We are pleased by today’s settlement of the Attorney General’s lawsuit requiring Arbitron to overhaul a deeply flawed ratings system that dramatically underreports listenership for ethnic and minority radio stations. The requirement that Arbitron pay for a study to “determine and cure measurable bias” in their ratings system is a particularly heartening aspect of the settlement.

Beginning in 2007, the City Council responded to concerns that Arbitron’s new Portable People Meter system did not adequately account for communities of color and younger listeners, and threatened the survival of ethnic and minority radio stations.

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While many of us were celebrating the holiday season with friends and loved ones, the state of Israel found itself forced to defend against a series of unprovoked rocket attacks from Hamas militants. I want to express my support for the Israeli government as it works to prevent further violence against its citizens. Just as the United States reserves the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, so must Israel be able to defend itself to prevent further loss of life.

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City Hall’s Doors will be open to the Public for Free Viewing of Historic Inauguration

December 22nd, 2008 – Speaker Christine C. Quinn, the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus and the New York City Council announce that City Hall will open its doors to all New Yorkers on January 20th, 2009 – Inauguration Day – so they can come together to view the historic moment that President-Elect Barack Obama is sworn into office.

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Also votes to modify alternate side parking rules during heavy winter conditions

City Hall, December 18, 2008 – At today’s Stated Council meeting, the members of the New York City Council will vote to allow members of District Council 37, the city’s largest municipal union, to reside outside of New York City if they have completed more than two years of city service.

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Combined measures will add over $650 million in revenue, allowing the City to maintain core services in public safety and education

CITY HALL – Speaker Christine C. Quinn, together with Finance Committee Chair David Weprin, Black, Latino and Asian Caucus Co-Chairs Robert Jackson and Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Majority Leader Joel Rivera, Majority Whip Inez Dickens and Deputy Majority Leader Leroy Comrie, announced that the Council will vote on a revenue enhancement package that will include rescinding the 7% property tax reduction and enacting a temporary 0.875% hotel tax increase.

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We strongly object to and condemn Saturday Night Live and NBC 4 for their insensitive portrayal of Governor Paterson, which unfairly suggests that the blind are incapable of a high level of professional performance. Not only was this depiction unfair to the Governor, it also reinforces false and offensive stereotypes regarding people with disabilities.

Contrary to this tactless portrayal, hundreds of thousands of individuals who are blind or have limited vision perform their professions in an outstanding manner.

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It is with deep regret that I learned of the passing of Jose Sucuzhanay, a resident of Brooklyn and an Ecuadorean native, who was a victim of a brutal anti-gay, anti-Latino hate crime in the early morning hours of December 7th in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

These cowardly acts are outrageous and will not be tolerated. We will not let the behavior of these individuals who committed this horrible, senseless crime go unchecked.

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In January 2008, the New York City Council passed a law creating the most expansive plastic bag recycling program in the nation. In June of this year, the State Legislature passed a bill that would bring plastic bag recycling to the entirety of New York State.

The State legislation initially threatened to preempt the Council’s law, and would have drastically reduced the number of city stores required to accept bags from consumers.

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Increase of .875 percent would raise $80 million by end of Fiscal Year 2010

City Hall, December 9, 2008 – At today’s Stated Council meeting, the New York City Council will introduce legislation that would raise the New York City hotel tax by .875 percent, an increase that could raise an estimated $80 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2010.

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I was outraged to learn this morning that two men were assaulted at Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, and especially horrified to learn that anti-LGBT and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants raising this event to the level of a hate crime.

My office is in touch with the family of the victims and offers our prayers.

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