8 “AS WE celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, we reflect on the rich history of black communities in Canada and commit to building an equitable future for all. This is a time for Canadians to honour the legacy of black communities from coast to coast and celebrate the contributions they have made across the country. From scientists to artists, from business owners to philanthropists, Canadians from black communities continue to shape our country each and every day. “One of the many stories we celebrate this February, as part of this year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Ours to tell’, is that of the Honourable Jean Augustine. Thirty years ago, she made history as the first black Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons and later when she became the first black Canadian woman to be appointed to the federal Cabinet. Her advocacy led to the national recognition of Black History Month, and she continues to be a beacon of excellence for communities across Canada and for others to follow in her footsteps. From Jean Augustine tomedical pioneers like Dr June Marion James, athletes-turned-successful entrepreneurs like Donovan Bailey, scientists and comedians like Boucar Diouf, and artists like Dionne Brand, this year’s Black History Month theme celebrates stories that are worth telling. “Last year, the Government of Canada committed $1.5 million to support the ongoing activities of the Jean Augustine chair in education, community, and diaspora at York University, which works to address systemic barriers to improve educational outcomes for black students. We also provided funding through the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative to support black community organisations across Canada, while the Black Entrepreneurship Program continues to offer black-led businesses, organisations, and financial institutions across Canada the financial resources to succeed now and into the future. These investments are key pieces to making sure we’re building an equitable Canada. “Canada has a history of anti-black racism, and communities continue to face the impact of systemic racism today. It is our collective responsibility to end it by listening, learning, and taking action. That is why in 2018, Canada officially recognised the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, which provides a global framework for recognition, justice, and development for people of African descent. Building on this framework, our government will continue to address the unique challenges that black communities face. “We know that more work still needs to be done, and the Government of Canada will continue to support the advancement of black communities. This includes our ongoing efforts, working closely with provinces, territories, and black communities, to develop Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, which will help address systemic discrimination and the over-representation of members of black communities in our criminal justice system. And through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, we will continue fighting anti-black racism, eliminating inequities, empowering communities, and changing attitudes by building awareness. “This month, I invite everyone to take part in community events for Black History Month and to listen to and actively share the stories black communities have to tell. Let’s continue to celebrate their many past and ongoing contributions. Together, we will continue to build a stronger and more resilient country, where all Canadians can succeed, thrive, and have their voices heard.” Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Let’s continue to celebrate their many contributions - PM Trudeau LAST WEEK, in Queens – the borough I grew up in – I reported to New Yorkers on the state of our city. I outlined what we have accomplished in the year since I took office andmy vision for the future.We are going to build a city for working people, one that is more affordable, safer, cleaner, and more liveable. WE FOCUSED on four essential pillars: jobs, safety, housing, and care. Because without a strong working class, this city cannot survive. Working people need good jobs and pathways to get those jobs. And those jobs need to be able to support a home for New Yorkers and their families. That is why we are reimagining our workforce system, connecting 30,000 NewYorkers to apprenticeships through a new Apprenticeship Accelerator. It’s also why we are creating the jobs for the future, through our first-of-itskind biotech start up incubator that will be home to the next generation of transformative companies, and our Kips Bay life sciences hub, which will help create jobs and train NewYorkers for high-demand careers in the life sciences, healthcare, and public health. And we are ensuring that more city dollars go to minority and womenowned businesses as well as creating a new Nursing Education Initiative to support 30,000 current and aspiring nurses over the next five years. And while we are finally seeing crime begin to decline in New York City, we must continue to make our streets safe, and it starts with getting New York City’s MostWanted off our streets. We are going to get the roughly 1,700 known offenders responsible for a disproportionate amount of the city’s violent crime off the streets. And we are going to keep our streets safe by holding reckless drivers accountable. We are going to go to Albany to get legislation passed that increases the penalties for serious crashes, running red lights, and impaired driving. Our city cannot be liveable unless it is clean and sustainable. So we are investing millions to make our city cleaner and greener. Last year, we launched the country’s largest curbside composting program in Queens in order to Get Stuff Clean, and by the end of 2024, composting will be citywide and year-round. We are electrifying our city vehicles, and we have reached a deal with Uber and Lyft to have a zero-emissions fleet by 2030. And we are going to build on the success of our Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs by creating permanent community spaces in each borough. We must have homes for working people. We are working to add 500,000 more homes across all five boroughs so that everyone has an affordable place to live. We are going to build in every borough and every neighborhood. And that means creating housing in areas that currently only allowmanufacturing and office uses while protecting good jobs in the center of our city’s economy. We are going to make mid-town Manhattan a true live-work community. And we are building more housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and near-transit hubs. I recently announced plans for 6,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs around four new metro stations in the Bronx. And at Willets Point, we’re working to build the largest new 100 per cent affordable housing development in 40 years – that’s 2,500 new, affordable homes for NewYorkers. Building new houses is essential for our future, but we also need to address the housing crisis today. So we are going to protect tenants and help New Yorkers stay in their homes by investing over $22 million in tenantprotection programmes. We must also ensure that the social safety net is there for working people, so we are expanding it, making it easier for NewYorkers to access public benefits and healthcare. This is an agenda for working people. As we pursue these programs, we want to keep New Yorkers up to date on the very latest. That’s why we’re launching a new initiative to talk directly to New Yorkers about the issues you care most about. You can sign up for this email newsletter at nyc.gov/hearfromEric to receive breaking news and updates on city initiatives – all tailored to your personal interests. Whether it’s a new park opening, or a new Open Streets in your neighborhood, you’ll be the first to know. Eric Adams Mayor, New York City A working people’s agenda THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 5 - MARCH 2, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS The opinions on this page, except for The Editorial, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Gleaner. Read the full columns at our special diaspora site at www.gleanerextra.com and at www.jamaica-gleaner.com.
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