Hikind Says Fix Ocean Parkway Potholes
Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind says he’s a great fan of the NYC Department of Transportation but wonders how they could have skipped Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway when making post-winter repairs.
“It’s like a mine field,” said Hikind whose office has been receiving complaints from constituents about the seriously dangerous conditions on Ocean Parkway in Midwood. “We’re looking at a potentially disastrous situation out there. These potholes are causing drivers to suddenly move over into adjoining lanes to avoid the potholes, creating the likelihood of accidents.
“It’s already been several weeks since the snow ended and Ocean Parkway is a major thoroughfare, so I urge the DOT to continue their good work and take care of Ocean Parkway expeditiously. We appreciate all of the DOT’s hard work after a particularly tough winter, but we need to get this taken care of.”
Hikind’s staff members visited the areas where the potholes were reported by constituents and photographed them to make it easier for the DOT to immediately locate the most dangerous spots.
Clarke Hails Federal Bipartisan Legislation
Flatbush Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, yesterday, hailed the Senate’s passage of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, which protects Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to doctors and extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program that allows eight million children to access comprehensive health care.
This bill would also transition Medicare to a new reimbursement system that would incentivize quality and efficiency in the delivery of health care. A version of the bill was passed by a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in March, with Congresswoman Clarke voting “yes.”
“For nearly two decades, individuals enrolled in Medicare and their doctors were threatened with drastic decreases in reimbursements for medical services. Had such a reduction actually occurred, our entire system of health care could not have continued to function. Enacting a temporary ‘doc fix’ each year only increased uncertainty for families and their doctors. This act provides certainty to the Americans enrolled in Medicare as well as to people who will soon become eligible for Medicare,” said Clarke. “I am also proud to have worked to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which offers families and children access to children’s health care services – and includes dental care and vision care – that supports their development and the quality of their health.”
President Obama has indicated he will sign both measures.
Squadron Disappointed With State Board of Elections
- State Sen. Daniel Squadron
Northern Brooklyn State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Manhattan Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh released a statement of strong disappointment regarding the New York State Board of Elections’ refusal to close the “LLC loophole” at their meeting yesterday.
“It’s disappointing that the Board of Elections missed this opportunity to close our state’s gaping LLC loophole — which governs the way limited liability companies participate in the political process — while the issue was on their agenda. The BOE had the chance today to promptly make this fix by rescinding their misguided 1996 opinion to treat LLCs as individuals — as advocated by two of the Commissioners — by ruling that LLCs should be treated as corporations or partnerships, and by clarifying that a person may not use multiple LLCs to evade contribution limits.
“The BOE instead chose to continue allowing unlimited sums of anonymous dollars to pervert the entire process. The board needs to explain why LLCs should not be subject to similar limits as those applied to corporations or partnerships,” the lawmakers said.
Squadron and Kavanagh noted the board should have responded substantively to their letters on the issue as well as letters from the Attorney General, and the Brennan Center. The BOE should have also taken into consideration that editorial boards across the state support this needed change, they said.
:We sponsor bills that would make this fix legislatively, and we will continue to push this legislation forward. The Governor has pledged his support to close the LLC loophole, either legislatively or administratively,” the added.
Colton Honors Local Women Of Distinction
- Assemblyman Bill Colton
Southwest Brooklyn Assemblyman William Colton, on Sunday, will hold an awards ceremony, called the “Women of Distinction Awards” to honor women of the local community in southwest Brooklyn. These women will be given a New York State Assembly “Woman of Distinction” award citation in recognition of their efforts to improve the community.
Cymbrowitz To Hold Healthcare Proxy Day
- Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz
Sheepshead Bay Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, Chairman of the Aging Committee, will host a Health Care Proxy Day in his district office where staff will assist participants in filling out a health care proxy form designating someone to make your medical decisions if you are no longer able to do so.
The National Institute on Aging estimates that more than one out of four older Americans face questions about medical treatment near the end of life but are not capable of making those decisions.
Currently, only about a third of all Americans have a health care proxy or other advance directive in place, leading Cymbrowitz to say, “The other two thirds leave themselves open for ethical problems and families who are faced with making painful decisions during times of terrible stress and hardship,” he said.
According to the NYS Department of Health, you may give the person you select as your health care proxy as little or as much authority as you want. This form can also be used to document your wishes or instructions with regard to organ and/or tissue donation. Attorney Irina Olevsky will be on hand to answer questions that arise.
Appointments for Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ Health Care Proxy Day are required. Please call (718) 743-4078 for an appointment.
The Health Proxy Day is slated for between 3-5 p.m., Thursday, May 7, from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., at 1800 Sheephead Bay Road (between Emmons Avenue and Shore Parkway).
Participatory Budget Clarification
In yesterday’s Lawmakers on the Move column, there was an item about City Councilman Brad Lander possibly funding a pedestrian plaza in Kensington.
Lander’s office reminded Kings County Politics that funding for this project would come through the participatory budget process, which Lander was instrumental in instituting and now is also utilized by several Brooklyn City Council members.
The participatory budgeting process allows constituents to choose how city discretionary money is spent within a district.
To learn about the participatory budget process please visit m.pbnyc.org
