Clarke Defends Affordable Care Act As Open Enrollment Season Starts
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (Crown Heights, Flatbush, Sheepshead Bay) yesterday released the following statement announcing the start of open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplaces for 2017.
Her statement comes as according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the percentage of Americans without health insurance has decreased from 15.7% in 2010 – when the Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed in law – to 8.6% today.
“As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more than twenty million previously uninsured Americans have access to comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage. Under the ACA, millions of Americans will again have excellent choices in the marketplaces, with about eighty-five percent of those in the marketplaces receiving tax credits that will protect them from rate increases,” said Clarke.
“In addition, the ACA will continue to prevent discrimination in health insurance rates against women and people with pre-existing conditions, allow young adults to keep the health insurance their parents have until the age of twenty-six, and disallow annual and lifetime limits on coverage. I encourage anyone in New York State who needs health insurance to visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov to learn more about the options that are available.”
Lander Wants Elevator At 7th Avenue Stop
City Council Member Brad Lander (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) today will launch a campaign for Elevator at 7th Ave F/G Station in Park Slope.
Democratic nominee for the 44th Assembly District Robert Carroll along with senior advocates will join Lander in announcing the campaign. This includes Good Neighbors of Park Slope, Park Slope Center for Successful Aging and Age Friendly Park Slope.
The campaign launch is slated for 10 a.m., today, Nov. 2 at the 7th Avenue F/G Subway Stop (7th Ave and 9th Street entrance, Park Slope).
De Blasio Announces Creation Of Online Bail Payment
Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice yesterday announced the creation of an online bail payment system that will help avoid unnecessary jail time by making it easier to post bail.
The system – developed as part of the Bail Lab – will allow the friends and family of those incarcerated on cash bail to pay bail online, by phone or by kiosk rather than make the costly and time-consuming trip to a Department of Correction facility. This service will be available system-wide by Spring 2017.
“Nobody with the ability to pay bail should sit in jail just because the bail process is an inconvenience,” said de Blasio. “Family members and friends will be able to avoid long lines and traveling during business hours by paying bail online, by phone, or at a kiosk in the courthouse – finally bringing the bail payment process into the 21st century.”
he ability to pay bail online and by phone is the latest step the City has taken to make bail payment easier and faster. Additional recent changes include:
- Installing ATMs in every courthouse, to ensure that friends and families have easy access to cash at all hours.
- Providing friends and family with a first-of-its-kind complete guide to the bail system to help navigate a complex system and ensure that a loved one does not spend unnecessary time behind bars.
- Working with the City Council on legislation to eliminate fees associated with paying bail.
The initiative drew support from several of Brooklyn’s elected officials.
“Online bail payment is a smart, sensible reform by the de Blasio administration. I appreciate this continued focus on reducing unnecessary jail time while further modernizing our criminal justice system,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams .
“Bail reform has always been a crucial component of fixing a justice system that fails to deliver justice far too many New Yorkers,” said State Senator Daniel Squadron (Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan). “As we continue working towards a more just justice system, I look forward to working with the City on speedy trial reform and other critical reforms, and thank the City, Department of Corrections, and my colleagues in government.”
James Calls For Chief Diversity Officer For DOE
Public Advocate Letitia James today will call on the City’s Department of Education to create a Chief Diversity Officer.
James move to create the new position comes as the City’s public school system is one of the most segregated school systems in the country. The Chief Diversity Officer will implement and oversee efforts to reduce segregation in New York City’s public schools.
The announcement is slated for 12:30 p.m., today, Nov. 2 in front of the Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan.
Persaud Announces Grants Available For Nabe Groups
State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (East New York, Canarsie, Brownsville, Mill Basin) is alerting constituents that the Citizens Committee for New York City and the NYC Service is inviting neighborhood group to apply for a Love Your Block Grant.
Grants of up to $1,000 are awarded for block beautification projects that utilize City services from the NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation, NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection, NYC Dept. of Transportation, and the Dept. of Sanitation of NYC.
The grant deadline is November 7, 2016 and the online application link and .doc/pdf formatted forms can be found and downloaded at http://www.citizensnyc.org/
Assemblywoman Williams Lauds Local Constituent
Assemblywoman Jaime Williams (Canarsie, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) recently honored constituent John F. Koptya in the state capital as part of the New York Association for Continuing/ Community Education 33rd Annual Student of the Year Award.
At this ceremony, Williams presented Koptya the award for his outstanding success and devotion to education and community service. For over a period of 30 years and an honorable career in the United States Marine Corp and other public service, Koptya reentered the classroom and succeeded once again.
Koptya’s expected graduation in 2018 is highly anticipated and Williams hopes to be able to be there to once again congratulation him on his success.
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP Obtain $12.085 Million Settlement (Sponsored)
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin attorney Kathleen Kettles recently obtained a court order approving the settlement of $12,085,000.
This is a case involving the failure to timely deliver an infant to a first-time mother and resulting in severe brain damage to the child who is now six-years-old. This child cannot speak, walk or talk and must be tube fed. Her parents are completely devoted, but their day to day existence is filled with dealing doctor’s appointments, emergency visits, outside therapies and managing or providing her child’s need for extensive nursing services.
“I am truly in awe of this family and despite the heartache of having a child this disabled, it has been a joy to work for them. This settlement will lessen the burden on this incredible family,” said Kettles, who heads the firm’s Medical Malpractice team. Though a practicing attorney for almost 28 years, she was an RN for ten years prior to going to law school.
During the litigation, Kathy worked extensively with well known, respected experts in the fields of obstetrics, maternal fetal medicine, neonatology, pediatric neurology, pediatric neuroradiology and a life care planner to prepare the case for trial. It is this attention to detail which results in an extremely favorable settlement for her clients.
“When I was a nurse, I often felt powerless to really help my patients, but as a nurse attorney, I get to help secure a child’s future and there is no greater feeling of satisfaction,” she said.
The law firm of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP is one of the city’s top accident and medical malpractice firms in the city and is there to represent you. To get a free consultation click Here.
