The Post Friday she's been fighting tooth and nail for migrants' health needs — including paying out of her own pocket for some of them to root canals, cavity fillings, and other dental procedures. 'I've been doing this kind of stuff for years, especially helping younger people,' said the 73-year-old Brewer, who previously fostered 35 children with her husband, author Cal Snyder. 'This is nothing new for me.' During the hearing, Brewer told Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse the agency needs to do a better job spreading the word about what free healthcare assistance is available to migrants at city hospitals — including dental. 'Those guys you see driving those mobile e-bikes, they all have [city-funded health insurance] …, but they don't know what to do with it, to be honest with you,' she said. 'And I assume you can't do dental, because you can't get dental for Americans — let alone for anybody else. They all have dental issues.' 'I happen to know a lot of … asylum seekers [and] support them,' she ranted. 'You can't imagine how well I know then them – extremely well. And so, I've taken on a lot of the young people, a ton of them.' 'These are young guys. They're pretty lost' about what taxpayer-funded health benefits they qualify for, Brewer added. 'I'm really concerned about their health.' Critics said the longtime pol is more concerned with illegal migrants' pearly whites than the needs of her own district. 'This is another example of misplaced priorities from Gale Brewer,' said longtime Upper West Side activist Maria Danzilo. 'It's unfortunate that Gale feels migrants' dental problems are more important that the needs of her own constituents in the community. 'What is she doing about the healthcare needs of her community? Plenty of New Yorkers also lack medical coverage.' Morse said her agency would work with the city's hospital system to expand education to migrants about free healthcare services through the 'NYC Care' program. All city hospitals – both public and private – are required by law to treat emergency patients regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status. Migrants who've applied for political asylum are also eligible for Medicaid benefits. Minors, seniors, and pregnant women are eligible for free health care regardless of their immigrant status. The Health Department declined to comment when asked if Brewer could've saved herself some cash by directing migrants with dental issues to city hospitals or health centers. This isn't the first time during hearings over the next fiscal year's budget where Brewer's gone off on a wild tangent. She told Department of Correction honchos during a March hearing that the food menu offered on Rikers Island is so bad it makes her sick to her stomach. Brewer then proclaimed she wanted the city to feed jailbirds 'farm-to-table' meals, like ones served up at some of the Big Apple's top Michelin-starred restaurants.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
More concerned about teeth than constituents: Gale Brewer faces backlash over demanding dental care for migrants
Upper West Side councilwoman Gale Brewer is facing backlash after calling for free dental care for migrants, after she revealed already have paid up to $10,000 out of her own pocket to cover their dental expenses. The 73-year-old Democrat made the plea during a budget hearing with the NYC Health Department on May 23, where she criticised the lack of attention to migrants' full health needs. 'Is someone paying attention to all of their health needs?' she demanded. 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000–$10,000 on the dental. So who is paying attention to them?' Brewer, who earns $148,500 as a council member, later told The New Post that she has been covering the cost of procedures such as root canals and cavity fillings for several migrants, especially young people she supports personally. 'I've been doing this kind of stuff for years, especially helping younger people,' said Brewer, who, along with her late husband Cal Snyder, fostered 35 children. 'This is nothing new for me.' She also pressed acting health commissioner Dr Michelle Morse to improve awareness among migrants about the city's existing free healthcare options. Brewer said many asylum seekers, particularly young delivery workers, are enrolled in city-funded health insurance schemes like NYC Care but have no idea how to use them. 'And I assume you can't do dental, because you can't get dental for Americans — let alone for anybody else. They all have dental issues.' Brewer added, 'I happen to know a lot of asylum seekers and support them.' 'These are young guys. They're pretty lost' she said, referring to what benefits the immigrants qualify for. However, her remarks have sparked criticism from some in her own district. Longtime Upper West Side activist Maria Danzilo accused Brewer of ignoring her constituents. 'This is another example of misplaced priorities from Gale Brewer,' Danzilo said. 'It's unfortunate that Gale feels migrants' dental problems are more important than the needs of her own constituents. What is she doing about the healthcare needs of her community? Plenty of New Yorkers also lack medical coverage.' Morse responded by promising that the Health Department would work with city hospitals to improve outreach efforts about available healthcare services under NYC Care. City law already requires all hospitals to treat emergency patients regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay. Migrants seeking asylum are eligible for Medicaid, while minors, seniors, and pregnant women can access free healthcare regardless of immigration status. The health department declined to say whether Brewer could have referred migrants to more affordable city options rather than paying out of pocket. This isn't the first time Brewer has made headlines during budget hearings. In March, she told correction officials that the food served at Rikers Island made her sick — and suggested the city should serve inmates 'farm-to-table' meals like those at high-end Manhattan restaurants.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Woke NYC Councilwoman Gale Brewer demanding free dental care for migrants
