02/02/10 Attend the MTA hearings and speak up Please sign on below to demand a transparent MTA budget process and to urge the Authority to commit to a more democratic process between tomorrow and the implementation of the 2010 budget. This must include public hearings and the honest consideration of alternative plans presented by New Yorkers and their elected leaders. RSVP through Facebook here.
In the morning, Speaker Christine Quinn joined Mayor Bloomberg and Council Members Eugene & Williams to raise the American flag flown in Haiti by FDNY/NYPD New York Task Force. | Photo by William Alatriste
01/25/10 Speaker Quinn Podcast:
Victory for NYC Tenants: State Supreme Court Strikes Down ‘Poor Tax’ Against Low Income Tenants In a major victory for New York City’s rent stabilized tenants, New York State Supreme Court Justice Emily Jane Goodman struck down a 2008 supplemental adjustment imposed by the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), which has been characterized as a “poor tax” against low-income tenants who have lived in an apartment for more than six years and pay less than $1,000 a month in rent. Click here for more information.
01/10/10 Helping Haiti The City Council, Mayor and Governor banned together to help the disaster relief effort in Haiti and to provide support for family members here in New York. In a special photo segment of "In the Halls," we follow the first Haitian-born elected official Mathieu Eugene and his response after the earthquake hit his home country.
12/17/09 Tell the MTA NOT to Cut our Services
Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Members and leading transportation advocates stood in front of MTA headquarters in opposition to proposed service cuts and to call on the board to consider alternative budgetary actions. WATCH Speaker Quinn and Members testify before the MTA board.
The proposed cuts include:
• the elimination of 2 subway lines and 21 local bus routes;
• steep service reductions on dozens of additional bus and subway routes;
• cuts to the Access-A-Ride program; and
• Cuts to student MetroCards.
12/14/09 Deadline Approaching for the Penalty Relief Program
The NYC Penalty Relief Program for Homeowners and Business Owners is a three-month program that allows businesses and homeowners to resolve Environmental Control Board violations that are “in default” and for which a hearing date was scheduled before May 1, 2009. Applicants can resolve their default violations by paying the base fine and will not have to pay additional penalties, late fees or interest. If a violation is associated with a correctible condition, known as a compliance violation, you must correct the condition before you may participate in the program. The Application Period ends December 21, 2009. Press Release
12/09/09 The New York City Skyline, Council Votes on Revolutionary Green Buildings Legislation
At Wednesday's Stated Council meeting, the members of the City Council voted in favor of ground-breaking green buildings legislation that will improve energy efficiency in existing buildings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, create thousands of green jobs, and establish a New York Cide energy code. This legislative package represents the most comprehensive, ambitious and coordinated plan ever proposed in the United States to cut carbon emissions from existing buildings, the greatest source of carbon dioxide emissions in American cities.
The Council also passed the FRESH program which, through zoning strategies and financial incentives, would attract and retain grocery stores in New York City’s under-served communities. Press Release
12/08/09 Speaker Quinn, Members and Admin Announce Tougher Penalties on Toy Gun Sales Speaker Christine C Quinn, together with Council Members Al Vann, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Larry Seabrook, announced legislation that would increase penalties for selling a toy gun by 500 percent. The legislation would also enhance the Department of Consumer Affairs’ enforcement ability and allow the agency to shut stores that are repeat offenders of the law. Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt joined the Speaker and Council Members at the announcement. The officials also announced a new citywide public awareness campaign about the dangers of toy guns that look real and real guns that look like toys. Press Release| Video
12/07/09 Speaker Quinn Announces “FoodWorks New York” Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn announced “FoodWorks New York”, a new effort by the City Council to produce the first ever comprehensive plan to use New York City’s food system to create jobs, improve public health and protect the environment. Over the next six months, the Council will work with experts from government, industry, labor and academia, as well as hunger and environmental advocates and community leaders. They’ll be closely examining every step in New York City’s food cycle – production, processing, transport, retail, consumption, and post-consumption. Press Release
12/03/09 Tell Governor Paterson NO to Drilling in NYC
On September 30, 2009, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a document proposing new permitting procedures and regulations for natural gas drilling in our state. In effect, this document has left an open path for an unconventional gas drilling technique, known as hydraulic fracturing, to proceed in the land areas that supply our City with its famously clean drinking water.
