HEALTH CARE: Attorney General Tish James announced the launch of a free abortion legal service hotline that will provide guidance and resources to patients, health providers and out-of-state residents looking to travel to New York for the procedure.
The hotline, which will be staffed by trained attorneys, comes as part of the AG’s new Pro Bono Task Force on Reproductive Health convened with 24 national law firms and eight reproductive rights organizations. James said her office and the network of law firms and advocacy groups “will work around the clock to offer this free support because every single person in this country should have the right to make their own decisions about their own bodies.” — Shannon Young GUN CONTROL: While New York has taken a variety of new steps this year on gun control, it hasn’t outlawed the sale of semi-automatic rifles, although it just increased the age to purchase them from 18 to 21 and in 2013 restricted what kinds are available. Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Westchester) introduced legislation NY S9481 (21R) today that would “allow a private right of action” against individuals, firms, corporations or associations who manufacture, distribute, or sell semi-automatic rifles in New York, rather than outright ban. The bill notes that attempts at outright bans have been beaten back by the courts, so this would attempt to allow New Yorkers to be able to “bring cases against those who allow semi-automatic rifles to enter our communities with deadly consequences.” “Our nation’s deadliest shootings, including both Buffalo and Uvalde, all possess a common denominator — the use of an AR-15. If we are to take bold and transformative action to tackle our gun violence epidemic head on, then we must do something to limit the sale and distribution of these deadly weapons,” Biaggi said in a statement. If the measure, which didn’t yet have an Assembly sponsor, is taken up, it would next year when the Legislature returns for a six-month session. — Joseph Spector EDUCATION: Adams released his blueprint for child care and early childhood education this morning, which allocates about $2 billion in early child care over the next four years. The city’s plans include increasing access to child care for more than 41,000 children in high-need neighborhoods over the next two years, providing vouchers to 600 undocumented families and a new Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. There are more than 500,000 children under the age of five in New York City. “America runs on child care,” Adams said during a press conference in East Harlem. “It doesn’t matter if it’s mothers or grandmothers who are providing some type of child care for their grandchildren and children, the neighbor next door or a child care center — this country and this city wouldn’t function without child care and we’re clear on that.” Jennifer March, executive director of Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, praised the city for supporting immigrant households, homeless children and children in communities “with high unmet need.” — Madina Touré | 
