Schumer Demands DOT Reconsider Concealing Airline Baggage Fees
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-Brooklyn) called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reconsider a proposal that would have required airlines to disclose the cost of added checked bag fees upfront when purchasing an airplane ticket yesterday.
The Obama-era proposal would have provided greater transparency by protecting consumers from varied airline fees; however, just this week, USDOT decided to reverse course and abruptly cancelled the proposed rule. Airlines are currently required to disclose information about optional fees including cancellations, additional bag fees and pet fees among other services.
In addition to halting the proposal to disclose baggage fees earlier in the booking process, the DOT also withdrew a proposal that would have required airlines to make public how much profit they make off of baggage fees and other ancillary revenues. On domestic flights, some airlines charge customers $25 for their first checked bag whereas others charge between $25-$60. Alternatively, there are airlines that offer no fee for the first bag but then increase the fee for each additional bag. Those fees can be as much as $35 for the second bag and $150 for the third bag. In 2015 airlines generated $3.5 billion in baggage fees and according to media reports, airlines raked in over $7 billion in checked bag fees in 2016, a revenue that continues to climb each year on average.
The USDOT decision to conceal bag fees comes off the heels of an earlier decision that will not require airlines to disclose when they mishandle or break the wheelchairs of disabled passengers.
“The Department of Transportation’s out-of-thin-air decision to scrap this consumer protection proposal is nothing more than a Christmas gift to the airlines who will now rake in even more profit. When it comes to purchasing a flight, consumers have the right to know the full cost of all fees upfront – that’s why this rule made so much sense. Without upfront fee disclosure, airlines could syphon even more from consumers’ pockets by actually raising bag fees, or at the very least hiding them in the fine print and that’s why I’m urging the feds to immediately reverse course and restore this commonsense passenger protection,” said Schumer.
Adams Decries Promotion of Controversial FDNY Firefighter
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams alongside Vulcan Society President Regina Wilson denounced the impending promotion of controversial Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Firefighter Jospeh Cassano.
In March 2013, Joseph Cassano quit his former FDNY job as an emergency medical technician after The Post exposed his barrage of hateful tweets against blacks, Jews and the poor people he was summoned to serve. Cassano is the son of former FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano.
However, late last week, Joseph’s name was one of many on a list of new probationary firefighter recruits who will begin training this month at the Fire Academy on Randalls Island. Joseph is expected to be sworn in on Dec. 11.
“We are deeply dismayed and disappointed that a noted anti-Semite, racist, and sexist individual remains on track to be promoted to the rank and file of New York’s Bravest. The evidence is overwhelming that Joseph Cassano’s appointment poses a legal and public safety risk to New Yorkers, as well as a severe impact on the morale of firefighters and fire officers of all backgrounds. Our city has fought this brand of behavior and rhetoric forfar too long to allow entrenched managerial interests to undermine the hard-fought progress we have achieved. There is a dark history of discrimination within the FDNY that must be acknowledged as we face this potential stain on the reputation of the entire department going forward,” said the joint statement.
“We urge Mayor de Blasio and FDNY Commissioner Nigro to halt this impending promotion and sit face-to-face with concerned firefighters and New Yorkers who demand better from our government,” continued the statement. “When it comes to the safety and security of our streets, we can leave nothing to chance, second or otherwise.”
Espinal Announces Transportation Oversight Hearing
City Councilman Rafael Espinal (D-Cypress Hills, Bushwick, City Line, Oceanhill-Brownsville, East New York) alongside Council member Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) will announce a transportation committee oversight hearing today.
The hearing expected later this week will feature a bill Reso. No. 1443 that calls upon Governor Andrew Cuomo to use electric buses as a major replacement service during the L train shutdown.
The L Train shutdown is expected to commence in April 2019 and last 15 months. The closure will be between Manhattan and Brooklyn and is expected to affect over 200,000 riders. The MTA announced the plans to repair the battered train tunnels in the wake of Hurricane Sandy earlier this year.
“The L train shutdown, which was caused by climate change must not be dealt with by burning dirty fossil fuels into the air of our communities. What will already be a huge inconvenience to 200,000 New Yorkers cannot also be a huge blow to our environment and air quality. It is time the MTA commits to electric buses during the L train crises and into the future as part of its permanent bus fleet,” said Espinal.
The event is slated for 12-noon, today, Dec. 11, on the Steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Carroll Weighs In On Senate Tax Reform Bill
Assembly member Robert Carroll (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) weighed in on the recent passage of the U.S. Senate tax reform bill last week.
Last week, the Senate passed its version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by a vote of 51-49, with all Democrats and Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) opposing it, according to initial reports. The new bill will include major changes to low income housing tax credits and is expected to overhaul major federal programs across New York State including medicare and medicaid funding.
“Like many of you, I was disheartened to see the U.S. Senate pass a tax “reform” bill that will negatively impact millions of New Yorkers. This bill will raise our federal deficit, cause cuts to critical programs and shockingly raise the taxes of many middle class New Yorkers. This bill also will do great harm to the New York State budget. Our $153 Billion state budget is comprised of over $50 Billion of federal dollars which fund Medicaid, our schools, our roads, and other necessary programs,”said Carroll.
“This bill is a massive tax cut to large multinational corporations and the extremely wealthy and will be a harbinger for cuts to critical social welfare programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security,” continued Carroll. “In a time when our federal and state governments should be investing in our infrastructure and trying to close the income inequality gap that has grown much too large over the last 30 years, this bill will tie the hands of our federal and state governments and stop them from helping lift up and protect our most vulnerable and adequately invest in our communities.”
“This tax plan is the height of cynicism. Not only does it overwhelmingly favor the ultra-wealthy and large corporations, it seems uniquely targeted to hurt residents of New York, California and other Democratic and urban states. No Congress or President should ever draft and pass legislation that is uniquely written to help their most ardent supporters while at the same time punish those who are not seen as part of their political constituency. Politics of course plays a role in government, but no party should ever shirk its most fundamental responsibility which is to represent all of America, not just those citizens who the ruling party believes to be their political supporters,” added Carroll.
Williams Reacts To Sentencing of Ex-Cop In Walter Scott Case
City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) applauded the sentencing of former Officer Michael Slager in the shooting death of Walter Scott.
Scott was shot as he ran from a confrontation with the white North Charleston policeman in 2015, when South Carolina saw its highest annual level of officer-involved shootings on record. According to initial reports, Slager had pulled over Scott because of a broken brake light on his Mercedes-Benz. The 50-year-old Scott ran from his vehicle and Slager gave chase. The two scuffled and Slager opened fire as Scott was running away, hitting him five times in the back.
The incident, which ended in Scott’s killing, was captured on cellphone video by an onlooker. That video quickly went viral, drawing national attention to the case.The North Charleston Police Department fired Slager after the footage surfaced publicly. Last week, Slager was sentenced to 20 years in person having pleaded guilty to Scott’s death.
“Yesterday, finally, justice was served for the family of Walter Scott. I hope that the knowledge that Walter’s killer is at last being held accountable for his crime may bring them some level of peace and comfort. This verdict has the potential to have incredible impact.To those of us who work every day toward greater police accountability, and so often have our hopes dashed, it is proof that there can still be consequences in such egregious crimes, if all too infrequently.” said Williams.
“That this sentencing is the rare exception to the rule is a disturbing reality that we must acknowledge and fight to change. Justice in our neighborhoods, justice in our communities, would mean that Walter Scott would still be alive today, and young men of color around the country would not need to fear for their lives at the hands of police officers. This is the kind of lasting justice we seek, and we have a long way to go in that pursuit,” added Williams.
