Gentile Hosts “Ragamuffin Way” Street Co-Naming
City Council Member Gentile (Bay Ridge), other elected officials and the Ragamuffin Day Parade Committee tomorrow will co-name part of the 3rd Avenue strip “Ragamuffin Way” in honor of the Bay Ridge institution, the Ragamuffin Parade, which enters its 50th year this fall.
Celebrated as the only parade in New York City that focuses on children marching for miles with smiles dressed in costume, the first Ragamuffin Parade spawned in 1966.
“I am pleased to have introduced the legislation in the City Council to co-name this street and have this bill signed into law by the Mayor for a true Bay Ridge institution,” Gentile said.
The co-naming is set for 11 a.m., tomorrow, on the corner of 74th Street and 3rd Avenue. The Ragamuffin Parade continues to soar in popularity a half-century later and is set for 1 p.m., Saturday, October 1, (rain or shine).
Williams, Lander Bike Access Bill Passes City Council
The City Council yesterday passed Council Member Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) and Council Member Brad Lander‘s (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) Bike Access Bill. (Int. 795-A) a part of a package of bills that improves bike access to commercial and residential buildings.
Int. 795-A requires owners of office buildings to allow bicycles to be brought into their buildings and to use freight elevators in the same manner as ordinary freight. In the event a freight elevator is not operational, the bill calls for owners to allow bicycles be brought onto one or more designated passenger elevators.
The bill would also allow future requesting tenants to receive access under the same bicycle access plan as previous tenants.
“Making it easier for people to bike to work has far-reaching effects on people’s health and the overall quality of the City. We can’t encourage people to bike more if there are simple barriers that prevent it,” said Williams. “Experts agree commuting by way of a bicycle will decrease the City’s carbon footprint, while improving bikers’ overall health. “
According to a report from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, biking as a mode of transportation can cut a City’s emissions by 11 percent. In April, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a commitment to reducing the City’s greenhouse emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
“I am proud to support these bills, which will help ensure that New Yorkers can more easily bring bikes in and out of our workplaces and homes,” said Lander. “These bills will help encourage bicycle commuting and improve bike access across the entire City.”
The other two bills in the package include Int. 405, which requires that office buildings, in addition to providing bicycle access in freight elevators, provide foldable bicycle access in passenger elevators; and Int. 695, which requires owners of dominant occupancy or “class R-2 occupancies” to allow tenants or subtenants to use passenger elevators to transport their bicycles to and from their apartments.
Nadler Bill Proposal Helps Job Seekers
Congress Jerrold Nadler (Brooklyn, Manhattan), after announcing during the August recess that he would introduce a bill to prohibit employers from asking prospective or current employees for their salary history before making a job or salary offer, has introduced the Pay Equity for All Act of 2016 (H.R. 6030).
The bill seeks to eliminate the wage gap that women and people of color often encounter. The bill addresses the fact that many employers set wages based on an applicant’s previous salary, making workers from historically disadvantaged groups often starting out behind their white male counterparts in salary negotiations and never catching up. Even though many employers may not intend to discriminate on the basis of gender, race, or ethnicity, asking for prior salary information before offering an applicant a job can have a discriminatory effect in the workplace that begins or reinforces the wage gap.
Walker Primary Victory Statement
Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (Brownsville) issued the following statement after winning the 55th State Assembly District Democratic Primary on Tuesday against City Councilwoman Darlene Mealy:
“I am grateful to the voters of the 55th Assembly District who re-elected me to represent them in Albany. Their overwhelming mandate is proof that my constituents want leadership that works.
“During my first term in office we have launched Solarize Brownsville, brought $700 million for a new and improved health care delivery system, fought for truly affordable housing, and increased the minimum wage to $15.
“This is only the beginning. In partnership with the residents of the 55th AD, I pledge to continue improving the quality of life for everyone in the district.”
Wright Primary Victory Statement
Tremaine Wright (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) issued the following statement after winning the 56th Assembly District Democratic Primary on Tuesday:
“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who dedicated time, energy, talent, and funds to this effort. You all built a movement and I am excited to continue to work with you. I must extend a special word of thanks to my church family, sorority, block association, Vanguard Independent Democratic Association family, BGR crew, my immediate and extended family.
“For the last 14 years our community has been served by Assemblywoman Annette M. Robinson. She has worked tirelessly to secure resources for our community. I am thankful for her service and her willingness to offer guidance and support to me along with a host of younger people looking to serve their communities.
“I am honored and humbled. I pray that our community continues to work together to protect and improve Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant. I am looking forward to representing us in Albany!”
