Brooklyn Lawmakers On The Move Nov. 16, 2016

Cymbrowitz Condemns Commission For Not Giving State Lawmakers Raises

Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach) took strong umbrage to yesterday’s State Commission on Legislative, Judicial and Executive Compensation’s decision to not give state legislators a raise.

Both assembly members and state senators currently receive $79,500 in base pay and have not seen a raise since 1999. Several good government groups say that a pay raise coupled with limits to outside income is the recipe for badly needed ethics reform in Albany.

But the five-person commission, which Gov. Cuomo dominated with three appointees, refused to recommend a raise.

“The Commission, following Governor Cuomo’s orders, willfully ignored its own mandate in making legislative action a condition of pay raises, and this was wrong. During the last Legislative session, the Assembly demonstrated its commitment to ethics reform and the need to impose limits on outside income. The Commission’s failure to consider solely economic factors in its decision was both a violation of trust and an insult to the considerable gains we have made in increasing the transparency of our government,” said Cymbrowitz.

By contrast, City Council members, with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s support voted themselves (and all city elected officials)  a substantial pay bump. The Council salary rose to $148,500 from a base of $112,500.

Cuomo Launches To Report Bias & Discrimination Incidents

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday launched a toll-free hotline to report incidents of bias and discrimination across the state.

The hotline will bolster the state’s efforts to protect New Yorkers and allow those who are the victim of prejudice to file a complaint with the Division of Human Rights.

The announcement follows an uptick in recent reports of discrimination, bias-motivated threats, harassment and violence during and following the recent contentious election of Donald Trump.

Cuomo also announced multi-agency investigations into alleged hate crimes across New York. He is also sending a letter to the State Education Department requesting schools hold trainings to combat intolerance and safeguard New York’s students.

“New York serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity for all, and we will continue to stand up to those who seek to spread the politics of division, fear and hate,” Cuomo said. “This state celebrates our differences because we know that it is the rich fabric of cultures and customs that makes this one of the greatest, most diverse places in the world. We will continue to work with our local partners to investigate all incidents of reported bias, and ensure that New Yorkers feel safe and protected. Any acts of discrimination or intimidation will be met with the full force of the law.”

New Yorkers who have experienced bias or discrimination are encouraged to call DHR’s toll-free hotline at (888) 392-3644 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. If you want to report a crime or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.

Velazquez, Schumer Get City Exemption For Section 8 Housing

U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (Northern & Central Brooklyn) and Senator Charles E. Schumer announced yesterday that, after their push earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be exempting New York City from the agency’s new Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAMFR) rule for Section 8 voucher holders.

Section 8 is a federally subsidized rent voucher given to low-income residents that adjusts their rent to a third of their income.

Under HUD’s original proposal, New York City housing experts estimated that rental assistance payments under the Section 8 program would decrease for more than 55,000 voucher holders across New York City.  Under HUD’s revision of the rule, metropolitan areas with a vacancy rate of 4 percent or lower will be exempted, including New York City which has a vacancy rate of 3.45 percent.

“This plan was a terrible fit for New York City all along and I am pleased we worked with the Secretary to find a solution,” Velázquez said. “More New Yorkers are going to be able to stay in their homes because of this exemption and that’s no small victory for working families in our City.”

“There’s no place like home, and today’s win will keep it that way for thousands of New Yorkers,” said Schumer. “Under HUD’s revised rule, thousands of working families can now breathe a sigh of a relief because New York City will be exempt from a rule that really made no sense here, a rule that could have raised rent costs and displaced people who loved their neighborhoods. In a place like New York City, where the vacancy rate is below 4 percent, the outcome of the SAFMR rule could have been detrimental. I am pleased that HUD heeded the call by going back to the drawing board and hammering out a new plan that works for our tenants, families and seniors, as well as the affordable housing community.”

Adams, Barron Hail Task Force Study Of CUNY Tuition

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Council Member Inez Barron (East New York), chair of the Committee on Higher Education, today will hail the recent passage of city legislation that will create a temporary task force to examine ways to increase affordability and admission to the City University of New York (CUNY), including the feasibility of eliminating tuition at CUNY.

The two will join other lawmakers at 12 noon today on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan in discussing the legislation.

Later today Adams will join NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill and local youth for the launch of #MyBrooklynStory, a project, website, and public competition that has involved the telling the stories in young people’s respective neighborhoods through video, photos, essays, and other media.

The project is aimed at advancing neighborhood pride and community-police relations.

The official launch is slated for 6 p.m., today at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn. 

Espinal Hosts Town Hall & Public Workshop

City Council Member Rafael Espinal (Cypress Hills, Bushwick, Oceanhill-Brownsville, East New York) today will co-host two events in his district.

The first event is a Town Hall co-hosted with the NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to Inform Brooklynites on: “How to Apply for Affordable Housing through Housing Connect”.

It is slated for 6;30 p.m., at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 94 Hale Avenue in Cypress Hills.

The second event, which he is also co-hosting with HPD is to receive community input on: “What to do with Vacant City-owned Lots in Brownsville”.

That event is slated for 7:45 p.m. at P.S./I.S. 323, 210 Chester Street in Brownsville.

Jumaane Williams & Mother To Discuss Immigrant Experience

City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood)  and his mother Patricia Williams tonight will take part in Tenement Talks: Your Story, Our Story, a discussion that highlights personal stories that reflect contemporary immigration and migration narratives in New York City.