Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn hosted her seventh annual State of the District Address on Thursday, March 10, to provide updates to the communities of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood and Ditmas Park, which comprise the 42nd Assembly District.
"Last year at this time, the state of the state was looking a lot more uncertain. Tonight, as I join you, I feel we have turned a significant corner." Bichotte Hermelyn said.
Special guests included Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Senator Kevin Parker, Council Members Farah Louis and Rita Joseph, District Leader Josue Pierre, spiritual leaders, Bishop Curt Courtenay, Rabbi Nathum Rabinowiz, and Imam Ahmed Ali, co-hosts, Dorensa Emanuel-Roberts and Michael Scherz; and performers, Ugochi Nriaka, Sammi King, and the students of PS 139.
The event began with a prayer for the people of Ukraine, "I am heartbroken by the images of families stuck in subway shelters, schools and hospitals leveled, and by the stories of civilians unable to escape or flee. I pray for those who are missing a loved one, for those without shelter, for those who are fighting to keep their nation together," the message from Bichotte Hermelyn read.
The assemblymember talked about initiatives in the community including the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center groundbreaking and procurement, the Little Haiti - Newkirk train station dedication, and the Morris Heights Health Center.
The Assemblymember also discussed her priorities as Chair of two committees: The Task Force on Women's Issues and the state subcommittee on Minority and Women-owned Businesses. "The pandemic has been especially challenging for women, who were making slow progress in the workforce before the pandemic struck, but were subsequently set back decades," she said. "Women are often the primary caretakers of households, bearing the overwhelming majority of the burden of child care, and thus they were forced out of the workforce in record numbers. In my role as Chair of [these committees..] I’m going to make sure we take strides to right gender inequities."
Also discussed were the listening tours she held across the district, and the Haiti relief drive, which raised funds and more than a ton of supplies for the people of Haiti.
Bichotte Hermelyn spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence, updates to mask and vaccine mandates and legislative priorities, including maternal health bills and the Michael K. Williams bill.
The Assemblymember concluded, "I was asked at our State Capitol about my tendency to name bills for people. My bills are named for people because that’s who I represent. All of this legislation came from real constituents, real New Yorkers. It came from people who, like me, took their pain and used it to create change, so that other people don’t have to live these experiences like we did. Because at the most basic level, that’s what government is about: helping people.
I’m going to keep on listening to your concerns, and making sure that everyone in Albany hears your voices, loud and clear."
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