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Women political leaders gathered on the Upper East Side of Manhattan Tuesday night to watch the State of the Union Address, and the Democratic response delivered by former Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Stacy Abrams. Over oysters and fries, they booed and cat-called the president. Jessica Brockington reports

New York State lawmakers expect congestion pricing to be part of the state budget that’s due on April 1st. Details are lacking, but what’s proposed is an added tax on vehicles driving south of 60th Street in Manhattan. Most city officials support some form of the surcharge, but worry about the impact on residents and business owners. They’re also concerned that funds raised will go upstate or to Long Island projects, instead of improving the city’s failing mass transit system. Jessica Brockington reports.

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Riverside Church in NYC held performances over the weekend of “Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom.” It tells the story of Lynda Blackmon Lowery, and groups of children who left school three times a day over the course of several years to silently walk through Selma, Alabama to protest practices that prevented Blacks from voting.

Survivors of sexual assault won a major victory in New York State over the holidays. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation creating a Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights. Survivors of sexual assault in New York will now have access to appropriate health care services at no cost. They’ll get free rape kits and forensic exams. And they’ll have the right to know the status of their legal cases. The law will also require that rape kits be kept for 20 years. This law is part of a nationwide movement to empower the survivors of sexual assault. Jessica Brockington reports.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo was at the New York City Bar Association this week. He shared his legislative agenda for the first 100 days of 2019. His announcement to legalize recreational marijuana drew lots of attention. But climate change activists say his Green New Deal plan ignores New York State’s ongoing billion dollar investments in natural gas and fracking infrastructure. They say it falls dangerously short of addressing the impending disasters of climate change.

Brooklyn's 9th District fights Trump's proposed change to Public Charge Rule. Comments close Monday. @WBAI has the story. https://bit.ly/2Sxce2F @RepYvetteClarke @UndocuBlack_Pat @NYIC_Health @lindaperrybarr @NYCHealthSystem

Congressmember Carolyn Maloney is calling the 2018 elections "the Pink Wave" and expects the Equal Rights Amendment will finally be fully ratified in 2019, nearly 100 years after it was first written.

Women's March NYC hosted an Election Night Watch Party. WBAI was there.

NYC's Department of Corrections manages the public cemetery on Hart Island, in the Bronx. Advocates are pressing the city to move jurisdiction to another city agency so that access can be open to all. WBAI Air date: November 3, 2018