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August 2008
**For Immediate Release**
**Media Advisory** August 5, 2008 Councilmember de Blasio to Call on LICH to Reverse Decision to Cut Vital Community Services Cobble Hill—Councilmember Bill de Blasio will join local elected officials and community activists at a rally tomorrow urging Long Island College Hospital (LICH) to reverse its disturbing decisions to shut down the maternity ward and end its rape crisis intervention program. De Blasio is calling on LICH to stop taking services away from Brooklyn families and to work with the community to create a long-term plan for combating its financial problems. Without a sound financial plan for LICH's future and community involvement in this process, Brooklynites have no way of knowing how much longer LICH's doors will remain open. LICH is run by Continuum Health Partners, which also manages Beth Israel Medical Center and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in Manhattan. July 2008
**For Immediate Release**
**For Immediate Release** July 23, 2008 COUNCIL MEMBER DE BLASIO APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF TEXT AMENDMENT Carroll Gardens—Councilmember Bill de Blasio released this statement following the City Council's unanimous passage of the "narrow streets" Zoning Text amendment, which would limit the permitted heights and densities in Carroll Gardens. "I would like to thank my colleagues as well as the Borough President, Community Board 6 and the City Planning Commission for supporting the Carroll Gardens text amendment. I am proud to say that the entire community played an important role in making this a reality. This amendment is a critical piece in the larger puzzle of preserving the character of our neighborhood." De Blasio added, "While this is a positive step forward, we must continue to focus our efforts on a neighborhood wide down zoning. Limiting the permitted heights and densities of new buildings will help to match future developments to the existing low-scale context of the neighborhood." The proposal amends sections of the Zoning Resolution that regulate height and setback, density and Floor area ratio (FAR). For those sections of the Zoning Resolution, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Places, and 2nd Street, Carroll Street and President Street between Smith Street and Hoyt Street would be considered 'narrow streets'. The mapped width of the streets on the city map would be unchanged. For buildings developed pursuant to Quality Housing, the proposed amendments would limit new development to an FAR of 2.2 and a maximum height of 55 feet. For buildings developed pursuant to R6 height factor regulations, the text change increases the depth of the initial setback distance, and produces a more shallow sky exposure plane ratio. **For Immediate Release** July 18, 2008 COUNCIL MEMBER DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEW HOTLINE TO HELP STOP HOUSING DISCRIMINATION Coney Island—Councilmember Bill de Blasio, the Legal Aid Society, and Russian community leaders held a press conference today to introduce a new hotline that provides legal assistance to victims of housing discrimination. Councilmember de Blasio recently sponsored anti-discrimination legislation (Intro 61a), passed by the Council, which prohibits landlords from refusing to accept Section 8 vouchers and other lawful sources of income. "As the cost of living continues to skyrocket in New York City, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find an affordable, safe place to live," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. "Landlords who refuse tenants based on their source of income are breaking the law, and we must do everything possible to combat this blatant discrimination." Immediately after the legislation passed, Councilmember de Blasio's office was flooded with calls from tenants who were being told they could not use Section 8 vouchers or other lawful sources of income, like Social Security, to rent apartments. In response, Councilmember de Blasio teamed up with Legal Aid, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and AARSA (American Association of Russian Speaking Attorneys) to form a hotline that people can call if they believe they have been discriminated against. The hotline number is 212-577-3639. "The hotline will enable tenants to get important information about their legal rights and help them to obtain desperately needed housing," said Judith Goldiner, Supervising Attorney of the Law Reform Unit, Civil Practice, at the Legal Aid Society. "The Legal Aid Society is pleased to be providing this important service." "The Russian-American citizens of New York praise Councilmember Bill de Blasio, other elected officials, and the administration of the Legal Aid Society, as well as other legal services providers, for their tireless work in advocating for the rights of deprived New Yorkers. We at LOREO and CVEI look forward to our continued partnership to assure successful implementation of the Section 8 Hotline," said Gene Borsh, Director of Local Russian Émigré Organizations (LOREO) and Director of Civic and Voter Education Initiative (CVEI). "In today's tough economic times, finding affordable housing is becoming more difficult than ever for low and middle income New Yorkers. ACORN's research has shown that housing discrimination based on source of income is widespread in our city. This legislation and hotline are a great step forward in providing many families with the resources they need to stand up to illegally discriminating