We are deeply troubled by this prospect. As much as 90 percent of our City’s water comes from the Catskill/Delaware watershed. Natural gas drilling, a heavily industrial activity, risks introducing highly toxic chemicals into the City’s drinking water. If the water were to become contaminated, the City would have to spend an estimated $10 billion to build a filtration plant and $100 million annually to operate it – further increasing water bills that have already seen double digit increases over the past three years.
If you care as deeply about the future of our City’s water supply as we do, please call or write Governor Paterson and ask him and the State Legislature to explicitly ban drilling for natural gas in the City’s watershed. We’ve gone ahead and drafted a letter that folks can easily sign on to and send to the Governor via our website. To access, click here. Action Center
12/02/09 Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn Re: Senate Vote on Same-Sex Marriage “Today the New York State Senate rejected an opportunity to declare that all citizens in New York are equal. The depth of sadness that I and many New Yorkers feel today is difficult to express. This is a loss for every family in New York. This is a loss for every Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender New Yorker.
“I want to thank Senator Tom Duane, Senator Sampson and the rest of the Senate leadership for bringing this issue to a vote on the Senate floor. I applaud them for their dogged leadership on this issue.
“I also applaud every Senator who voted in favor of this civil rights bill. Each of them stood up today and declared that all people should be equal and nobody should be treated differently. I thank all the Senators who spoke so movingly on the Senate floor. I want to deeply thank the advocates who have worked so long and so hard on this issue.
“Today is not, however, by any means, the end of the fight for same-sex marriage in New York State. We will continue to work and fight for equal rights, and if anything our efforts will only be made all the stronger by today's vote.
“My partner and I are not able to legally marry in New York State. My same-sex neighbors and constituents are not able to legally marry in New York State. But we will continue to work, to fight and to educate. We will continue to support those amazing advocates who spend every day fighting for LGBT New Yorkers equal rights. We will not accept defeat and we will not stop fighting until all New Yorkers are treated equally. I sincerely believe that some day LGBT New Yorkers will be able to legally marry.”
12/02/09 Council Announces New Predatory Equity Task Force Following Sale of Ocelot Portfolio City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn today announced the formation of a new Predatory Equity Task Force, which will monitor problems resulting from the continued fallout of the housing bubble, and perform rapid response when these problems threaten the welfare of building tenants.
The Task Force will have two main goals. First, it will track buildings that are currently – or at risk of becoming – physically or financially distressed, and respond quickly to urgent problems. The Task Force will pressure owners and lenders to maintain their buildings or sell to a responsible owner approved by the city. Second, the Task Force will continue to explore the core issues behind these problems, and propose new initiatives and policy changes at the federal, state, and city levels.
The Task Force will bring together a number of housing advocates and experts, and will be co-chaired by Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Erik Martin Dilan, Councilmembers Inez Dickens and Annabel Palma, and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Rafael Cestero.
“The Council is proud to have worked with HPD, Fannie Mae, Senator Schumer, and Congressman Serrano to ensure that the winning bidder for the Ocelot portfolio debt has a good reputation and is committed to preserving the buildings,” said Speaker Christine Quinn. “Now we need to use that success as a model for dealing with similar buildings around the city. The Predatory Equity Task Force will allow us to quickly respond to foreclosures around the city, and find creative new policies to prevent problems before they escalate.”
“There are too many tenants across the city living in buildings where the owners paid too much and cannot afford to maintain them,” said Housing and Buildings Committee Chair Erik Martin Dilan. “The sale of the Ocelot portfolio debt to Omni, a group committed to ensuring the buildings are maintained, sets a good example for what we expect from other lenders. I look forward to working with the task force to ensure that all tenants living in buildings with similar circumstances are protected. I would also like to commend Fannie Mae and HPD for their efforts in facilitating the purchase by Omni.” Press Release
12/01/09 Combating Sexual Harassment & Assault in the City's Subway System Letter from Speaker Christine C. Quinn:
On November 19th, the City Council Women's Issues and Transportation Committees held a joint hearing on sexual harassment and assault in the City's subway system. The MTA and the NYPD testified on the matter. We also heard from several advocates, including the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, Right Rides and Girls for Gender Equity. As a result, my office will be working with the MTA to increase awareness of this problem and encourage commuters to file complaints against perpetrators of harassment and assault.
