Gillibrand, De Blasio React To CBO Report On TrumpCare
U. S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bill de Blasio reacted strongly to yesterday’s nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that found the Republican-led House bill to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would increase the number of people without health insurance by 24 million by 2026.
The American Health Care Act or TrumpCare as some are calling it would also slice $337 billion off federal budget deficits over that time, but the specter of having millions of Americans losing healthcare coverage could make the repeal more difficult.
“The CBO report confirms what we already knew. Trumpcare will force millions to lose their insurance, cost seniors and families more, and give high-priced tax breaks to insurance companies at the expense of middle class workers,” said Gillibrand.
De Blasio said the GOP is paying for millionaire tax cuts with the health of hard-working Americans.
“Dismantling the Affordable Care Act and kicking 24 million Americans off their health insurance means people will get sicker, families will go bankrupt and millions will suffer. We can’t let that happen. Now is the moment to tell Congressional Republicans and President Trump to stop their reckless attempt to overturn Obamacare and instead find a way to make us all stronger, not sicker,” de Blasio said.
Adams, Gentile Appluad City’s Lawsuit Against Verizon
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) yesterday applauded the City for filing a breach of contract lawsuit against Verizon for allegedly not living up to its bargain of outfitting the entire City with its fiber-optics network.
The cable giant signed a deal with the then Bloomberg Administration City in 2008 to outfit the entire city with its fiber-optics FiOS by 2014. The lawsuit states there are still some 40,000 customers without the service.
“As a member of the City’s Franchise Concession Review Committee, I have a special responsibility in ensuring those granted the right to use the City’s inalienable property for a public service are fulfilling their contractual obligations. The fact is that Verizon, despite the overabundance of patience from government and taxpayers alike, has failed to live up to its obligation regarding the rollout of fiber-optic FiOS service,” said Adams.
“When I held a hearing at Brooklyn Borough Hall on this very issue in November of 2015, I was optimistic that our substantive concerns would be addressed. Unfortunately, our continued lack of connectivity reflects an unacceptable status quo, which is why I stand behind the City’s decision to file a lawsuit in this matter.”
Gentile said nearly a year-and-a-half since he held an Oversight and Investigations Committee hearing on Verizon’s failure to uphold its contractual obligations to the City of New York, they continue to drop the call.
“When it comes to New York City, promises are not made to be broken. Millions of households have been left without Fios service since 2014. Verizon can certainly and will certainly hear the City now,” said Gentile.
Harris Warns Constituents To Hunker Down In Winter Storm
Assemblymember Pamela Harris (D-Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) was one of a number of Brooklyn lawmakers sending out press releases encouraging community members to stay safe during the winter storm which is currently in blizzard conditions as this post is being written.
“This winter storm is very serious, and it’s crucial that we all take the necessary precautions to stay safe,” said Harris. “Please avoid driving and use public transit when possible, and remember to check in on elderly neighbors and relatives.”
The New York City Emergency Management Department issued a hazardous travel advisory and the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a blizzard warning that will be in effect through late this evening. The NWS also issued a Coastal Flood Watch during high tide cycle from 8 a.m. to noon for several neighborhoods, including areas near Brooklyn’s coastline.
For more winter weather safety tips, please visit NYC’s Emergency Management website, www.nyc.gov/
Crown Heights Homeless Shelter Meeting Rescheduled
Assemblymember Diana Richardson (D-Crown Heights, Lefferts Gardens) announced that today’s informational community meeting on the proposed Bergen Street Shelter has been cancelled and rescheduled for tomorrow night due to inclement weather.
The meeting will include representatives from the New York City Department of Homeless Services, the New York City Department of Social Services, Core Services, the New York Police Department, and local elected officials. Community members are encouraged to share questions and concerns during this public forum.
The new meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m., tomorrow, March 15, 2017 at P-Tech School, 150 Albany Avenue between Bergen and Dean Streets in Crown Heights.
Golden, Abbate Rally In Support Of Bill Protecting Civil Service Workers
State Senator Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) and Assemblyman Peter Abbate (D-Bensonhurst, Sunset Park) are sponsoring bipartisan legislation (S.1762/A.2988) that would protect members of the public employee retirement systems from having to
endure repeat appeals from a retirement system determination denying a disability pension when the reviewing Court finds that the denial was arbitrary, capricious, and not supported by substantial evidence.
Frequently, applications for disability pensions are denied until the application has been judicially reviewed and remanded. Even then, there is no guarantee that the application will be granted and many disabled retirement system members have to appeal to the Courts at least one more additional time.
Fighting the denial of a disability pension is expensive. The disabled person will have to pay court costs and, most likely, attorney’s fees. This bill will give judges more authority to adjudicate disability cases fairly
and expedite the appeal process.
The two lawmakers will rally for the bill with civil service workers at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 16 on the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
