City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Aging Committee Chair Jessica Lappin, and State and Federal Legislation Committee Chair Helen Diane Foster joined with senior citizens and advocates from across the city today to announce the launch of the Save Our Centers campaign to protect New York City’s senior centers. The campaign will rally seniors in all five boroughs to oppose a proposed cut in Governor Paterson’s budget that will lead to as many as a third of the city’s senior centers being shuttered.

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“I was appalled and sickened to learn of last weeks anti-LGBT hate crime in Carroll Gardens, said City Council Speaker Quinn. “New York City’s greatest strength is our diversity. All New Yorkers should be free to walk our streets without fear of being attacked for who they are or who they are perceived to be.”

“The victim of last weeks attack was simply walking on the street when he was beaten by a group of men while being called anti-gay epithets.

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City Hall, NY – City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn today unveiled an Irish remembering quilt, which will be on display at City Hall through St. Patrick’s Day. The quilt, which symbolizes the lives lost in the Northern Ireland conflict, was revealed at the City Council’s annual Irish Heritage event.

The quilt was designed by the family and friends of those lost in the conflict.

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“The New York State Assembly has once again stood up for the rights of New Yorkers and passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). If passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, this bill would extend protections to transgender New Yorkers in the areas of employment, housing, employment, credit and public accommodations.

This legislation is important because the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA), which was passed in 2003, does not specifically protect transgender people from discrimination.

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March 23, 2010, New York City –City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Members Elizabeth Crowley and Karen Koslowitz, and the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company made an emergency donation of one thousand pounds of Kosher for Passover food to the Queens Jewish Community Council Kosher Food Pantry as supplies needed to provide Kosher for Passover food to families in need was nearly depleted.

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Anti-Bullying and Harassment Week Will Kick Off on March 8 and Run through March 12, 2010

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that the Department of Education is launching its first-ever “Respect for All Week,” designed to focus all City schools on the importance of promoting respect for diversity and fostering inclusive learning environments for their students.

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New Paltz, NY (March 9, 2010) – Councilman James F. Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) advocated on behalf of nine million New Yorkers’ water supply at SUNY New Paltz’s public forum titled, “The Future of Gas Drilling in New York State” last night. The forum was attended by close to 200 students and upstate residents.

“Drilling for natural gas is an activity that must not happen in New York City’s pristine drinking water supply upstate,” Gennaro said.

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Legislation will streamline approvals for environmentally beneficial technologies and products

City Hall – At today’s Stated Council meeting the members of the City Council will vote on legislation designed to encourage the development and approval of green technologies and products. By streamlining the approval process and facilitating interagency cooperation, the City will support environmentally beneficial development. Additionally, the Council will vote on legislation to establish rules for determining the cost of tree replacement on public property and to increase fines for illegal dumping along the city’s waterfront.

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SPEAK UP program to Empower Students to Keep Schools Safe

City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn in conjunction with the Department of Education, the New York City Police Department, and PAX, creators of the national violence prevention program, SPEAK UP, announced the launch of an anonymous hotline in New York City public schools, which will encourage students to come forward with knowledge of dangerous activity.

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