It's important to remember that being sexually harassed or assaulted on the subway is a crime and should be reported to the police as such - even if the perpetrator has left the train or station.
Also, let me be clear: This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My office is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to protect New Yorkers. We will explore both legislative and non-legislative solutions to stem this lewd and inappropriate behavior. All New Yorkers deserve the right to ride the subway without fear of harassment or assault.
Below are some important tips from the NYPD on how to stay safe and what you can do if you've been sexually harassed or assaulted on the subway:
Do not be ashamed or afraid to report the offense to
the police or an MTA employee immediately.
During off hours, wait at the marked waiting areas on
the station platforms and sit in the conductor's car when the train arrives.
Know your way around your subway stations: the
locations of exits and where stairwells lead.
If the sex offense happens on a crowded subway car,
if you can do so safely, step away from the perpetrator and loudly let others
know what the offender is doing.
If you are in an empty car, leave the car and find
one with more passengers.
If you can do so safely, use your cell phone to take
a photo of the perpetrator, or make a note of any distinctive features or
items of clothing.
If the perpetrator follows you off the train, call the police and stay in a crowded area.
Remain alert and awake.
For more information about the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, Right Rides and Girls for Gender Equity, please visit their websites at www.svfreenyc.org, www.rightrides.org, and www.ggenyc.org, respectively.
12/01/09 Speaker Quinn, Council Members, Advocates Launch HIV/AIDS Social Networking Campaign Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, Council Member Rosie Mendez, and representatives from HIV/AIDS organizations from around New York City launched a social networking driven campaign to encourage and increase HIV/AIDS awareness. The groundbreaking campaign, which was announced on World AIDS Day, today, utilizes YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to re-start the conversation about HIV and AIDS in our communities. The campaign, titled “I Talk Because…”, will feature YouTube video clips of people talking about why it’s so important for them to discuss HIV/AIDS with the people in their lives. Community leaders, elected officials and New Yorkers will be encouraged to participate and upload their own testimonials. New Yorkers will be able to send in their video testimonies to the “I Talk Because…” by emailing italkbecause@gmail.com. We are inviting all New Yorkers to submit their videos and share why they talk about HIV/AIDS to the people in their life and why this is important to them. Press Release | Youtube | Facebook | Twitter11/30/09 Council Votes on Final Piece of Construction, Demolition, and Abatement Overhaul Legislation Responding to Deutsche Bank Fire Tragedy, Law Will Prohibit Simultaneous Occurrence of Building Demolition and Asbestos Abatement
City Hall, November 30, 2009 – Following the tragic Deutsche Bank Fire that took the lives of New York City Firefighters Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia, the City Council will vote on the twelfth and final piece of construction, demolition, and abatement overhaul legislation at today’s Stated Council Meeting. This legislation would prohibit simultaneous demolition and asbestos abatement activities within the same building.
The Council will also vote on legislation that would:
Improve public safety and deter vandalism by requiring that certain city businesses only install see-through security gates in front of commercial store fronts; and
Protect the City’s water supply by requiring building owners to install backflow prevention devices as necessary. Press Release
Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn announced “FoodWorks New York”, a new effort by the City Council to produce the first ever comprehensive plan to use New York City’s food system to create jobs, improve public health and protect the environment. Over the next six months, the Council will work with experts from government, industry, labor and academia, as well as hunger and environmental advocates and community leaders. They’ll be closely examining every step in New York City’s food cycle – production, processing, transport, retail, consumption, and post-consumption.
Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Health Committee Chair Joel Rivera, Council Member Rosie Mendez, and representatives from HIV/AIDS organizations from around New York City launched a social networking driven campaign to encourage and increase HIV/AIDS awareness. The groundbreaking campaign, which was announced on World AIDS Day, today, utilizes YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to re-start the conversation about HIV and AIDS in our communities. The campaign, titled “I Talk Because…”, will feature YouTube video clips of people talking about why it’s so important for them to discuss HIV/AIDS with the people in their lives. Community leaders, elected officials and New Yorkers will be encouraged to participate and upload their own testimonials. New Yorkers will be able to send in their video testimonies to the “I Talk Because…” by emailing