Newsletter

Affairs and Appointments – Printable pdf
Week of November 16 – 21, 2008

New York State

New York City

City Council Hearings
Appointments
  • Peter J. Kiernan will serve as Counsel to the Governor.
  • Marc Shaw will serve as Senior Advisor to the Governor for a six-month period.
  • William J. Cunningham, III will serve as Secretary to the Governor. This position was held by Mr. Cunningham on an acting basis and is now a permanent appointment.
Special Section: “State and City Budget Deficit”

11-16-2008
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON Full story

11-16-2008
COMPTROLLER THOMPSON HOSTS BRONX FORECLOSURE CLINIC Full Story

11-16-2008
Speaker Quinn Announces Budget Hearing Schedule and Releases Council’s Economic Forecast Full Story

11-17-2008
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON Full story

11-17-2008
DiNapoli: State Revenues Continue to Decline Full Story

11-17-2008
MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES NEW PROTECTIONS FOR JOBSEEKERS AND MAJOR STEPS TO CREATE THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS  Full Text

11-18-2008
NEW YORK TIMES: Albany Fails to Reach Deal on Budget Deficit Full Story

11-19-2008
Addressing the Deficit – Governor Paterson held a public meeting with the Senate and Assembly leaders to discuss the State’s fiscal crisis. Watch Here

11-20-2008 
DiNapoli Report: Rising Foreclosures Pose Long-term Fiscal Problems for New York’s Local Governments  Full Story

State Budget Director Sends Letter to Legislative Fiscal Committees

November 17, 2008
NEW YORK STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR SENDS LETTER TO LEGISLATIVE FISCAL COMMITTEES REGARDING SPECIAL SESSION LEGISLATION

New York State Budget Director Laura Anglin today sent the following memo to the chief staff member of the fiscal committees of each house of the New York State Legislature.

The memo was accompanied by the bill copy that details the budget proposals Governor David Paterson released last week. This bill copy was previously delivered to legislative staff last week on November 13.  Full Story

DiNapoli: State Revenues Continue to Decline

November 17, 2008
DiNapoli: State Revenues Continue to Decline

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today released the October 2008 Cash Report. Reflecting the turmoil in the economy, the report found that growth in personal income tax collections continues to decline. Business taxes were still significantly below last year and are expected to continue to fall off.  Full Story

Triborough Bridge To Be Named Robert F. Kennedy Bridge

November 19, 2008
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES TRIBOROUGH BRIDGE TO BE RENAMED ROBERT F. KENNEDY BRIDGE

Governor David A. Paterson today announced the renaming of the Triborough Bridge as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. He was joined in Astoria Park by members of the Kennedy family, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former President Bill Clinton, Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Lee Sander and numerous other dignitaries to celebrate Robert F. Kennedy’s contributions and service to the State of New York. Full Story

DiNapoli Report: Rising Foreclosures Pose Long-term Fiscal Problems for New York’s Local Governments

November 20, 2008
DiNapoli Report: Rising Foreclosures Pose Long-term Fiscal Problems for New York’s Local Governments 

As increases in foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies continue to grip certain regions of the State, property taxes, the primary source of tax revenue for local governments, could become the next casualty of the housing crisis according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report notes that mortgage recording and sales taxes are already decreasing. DiNapoli estimates that property tax revenue could fall by up to $1.3 billion if statewide property values decline to the same extent as during the early 1990’s recession, potentially forcing local governments to sharply raise tax rates simply to raise the same amount of revenue.  Full Story

Quinn Protects Women’s Rights to Reproductive Health Care, City Council Holds Hearing on Clinic Access

November 18, 2008
Speaker Quinn Protects Women’s Rights to Reproductive Health Care, City Council Holds Hearing on Clinic Access Bill
 
