“Last night, the New York State Assembly passed legislation that takes another important step forward in protecting New York City’s drinking water. The ‘Hydrofracking’ (hydraulic fracturing) Moratorium bill, which is similar to a companion bill passed in the State Senate in August, prohibits granting permits for horizontal drilling which utilizes hydraulic fracturing in New York until May 15, 2011. It is the first time any state in the country has passed any kind of moratorium on this gas drilling technique used by natural gas companies.

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Council to also increase transparency in City’s development projects

City Hall – Today, the New York City Council will vote on two pieces of legislation that will increase transparency in both New York City’s Department of Transportation and in the City’s economic development projects. In the Council’s effort to help coordinate and oversee the Department of Transportation’s plans to slow down traffic and increase pedestrian safety on City streets, the Council will vote on legislation to increase transparency at DOT by requiring guidelines governing the installation of bike lanes and pedestrian plazas.

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“We applaud the New York State Assembly for passing the ‘Wage Theft Protection Act’. This bill will ensure that hard working New Yorkers will no longer be the victims of stolen wages. Before today’s vote, penalties for stealing workers’ wages were extremely low and the government was provided insufficient resources to enforce employment laws. With the passage of this bill, more than three thousand workers will be able to get the wages they rightfully deserve.

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“We are proud to say that over the past year, the New York City Council has been leading the fight for stronger protections for community gardens. As a result of our efforts, a number of significant victories have been won. Despite the new stronger protections for gardens in these rules, there is still more to be done through both policy and legislative means.

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Read the full report (PDF)

Council report presents 59-point blueprint for creating jobs, improving public health and protecting the environment

New York, NY – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn today unveiled an 86 page, comprehensive plan that sets a bold vision for a more sustainable food system—a ground-to-garbage approach unprecedented in the history of our city.

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SPEAKER CHRISTINE C. QUINN AND FINANCE CHAIR DOMENIC M. RECCHIA JR. PRESENT THE CITY COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO MAYOR BLOOMBERG’S FISCAL YEAR 2011 FINANCIAL PLAN

New York, NY – Outlining a number of problematic proposed cuts, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Finance Committee Chair Domenic M. Recchia Jr. today presented the Council’s response to Mayor Bloomberg’s Fiscal Year 2011 financial plan.

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New York, NY – Outlining a number of problematic proposed cuts, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Finance Committee Chair Domenic M. Recchia Jr. today presented the Council’s response to Mayor Bloomberg’s Fiscal Year 2011 financial plan. The Council, recognizing the severe economic state the City is currently facing, noted the need to make difficult budgetary decisions, but also noted that any cuts must be reviewed in the most responsible and thoughtful process possible.

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The Council funded $400,000 to ‘retrofit’ 500 one-to-four family homes, which will save $1,200 in energy costs per unit every year; program to create dozens of construction jobs throughout the City

New York, November 16, 2010 – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn announced a citywide initiative today that will save thousands of homes from $1,200 in energy costs per year.

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Council will also vote on legislation requiring notification of tree plantings at hospital and school entrances and exits

City Hall – The New York City Council will be voting on legislation today at the Stated Meeting that will authorize the proposed merger of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). The Council will also vote on legislation that will require the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide notification prior to planting trees within 100 feet of a hospital’s or school’s entrance or exit.

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One in Three Surveyed Voters Found Problems with Ballot Design and Font Size

New York, November 9, 2010 – As part of the New York City Council’s oversight of the New York City Board of Elections, Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Governmental Operations Chair Gale A. Brewer, and good government advocates today announced results of the Council’s nonpartisan Election Day survey.

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