Also Votes on Major Affordable Housing Project in Williamsburg<\/p>\n
City Hall, April 14, 2010 \u2013 At today\u2019s Stated Council meeting, the members of the City Council will vote on legislation that will improve living and working conditions for carriage horses in New York and increase the rates carriage drivers may charge for rides. In addition, the Council will consider legislation on a new development project in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that will create housing, commercial and public waterfront space.<\/p>\n
IMPROVING THE CARRIAGE HORSE INDUSTRY
\nThe Council will vote today on legislation, introduced by Council Member James Gennaro, that improves conditions for carriage horses in New York City. The bill will mandate larger stall sizes, require 5 weeks furlough per year, and set lower and upper age limits for carriage horses, in addition to doubling the number of required annual veterinary visits for all working horses. Drivers will also be required to carry heavy blankets for the horses\u2019 use during cold weather and waterproof blankets for wet weather. <\/p>\n
Additional provisions that will increase safety for carriage drivers\u2019 horses and pedestrians include requirements for:
\n\u2022 Reflective material on all carriages;
\n\u2022 An emergency brake system on all carriages,
\n\u2022 Additional training time for new drivers; and
\n\u2022 Drivers licenses for new horse carriage drivers.<\/p>\n
The legislation will prohibit carriages from operating below 34th Street and prohibit rides in any part of New York between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., seven days a week.<\/p>\n
Rates for horse carriage rides are set by local law and have remained unchanged for over twenty years. This legislation will increase these rates to ensure they are equivalent to rates charged for other tourist attractions in New York. The rates will increase from $34 for the first half hour to $50 for the first twenty minutes. The charge for additional minutes will increase from $10 for fifteen minutes to $20 for ten minutes. In addition, the bill will allow for rates to be adjusted for inflation every three years, based on the Consumer Price Index.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese drivers have not received a raise in 20 years \u2013 that wouldn\u2019t be acceptable in any other industry and this should be no different,\u201d Speaker Christine C. Quinn said. \u201cAs most struggle during this economic time, it only seems just that these drivers receive fair pay.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that the new rates, along with the new requirements, are huge steps forward for this industry \u2013 increasing safety for passengers while also improving conditions for the horses. With these steps, this industry will continue to delight generations of tourists and New Yorkers year after year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bill makes the best horse carriage industry in the country even better, with reforms that will provide a host of additional protections to the horses, economic sustainability for the drivers and an even better experience for New Yorkers and tourists who come from around the world to see Central Park from an open carriage provided by this iconic industry,\u201d said Council Member James F. Gennaro, the prime sponsor of Int. No. 35. \u201cI am grateful to those in the animal rights community, the horse carriage industry and equine specialists who worked with the Council and the Bloomberg Administration to craft the humanitarian and economic reforms that are central to this bill \u2013 the most comprehensive reform of the industry in more than twenty years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pleased that the council will be voting on a bill that both strengthens the living and working conditions of horses as well as provides a needed rate increase for carriage drivers,\u201d said Karen Koslowitz, Chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee. \u201cThrough debate and testimony, we have a bill that will make life better for all those involved in the horse carriage industry in New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n
ROSE PLAZA
\nThe Council will also be voting on Rose Plaza, a new development in Williamsburg that will provide 800 units, 30 percent of which will be affordable housing. The space will also create almost 30,000 square feet of commercial and community facility space and about 500 parking spaces. This is in addition to the 30,000 square feet of public waterfront space, from Division Avenue and Schaeffer Landing along the East River, that will be developed into a public walkway and a circulation path.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud that the communities I represent stood up, with my fellow Brooklyn elected officials, to demand a development that will benefit our community,\u201d Council Member Steve Levin said. \u201cThe approved proposal guarantees that this development will have 30% affordable housing, up from the 20% originally proposed. The development will also provide 144 family-sized apartments, with a 50% community preference. We are now guaranteed a development that will accommodate the needs of the greater Williamsburg community. I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this agreement a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the parties involved with the Rose Plaza project that worked together to make this a successful outcome,” said Leroy Comrie, deputy majority leader and land use chairman. “I applaud my colleague, Council Member Levin, for his tireless efforts on behalf of his community and for ensuring that this development created affordable and mixed units for his constituents. I also would like to commend the representatives of Rosa Plaza for their diligent efforts in ensuring that this project remained viable while listening to the concerns of both elected officials and residents. This approval of this project proves that open dialogue and communication can lead to the successful re-development of areas in our great city, while creating jobs, affordable housing, and opportunity for all New Yorkers.”<\/p>\n
EXTENDING HEALTH BENEFITS
\nThe Council will consider a bill requested by the Mayor based on a negotiation between the administration and the United Federation of Teachers. The Bill will change the accrual of health benefits after retirement, increasing vesting time by five years.<\/p>\n
“I am happy to have played a part in introducing a bill that was mutually agreed upon by all parties. I congratulate the UFT on their hard work, dedication, and vision in seeing this bill through,\u201d Council Member James Sanders Jr. said.<\/p>\n
HONORING THE HATE CRIMES TASK FORCE
\nIn honor of their efforts in the recent wake of hate crimes, the Council will present a proclamation to the Hate Crimes Task Force.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to thank the NYPD and the HCTF for taking swift action in response to high-profile cases in Staten Island and the Lower East Side,\u201d Speaker Christine C. Quinn said. \u201cWe would have never caught these attackers if it hadn\u2019t been for the hard work and resilience of the Hate Crimes Task Force and the NYPD\u2019s dedication. Hate violence of any kind does not have a place in our City and I\u2019m glad that the City and its police force are doing everything in its power to ensure that these crimes will not happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Also Votes on Major Affordable Housing Project in Williamsburg<\/p>\n
City Hall, April 14, 2010 \u2013 At today\u2019s Stated Council meeting, the members of the City Council will vote on legislation that will improve living and working conditions for carriage horses in New York and increase the rates carriage drivers may charge for rides. In addition, the Council will consider legislation on a new development project in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that will create housing, commercial and public waterfront space.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n