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.

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CITY HALL – Continuing to add to her growing team, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced today that Erica Gonzalez will join the City Council as a Senior Advisor. In her role, Gonzalez will work to find new and innovative ways for the Council to interact with the public and to enhance overall engagement with New Yorkers.

“I am thrilled to join Speaker Mark-Viverito and the team she’s assembled as we work to help make New York City a better place for everyone,” said Gonzalez.

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As prepared for delivery

Thank you Chair Ferreras for those kind words. My name is Melissa Mark-Viverito and I am Speaker of the New York City Council.

Today is the first day of hearings on the Preliminary Budget. While these hearings are not new to the Council or the Mayor’s Office, the participants and values have changed.

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City Hall —Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, Council Members Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), and Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn), jointly released the following statement today in response to the de Blasio Administration’s announcement that it intends to drop city’s appeal against Local Law 71-2013, which prohibits bias-based profiling by law enforcement.

“We commend the de Blasio administration for announcing its intent to drop the city’s appeal in the suit against this important legislation –

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Priorities Include Education, Sandy Relief, Immigration, Health, Gun Violence Reduction, Equal Pay for Women, Aid to CUNY and Funding for LGBT Health and Human Services

Albany, NY — On a visit to Albany today, New York City Council Speaker Melissa-Mark-Viverito, State and Federal Legislation Committee Chair Karen Koslowitz , Finance Committee Chair Julissa Ferreras and Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer unveiled the New York City Council’s state budget and legislative agenda for the coming year.

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“I am concerned about the fact that the vast majority of co-locations approved by the previous administration will be moving ahead as proposed, but remain confident that we can work with the de Blasio administration to reach the right balance. What we must do is ensure that students, teachers and principals are a part of the decision-making process for their school communities so they know their voices and opinions are valued.

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The legislation provides paid sick time coverage for all businesses of five or more employees

Council will also vote on a Resolution supporting the City’s universal pre-Kindergarten and after school plan

New York, NY- Today, the City Council will vote to significantly expand the Earned Sick Time Act – enacted under Local Law 46 of 2013 and amended by Local Law 6 of 2014.

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Speaker Cites Parade Policy Which Effectively Bans LGBT Groups from Marching

City Hall — Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced today that the New York City Council as an institution will not participate in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade, citing the parades rules that effectively ban LGBT groups from taking part. The decision means that there will be no official City Council presence at the parade, no banner and no Sergeant–at-Arms present.

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Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito:
“I am pleased that SUNY and the community have reached an agreement to help preserve quality medical care in downtown Brooklyn. Today’s settlement puts the needs of New Yorkers first and prioritizes care over profits.

I am proud to have joined my colleagues in government and thousands of concerned New Yorkers to protect the future of our City’s hospitals.

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Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito:
“The proposals outlined by Mayor de Blasio today are innovative ideas to end traffic fatalities in our City. The City Council has aggressively worked on proactive solutions to increase traffic safety, and as we partner with the de Blasio Administration to make New York City’s streets safer for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists alike, we urge our colleagues in the State Legislature to expeditiously consider the Mayor’s proposals.

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