landlords," said Mrs. Pat Boone, President of New York Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). More than 300,000 New York City tenants rely on Section 8 to pay their rent – the largest number of Section 8 tenants in any city in the country. **For Immediate Release** July 2, 2008 CONGRESSWOMAN VELAZQUEZ AND CLARKE ENDORSE BILL DE BLASIO FOR BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT City Hall—Congresswomen Nydia M. Velázquez and Yvette Clarke announced their endorsement of Bill de Blasio for Brooklyn Borough President today at a press conference at City Hall. Together the Congresswomen represent a diverse constituency across a broad swathe of Brooklyn neighborhoods including Brownsville, Bushwick, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Greenpoint, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Red Hook, Sunset Park and Williamsburg. "Time and again I have joined Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Yvette Clarke in standing up for Brooklyn families. Together we have fought to make housing in Brooklyn more affordable for working families, to improve our public schools, to expand access to child care and to ensure that every family in Brooklyn has access to quality healthcare. I have deep respect and admiration for them and am honored to stand with them and receive their endorsement today," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. Representatives Velázquez and Clarke's endorsement comes three weeks after UNITE-HERE and the NY Hotel Trades Council - two unions with more than 16,000 members and retirees living in Brooklyn endorsed De Blasio’s candidacy - the first unions to make any endorsements in the Borough President's race. "Bill de Blasio has been a friend and ally for twenty years, and I am very proud to endorse him for Brooklyn Borough President today," said Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. "I have watched Bill as he fought tirelessly to provide quality education for our children and to keep our neighborhoods affordable. Bill truly understands the needs of my constituents and the needs of Brooklyn. Brooklyn needs a fighter like Bill de Blasio." Rep. Velázquez is currently serving her eighth term as Representative for New York’s 12th Congressional District. "I am extremely excited to be here today with my friend and colleague, Bill de Blasio, and to endorse him for Brooklyn Borough President," said Congresswoman Yvette Clark. "Bill and I stood together on many critical issues during our five years together in the City Council and I know that our next Borough President he will be a fighter for the needs of Brooklyn families. Bill has worked tirelessly to expand access to child care, build affordable housing and create living wage jobs for Brooklyn residents. I am so proud to stand with him and give him my full support today." In 2006, Rep. Clarke was elected to represent New York's 11th Congressional District. Prior to that she served on the New York City Council – first elected in 2001. The campaign also announced today that it has raised $177,454 this filing period and $621,891 for the cycle. Including anticipated matching funds, the campaign has raised nearly $1 million dollars. All contributions of up to $175 from New York City residents are eligible for a 6:1 match, as part of the public financing program. NOTE: PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE BY E-MAILING ANNA@BERLINROSEN.COM. **For Immediate Release** July 2, 2008 STATEMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO ON THE DEATH OF A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT AT KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER City Hall—Councilmember Bill de Blasio released the following statement on news of the conditions surrounding the death of Esmin Elizabeth Green in the psychiatric emergency room of Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn on June 19, 2008: "I am deeply troubled by the lack of attention and care that Esmin Elizabeth Green received in the hours leading up to her tragic death. It is unconscionable to leave patients waiting almost twenty-four hours without providing adequate care, and inhumane for hospital employees to ignore obvious signs that a patient is in need of immediate medial attention. "The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation's decision to reduce wait times and institute required fifteen minute checks on all patients in the Kings County psychiatric emergency room is a step in the right direction. However, we cannot wait for another tragedy before making important policy changes. "We must ensure that similarly unacceptable conditions and patient care policies are not in place at any other hospital in the City, and that hospitals have adequate staff to provide the necessary level of patient care. I am committed to working with my fellow Councilmembers and relevant City agencies to identify the extent of inadequate staffing in City hospitals, and to develop potentially life-saving solutions." June 2008
**For Immediate Release**
**For Immediate Release** June 24, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO SPEAKS OUT AGAINST MTA CUTS TO BROOKLYN City Hall—Councilmember de Blasio released the following statement on the news that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will cut projects including 19 subway station renovations. The cuts will hit Brooklyn hardest. 