Queens, NY \u2013 Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Council Member Leroy Comrie met with local residents at the Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center in Jamaica to discuss the impact the FY 2013 budget will have on the seniors programs and other City services throughout Southeast Queens.<\/p>\n
This meeting was one of several Southeast visits the Speaker made today, including a meeting with Community Board 13 Members and Civic and Community Leaders in Queens Village where she discussed, how under her leadership, the Council has passed a series of measures providing tax relief to small businesses, including an increase in the Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) fixed credit on incomes up to $100,000, providing $28 million in small business tax relief, and an increase in the personal income tax credit for UBT taxes paid, saving taxpayers $35 million. Additionally, Speaker Quinn announced this year\u2019s budget includes $60,000 in Council funding to aid M\/WBE\u2019s (Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises) throughout Queens and that the Council restored Industrial Business Zone funding for the Business Outreach Center Network and the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation.<\/p>\n
to and she noted a number of victories for the borough in the city\u2019s recently passed budget. Due to the efforts of the City Council, a number of services will remain available to Queens residents, including senior centers, child care, fire companies, parks, libraries, and various cultural institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s budget exemplifies the Council\u2019s commitment to the city\u2019s aging population, children, and the well-being of our city\u2019s working class families a priority,\u201d said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cWhether it\u2019s through restorations to senior services, parks, cultural institutions, childcare or ensuring our fire companies remain open, the Council has ensured that the residents of Queens will continue to receive these vital services.\u201d<\/p>\n
SENIOR SERVICES<\/p>\n
Social Adult Day Care \u2013 The Council\u2019s efforts have ensured that all Queens senior centers remain open and $150,000 in Council funding went to social adult day care programs throughout the borough.<\/p>\n
CHILDCARE<\/p>\n
Out-of-School Time (OST) \u2013 The City Council more than doubled the number of slots that were awarded in Queens under the DYCD RFP from 5,840 slots to 12,196 \u2013 over 1,300 more than in FY 2012.<\/p>\n
Early Learn \u2013 Council funds led to the restoration of more than 1,200 childcare slots at 14 centers in Queens as well as an additional 600 Family Day Care slots.<\/p>\n
In Council Member Comrie\u2019s district, the following six centers restored slots due to Council funding:
\n\u2022 Myrtle Jarmon Early Childhood Education Center
\n\u2022 Afro-American Parents DCC 3
\n\u2022 Montessori Progressive Learning Center
\n\u2022 Quick Start Head Start DCC
\n\u2022 Committee for Early Childhood Development
\n\u2022 Charles R Drew Early Learning Center 1<\/p>\n
FIRE COMPANIES<\/p>\n
Four Queens fire companies remain open thanks to the City Council\u2019s efforts:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Engine 306 in Bayside
\n\u2022 Ladder 128 in Long Island City
\n\u2022 Engine 294 Richmond Hill
\n\u2022 Engine 328 in Rockaway<\/p>\n
PARKS<\/p>\n
Staffing and Maintenance \u2013 The Council\u2019s funding adds more than 150 additional workers to staff Queens\u2019 parks and $2 million for citywide tree pruning to ensure the city\u2019s parks are safe.<\/p>\n
Pools \u2013Council funding saved Fort Totten pool from closure and restored funding to keep public swimming pools like Astoria, Fisher, Flushing Meadow, and Liberty open for the full season.<\/p>\n
LIBRARIES<\/p>\n
The Council\u2019s efforts guarantee that Queens Borough Public Library branches will maintain at least 5-day service at every one of their locations.<\/p>\n
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS<\/p>\n
The Council\u2019s efforts led to major funding restorations for City cultural institutions such as the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Town Hall, Queens Museum of Art, Queens Botanical Garden, P.S. 1, and the Museum of the Moving Image.
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Queens, NY \u2013 Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Council Member Leroy Comrie met with local residents at the Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center in Jamaica to discuss the impact the FY 2013 budget will have on the seniors programs and other City services throughout Southeast Queens.<\/p>\n
This meeting was one of several Southeast visits the Speaker made today, including a meeting with Community Board 13 Members and Civic and Community Leaders in Queens Village where she discussed, how under her leadership, the Council has passed a series of measures providing tax relief to small businesses, including an increase in the Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) fixed credit on incomes up to $100,000, providing $28 million in small business tax relief, and an increase in the personal income tax credit for UBT taxes paid, saving taxpayers $35 million.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n