“Good afternoon Chairman DeFrancisco, Chairman Farrell, and members of the Finance and Ways and Means Committees. I am Melissa Mark-Viverito, and I am the Speaker of the New York City Council where I also represent East Harlem and the Bronx.

“Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2014-2015 contains several elements that we at the New York City Council welcome, such as the renter’s tax credit – something that is sorely needed in New York City, where 70% of residents are renters and half of them pay more than one-third of their income in rent.

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20 Members From All 5 Boroughs Go to Capital To Stand Up For NYC’s Budget Priorities

Albany, NY – New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was joined by 19 of her colleagues today to visit Albany to fight for New York City and advocate for its priorities in the state budget. Joining Speaker Viverito were Councilmembers; Rose, Barron, Dromm, Espinal, Gentile, Levin, Gibson, Van Bramer, Koslowitz, Torres, Weprin, Ferreras, Menchaca, Vacca, King, Miller, Richards, Rodriguez and Minority Leader Ignizio.

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City Hall- – Pledging a more inclusive and democratic City Council, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Rules Committee Chairman Brad Lander announced the Council committee chairpersons and leadership today.
In a joint statement, Speaker Mark-Viverito and Rules Committee Chairman Lander said: “The leadership and committee chairs appointed today show that this City Council will be reflective of New York’s diversity and values.

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“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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