New York City Council Newsletter
Week of February 11, 2008
 

Speaker Christine C. Quinn Delivers State of the City Address
Speaker Christine C. Quinn delivered her annual state of the city address on Tuesday, introducing several new initiatives to help our city through the economic uncertainty of the next year.  Among her proposals is a plan to implement a sales tax-free week to coincide with the mailing of the rebate checks that are part of the federal government’s economic stimulus plan, a new five-borough ferry system that will start with a pilot program in the Rockaways, and new initiatives to protect affordable housing and help families cope with the subprime lending crisis.

More information on some of the Speaker’s initiatives is available in the segments below.  The full text of the speech is available online, as is the accompanying press release.  The New York Sun, New York 1 and the Gotham Gazette each covered the story.

New Plan for Five-Borough Ferry Service Unveiled
In her State of the City speech, Speaker Quinn announced an ambitious initiative to develop ferry service to connect all five boroughs of New York City.  The plan, which has the support of Mayor Bloomberg, will commence with the construction of a pilot program in the Rockaways that is anticipated to begin operating sometime this summer.  Once completed, a comprehensive ferry system in New York City would shorten commute times, take pressure off of over-crowded subway lines and provide economic stimulus for the city’s vast waterfront areas.  An op-ed piece in the New York Post calls the plan “visionary.” 

Speaker Quinn Announces Plans for Bonus Pay for Teachers in High-Need Schools
Speaker Quinn also unveiled a plan to provide bonus pay for teachers in some of the city’s most high-need schools.  Arguing that some schools are harder to teach in than others, the Speaker aims to provide an incentive for talented and experienced teachers to stay in the classrooms where they are needed most.  In its current form, the plan will offer bonuses of $5,000 to $10,000 to qualified teachers to schools deemed to need the most help.  UFT President Randi Weingarten says she is, “pleased that Speaker Quinn is championing schools that are in urgent need of support,” and that the union “looks forward to working with her to develop this initiative.”

Council Passes Bill to Require Manufacturers to Recycle Electronic Products
On Wednesday, the Council passed new legislation that will require manufacturers, at their own cost, to collect, handle and recycle electronic equipment returned by consumers.  The first legislation of its kind in the nation, the bill promises to help reduce the amount of harmful materials that are found in consumer electronics that enter the city’s waste stream.  Council Member Bill de Blasio, the prime sponsor of the bill, says that, “by passing legislation, [the Council is] helping to set the standard on electronic recycling for the rest of the nation.”  A press release is available on the Council’s website.

Council Calls on Congress to Pass James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
On Wednesday, the Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution calling on Congress to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health Compensation Act.  If passed, the Zadroga bill would provide monitoring and health care for individuals exposed to the toxic cloud released when the World Trade Center Towers collapsed in 2001.  The press release is available on the Council’s website.