A lefty Upper West Side councilwoman demanded free dental care for illegal immigrants this week — as she revealed she's shelled out more than $8,000 of her own dough to keep their pearly whites intact. 'Is someone paying attention to all of their health needs!' Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) roared at NYC Health Department officials during a May 23 budget hearing. 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000-$10,000 on the dental. So who is paying attention to them?' she scolded. 7 Councilwoman Gale Brewer claims getting proper dental care for illegal immigrants is like pulling teeth. Getty Images Brewer, who earns $148,500 as a council member, told The Post Friday she's been fighting tooth and nail for migrants' health needs — including paying out of her own pocket for some of them to root canals, cavity fillings, and other dental procedures. 'I've been doing this kind of stuff for years, especially helping younger people,' said the 73-year-old Brewer, who previously fostered 35 children with her husband, author Cal Snyder. 'This is nothing new for me.' During the hearing, Brewer told Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse the agency needs to do a better job spreading the word about what free healthcare assistance is available to migrants at city hospitals — including dental. 'Those guys you see driving those mobile e-bikes, they all have [city-funded health insurance] …, but they don't know what to do with it, to be honest with you,' she said. 7 'They have a lot of health needs. Forget the dental! I'm already out $8,000-$10,000 on the dental. So, who is paying attention to them?' Brewer said. New York City Council 'And I assume you can't do dental, because you can't get dental for Americans — let alone for anybody else. They all have dental issues.' 'I happen to know a lot of … asylum seekers [and] support them,' she ranted. 'You can't imagine how well I know then them – extremely well. And so, I've taken on a lot of the young people, a ton of them.' 'These are young guys. They're pretty lost' about what taxpayer-funded health benefits they qualify for, Brewer added. 7 Brewer told Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse the agency needs to do a better job spreading the word about what free healthcare assistance is available to migrants at city hospitals. 7 Morse said her agency would work with the city's hospital system to expand education to migrants about free healthcare services through the 'NYC Care' program. New York City Council 'I'm really concerned about their health.' Critics said the longtime pol is more concerned with illegal migrants' pearly whites than the needs of her own district. 'This is another example of misplaced priorities from Gale Brewer,' said longtime Upper West Side activist Maria Danzilo. 7 Recently arrived asylum seekers get information on free health care in front of P.S. 188 in Coney Island, which has recently begun housing migrants in the school gym on May 16, 2023, in New York City. Getty Images 'It's unfortunate that Gale feels migrants' dental problems are more important that the needs of her own constituents in the community. 'What is she doing about the healthcare needs of her community? Plenty of New Yorkers also lack medical coverage.' Morse said her agency would work with the city's hospital system to expand education to migrants about free healthcare services through the 'NYC Care' program. 7 Darton College dental hygiene students Regina Schirato and Brooke Wenck give a farm worker a dental exam Wednesday evening, June 18, 2003, in a migrant farmer camp near Moultrie, Georgia. Getty Images All city hospitals – both public and private – are required by law to treat emergency patients regardless of their ability to pay or immigration status. Migrants who've applied for political asylum are also eligible for Medicaid benefits. Minors, seniors, and pregnant women are eligible for free health care regardless of their immigrant status. The Health Department declined to comment when asked if Brewer could've saved herself some cash by directing migrants with dental issues to city hospitals or health centers. 7 Brewer said she's been fighting tooth and nail for migrants' health needs. Laura Cavanaugh This isn't the first time during hearings over the next fiscal year's budget where Brewer's gone off on a wild tangent. She told Department of Correction honchos during a March hearing that the food menu offered on Rikers Island is so bad it makes her sick to her stomach. Brewer then proclaimed she wanted the city to feed jailbirds 'farm-to-table' meals, like ones served up at some of the Big Apple's top Michelin-starred restaurants.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jailhouse crock: Woke NYC Councilwoman Gale Brewer wants pricey ‘farm-to-table' meals for Rikers inmates
Bon appétit — from Rikers Island. Lefty Upper West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer is pushing the city to feed jailbirds'farm-to-table' meals, like ones served up at some of the Big Apple's top Michelin-starred restaurants. Brewer told city Department of Correction honchos during a budget hearing Friday the food menu offered on Rikers is so bad it makes her sick to her stomach. 'I've been to Rikers many times,' the Manhattan Democrat said. 'I do find the food — even though I know you're making some improvements – to be very challenging.' And she had a cow when officials tried to explain that detainees and staff are already offered 'plant-based meals.' 'I don't want plant-based! I want fresh fruits and vegetables!' she roared. 'I want local produce and local meat for people in custody.' The DOC's annual food budget is $18.8 million, and about 27,000 meals are prepared daily at two different kitchens on Rikers, according to officials. A typical dinner currently served in the jail include pepper steak, yellow rice, green beans; while lunch could include a roasted chicken leg with gravy, yellow rice, and steamed greens; and a breakfast could include Multigrain Cheerios, according to the DOC. Seasonal fruit, bread and a beverage are also offered with each meal, and menus change daily. The city spends $1,525 daily to house detainees, according a 2021 report by then-NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. DOC officials could not immediately provide Brewer an estimate of how much on average it spends per meal. However, it's likely a far cry from the $145 plus tax and tip foodies shell out per dinner at the farm-to-table, Michelin-starred Blue Hill restaurant in Greenwich Village. A recent dinner menu there included pheasant stew served with a murasaki sweet potato and a parsnip raviolo, topped off for dessert with pickled blueberry, hazelnut, white chocolate and beer ice cream. DOC officials said they support the concept of providing healthier 'farm-to-table' meals to detainees – something Brewer said the state recently began providing at its upstate jails – but it's simply too pricey. 'It is my intent for our menu to be revisited, … and like you I do believe in the farm-to-table concept,' said James Saunders, DOC's deputy commissioner of health affairs. 'You and I also know how expensive it is and how as a city government we need to stay within budget.' Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Queens) nearly barfed when she heard Brewer's suggestion. 'I wish our veterans were fed farm-to-table food,' she said. 'I think the guy who set the woman on fire on the subway is at Rikers right now,' added Paladino, referring to Guatemalan national Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, the illegal migrant who allegedly carried out the fatal arson attack in December on an F train in Coney Island. 'We are going to worry about farm-to-table food and making sure they get fed? This is ridiculous.'
