10/28/09
Council Takes Action to Prevent Foreclosure Consultants from Cheating New York City Property Owners
 In response to a proliferation of unscrupulous foreclosed property consultants in New York City, the members of the City Council passed legislation requiring these businesses to disclose recently enacted state regulations on any printed advertisements. With increasing rates of foreclosures and loan defaults, the State passed regulatory laws in August 2008 prohibiting distressed property consultants from collecting any payment prior to the completion of services as well as prohibiting them from performing services without a written contract with the property owner. Currently, the city, in collaboration with several local not-for-profit organizations, already offer free and reduced-cost foreclosure prevention services. For more information call 311 or (212) NEW-YORK for those living outside of the City.
Press Release

10/26/09
New City Lunch Program Kicks-Off, Next Steps for the Child Nutrition Act
Speaker Christine C. Quinn joined Food Network host Rachel Ray and Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand in announcing the new "Yum-O" healthy lunch  program. This Thursday students will be able to sample the menu Rachel Ray developed. This program is one of the first steps for the pending Child Nutrition Act  that Speaker Quinn and Senator Gillibrand announced in August.

10/25/09
Council Report: Mammogram Wait Times Better Than Expected, Nadler Bill to Will Require Insurers to Cover Screening Mammography and MRI
As part of the continued effort in fighting the battle against breast cancer, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, together with Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairperson of the Women’s Committee, Helen Sears, Chairperson of the Health Committee, Joel Rivera and Council Members unveiled a citywide comprehensive report ‘Access to Mammography in New York City’: Facility Wait Times, Locations and Proximity to Transportation’ which details New York City’s women’s access to screening mammograms. The report reveals wait times are shorter than expected, and that facilities with longer wait times are referring women to other facilities where they can be seen sooner. While this is good news, this report also discloses some challenges that some mammogram facilities faced. Women’s Committee Chair Helen Sears, Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, the American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Italian Cancer Foundation were present for today’s announcement. 

This report also highlighted the need for the Mammogram and MRI Availability Act (H.R. 995), sponsored by Congressman Nadler. If passed, the legislation would extend health insurance coverage to include annual screening mammograms for women age 40 and over as well as annual screenings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Currently, annual screening mammograms, are covered under Medicare and Medicaid but many private insurers cover only diagnostic mammograms, the type of mammography used to confirm the presence of a tumor only after it has been detected.
‘Access to Mammography in New York City’

10/14/09
Going Beyond Federal Action, Council Votes To Bar Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products In New York City
The City Council voted, on Wednesday, to expand on the Food and Drug Administration’s action to ban the sale of flavored cigarettes by banning the sale of all flavored tobacco products in New York City. Expanding on the federal government’s action to ban the sale of flavored cigarettes, the New York City Council will vote to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products in New York. Prohibited flavors include chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice flavors. This legislation does not apply to tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen flavors.
Press Release

10/7/09
In an Effort to Help Small Businesses, Speaker Quinn and Council Member Crowley Introduce “Protection Against Ticket Harassment (PATH) Act”
Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley, Council Member Letitia James, small business owners and advocates announced the “Protection Against Ticket Harassment (PATH) Act” Wednesday, a new bill that would prevent excessive and unfair ticketing practices by the Department of Sanitation. The legislation would require the Department’s enforcement officers to provide prompt service of tickets to residents after a violation is observed, and would limit fines for small businesses or non-profits that receive tickets for posting flyers on City property and have not received tickets for a similar violation in the past.  Council Member Crowley will formally introduce the legislation at a Stated Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 14th.
Press Release

10/6/09
On the Record: Speaker Quinn says 'Get on the Bus for equality!'

10/5/09
Comprehensive Citywide Ferry Study, Speaker Quinn, Council Members Lappin, Garodnick & Brewer Host Ferry Town Meeting
City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn together with Council Members Dan Garodnick, Jessica Lappin, and Gale Brewer, hosted a public Meeting for New Yorkers to weigh in on potential locations for Manhattan commuter ferry landing sites. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) in conjunction with the Department of Transportation (DOT) presented potential landing sites for Manhattan as part of its six-month Comprehensive Citywide Ferry Study and encouraged the audience to suggest other locations for possible landing locations. This is the fourth of a series of public meetings held across the city on comprehensive ferry service and represents the most recent step in the Speaker’s continuing effort to make mass-transit a better option for more of New York City’s commuters.
Press Release

10/1/09
Council Stat Numbers Released: September 2009
The CouncilStat initiative streamlines the intake process of constituent concerns through the creation of a common web-based database platform.  The technology enables the Council to compare and analyze constituent issues within and across districts in order to improve the Council’s response to community needs and assist with developing a legislative agenda and budget priorities that address these issues.

September Numbers

9/27/09
Speaker Quinn, Mayor Bloomberg Kick Off NYC Penalty Relief Program
City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that this week begins the NYC Penalty Relief Program for Homeowners and Business Owners, which eliminates penalties and interest on outstanding Environmental Control Board (ECB) debt for businesses, homeowners and individuals that apply between now and December 21st.  The three-month penalty forgiveness program could reduce debts owed by 67 percent for some businesses and homeowners. The NYC Penalty Relief Program was proposed by Speaker Quinn in her State-of-the-City address in February and was signed into law by Mayor Bloomberg in July.

