Eugene Demands Restored Funding For Summer Kids Programs
Flatbush City Councilman Mathieu Eugene, yesterday, rallied with the Campaign for Children, dozens of youth advocates, and numerous colleagues on the steps of City Hall for funding that would save summer programs for tens of thousands of children, including many underprivileged children who rely on the programs for free lunches.
Currently, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s executive budget cuts summer program funding for hundreds of after-school locations. At least 17,000 children and possibly more than 34,000 children are at risk of losing their summer program slots if the appropriate funding cannot be obtained, said Eugene.
Eugene said to make matters worse, providers who were told in March that their summer programs were funded just started receiving cancellation calls, causing uncertainty for thousands of parents whose children were already enrolled in programs.
Eugene, who chairs the Youth Services Committee is calling on the Administration to restore the $27.7 million dollars that was in the Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) budget for School’s Out New York City (SONYC) summer afterschool programming for middle school students.
“We all know what is going on in our community. Every time that we turn on the TV, we see what is happening in terms of violence—gun violence—and negativity. But those young people, they want—they are crying—to do something positive. They want a summer camp. They want a summer program. We as a city, we as elected officials, we as a society, as government, we have a moral obligation to do exactly what they are crying for,” said Eugene.
Today’s Public Schedule For Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna will unveil the USS Monitor Trail Marker at 10:30 a.m., at the Greenpoint Monitor Museum, 56 Quay Street, Greenpoint.
The USS Monitor was commissioned during the Civil War on February 25, 1862 by the Union Navy and built at Continental Iron Works in Greenpoint.
In the evening Adams will host the Asian-Pacific Heritage Month Celebration. Following a ceremony honoring community leaders in the courtroom, there will be performances of Burmese, Chinese, Korean, and Pakistani culture, including dance, poetry and art, in the rotunda.
The event is slated for 6 p.m., at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street.
Golden Senior Property Tax Exemption Bill Passes Senate
Bay Ridge State Sen. Marty Golden’s bill that would increase the maximum income eligibility levels for real property tax exemptions for seniors for the first time since 1994 passed the senate yesterday.
“As property taxes continue to burden the personal budgets of our seniors, we have advanced legislation to provide financial relief. No one who has played a role in shaping our great state and nation should have to choose between life’s necessities and paying bills. It is the right thing to increase the eligibility requirements so
that more people can see their property tax bill decrease,” said Golden.
Under current law, local governments have the option to provide a partial real property tax exemption to senior citizens, who are at least 65 years of age, based upon their income. Starting in 2017, this bill would give local governments the option to gradually increase the income requirements for the senior citizens receiving the tax exemption. This partial exemption can range from five percent of the property’s assessed value to 45 percent of the property’s assessed value and uses a sliding
scale based on the property owner’s income to determine the exemption amount.
Ortiz Gives Voice to MTA Riders with Disabilities
Sunset Park Assemblyman and Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix Ortiz has introduced legislation to improve the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA’s) ability to accommodate riders with disabilities.
The bill establishes a new MTA Riders’ Council for People with Disabilities to study and investigate all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the MTA and its subsidiaries, monitor its performance, and make recommendations to improve its operation.
The advisory council will consist of transit riders with disabilities who can provide personal insights on the difficulties navigating the MTA. Members of the council would be non-voting participants of the MTA board.
Ortiz said New York City and its commuter rails are far behind other major cities in accommodating the needs of riders with disabilities. As of August 2012, only 97 out of 468 MTA passenger stations were compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules for people in wheelchairs. Elevator and escalator maintenance problems are rampant and little is done to alert riders who depend on these facilities about breakdowns and alternative routes. Additionally, the hard-of-hearing are often unable to understand train announcements even though technology exists to improve this.
“The establishment of this new riders’ council will give a stronger voice to those transit riders with disabilities and correct their lack of representation on the board of the MTA. Public transportation is often the only means by which our residents with disabilities can get around the city; therefore, they must be included at the table when the MTA makes decisions about improving its operations,” said Ortiz.
