“The City Council and I welcome Governor Cuomo’s proposal for Universal Pre-Kindergarten in his Executive Budget for 2014-2015. The importance of quality early childhood education for future success in school and life cannot be overstated and study after study has shown its effectiveness.

Our goal, and Mayor de Blasio’s, is to ensure that every four year-old in New York City has access to pre-k as soon as possible, with a funding stream in place to ensure that promise is fulfilled in the future.

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“Today, as we remember and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we must also recommit ourselves to fully realizing his dream. We must strive to replace hate with love, intolerance with acceptance, and division with unity. Until we can say that everyone has equal access to education, health care, opportunity and the pursuit of happiness, our work will not be done.

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“The Department of Investigation is a crucial city agency that guards taxpayers from corruption, fraud, waste and abuse and the Council looks forward to a thorough and comprehensive hearing about how Mr. Peters will carry out that important mission.

New Yorkers expect and deserve a commissioner at DOI who will vigorously guard their interests and I expect Council Members will be ready next week with tough and pointed questions for how Mr.

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City Hall – Today, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito joined Mayor Bill de Blasio to announce a plan to significantly expand the number of employees that will be entitled to paid sick time. The proposed legislation will require businesses with five or more employees to provide paid sick time to its employees, as opposed to the current law that requires businesses with 15 or more employees to provide paid sick time.

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Ariel Russo Response Time Reporting Act would require the FDNY to monitor and report emergency service response times in New York City

The Council will vote to approve the development of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center

In honor of Mariano Rivera, the Council will vote to co-name a Bronx street after the retired Yankees player

New York, NY- Today, the City Council will vote on the Ariel Russo Response Time Reporting Act named after Ariel Russo who was struck and killed by an SUV on June 4.

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December 4th Hearing on Proposed Legislation to Prohibit Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Public Spaces

City Hall, NY – On Wednesday, December 4th at 10:00am, the Council’s Health Committee will hold a public hearing on legislation sponsored by Council Member James F. Gennaro and Speaker Quinn to include electronic cigarettes in the City’s Smoke-Free Air Act. The bill would prohibit use of e-cigarettes in restaurants, offices, parks, beaches and other public spaces.

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“We are extremely pleased with today’s decision which prevents the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) from implementing a policy that would have kept thousands of homeless men and women out of shelter. The opinion is an important victory, not only for New York City’s homeless adults, but also for the principles of openness and accountability that are codified in the City Administrative Procedure Act.

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Legislation would require annual installation of one or more speed humps within 50 streets adjacent to public or private schools throughout the city

Council will also vote to permit contributions via text message to candidates running for office in New York City

New York, NY- Today, the City Council will vote on a bill to require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to annually install one or more speed humps within 50 streets adjacent to public or private schools throughout the city.

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“The City Council has long fought to protect the City’s most vulnerable services by restoring cuts made to critical child care, health and senior programs year after year.

We are pleased the Administration has finally recognized the budget priorities of the Council by baselining funding for vital programs such as childcare, Out-Of-School Time programming, HASA Supportive Housing and libraries.

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“We are thrilled that the administration has acknowledged the ongoing needs of the most vulnerable of the vulnerable, children who are homeless without their families and who are forced to sell their bodies, souls and dignity to survive another day on our streets. We thank the administration for including full spending in the November plan for our expanded shelter bed program.

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