15 of the 19 station renovations that will be cut are in Brooklyn: 10 on the D line, 4 on the N line, and 1 (Smith and Ninth Street) on the G and F lines. "Brooklyn deserves its fair share of transit improvements. How is it that we have millions of dollars to fund major projects like the Second Avenue subway, but can’t find the money to fund Brooklyn's station renovations? The MTA is talking about raising fares again, but have failed to deliver on their promise of regular, on-time service and stations and platforms that are in decent condition. When the fares went up last March they told us we'd be getting these improvements. The bait and switch game must end. Brooklyn deserves better." The current $23.7 billion plan includes spending for new buses and train cars, and major projects like the Second Avenue subway. If the agency raises fares in 2009, it would be only the second time in the 104-year history of the subways that there would be back-to-back fare hikes. The last and only time it happened was in 1980 and 1981. In December 2007, Councilmember de Blasio proposed a Bill of Rights for all of New York City’s subway riders. The Subway Riders’ Bill of Rights include regular, on-time service provided on trains and platforms that are kept safe and clean, working public address systems in all stations, and immediate and real-time notification of service changes and advisories with accurate information on alternative means of transportation in situations where service is interrupted. **For Immediate Release** June 23, 2008 NEW YORK HOTEL WORKERS UNION & UNITE HERE ENDORSE BILL DE BLASIO FOR BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT New York—The New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, AFL-CIO (HTC), a 30,000-member union representing hotel workers throughout New York City and the UNITE HERE New York State Council announced their endorsement of Bill de Blasio for Brooklyn Borough President at a press conference at City Hall today. The UNITE HERE New York State Council is a group of six local unions affiliated with UNITE HERE, the international union representing hotel, hospitality, garment, textile and laundry workers. The unions plan an aggressive field program to communicate with their members and recruit volunteers for the campaign. "Bill de Blasio has stood with hotel workers throughout the five boroughs as we have fought to protect our jobs, standards, and ability to continue to live in this City," said Peter Ward, President of the Hotel Trades Council and Executive Vice President of UNITE HERE. "We look forward to making sure that Brooklyn has a borough president that will fight for economic development that creates quality jobs and affordable housing for middle-class New Yorkers." The unions' decision was based on Bill de Blasio's strong record as a City Councilmember from the 39th District, fighting for affordable housing, creating quality jobs, stopping out of control and irresponsible development, and improving the quality of life in every neighborhood. "I am proud to receive the support of the Hotel Trades Council and its members," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. "These workers help make this City tick. Since the 1930s they have been fighting for human rights and social justice. I am excited to have them on my team and look forward to working together to create quality jobs and opportunity for all New Yorkers." "Bill de Blasio has always been a friend to garment workers in this City," said Edgar Romney, Executive Vice President of UNITE HERE. "He understands that unions are an important way to fight poverty in this City and we know he will be a great advocate for everyone who lives in Brooklyn." "When we're negotiating a contract, we know we need to stick together and give 110% in order to win," said Donna Mccammon, a Brooklyn resident and member of the Hotel Trades Council who works at the Surrey Hotel. "When we're supporting someone for office, we know we need to do the same thing." HTC is one of NYC's largest labor unions, with 30,000 members in the metropolitan area, including over 6,000 in Brooklyn. The other unions of the UNITE HERE New York State Council have over 10,000 members and retirees in Brooklyn. They are members of the Laundry Workers and Allied Trades Joint Board, the Airport, Racetrack and Allied Workers Joint Board, the Amalgamated Northeast Joint Board, the New York Joint Board and the New York Metropolitan Area Joint Board. **For Immediate Release** June 18, 2008 COUNCIL MEMBER DE BLASIO CALLS ON LICH TO REVERSE DECISION TO TERMINATE RAPE CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAMFOR DELAY IN HOME FORECLOSURES Cobble Hill—Councilmember de Blasio released the following statement on the news that Long Island College Hospital (LICH) will end its Rape Crisis Intervention Program. "It is unacceptable that our community is losing this vital service for women who have been victims of rape. I am calling on LICH to immediately reverse this decision and reinstate the Rape Crisis Intervention program. We should be focused on providing better, additional services in our neighborhoods, not cutting them" De Blasio added, "I am deeply concerned about recent reports that LICH in Cobble Hill may have to close due to massive debt and equipment issues. It is very troubling whenever the possibility arises that a hospital may shut down. Losing a hospital in Cobble Hill would severely harm the ability of residents of our borough to access quality medical care in a timely manner." **For Immediate Release** June 12, 2008 COUNCIL MEMBER BILL DE BLASIO CALLS FOR DELAY IN HOME FORECLOSURES City Hall—Today Councilmember Bill de Blasio introduced a resolution 1458 in support of a senate bill