The legislation will require the Department of Transportation to give presentations at affected community boards before bicycle lanes are constructed.
The Council will also vote on legislation to reduce unnecessary immigrant deportations in New York City.

New York, NY- Today, the City Council will vote on legislation that will require the Department of Transportation to consult with community boards before installing bicycle lanes.

The Council will also vote on a bill that would limit the Department of Correction’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities to reduce unnecessary immigrant deportations in New York City.

Finally, the Council will vote on a home rule message to request the State Legislature pass legislation authorizing the Council to implement a residential parking permit program in New York City.

INCREASE COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE INSTALLION OF BICYCLE LANES

The City Council will vote on legislation to require community board input on the construction or removal of bicycle lanes. The bill would give residents a greater say in the installation of bicycle lanes in their neighborhoods by requiring the Department of Transportation to make presentations at affected community boards on the proposed bicycle lane, if requested by that board.

The legislation would also require the Department of Transportation to give affected community boards at least 90 days’ notice before the proposed installation.

“Bicycle lanes should be constructed only after consultation from residents who live in the neighborhoods they are meant to serve,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Our legislation will ensure the Department of Transportation works with community boards and fully considers feedback from neighborhood residents on where, and how, bicycle lanes are installed.”

“I was District Manager of Bronx Community Board 10 for 26 years before coming to the Council, and I know that thirty days is not enough time for a community board to meet, discuss, and pass a resolution in support of any project,” said Council Transportation Chair James Vacca. “Passing this legislation will give community boards enough time to officially go on record about bike lanes in their districts. Communities deserve to have the chance to work with DOT on any concerns to a proposed bike lane, and I believe that this bill strikes a balance between the community’s need to be heard with the desire for bicycle lanes to be installed where appropriate.”

“There are few issues that have generated more discussion than the issue of bike lanes,” said Council Member Lewis Fidler. “Ensuring that they are put where they are wanted by bikers and where they make sense in communities just makes good sense. Every now and then, government needs to shimmy down from the ivory tower and ask communities about their own neighborhoods. Sometimes, neighbors really do know best about their own neighborhood.”

REDUCE UNNCESSARY IMMIGRANT DEPORTATIONS IN NEW YORK CITY

The Council will also vote on a bill that would limit the Department of Correction’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities to reduce unnecessary immigrant deportations in New York City. The bill would limit the City’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities by creating a category of persons for whom the Department of Correction will not detain for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislation will also require the Department of Correction to complete an annual report that details its cooperation with ICE.

Currently, the Department Of Correction cooperates with ICE through ICE’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP). The purpose of CAP is to identify criminal non-citizens who are incarcerated within federal, state and local facilities to ensure that they are not released into the community by securing a final order of removal prior to the termination of their sentence. Although CAP in the city has led to the detention and removal of some criminals, it has also led to the detention and removal of many that do not have a criminal record.

According to the Department of Correction, 13,295 foreign born persons were admitted into DOC facilities in fiscal year 2010. ICE placed detainers on 3,155 of those inmates and subsequently took custody of 2,552 of those inmates for potential deportation. Of the inmates that were discharged from DOC to the custody of ICE in 2010, 49.5% had no prior criminal conviction. Only 20.8% had a prior felony conviction and 20.6% had a misdemeanor as their highest prior conviction.

“With today’s landmark vote, New York City is showing that we are not afraid to lead when it comes to immigration issues,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “We are halting a practice that too often leads to the senseless deportation of people who pose no threat to our city. I am confident that this bill will serve as a national model for other states and cities to consider. I want to thank my colleagues, advocates and the administration for all their support as we worked to find a solution that would protect both public safety and immigrants in our City.”

“Passage of this bill will make New York City a more just place to live in not only for our immigrant communities but for all New Yorkers,” said Daniel Dromm, Chair of the Council Committee on Immigration. “Innocent immigrants have been unfairly detained and deported because of our broken immigration system. This legislation will begin to put an end to these unnecessary deportations and send a clear message that New York City is not a place where immigrant lives are destroyed but rather a place where they can thrive and continue to give back to our great country. I would like to thank Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, the lead sponsor, Speaker Quinn, and all of the advocates for their work on this issue and steadfast devotion to making sure our City remains welcoming to all.”

“Today is a historic day for New York’s immigrant communities,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, lead sponsor of the legislation. “The City of New York is sending a strong, unified message that we will no longer be complicit in funneling immigrants who pose no threat to public safety into the detention and deportation system. I thank the Speaker for her extraordinary leadership on this topic as well as Chair Dromm, Make the Road New York, the Cardozo Law School and all others who contributed to this effort. I also thank the Mayor for his pledge of support for this bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

VOTE ON HOME RULE TO REQUEST RESDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS

Finally, the Council will vote on a home rule message to request the State Legislature pass legislation authorizing the Council to establish a residential parking permit program in New York City.

The state bills would give the Council the authority to implement a residential parking program on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis and determine the cost of any proposed permit systems.

Under the state legislation, revenue generated from the sale of parking permits would be used to benefit New York City’s subway and bus system.

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