Bklyn Lawmakers On The Move Feb. 12

Stringer Visits Starrett City To Address Resident Concerns

City Comptroller Scott Stringer headlined a Starrett City Town Hall Meeting last night that drew about 100 people including many tenants activists and community leaders.

Also known as Spring Creek Gardens, the 46-building complex in East New York and close to Canarsie is said to be the largest federally subsidized housing complex with nearly 15,000 residents that mixes in fairly equal parts African- and Caribbean-Americans, Russian speaking immigrants and American Jews.

Most of the questions Stringer fielded were about affordable housing, problems with sporadic bus service and complaints about new rules for the federally funded Verizon Lifeline program that caught many low-income seniors off guard.

Stringer sent a letter to Verizon yesterday requesting a grace period for people who learned about the new applications for Lifeline program only after receiving a new phone bill with significantly higher charges. He also talked about the importance of the subsidized Mitchell Lama program and ways to preserve affordable housing in New York City.

Also in attendance to help residents with concerns was Ari Kagan, who works for Stringer, and is the 45th Assembly Democratic District leader.

Golden Bill To Delay E-Prescriptions Sent To Assembly

Bay Ridge Senator Marty Golden‘s bill to delay for one year the requirement that all prescribers use electronic prescriptions passed the senate this week and moved to the assembly for a vote.

Currently the measure calling for certain controlled substance was to go into effect in March of this year. However, red tape between the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency in certifying vendors that are authorized to transmit electronic prescriptions have left them unprepared to move to the new system, causing Golden to co-sponsor the bill, which proposes the new law goes into effect March 27, 2016.

“Without a doubt, New York State must convert to a system that requires e-prescribing of medications for all residents. However, in light of the concerns had by the medical professionals, I applaud my colleagues in the State Senate for their action today,” said Golden.

“This legislation, if approved by the Assembly, will allow more time so the transition is successful. I think that many would agree with my colleagues and I that the implementation of such a major change within the field of medicine must be done right.”

James Stands in Solidarity With Muslim-American Community Following North Carolina Deaths

Public Advocate and former Fort Greene City Councilwoman Letitia James said yesterday that she grieves with the city’s growing Muslim-American community following the North Carolina shooting deaths of three Muslim-Americans.

The three victims – identified as Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21; her husband, Mr. Barakat, 23; and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 — were all reported to be model University of North Carolina students who did volunteer work in the community and came from well-educated, successful local families.

Police are investigating motives behind the triple homicide as a dispute over parking, but have not ruled out it being a hate crime. Ripley Rand, the U.S. Attorney in the region told reporters the shooting appeared to have been “an isolated incident” and “not part of a targeted campaign against Muslims.”

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of the three promising, young lives in Chapel Hill. I stand in solidarity with the Muslim American community in New York and across the country, who I know are grieving today. As we continue to learn the facts about this devastating shooting, we must remain united. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families,” said James.