which would mandate a one-year delay between the time entitlements to foreclosure are determined and the time when the court order actually transfers title. Under the amendment, the homeowners would still make a minimum monthly payment to the lender while the two parties renegotiate the terms of the loan. Failure to renegotiate would result in the lifting of the moratorium. On May 7, 2008, the state legislature passed the companion bill, which was sponsored by Brooklyn Assemblyman James Brennan. "Our government must protect working families" said Councilman Bill de Blasio. "New Yorkers have been taken advantage of by predatory lenders, who lured them into agreements that they are incapable of honoring. Because they got swept up in this crisis, working families across the city may end up homeless. We can't let that happen. This bill will give honest, hard working New Yorkers a chance to protect the fruits of their labor." "The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that 1.2 million properties in the United States received foreclosure notices in 2007, and that one in 33 homeowners will be in foreclosure over the next two years. 50,000 homeowners in New York City hold subprime mortgages. Brooklyn has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights had a 27.56% foreclosure rate, the highest rate in the state, nearly four times the national figure." "Owning and maintaining a home is an integral part of the American dream," Senator Frank Padavan (Queens) said. Unfortunately, the current subprime foreclosure crisis has left some homeowners facing the nightmare of losing their home. In the remaining days of the state legislative session, we are working diligently with the Assembly and the Governor to enact legislation to provide at-risk homeowners the opportunity to overcome an impending foreclosure and stabilize local housing markets. I applaud Councilman Bill de Blasio for lending his support and leadership to this important issue." "The foreclosure moratorium provides immediate relief for New York families faced with this crisis and the foreclosure of their homes" said Assemblyman James Brennan. "This bill encourages lenders and homeowners to settle cases out of court through modification, refinancing or other means to avoid the devastation of losing a home. I encourage the Senate to join in passage of this measure, and thank Councilmember de Blasio for his support." **For Immediate Release** June 12, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO ON SCARANO CHARGES City Hall—Today, Councilmember de Blasio released the following statement regarding the charges against architect Robert Scarano for making false or misleading statements on applications submitted to the Buildings Department in connection with two new buildings in Brooklyn: "It is about time that Robert Scarano is held accountable for his illegal and dangerous actions. Scarano is the worst example of an architect who continues to build in this city despite his long history of violating zoning and building codes and practicing unsafe construction." "Almost one year ago to date, I joined community activists calling on the State Education Department to revoke Scarano's license because of his shoddy track record. Once again, I am calling on the State to revoke Scarano's license. What more do we need to know about his record of lies to determine that he should not be permitted to operate in our city?" "It is critical that developers and architects around the city know that they cannot operate above the law. Nobody gets a pass on unlawful activities, especially those that endanger the lives of our citizens. Scarano's constant law breaking and falsification of documents and statements is inexcusable." Councilmember de Blasio repeatedly called for Scarano to be taken off the project at 360 Smith Street. On February 11th, developer Billy Stein announced that he removed Scarano from the project and replaced him with Armand Quadrini of KSK architects due to intense pressure from the community. **For Immediate Release** June 9, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO ENDORSES SENATOR BARACK OBAMA City Hall—Council Member Bill de Blasio released the following statement today on his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. "I am proud to announce my enthusiastic support for Barack Obama for President of the United States. Senator Obama is one of the most inspiring figures in recent political history and it is an honor to call him our Democratic nominee. I believe Barack Obama will help restore America's reputation around the world and tackle the serious issues facing our country." "I also want to commend my friend Senator Clinton for what has been a hard fought, remarkable campaign. I have worked alongside Senator Clinton and I have tremendous respect for her and what she has accomplished not just during this campaign, but over the course of her life, which she has devoted to helping others." "I look forward to working with Senator Clinton and my colleagues to help elect Senator Obama as the 44th President of the United States. I will campaign as hard as possible for Barack Obama so we can turn this country around and bring about the change we so desperately need." **For Immediate Release** June 9, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO ON THE DEATH OF KYLE SMITH City Hall—Council Member Bill de Blasio, Chair of the General Welfare Committee, released the following statement today on the death of Kyle Smith. "I am working with the police, ACS, and the District Attorney's office to obtain all of the details surrounding the death of 3 year-old Kyle Smith. This disturbing case provides an opportunity to raise awareness about reporting child abuse to the proper authorities. It is tragic that people saw and heard many potential signs of abuse and did not report them. If you feel a child may be in danger, you should notify authorities immediately by calling the State Central Register at 800-342-3720 or call 311 and ask to be connected to the hotline. