Bay Ridge Lawmakers Want Shuttle Busses While Subway Station Is Being Fixed
Brooklyn lawmakers including State Sen. Marty Golden, Assembly Members Nicole Malliotakis, Pamela Harris and Felix Ortiz – all of whom represent all or parts of Bay Ridge and/or the corridor, in which the R train runs, yesterday demanded the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) run shuttle busses while agency renovates the R train station at Bay Ridge Avenue.
“Embarking on this project will require a complete six month shut down of the Bay Ridge Avenue Station,” wrote the lawmakers to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and MTA President Veronique Hakim. “As of now the Metropolitan Transit Authority has not announced any supplemental transportation arrangements for the thousands of commuters who will be adversely affected during the shutdown. It is absolutely essential to provide an alternative service to accommodate the thousands of commuters who rely on the Bay Ridge Avenue station on a daily basis.
“A complete, six-month shutdown of the Bay Ridge Avenue station will require nearly 8,379 commuters on average to inconveniently travel to either 77th Street or 59th Street in order to ride the R train. Aside from causing lengthier commutes to work, residents have also expressed concerns about issues such as changing arrangements for getting their children to school in the mornings, as well as issues affecting those who are taking care of other family members.
“As the second busiest station servicing commuters in Bay Ridge, the R train is a critical and affordable transportation resource for students, working professionals, and seniors on a fixed income traveling to and from the neighborhood. Additionally, the Bay Ridge Avenue station serves as a vital transfer point between the R train and the B64 and B9 busses.
We respectfully request the MTA-NYC Transit offer a shuttle bus service between Bay Ridge Avenue and 59th Street. In addition to providing a shuttle bus, the MTA would be well advised to temporarily increase bus service on the B9, B37, and B63 bus lines to help alleviate this unexpected burden for R train riders particularly because of potentially harsh weather conditions in the winter months.”
Women Assembly Members Of Color Decry Cuomo Education Funding
Brooklyn Assemblywomen Tremaine Wright, Rodneyse Bichotte, Maritza Davila, Latrice Walker and Diana Richardson – all of whom are members of the State Black, Latino and Asian Legislative Caucus assailed Gov. Cuomo’s proposed education budget, saying it fails to end systematic racism in school funding.
Cuomo proposed a $1 billion school aid increase yesterday in his overall $152.3 billion proposed budget for the 2017 Fiscal Year. Of the $1 billion for school aid, $428 million is dedicated towards Foundation Aid, falling far short of the $4.3 billion in Foundation Aid that is owed to schools as a result of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.
“The Governor’s proposal for new state education aide fails to uphold the minimum obligation we as lawmakers have to our students in order to help them succeed. It is the responsibility of the Governor and the State Legislature to deliver a ‘sound, basic education’ to students in New York. We need a plan to fully fund the $4.3 billion that the state owes in Foundation Aid, 58% of which is owed to Black and Latino students,” said the lawmakers in a joint statement.
“Governor Cuomo’s failure to make a serious proposal on funding Foundation Aid only perpetuates the systemic racism that defines New York State’s school funding system. Over a decade has passed since the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) ruling established that New York State was systematically underfunding its schools, particularly Black, Latino and low-income communities. Last year, the legislature worked with the governor to ensure that the money borrowed during the financial crises, the Gap Elimination Adjustment, was fully restored to schools. This was done with the understanding that the process of finally making good on the constitutional promise for CFE would begin this year.
“As women of color, we represent communities that are facing heightened uncertainty with the advent of the new federal administration. Our children are more vulnerable than ever as our schools are shortchanged when it comes to art and music, guidance counselors, social workers, student supports, and more. As public education faces unprecedented threats at the national level, it is more important than ever that we take action in our state to protect our students; yet the Executive Budget fails dramatically to provide the level of funding that Black students, Latino students, immigrant students and students in poverty need.”
Mosley Decries Cuomo On Budget, Communicating With Assembly
Assemblymember Walter Mosley (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) yesterday was high critical of Gov. Cuomo’s lack of communication with the state assembly and the housing component regarding his $152.3 billion FY 2017 state budget proposal.
“It’s disappointing that the State Assembly was one of the last groups to be briefed on the 2017 budget. Members of the Assembly learned of some of Governor Cuomo’s budget items from the press rather than from the governor himself. A balanced budget is incredibly important, but so is the respect of the process and the necessity to keep a balance between all levels of government,” said Mosley.
“This proposed budget does not address what the cost of 421-a will be to the taxpayers, nor does it create a less burdensome plan for affordable housing. In addition, the Excelsior plan, while an important step forward for affordable tuition, has fewer benefits for lower-income families.
“Finally, the Governor’s budget does little in mentioning either the STAR or EITC programs. These programs are incredibly important for people in our city and state, and they must be protected by our legislature. In the coming months, I will strive to protect these and other programs that benefit families across New York.”
Harris passes legislation to defend women’s reproductive rights
Assemblymember Pamela Harris (Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) yesterday announced she helped pass a pair of bills that would strengthen reproductive rights for New Yorkers in the face of a potentially hostile federal administration.
The legislative package, which Harris co-sponsored, would affirm the right to an abortion in New York State (A.1748) and require insurance companies to continue covering contraception at no additional cost to the consumer (A.1378).
“Reproductive freedoms are under attack throughout the country, and that’s why it’s so important for New York State to lead the way on this important issue,” said Harris. “Women have the right to make decisions about their bodies, and the Assembly wants to ensure it stays that way.”
The first measure protects a woman’s right to end a pregnancy during the first 24 weeks or when the pregnancy is not viable or the patient’s life or health are at risk (A.1748). It also ensures that regulations regarding abortion are focused on safety and improving the quality of care, not burdening the patient or insurer.
In recent years, numerous states have passed legislation placing onerous restrictions on abortion in an attempt to impede reproductive freedom. Already, in the first weeks of 2017, state legislators have drafted or introduced 46 bills aimed at restricting a woman’s right to choose. With so many states passing laws to limit reproductive freedom, the time is now to ensure that this basic right remains available here in New York State, noted Harris.
The second bill, the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requires health insurers to cover all contraceptive drugs, devices and products as prescribed by a health care provider at no cost (A.1378). The measure protects this popular aspect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) so that it is not jeopardized by repeal efforts in Washington. The bill maintains an exemption for religious employers to request a policy that doesn’t cover contraception.
“We can’t allow the progress we’ve made on reproductive freedoms to be destroyed,” said Harris. “I’ll never stop fighting to make sure that New Yorkers have control over their own bodies and access to high-quality health care,” said Harris.
