Council seeks feedback from restaurant owners on City’s food safety inspection process
and new letter grading system.

New York, NY – As part of the City Council’s oversight of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and in response to mounting concerns raised by city restaurateurs regarding the restaurant inspection process, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Health Committee Chair Maria del Carmen Arroyo today announced the launch of a comprehensive restaurant inspection survey.

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The expanded Part of the Solution (POTS) will provide essential emergency food services to New Yorkers in need

Bronx, NY- Today, Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Majority Leader Joel Rivera, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and hunger advocates joined Part of the Solution (POTS) at a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil its newly expanded headquarters, thirty years to the day after serving its first meal.

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Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn – To commemorate January as ‘Self-Defense Awareness’ month, community residents joined Council Member Al Vann Tracy Hobson, Executive Director of The Center for Anti-Violence Education and advocates at a community-wide, free self-defense course held today in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
The course empowered citizens on how to protect themselves from becoming victims of sexual assault. The classes were organized following a string of incidents that occurred throughout Brooklyn and New York City.

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“In these tough economic times, we need to help New Yorkers get the federal services they qualify for, not put obstacles in their way. Unfortunately, Mayor Bloomberg and I couldn’t disagree more — fingerprinting food stamp applicants is a time consuming and unnecessary process, which stigmatizes applicants and has prevented 24,000 New Yorkers from getting the help they deserve. The State has the authority to eliminate finger imaging in New York City, and the Mayor should not even think of challenging Governor Cuomo’s decision.”

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“Governor Cuomo’s action is an enormous victory for New Yorkers in need, and for all those who have fought to put an end to the detrimental practice of finger imaging food stamp applicants.

The Governor’s announcement today will eliminate a senseless barrier that, for too long, has prevented tens of thousands of qualified New Yorkers from receiving the assistance they need to feed themselves and their families.

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Prosecutors and Crime Victim Advocates Applaud Preserving Positions at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

City Hall-Council Speaker Quinn, along with Finance Chair Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Health Chair Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Public Safety Chair Peter Vallone, Jr. and Women’s Issues Chair Julissa Ferreras announced the restoration of $730,000 in critical funding to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) that will preserve 12 positions in forensic biology and evidence.

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Legislation requires Department of Transportation to post information regarding resurfacing and capital improvement of city blocks.

Council will also vote to improve indoor air quality by limiting the emissions of certain harmful compounds from carpet materials.

New York, NY- Today, the City Council will vote to give New Yorkers greater information on the condition of city blocks.

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Over $620,000 in federal food stamp dollars spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at greenmarkets in 5 boroughs.

CITY HALL – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Chair of the Council’s General Welfare Committee Annabel Palma, and GreenMarket Director GrowNYC, Michael Hurwitz today announced a significant increase in the use of food stamps at Greenmarkets across New York City.

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“News of today’s swift arrest of the suspect wanted in Sunday’s firebomb attacks can bring some relief to the residents, businesses and places of worship that were affected by these heinous acts. I want to thank the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force for aggressively searching for the person responsible for these senseless and dangerous attacks.”

“Earlier today, I met with the Mayor, Commissioner Kelly and leaders of the Muslim community to offer any assistance to ameliorate any tension the community may be feeling due to the string of firebombs that occurred during the night hours of New Year’s Day.”

“Incidents like these only too often remind us that hate crimes hurt everyone, and any act of violence against members of the Muslim and Hindu community is an act of violence against us all.

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Cameras will bring improved security to the district

New York, NY – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Debi Rose, New York State Senator Diane Savino, Assemblyman Matthew Titone and community members today announced the completed installation of 17 security cameras in the Business Corridor of Port Richmond, Staten Island. The community sprung into action in response to a string of hate crimes that plagued the area last year.

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