Spanning 40 neighborhoods, participatory budgeting allows New Yorkers to directly decide how to allocate public funds

City Hall – City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Members today released locations where New Yorkers can cast a ballot in the week-long 2014 Participatory Budgeting vote. Launched in 2011, with the goal of making budgeting decisions more transparent and to give New Yorkers a greater say in how their tax dollars are spent, Participatory Budgeting has grown to encompass 10 Council Districts, allowing New Yorkers to directly decide how allocate more than $10 million dollars for neighborhood projects.

…

READ MORE

On inaugural day of Earned Sick Time Act, over a dozen Council Members distributed flyers at subway stations across the City to notify New Yorkers of their rights

New York, NY – City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and over a dozen members of the City Council distributed flyers at subway stations across the City this morning to alert New Yorkers about the first day of the Earned Sick Time Act going into effect.

…

READ MORE

“This is an important step for New York City as we continue the process of mending relations with communities of color and the NYPD. The City Council fought hard for the creation of the Inspector General and we look forward to working with Philip Eure, the Department of Investigations and the NYPD to help make New York City a safer place while also respecting civil liberties.

…

READ MORE

Council Working Group Will Help Set Legislative Priorities And Build Consensus

CITY HALL – As part of the effort to open up the New York City Council legislative process to more collaboration and participation among members, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced today the creation of the Policy Working Group which will help build consensus around priority legislation and policy initiatives for the Council.

…

READ MORE

Legislation Will Ensure Interns are Granted Workplace Protection Against Discrimination and Harassment

City Hall- Today the City Council will vote to amend the NYC Human Rights Law specifically providing that interns are entitled to the same workplace protections against discrimination and harassment as employees. The Council will also vote on a resolution calling upon the New York State Assembly and Senate to pass, and the Governor to sign, a State budget that allows the City to use State reimbursements for rental subsidies for the homeless.

…

READ MORE

New rules will also include resources to help restaurants better navigate the inspection process

CITY HALL –City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the Health Department announced today they are releasing for public comment new restaurant grading rules designed to reduce fines and provide additional educational resources to help restaurants maintain their high health standards and succeed throughout New York City.

…

READ MORE

“New York City is at its best when our workforce reflects our diversity and I am happy that the de Blasio administration not only recognizes this but is taking concrete steps to make it happen. New York City has the best first responders and this settlement and the reforms instituted by the administration will go a long way towards continuing that.”

###

“I want to commend Guinness, Sam Adams and Heineken for taking a stand on behalf of the LGBT community who should be able to march openly and proudly in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. These businesses are sending a clear message that New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade needs to be inclusive to all New Yorkers.”

###

Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Education Committee Chair Daniel Dromm:
“We applaud Speaker Shelly Silver, Senator Klein and Senator Skelos for their leadership in introducing a budget resolution that includes funding for Universal Pre-K and afterschool programs. Early childhood education is a sound investment in the future of our City, and we are pleased the State Legislature shares our vision of making sure every child has access to the resources they need to succeed.

…

READ MORE

Memo

To: Members of the Media, Interested Parties
From: Eric Koch, City Council Communications Director
Date: March 11th, 2014
Re: Broadcast of Events in the City Hall Red Room

In keeping with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s commitment to transparency, openness and utilizing technology to bring government closer to the public, the City Council is proud to announce that we will be expanding television and internet broadcasts to include events in the Red Room at City Hall.

…

READ MORE