Judge ousts Bichotte Hermelyn’s Brooklyn Dems rule changes

Judge blocks Bichotte Hermelyn’s Brooklyn Dems rule overhaul

Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Jill Epstein ruled that Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn’s attempt to change party rules after losing the June election was “improper” and issued an injunction barring ousted party members from voting on any substantial matters as part of the party’s executive committee. The injunction immediately nullifies the controversial rule changes approved by the outgoing leadership.

The ruling follows months of internal party turmoil, sparked by Bichotte Hermelyn’s move to allow members who lost their district leader seats in June to continue voting on executive committee matters, extending the influence of her faction. Reformers, led by New Kings Democrats, brought the lawsuit arguing this was a power grab that contradicted party bylaws and democratic norms. Judge Epstein sided with the plaintiffs, confirming the leadership’s authority ends with the loss of elected office, and affirming judicial oversight of party rule manipulation.

While the injunction clears the way for a leadership transition, Bichotte Hermelyn’s allies may appeal. The next key event is the September 23 district leader meeting to vote on a new party chair. Reformers expect to solidify control, but ongoing legal maneuvering could delay a final resolution depending on whether an appeal is filed before the scheduled chair election. → The next Brooklyn Democratic Party chair vote is September 23.

Four more

• Mamdani releases 170,000 pages of 9/11 response records · A week after City Hall published over 170,000 pages on the city’s handling of the 9/11 aftermath, reporters say the records could illuminate what city officials understood about air quality and public health risks in lower Manhattan. Former Mayor Giuliani has criticized Mayor Mamdani’s attendance at memorial events amid the release debate. (Off Topic/On Politics) → Who holds this power?: How NYC City Government Works

• NYPD Commissioner Tisch allows officers who used force for illegal parking to go unpunished · Newly released CCRB files confirm that in an October 2023 case, NYPD officers who threatened and shoved a cyclist blocking illegal sidewalk parking at the 78th Precinct house faced no discipline, despite Internal Affairs Bureau findings that force and parking practices violated department protocols. CCRB recommended discipline but Tisch took no action. (Streetsblog NYC)

• Chelsea Beacon breaks ground to create $167M affordable housing for formerly incarcerated · The former Bayview Correctional Facility will deliver 131 permanently affordable units, including 79 reserved for the formerly incarcerated and a short-term residence for mental health needs. Officials say the $167M project, announced September 15, also adds new community space on Manhattan’s West Side. (AM New York) → Which of the seven housing regimes covers you?: The 7 NYC Housing Regimes

• Queens officials call for safety overhaul on Northern Boulevard ‘Boulevard of Death’ · Local reps in Jackson Heights are pressing DOT to improve protection for cyclists and delivery workers along Northern Boulevard, after three fatalities this summer. Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and Councilmember Shekar Krishnan want a full redesign and DOT says it will host a public workshop by October. (Queens Daily Eagle)

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