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911." "I will be asking more questions in the coming days to identify where we failed Kyle Smith and how we can improve our citywide approach to the prevention of child death and abuse to stop tragedies like this one from happening again." **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** June 3, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO URGES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A UNIVERSAL RECYCLING PROCEDURE IN SCHOOLS City Hall - Councilmember Bill de Blasio joined students and teachers at a press conference today calling on the Department of Education (DOE) to implement a universal recycling procedure in all schools. Although regulations call for all 1,400 public schools to recycle, the implementation is left up to each individual school which in many cases means that recycling is falling through the cracks. NYC's schools generate around 50,000 tons of garbage annually, yet only about 10% of that is recycled. "If we were being graded on recycling in schools, we would all be sent to the back of the class," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio, member of the City Council Education Committee. "If New York City is going to be a leader on environmental issues, we cannot ignore the massive amount of waste not being recycled in our schools" De Blasio recently introduced a bill (Intro # 752) in the Council requiring the Department of Sanitation (DOS) to supply all schools with the necessary equipment for recycling and to provide for the pick up of recycled materials beginning in the Fall 2008 school year. Currently many environmentally conscious teachers who want to recycle in their classrooms rely on philanthropic grants or donations for basic materials like classroom recycling bins. "Education is more than just test-taking, and the failure of the Department of Education to provide all students with the opportunity to recycle not only wastes resources and increases global warming emissions but also sends the wrong message to our children," said Eric A. Goldstein, senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, a national environmental group that has long been active on solid waste issues in New York. "As the study we released last week demonstrates, recycling is now at the point where increased participation makes economic sense for the city taxpayers. We thank Councilmember de Blasio for pressing this issue and for introducing legislation designed to remedy the Department of Education's failing grade for refuse handling." "We need to bring a structured recycling program back into our schools," said Councilmember Michael McMahon, Chair of the Sanitation Committee. "Right now we are setting a bad example. School recycling is both environmentally and educationally the right thing to do. We will help the ecosystem, develop future recyclers and save the city money." At the press conference Councilmember de Blasio urged the DOE to delineate who in each school is responsible for which aspect of the recycling. The lack of clarity about who does what in the process is resulting in confusion and a lack of accountability. De Blasio also urged the DOE to work with DOS to ensure they have the necessary tools to actually carry it out. "Children learn best by example," said Councilmember Robert Jackson, Chair of the Education Committee. "Schools can and should be models of recycling & positive environmental practices teaching an important lesson that children will carry into adulthood." "There are few better ways to promote recycling than by having children participate at an early age," said Councilman James F. Gennaro, Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee. "Not only would more recycling in schools have an immediate impact on the amount of waste we produce as a City, but it would help create whole new generations of environmentally aware New Yorkers for years to come." Council Member John Liu, member of the City Council Education Committee, stated: "Effective recycling requires both individual habit and institutionalized facilities. Telling our kids to recycle at home while not encouraging the same at school conveys a very convoluted message to our kids. This smart legislation is the missing piece to equip schools with the necessary tools to fully implement recycling." "New York City will never be able to reach it's goal of diverting 70% of it's waste by 2015, if it doesn't target schools through education," said Micki Josi, founder of NYC School Recycling Action Committee. DOE's policy regarding recycling released on September 5, 2000 states that recycling must be implemented in all school buildings and that the development and implementation of recycling plans for each school building is the responsibility of the school principal. Recycling is essential if we are to lower our consumption of raw materials, reduce our carbon footprint, and ultimately protect and conserve our environment. All NYC schools are required to recycle by law, and it is imperative that we give our schools the tools to implement this crucial legislation.