In a joint Civil Rights and Women’s Issues Committee meeting, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Women’s Issues Committee Chair Helen Sears held a hearing on legislation to protect women’s access to reproductive health care facilities. The Clinic Access Bill strengthens safeguards for women who are faced with harassment and other hostile acts as they enter and exit local reproductive health care clinics.  Full story

Bloomberg Unveils New, Stricter Standard for heating Oil Delivery Trucks

November 18, 2008
MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER MINTZ UNVEIL NEW, STRICTER STANDARD FOR HEATING OIL DELIVERY TRUCKS TO ENSURE HOMEOWNERS GET ALL THE OIL THEY PAY FOR THIS WINTER

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan B. Mintz announced today that the City of New York has adopted a new, tougher inspection procedure for home heating oil delivery trucks in its annual inspection of their meters to help ensure that homeowners are not overcharged for heating oil this winter.  The Mayor and Commissioner Mintz also announced that the Department of Consumer Affairs has suspended more than 60 oil trucks this year, taking them off the road until they meet these standards. This reflects a 30 percent decrease over last year indicating higher compliance rates. With the economy on the decline, today’s announcement is part of a series of initiatives announced by the Bloomberg Administration to help more New Yorkers stretch their paychecks further and weather the storm.  Full Story

Council Votes To ease Restrictions for Motorists at Broken Parking Meters

November 19, 2008
CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO EASE RESTRICTIONS FOR MOTORISTS AT BROKEN PARKING METERS

City Hall, November 19, 2008 – At today’s Stated Council meeting, the members of the New York City Council will vote on three pieces of legislation.

The bills will:

  • Allow motorists to park at a broken meters or muni-meters up to the maximum time permitted in the parking meter zone;
  • Require the NYPD to make quarterly reports to the Council detailing the number of arrests made involving illegal firearms;
  • Reform the Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP) in relation to the suspension of benefits for code violations.

Full story

Gotbaum, NY Immigration Coalition Help Immigrants Access Food Stamps, Medicaid and More

November 19, 2008
PA Gotbaum, NY Immigration Coalition Help Immigrants Access Food Stamps, Medicaid and More

MANHATTAN – Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today released a comprehensive Guide to Public Benefits for Immigrants in New York City. The free guide provides valuable information on federal, state and city benefits and is the first of its kind to specifically examine immigration status as part of benefit eligibility. The guide will be available online in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Bengali and English. Printed copies will be available upon request.  Full Story

Getting Healthy Food to Underserved Communities

November 20, 2008
Getting Healthy Food to Underserved Communities

Speaker Christine C. Quinn, together with Council Member Miguel Martinez, Marcel Van Ooyen, Executive Director of the Council on the Environment of NYC, Ben Thomases, New York City’s Food Policy Coordinator and Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, today released a report highlighting the tremendous success of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) stations, scanners that allow New Yorkers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with food stamps at Greenmarkets throughout the City.  Full Story

Public hearings for Week of November 23rd

Monday, November 24, 2008

Committees: Juvenile Justice; Youth Services; Fire & Criminal Justice Services
Chairs: Miguel Martinez, Lewis A. Fidler, Sara M. Gonzalez, Chairs
Monday, November 24, 10:00 AM
Committee Room – City Hall
Oversight – Special Needs of Adolescents in New York City Correctional Facilities

Committees: Finance; Public Safety
Chairs: David I. Weprin, Peter F. Vallone, Jr.
Monday, November 24, 10:00 AM
Oversight:  Mayor’s November Financial Plan see agenda

Committee: Technology in Government
Gale A. Brewer, Chair
Monday, November 24, 10:00 AM
Hearing Room – 250 Broadway, 16th Floor
Oversight – Preparing for the Digital TV Transition

Committee: Finance; Fire & Criminal Justice Services
Chairs: David I. Weprin, Miguel Martinez
Monday, November 24, 11:30 AM
Council Chambers – City Hall
Oversight: Mayor’s November Financial Plan see agenda

