Rodney Harrison selected to be next NYPD Chief

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan announced his retirement Thursday to take on a public safety advisory role as the city looks to recover from the COVID crisis. Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison was selected to take over the Chief of Department position.

"[Harrison] makes that uniform proud...and he is going to make this city proud," Monahan said. "Rodney, you couldn't be a better person for this job. With Rodney taking the helm and Commissioner [Dermot] Shea at the helm the NYPD couldn't be in any better hands."

Harrison is a Queens native and the first Black man to serve as the NYPD's Chief of Detectives.

Harrison said that he wants to continue focusing on community policing, "which is absolutely what this city needs."

"For the men and women of this police department, I want to make sure I make this very clear, I'm going to support you, I want to make sure we get through what was a very difficult time in 2020, but I can reassure everyone here that is listening that I have your back and we will get through this together," Harrison said.

"For the residents of New York City, I'm here to protect you. I'm here to serve you," Harrison went on to say. "I'm going to be knocking on your door, I'm going to be coming to your churches, I'm going to be coming to your community meetings. You may get tired of seeing me, but in order for me to be successful, in order to make this city safe, we have to work together. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

[SOURCE: NBC NEW YORK]

VP Kamala Harris meets with Congressional Black Caucus for first time

Vice President Harris held her first meeting with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in her ceremonial office this week.

The caucus tweeted a photo of Harris, an alum of the caucus, seated at a table in the office on Wednesday with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), chair of the caucus, along with Reps. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Nikema Williams (D-Ga.).

The caucus, which was founded in 1971, has 58 members in the current Congress, a record high for the group.

The group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and recently unveiled an "100 Day Plan" that details the some of its legislative priorities for the first few months of Biden presidency.

Those priorities include the creation of an internal domestic policy leadership team that Beatty spearhead with other members, as well as passing legislation like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Milwaukee Fire Department's Sharon Purifoy makes history as first African-American female Deputy Chief

The promotion of Sharon Purifoy signals change in the Milwaukee Fire Department. For the first time in its history, Milwaukee has an African-American female deputy chief.

School District Is First In New Jersey To Require Students To Take African American History To Graduate

The Cherry Hill School District is now the first in New Jersey to require students to take African American history in order to graduate. The school board approved the move Tuesday night.

Students had lobbied for the course to become mandatory. The charge was led by seventh-grader Ebele Azikiwe, of Beck Middle School. Watch the full story beow.

Senate confirms Linda Thomas-Greenfield as United Nations ambassador

The Senate confirmed President Joe Biden’s choice to lead U.S. diplomacy at the United Nations today. Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s confirmation reflected the Biden administration’s determination to reengage with the world body and former President Donald Trump’s diplomacy that often left the U.S. isolated internationally.

Senators voted 78-20 to confirm Thomas-Greenfield to the post, which will be a Cabinet-level position.

Thomas-Greenfield, a retired 35-year veteran of the foreign service who resigned during the Trump administration, will be the third African American, and the second African American woman, to hold the job. Her confirmation was hailed by Democrats and advocates of the United Nations, who had lamented the Trump administration’s unilateral approach to international affairs.

“This confirmation sends a message that the United States is back and that our foreign service is back,” said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., who chairs a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, global health and global human rights. “We as a country and as a world are safer with Linda Thomas-Greenfield serving as the United States ambassador to the United Nations.”

“We can count on Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield to work with international partners to confront our collective challenges head on, and play an active role in ensuring the U.N. evolves with the demands of our era as an essential forum for collective problem-solving and catalyst for global progress,” said Elizabeth Cousens, president of the United Nations Foundation, a private group that supports the world body’s endeavors. “Hers is the leadership America needs at the UN at this critical moment for the U.S. and world.”