**For Immediate Release**
April 2008
**For Immediate Release**
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** April 1, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO ON CONGESTION PRICING City Hall - Councilmember de Blasio released the following statement following his vote against the congestion pricing plan. "Over the past year this city has begun a very timely and necessary conversation about congestion and funding for transit. As a city growing towards 9 million, we are in dire need of a long-term solution, which moves people away from their dependency on cars and on to subways, buses and bikes. There needs to be a major investment in mass transit. This plan, sadly, does not ensure that we will see mass transit improvements and expansions where they are most needed - in the outer boroughs. The "lock box" attached to the congestion pricing plan only guarantees that the funding is used for transit improvements in general - not for improvements in Brooklyn or the other boroughs. "Just a few months ago my constituents were sold a fare hike with the promises of enhanced service and capital improvements. It only took the MTA a few months to break their promise. Even by the MTA's own admission, the most optimistic revenue projections will not cover full cost of their capital plan." "Brooklyn's share of the promised improvements in the MTA capital plans pale in comparison to Manhattan's. Two Manhattan projects alone - the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access make up 20% of the MTA's capital plan. When push comes to shove and the MTA has to scale back their capital plan - projects like these, where there is already funding and construction is underway - will be the priority not Brooklyn. At the end of the day, Brooklyn residents could end up footing the bill for a set of Manhattan mega projects without a single Brooklyn capital project to show for it." "There are a number of alternatives we can explore to congestion pricing. Plans like the Cross Harbor Tunnel, large-scale investment in ferries, better regulation of parking placards, and additional metered parking spots, are all worth a hard look." "At this time, I am just not prepared to ask cops, fire fighters, teachers and the working people of Brooklyn to shell out $2,000 a year for false promises that aren't going to be realized. De Blasio concluded, "I look forward to continuing this important conversation about investing in mass transit, protecting our environment and mitigating congestion." **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** April 1, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO RELEASES STATEMENT ON SWASTIKAS FOUND IN WILLIAMSBURG Brooklyn - Councilmember Bill de Blasio released the following statement following the news that for the second time this week, Swastikas have been found in Williamsburg. Shomrim are on the scene investigating five swastikas found spray-painted on several homes. "I am disgusted that hate crimes such as these have become so prevalent throughout Brooklyn. These type of anti-semitic actions have no place in Brooklyn. It's appalling that in 2008 we are still seeing this type of repulsive behavior. Intolerance whether it comes to the Jewish community or any other group is not acceptable." De Blasio added, "I will continue to work with the police to do everything possible to find out who is responsible for this and put an end to this disturbing pattern of hateful acts."
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** April 1, 2008 COUNCILMEMBER DE BLASIO CALLS ON MAYOR BLOOMBERG TO REMOVE FINGER IMAGING REQUIREMENT FOR WORKING FAMILIES City Hall - -Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Chair of the General Welfare Committee, today called on Mayor Bloomberg to immediately lift the fingerimaging requirement for working New York City food stamp applicants. This comes in the wake of news that nationally, the number of food stamps recipients is expected to reach its highest level since the program started. But in New York City, participation remains 23% below its historic peak in March of 1995. New York is just one of four states in the United States to require fingerimaging. In over 40 states, the number of food stamps recipients rose from 2006 to 2007. Although the number of recipients also increased in New York City during that time, as of February 2008, participation in the City is at 1,123,998. Most recently, participation decreased by over 5000 people from January 2008 to February 2008. "I am dismayed that the City's numbers do not reflect the national trend in food stamps enrollment," said Councilmember de Blasio. "Part of ensuring that City residents access the food they need is removing barriers to enrollment, such as the fingerimaging requirement. We have much more work to do, particularly as our economy worsens and emergency food programs can't keep up with demand." In the rest of New York State, working families need not undergo the fingerimaging requirement to apply, yet the City still maintains the requirement. As a result, tax dollars are wasted. In 2006, over 1.1 million people received food stamp benefits and only 31 cases of fraud were reported by the fingerprinting mechanism, or about .003%. The City spent $800,000 in 2006 to detect cases of fraud, which equals $25,806 per person detected. De Blasio added, "We are wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars to prevent 31 people from committing fraud. This money clearly could be better spent putting food on the tables of working families."
