Colton, Tong Hold Ceremony To Award Distinguished Women
Assemblyman William Colton (Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) and District Leader Nancy Tong held their annual ceremony to honor distinguished women in the community this past Sunday, honoring 49 women and drawing a crowd of over 200 friends, family, and supporters of the honorees.
“Every year we have done this wonderful ceremony, I have seen numerous returning, familiar faces and many new honorees as well. This is a promising sign for me because it displays the continued impact and expansion of women who have a benefit to our community. It is a pleasure for me to honor these women because it sets a great example and they serve as role models for the next generation, which is our future,” said Colton.
District Leader Nancy Tong was very grateful that she could be among so many other distinguished women and was proud of her son for being in attendance to support her. She stated, “When I first became District Leader and had endless long nights going to events, I told my son Albert to order dinner. I was surprised time and time again when I would get home and he had cooked my favorite dish! I am ever grateful for the support that my husband and son always provide me with. It was an honor to be recognized today and I would like to congratulate all the other women being acknowledged today. With all their contribution and dedication to our community, we can keep it growing and better than ever.”
Assemblywoman Pam Harris (Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) in receiving a distinguished woman award, emphasized the connection felt between women in their experiences and how they inspire each other to meet challenges to better themselves and the community.
Mosley Lauds Assembly Budget
Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant) announced yesterday he helped pass the Assembly’s 2016-17 state budget proposal, which includes significant funding for affordable housing, homeless services and tenant protection programs.
“We’re facing an affordable housing crisis here in New York, and more needs to be done to protect our families and prevent them from losing their homes,” Mosley said. “That’s why the Assembly budget proposal includes funding that will help ensure more New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable housing.”
The proposal includes a landmark $2.5 billion, five-year housing plan to help homeowners, renters and the homeless, including:
- $500 million for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to make much-needed repairs;
- $500 million to construct 6,000 new supportive housing units statewide and an additional $30 million for additional scatter site supportive housing;
- $250 million for the repair and revitalization of Mitchell-Lama properties;
- $150 million for a senior housing program;
- $125 million for a community and housing stabilization program, including vital foreclosure prevention programs;
- $125 million for a rent voucher program;
- $125 million to expand the low-income housing trust fund; and
- $50 million for the public housing modernization program.
The Assembly budget also provides $22.7 million for Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs, $4.5 million above the governor’s proposal, to provide counseling for low- and moderate-income tenants and homebuyers and rehabilitate new and existing housing.
In addition, $100 million would be provided over the course of five years to support the development of housing opportunities that meet the specialized needs of individuals with disabilities.
To combat homelessness and ensure those affected by it have a safe place to reside, the Assembly proposal provides $50 million for emergency shelters to make capital repairs and improve security in facilities serving homeless individuals throughout the state, as well as $44 million to assist families and victims of domestic violence facing eviction or homelessness.
Further protecting the millions of renters living in our state, the Assembly budget proposal provides $5.8 million for the Tenant Protection Unit and restores and increases funding for the NYCHA Tenant Watch Program to $1 million. Also under the Assembly plan, an additional $30 million would be allocated for the construction and improvement of supportive housing units in upstate New York.
The Assembly also provides an additional $20 million in housing rental subsidies and support for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, for a total of $50 million.
“Together, these initiatives will ensure our most vulnerable are protected and our families can stay together by helping more New Yorkers find and maintain safe housing,” Assemblyman Mosley said. “It’s our citizens that make our state great, and I’ll always fight to give them every chance for the success and stability they deserve.”
Ortiz Asks Mayor To Keep NY Water Taxi Service In Red Hook
Red Hook And Sunset Park Assembly Member and Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz yesterday fired off a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio asking the that the city keep NY Water Taxi (NYWT) service in Red Hook.
Last week, the company announced it would shut down all operations if the New York City ferry service was awarded to another company. According to several news outlets the City appears to be closing in on a contract with the San Francisco-based Hornblower Company for this service, this outcome seems likely.
“This company is part of the fabric of our community. Red Hook’s identity has always been tied to the water, and NYWT is a fundamental part of that connection. From captains to crew and throughout the company, their employees and families live in my district and are part of my community. The loss of their jobs would be a terrible blow,” said Ortiz in the letter.
He added: “The shame of it all is that this outcome is completely preventable. The inclusion of New York Water Taxi in the Citywide Ferry Service is a no-brainer. This is a local business with the existing capacity, and has the experience.”
Bichotte Lauds Assembly Budget For Minimum Wage Increase, Paid Family Leave
Flatbush Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte announced her support for the New York Assembly’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2016-2017, most notably the measures aimed to enhance New York’s quality of life for hard working middle-class families.
Under the proposed budget, these families would benefit from a minimum wage increase to $15 an hour and 12 weeks of paid family leave. The current proposal also lowers taxes for families most at risk while asking New York’s wealthiest to pay their fair share (E.1047).
“The Assembly budget proposal includes a number of measures – most notably a $15 minimum wage and 12 weeks of paid family leave – to help working and middle-class families,” said Bichotte. “In order to fund our schools and repair our neglected infrastructure, we’re asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share so all of New York’s families can have a better future.”
Although Bichotte fought for a more aggressive timeline, under the assembly proposal, the minimum wage will gradually increase over several years with a expedited implementation in downstate counties where the cost of living is higher. For families living in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, the wage increase will be fully implemented by Dec. 31, 2018. Other counties will see a more gradual increase with the minimum wage reaching $15 per hour on Dec. 31, 2021. Notwithstanding implementation timelines and deadlines, once the $15-an-hour mark is reached, the minimum wage will be catching up to inflation’s indexation.
Under the assembly’s paid family leave proposal, private employers would offer a paid leave benefit financed by a maximum 45-cent contribution per week by employees. This small contribution would afford workers a maximum of 12 weeks of paid family leave at two-thirds of the employee’s salary. The contribution is contingent on it not exceeding 67 percent of the State’s average weekly wage and would provide employment security during an absence from work.
