New York, NY – New York City Council Members representing the four districts that comprise Upper Manhattan held a unity rally on Thursday evening to protest the budget cuts to child care centers being proposed in Mayor Bloomberg’s Fiscal Year 2012 Executive Budget. Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, Assistant Deputy Majority Leader Inez E. Dickens, Education Committee Chairman Robert Jackson, and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez joined together with Upper Manhattan-based day care providers, parents, children and advocates to highlight the disproportionate impact of these cuts on the communities of East, Central and West Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood and to call for a full restoration of child care services.

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Council, New York Times, Facebook, MTV and the city’s District Attorneys convene summit on July 18th to discuss the growing online trend – and how to combat it

City Hall – As part of the effort to help parents and teachers combat bullying amongst kids in the digital space, Speaker Christine C. Quinn today announced a Cyberbullying Summit via YouTube.

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BigAppleRx is Available Free of Charge and Can be Used at More than 2,000 City Pharmacies

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs today launched New York City’s first official prescription discount card – offering substantial discounts throughout the five boroughs. The BigAppleRx card will be one of the most widely distributed prescription drug discount cards in the nation, and is available to anyone regardless of age, income, citizenship or health insurance status.

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Statement by Council Member Mathieu Eugene:
I want to express my gratitude to President Obama, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas for extending the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haiti for an additional 18 months and also for giving Haitians who arrived after last year’s earthquake an opportunity to apply for TPS.

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Reports of the fire that erupted in Bushwick last night are extremely troubling. Even more concerning is the fact that this building had been reported for having illegal conversions and that inspectors were unable to gain access.

It is precisely because of cases like this that the Council recognizes the need to eliminate dangerous illegal conversions. We will be convening a hearing on June 7th that will examine ways the city can improve inspectors’

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City Council, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and Industry Leaders Announce Application Process for City’s Environmental Product Testing Initiative

May 13, 2011 – Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Michael Nelson, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the New York City Housing Authority, and industry leaders today announced the Request for Applications (RFA) process for a new program that will allow environmental products to be tested in city-owned buildings.

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In Wake of High-Profile Cases, Fines Will Deter Service Refusals and Overcharging

New York, May 11, 2011 – At today’s Stated Council meeting, members of the City Council will vote on legislation to raise fines for taxi drivers who unlawfully refuse or overcharge passengers. The Council will also vote on a major rezoning in Queens’ South Jamaica neighborhood.

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New Partnership Will Help Connect Veterans with Jobs

City Hall – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Small Business Committee Chair Diana Reyna and Veterans Committee Chair Mathieu Eugene, today announced a partnership with Seedco, a non-profit organization that advances economic opportunities for people and communities, and the city’s Workforce1 Career Centers to assist returning veterans with job placement and better prepare them to enter the workforce.

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“Since the recent financial crisis and recession, the City Council has worked aggressively to control spending and manage the City’s budget in a fiscally responsible manner while protecting vital services. That’s why we have grave concerns about a budget that allows for teacher layoffs, which would be immensely damaging to our education system and children’s opportunities for a quality education.

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“When the attack happened here in New York City on September 11th, I think Osama Bin Laden and the terrorists thought we might just give up, that we might just surrender. What he could never understand is the foundation that makes up America – that makes up New York. That foundation is built on courage and heroism and love of your neighbor.

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