In response I have spoken to Police Commissioner Kelly’s office.  They have agreed to conduct an investigation of these reports, and to have police officials meet personally with the victims this week.  I am very gratified that the police department has agreed to my requests, and urge them to complete a swift and thorough investigation.

One of the most significant tools that have helped us to combat hate crimes here in New York City is having a strong police response to incidents when they occur.  There was a time in our city when victims of hate crimes did not feel that the police were their allies.  Any time a crime of this nature occurs, victims need to know they will be taken seriously. 

To their credit, the NYPD have demonstrated that they normally respond aggressively and appropriately to such crimes.  But even one such failure can begin to undermine all of our collaborative and historic efforts.  In addition, every victim deserves to have their incident taken as seriously as any other.   I will continue to work with advocates and the NYPD to increase and expand training when needed, so police officers have the tools they need to respond appropriately to bias attacks.

 “While we continue to wait for the MTA to finally develop this area, we should be granted the opportunity to beautify this property in the meantime,” said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “The thousands of Queens residents who pass daily through this intersection have had to look at the dilapidated condition of this property for over a decade. As the gateway to Ridgewood, this long-time eyesore hurts the surrounding businesses and stifles the area’s economic growth.”

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Senator Edward M. Kennedy.  Over the course of his career, the Senator never failed to speak on behalf of those without a voice, championing civil rights and continually standing at the forefront of our nation’s most defining struggles.

“He has been called the lion of the Senate and indeed he was just that.  The first time I saw him speak in public was in the early 1990’s when we were both at a dinner for the Empire State Pride Agenda.  As he had done so many times before, Senator Kennedy was there to offer his voice and his support to a movement for equality.  And what a voice.   He had a gregarious way about him that brought all in the room to our feet and made us laugh; but, when it came to the matter at hand, his thunderous words echoed throughout the hall with an awesome force.  It was one of the rare moments that I found myself speechless.  To have Senator Kennedy stand with the LGBT community that night so many years ago, and on countless occasions since then, is an honor that has given me an added determination that I will always carry with me.

“Some might say that Senator Kennedy’s passing marks the end of an era, but the power of a voice and a conscience like his cannot be silenced.  Each of us who work toward fulfilling the promise of our country carries his legacy into each and every endeavor - it is up to us to make sure this isn’t the end of an era, but rather the start of the next chapter.  Senator Edward Kennedy may be gone but his legacy, that of working towards equality for all, lives on.”

City Council Speaker  Christine Quinn,  Committee on Aging Chair Councilmember  Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Council Members  Albert Vann and  Gale Brewer joined Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Academy of Medicine President Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, Tuesday outlined a series of 59 initiatives aimed at making New York a more livable City for its growing senior population. The initiatives in  Age-Friendly NYC: Enhancing Our City’s Livability for Older New Yorkers are a blueprint for promoting active aging focused on four areas: community and civic participation; housing; public spaces and transportation; and health and social services.

Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and the President of the Korean American Association of Manhattan, Richard Lee, today embarked on a walking tour of the Manhattan's own Koreatown as part of the “Nine in 09” tourism campaign.  New York City & Company CEO George Feritta and community members joined the Speaker and Council Member in sampling restaurants, shops, and cultural treasures on West 32^nd Street, in the heart of Herald Square.

Council Member G. Oliver Koppell biked to the Mayor’s bill signing of two bicycle  bills that will increase bicycling in the city by providing safe places for cyclists to park. The bills were approved by the City Council on July 29th. Koppell rode down the West Side Highway from  42nd Street and 12th Avenue across Chambers Street to City Hall for the bill signing. The entire trip took 35 minutes. “I am bicycling to City Hall to demonstrate how feasible bicycle commuting can be,” Koppell said. One bill, introduced by Koppell, requires parking garages and parking lots that have the capacity to hold one hundred or more motor vehicles to maintain space for bicycles. The second bill, co-sponsored by Koppell,  mandates  bicycle access to office buildings  when requested by a tenant.

With the new school year set to start in less than one month, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn launched a joint effort to improve child nutrition in New York, and across the country. To kick off this initiative, Senator Gillibrand will introduce the Lowering Urban Nutrition Costs for Healthy Eating at Schools (LUNCHES) Act, federal legislation to ensure that more children in high cost areas like New York City have access to free and nutritious school meals. In addition, the City Council is organizing a coalition of urban leaders from around the country to lobby Congress for five key improvements to the Child Nutrition Act. Speaker Quinn will also introduce a resolution later this month in support of the plan.
Press Release (pdf)

Press Release

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8/4/09
Speaker Quinn, NYCEDC Announce New Kitchen Incubator at La Marquetta in East Harlem
City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President Seth W. Pinsky and Amy Scherber of Amy’s Bread announced a groundbreaking initiative Tuesday to help entrepreneurs in the ever growing food manufacturing industry get a jump start on expanding their craft.  The City will be investing in an approximately 4,000 square foot commercial kitchen, to be located at La Marqueta in East Harlem, which will provide shared workspace for start-up and expanding food businesses.  In addition to the location, Speaker Quinn announced that the City has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit companies that could manage the operation of the shared kitchen space.