“Access Denied: Examining the City’s Response to Illegal Use and Illegal Conversion Complaints June 7, 2011
Remarks as Prepared
OPENING STATEMENT
COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE C. QUINN
Good afternoon. Once again, tragic events in our City cost New Yorkers their lives in fires. Why? Because the buildings they were living in had been illegally altered to create more apartments than the law allowed.
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Since March, the City Council has held hundreds of hours of hearings, received thousands of letters and e-mails, and fielded countless phone calls from New Yorkers who are concerned about the future of New York City.
We share many of their concerns, and this Council is committed to protecting core services for the people of New York City – and to doing so in a fiscally responsible way.
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The Administration has proposed significant cuts to senior centers for next year, totaling $22 million. This 16 percent decrease from this year’s funding will further stress centers that are already struggling. At the same time, the administration is proposing moving forward with new, “innovative” senior centers at a cost of nearly $4 million.
While we support the idea of our city’s senior centers evolving and bringing them into the 21st century, we must also ensure that funding for the existing system is enough to sustain them.
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Halloran, Other Leaders Call on City to Preserve Critical Fire Engine
Numerous elected officials, union leaders, and community activists joined City Council Member Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) today at a rally in Bayside to protest the planned closing of Engine 306, which serves that neighborhood. The rally was attended by over 350 people from Bayside, Queens and the surrounding areas.
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Launch Scheduled for June 13, First Twelve Days of Service Free of Charge for All Riders
Groundbreaking New Service Will Provide Essential Transportation Alternative and Ease Travel between Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan
New York, New York – Today, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Deputy Mayor Robert Steel, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President Seth Pinsky, New York City Council Members Stephen Levin and Jimmy Van Bramer, and NY Waterway announced new details of the East River Ferry Service, which will transport commuters and tourists between Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
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“We applaud Governor Cuomo’s decision to temporarily suspend New York’s agreement to participate in the Secure Communities program as it undergoes review. The Governor has demonstrated true leadership in hearing the concerns that have been expressed and taking action.
“We are confident that this review process will prove what we have been saying all along: that the singular goal of the Secure Communities (S-COMM) program is to deport as many immigrants as possible, without regard to their criminal records or whether or not they actually pose a threat to society.
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We have grave concerns about a budget that allows for teacher layoffs and the immensely damaging effects they would have on our education system. Make no mistake – we will do everything in our power to prevent teacher layoffs.
The City has spent years of effort at improving our school system and working to ensure every child is provided with a valuable learning experience.
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New York City – After months of effort, the City Council, together with the Bloomberg Administration, has developed a plan to comprehensively address existing issues with the tax assessments that emerged in this year’s tentative assessment roll. The Council and Administration will establish a working group to reform the Class 2 Co-op and Condo assessment process and make the system more transparent, simple and equitable.
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The New York City Council’s Women Caucus applauds the swift and decisive actions of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly in removing the two officers, Officers Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata, who were found guilty on May 26, 2011 of official misconduct in the rape trial of an intoxicated woman whom they were summoned to assist.
We were disappointed that the jury found that the officers were not guilty of all other charges which included rape, burglary and falsifying business records;
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Legislation to allow 2007 candidates to serve FDNY who were unfairly prohibited by unrelated court injunction
May 26, 2011, New York, New York – Today, the City Council will vote on a bill that extends the eligibility age for candidates to apply for the FDNY examination. The purpose of the bill is to provide a measure of justice for those who took the last firefighter examination but who, after the examination had been invalidated by a court, subsequently became ineligible to take the next upcoming examination.
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