Committee: Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations; Finance
Chairs: David I. Weprin, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.
Monday, November 24, 1:00 PM
Council Chambers – City Hall
Oversight: Mayor’s November Financial Plan see agenda

Committee: Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Alcoholism, Drug Abuse & Disability Services
G. Oliver Koppell, Chair
Monday, November 24, 2:00 PM
Kings County Hospital
Tour: Kings County Hospital Location: Psychiatric Emergency Room 451 Clarkson Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11203 see agenda

Committee: Finance
David I. Weprin, Chair
Monday, November 24, 3:00 PM
Council Chambers – City Hall
Public Comment Session on Mayor’s November Financial Plan  see agenda

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Committee: General Welfare
Bill de Blasio, Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 10:00 AM
Hearing Room – 250 Broadway, 14th Floor
Details: Oversight – Feeding Hungry New Yorkers during the Financial Crisis

Committee: Governmental Operations
Simcha Felder, Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 10:00 AM
Hearing Room – 250 Broadway, 16th Floor
Oversight – Election Reform and Modernization: Considering Early Voting, Same-day Voter Registration and Electronic Voter Registration Res 1251 – By Council Members Felder, Brewer, James, Mark-Viverito, Mealy, Seabrook and Stewart – Resolution calling upon the State Legislature to amend the State election law to permit electronic voter registration. Res 1252 – By Council Members Felder, Brewer, James, Mark-Viverito, Mealy, Mendez, Sanders Jr., Seabrook and Gioia -Resolution urging the New York State Legislature to pass A.4258 and S.5013, which allow for same day registration. Res____ – By Council Members Felder and Garodnick – Resolution calling upon the United States Congress and the New York State Legislature to pass legislation to allow early voting and no-excuse absentee ballots.

Committee: Transportation
John C. Liu, Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 10:00 AM
Council Chambers – City Hall
Res 1641 – By Council Members Baez, Brewer, Fidler, Weprin, James, Liu, Mark-Viverito, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Sears, White Jr., Gerson and Martinez – Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass Assembly Bill A7299-B and Senate Bill S3195-C, which would prohibit the writing, sending, or reading of text messages on a hand-held mobile telephone or mobile wireless device while driving.

Committee: Waterfronts
Michael C. Nelson, Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 1:00 PM
Committee Room – City Hall
Int 867 – By Council Member Nelson – A Local Law – To amend the New York city charter, in relation to the waterfront management advisory board.

Committee: Civil Service & Labor
Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 1:00 PM
Council Chambers – City Hall
Oversight – Examining the Progress of CTC’s and Their Role in Reducing Provisional Employees

Committee: Environmental Protection
James F. Gennaro, Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 1:00 PM
Hearing Room – 250 Broadway, 14th Floor
Oversight – The Effectiveness of New York City’s Idling Law Int 40 – By Council Members Yassky, Fidler, James, Koppell, Liu, Mark-Viverito and Nelson A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to enforcement of the restrictions regarding engine idling. Int 631 – By Council Members Liu, Arroyo, Jackson, Brewer, Dickens, Fidler, Gerson, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Martinez, Palma, Reyna, Sanders Jr., Vacca, Foster, Mark-Viverito, Mendez and de Blasio – A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to engine idling.

Committee: Community Development
Albert Vann, Chair
Tuesday, November 25, 1:00 PM
Hearing Room – 250 Broadway, 16th Floor
Details: Oversight – Harlem Children’s Zone: A Model for Community Development and Poverty Reduction?

Wednesday, November 26

Committee: Small Business
Yassky, Chair
Wednesday, November 26, 10:00 AM
Committee Room – City Hall
Details: Oversight – Improving Access to Credit for Small Businesses in the Current Economic Climate

Committee: Contracts
Letitia James, Chair
Wednesday, November 26, 10:00 AM
Hearing Room – 250 Broadway, 14th Floor
Details: Oversight – The Capacity Building and Oversight Program