**For Immediate Release**
**For Immediate Release** March 26, 2008 NYC GOES GREEN, BECOMES FIRST CITY IN THE NATION WITH ITS OWN ELECTRONIC RECYCLING LAW City Hall—Council Member Bill de Blasio today announced the passage of his groundbreaking electronic recycling bill, which requires manufacturers to collect and recycle the TVs, computers, MP3 players and other electronic items they produce. This law will make New York City the first city in the nation with its own electronics recycling bill. It is estimated that residents in New York City buy 92,000 tons of electronic devices every year. The legislation, Intro 728 and 729, includes set collection standards for manufacturers that would make it one of the toughest electronics-collection laws in the U.S. These standards will help to ensure that manufacturers are held accountable for taking back a certain amount of e-waste each year. "As the lead sponsor of this bill, I'm proud to help fight the growing problem of toxic electronic waste and I'm hopeful the rest of the country will follow suit," said Councilmember de Blasio. "New York City annually disposes of more than 25,000 tons of TVs, computers and other electronic equipment, which contain mercury, lead, cadmium and other hazardous materials that contaminate our landfills, our water, and our air. It is time for manufacturers to take responsibility for the impact their products have on our environment." "With the passage of this bill, New York City joins the ranks of forward-thinking governments that are taking old TVs and computers out of our landfills and incinerators, and instead ensuring that they are taken back for safe recycling by manufacturers," said Kate Sinding, Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "In 2007 the Lower East Side Ecology Center, working closely with the lead sponsor of Intro. 104, Councilmember de Blasio, offered sixteen computer recycling collections, serving over 3,500 New Yorkers and diverting 113 tons of electronics," said Christine Datz-Romero, Executive Director, Lower East Side Ecology Center. "We are very excited to see this bill pass, which will provide more resources to create more successful collection programs. New Yorkers have demonstrated that they are ready to recycle their electronics." **For Immediate Release** March 25, 2008 PS 154 GOES GREEN, BECOMING FIRST NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL TO STOP USING STYROFOAM Brooklyn—Council Member Bill de Blasio joined students and parents today at PS 154 to launch a pilot program to replace the styrofoam lunch trays with environmentally friendly trays made from sugar cane fiber. The Department of Education (DOE) currently uses 850,000 styrofoam trays a day which adds up to over 4 million trays a week! The new trays are made from sugar cane fiber known as Bagasse, made from cane fiber pulp left after juicing. They are designed to easily break down either in a landfill or in backyard composting, within 45 days. In contrast, the trays made of styrofoam typically take 10,000 years to break down and studies suggest the possibility of chemical migration into the food our children eat each day. Brooklyn Properties and The Juice Box are the official sponsors of the pilot program. "I want to applaud the parents of my district for what they've done to make PS 154 an environmental leader," said Councilmember de Blasio, a public school parent and member of the City Council's Environmental Protection Committee. "It is deeply troubling that the DOE knowingly purchases and uses million of styrofoam trays a year despite the fact that styrofoam is extremely harmful to our environment and creates massive amounts of waste." Polystyrene, more widely known as styrofoam, is composed of Benzene, Styrene and Ethylene. Styrofoam is a licensed trademark of its manufacturer, the Dow Chemical Company.Benzene and Styrene are both listed on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s hazardous substance list. Styrofoam does not biodegrade; it crumbles into fragments that have no expiration date. Styrofoam trays, as they fall apart, prevent other trash from decomposing. Councilmember de Blasio has also introduced legislation, Intro 609, which would prohibit the use of styrofoam by City agencies and food establishments. The cities of Berkeley, California and Portland Oregon were some of the first to prohibit polystyrene food packaging. Due to public pressure, Mcdonald's stop using polysterene packaging in 1990. "P.S. 154 moves to the head of the class for seeking out more sustainable products for the school and its students. Now it's time for the DOE to do its homework and bring recycling to all the city's lunchrooms and classrooms," said Eric A. Goldstein, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council. "The parents, educators and students of PS 154 are very proud and excited to be the first NYC public grammar school to ban the use of styrofoam trays," said Gina De la Chesnaye, a public school parent and organizer of Parents Against Styrofoam in Schools (P.A.S.S.). "With the help of local businesses and private donors we are choosing to serve our children their breakfast and lunch on biodegradable "sugar cane" trays. It is the first of many steps we are undertaking to ensure a greener, more ecologically sound Brooklyn and NYC." "I am very excited about the progress we have made in taking styrofoam out of our school," said Laura Tichler, a public school parent and organizer of Parents Against Styrofoam in Schools (P.A.S.S.). “This is an effort that started with just Gina de la Chesnaye and I, which has now taken off and parents from all around the City are trying to find out how they too can replace styrofoam in their lunch rooms. STYROFOAM FACT SHEET Polystyrene, or the Dow Chemical brand name, styrofoam, is composed of Benzene, Styrene, and ethylene. Polystyrene becomes Styrofoam when it is injected with certain gases, known as blowing agents, to make it 30 times lighter than its original weight. The biggest environmental health concern associated with polystyrene is the dangeR associated with Styrene, the basic building block of polystyrene. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. 