July 1, 2020

Subject: Congresswoman Clarke Fights for the Passing the Justice in Policing Act and for the Moratorium of Facial Recognition Technology

To the Good People of Central and South Brooklyn:

As we continue to flatten this curve as a community, I can’t thank you enough for the sacrifices and tough decisions you’ve had to make to ensure our community is safe. Governor Cuomo announced over the weekend, 73,262 coronavirus tests were executed and 703 of them came back positive, which is .96% of the total. In addition, total hospitalization fell to 908 and there were 13 COVID-related fatalities. Please do not forget to continue to wear your mask for the protection of your loved ones and neighbors.

As many of us are now teleworking, home with kids or home to help with our most vulnerable populations, please, remember the importance of the 2020 Census. Our district is one of the hardest-to-count in the country, so it is vital that everyone in our community is counted. Health care resources (like we are seeing with COVID-19) are tied directly to Census population counts. Census data is collected once every ten years, so, please do your part today so NY-09 has an accurate and complete count for the next decade. You can practice social distancing and fill out the Census online and by phone at 844-330-2020.

Lastly, my staff are still teleworking. If you have any constituent concerns, contact us Monday-Friday during business hours at -718-287-1142.
Let’s continue to flatten this curve together.

In good health,
Yvette D. Clarke
Member of Congress

Congresswoman Clarke’s Legislative Updates:

• The Justice in Policing Act passed in the House of Representatives which brings us one step closer to a plan to reform our law enforcement for the betterment of all Americans.
• This critical legislation will provide safety and justice for ALL of our people by ending no-knock warrants, banning chokeholds, creating a national police misconduct database and taking crucial steps to end policing and profiling in communities of color.
• I’m a proud co-sponsor of this bill and recently discussed the importance of passing this landmark legislation in honor of the lives lost to racist police terror, like my beloved constituent Saheed Vassell.
• Watch here.

• Along with my colleagues Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), I’m proud to introduce bicameral legislation to stop government use of biometric technology, including facial recognition tools.
• The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act responds to reports that federal and local law enforcement entities have engaged with facial recognition companies and follows recent pledges by leading technology companies to pause their sale of facial recognition tools to law enforcement.
• As my colleagues and I address the issue of racial injustice in law enforcement, we must not allow big tech companies to weaponize this technology and risk the privacy and livelihood of the American people.