1986 EPA report on solid waste named the polystyrene manufacturing process as the 5th largest creator of hazardous waste.The National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Research identified 57 chemical byproducts released during the combustion of polystyrene foam. The process of making polystyrene pollutes the air and creates large amounts of liquid and solid waste. Studies show that toxic chemicals can leak out of these products into the food that they contain (especially when heated in a microwave). These chemicals threaten human health and reproductive systems. These products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource. Polystyrene foam is often dumped into the environment as litter. This material is notorious for breaking up into pieces that choke animals and clog their digestive systems. Initially a portion of polystyrene production was aided by the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the chemicals that break down ozone in the troposphere. When this issue came to light, polystyrene manufacturers negotiated a gradual phase-out of CFCs in the production process and no CFCs have been used since the late 1980's. Though polystyrene manufacturers claim that their products are "ozone-friendly" or free of CFCs, this is only partially true. Some polystyrene is now manufactured with HCFC-22, which, though less destructive than its chemical cousins, CFC's, is still a greenhouse gas and harmful to the ozone layer. In fact, according to a 1992 study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, HCFCs are three to five times more destructive to the ozone layer than previously believed. Source: "Polystyrene Foam Report." Earth Resource Foundation. **For Immediate Release** March 13, 2008 COUNCIL MEMBER DE BLASIO JOINS ADVOCATES, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND UNION WORKERS TO FIGHT BACK THE SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS Brooklyn—Councilmember Bill de Blasio today sponsored a forum in Brooklyn on how to fight the citywide school budget cuts. Constituents, local elected officials, Community Education Councils (CEC), PTA and other education leaders shared views on how to reverse the Department of Education (DOE) school budget cuts and preserve our children's education. Councilmembers de Blasio and Jackson introduced a resolution in the City Council yesterday calling on the Mayor to submit an Executive Budget for fiscal year 2009 that restores proposed cuts to the DOE budget, including the $324 million announced in January and any additional 3% (Estimated to be $215 million) announced in March. The resolution also demands that they immediately reverse the $180 million in recently enacted mid-year school budget cuts. "This is the Department of Education, not Halliburton. The DOE needs to examine its spending priorities, including the exorbitant costs related to no bid contracts, overly paid consultants, and excessive testing," said Councilmember Bill de Blasio. The $180 million in cuts during this current school year, approximately $100 million of which were taken directly out of school budgets, have inflicted an immediate and severe impact on schools throughout NYC, as principals had been depending on this funding for some important discretionary school programs and supplies. Due to this sudden loss of funding, our public schools are already being forced to cut back on after school programming, trim tutoring hours, cut costs on books, and decrease professional development opportunities. "Broken promises are a bad example for our children," said Councilmember Robert Jackson. "Since 1991 the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) has been fighting to win the funding our kids need to get a sound basic education, the necessary foundation for their personal wellbeing and the foundation for a successful democracy. Now the Governor and the Mayor have broken their promises by proposing budgets that cut education funding. I will keep fighting to restore and enhance education funding - along with CFE, my colleagues in the Council and all the members of the 'Keep the Promise Coalition'." Despite the fact that NYC faces touch financial times ahead, and all agencies are experiencing reductions, we must still establish spending priorities and remain committed to a quality education for our children regardless of what the economy brings. "The school budget cuts are highly unfair to principals and others employed by the Department of Education. These cuts are happening mid-year when teachers and schools have already finalized their plans, programs and schedules. Cuts will have a major impact on after school programs and necessary supplies and books. Instead of reneging on the city's promise to our schools, let’s cut back on consultants no-bid contracts and tests,” said Council Member Letitia James. "I believe I speak for all the school-age children in my district when saying they deserve a world class education," said Councilmember Mathieu Eugene. "Specifically I mean, smaller class size, highly trained teachers and administrators, up -to-date- classroom materials an a safe and clean environment in which to learn. Any proposed cuts to education will wipe out the hard fought gains we have made and derail the momentum we have built to make education a top priority in New York City." "The city and the state have both proposed to cut back their commitment to fully funding our schools," said Jaime Estades, Director of Advocacy, Alliance for Quality Education. "Councilmember de Blasio is playing a lead role in demanding full restorations of over $700 million in cuts to DOE. Simultaneously the State Assembly passed a budget bill yesterday that would require the City to restore the cuts and would fulfill the state's promise to our school children by adding almost $200 million in foundation aid to the governor's budget proposal," said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education "Before the DOE even thinks about taking any cuts from our children's schools, it needs to clean up its own wasteful spending," said Martha Foote, Time out From Testing. "For example, the DOE should end its $80 million contract with IBM for ARIS, a computer system that, according to principals, doesn't even work." Individual school budgets have already been cut to the bone. Chancellor Klein should take any additional budget cuts from the central staff at Tweed," said Councilmember David Yassky. "This is ridiculous. When we have made the promises for so long, via the state and city and we have promised to do certain things- we can’t just turn around and cut and run. It’s a no win situation for our kids and we need to do better than that," said Council Member Kendall Stewart. |