Persaud Reminds Voters Paid Family Leave Becomes Law In 2018
State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetowne, Ocean Hill, Starrett City) is reminding voters that starting Jan. 1, 2018, most private sector workers, both men and women, will be able to take up to 8 weeks of job-protected, paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or address needs related to a family member’s military deployment.
Under the new law, you don’t have to use your earned vacation or sick time before you can take paid family leave. Most employees will receive pay equal to 50% of their average earnings this first year. But you do need to give your employer advance notice, if possible.
The program is paid for through small weekly deductions from employee paychecks (0.126% per week payroll deduction from employees up to a maximum of $1.65 per week for those with higher incomes.) The insurance program pays you while you’re out on leave, not your employer, and your health insurance continues with the same arrangement you’ve had with your employer. In 2021, when the program has been fully phased in, workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of leave at 2/3rds of their own wage up to a statewide cap.
“As your elected representative, I am truly excited that this benefit is now available to New York Families. Paid family leave has been shown to increase employee morale, job satisfaction and loyalty. It has contributed to greater pay equity for women and increased involvement of men in family caregiving responsibilities. And it will help small businesses compete for employees on a more even playing field with larger businesses, and provide both employees and employers with a clear mechanism and financial cushion to handle the inevitable circumstances of pregnancy, birth, adoption and family illness,” said Persaud.
For more information about the new state program, visit the Paid Family Leave website atwww.ny.gov/paidfamilyleave or call the state Paid Family Leave helpline at (844) 337-6303 with any questions. Visit www.FamilyLeaveWorks.org to access information for LGBTQ parents, adoptive and foster parents, military families, and other moms, dads, and caregivers.
Harris Decries Repeal Of Net Neutrality
Assembly Member Pam Harris (D-Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Bay Ridge) decried yesterday’s repeal of Obama-era net neutrality rules wiping out regulations that prevented Internet service providers from blocking or slowing some websites, and charging more for others to run faster.
The Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission’s 3-2 vote now requires companies like Verizon and Comcast to disclose if they block sites or give priority to their own content more than others.
“For so many Americans, the internet is an essential resource that allows them to find jobs, learn about new opportunities for advancement and stay connected with friends, family and the world. Today, the FCC ignored the millions of comments urging them to protect Net Neutrality and instead voted to allow internet service providers (ISPs) to section off the internet, throttle speeds as they see fit and determine how you use the internet,” said Harris.
“Net Neutrality means our internet is free and open, and everyone can access the same information as everyone else. This decision will disproportionately impact low-income Americans and small businesses that can’t compete with large corporations and wealthy special interests. We must fight back to ensure we all remain on a level playing field.”
Adams On Mitigation Plan For L Train Shutdown
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams expressed both good and bad to the L train shutdown plan announced yesterday, which he called incomplete.
“When the MTA made the decision to close down both tubes of the Canarsie tunnel simultaneously, they assumed a responsibility to implement every necessary mitigation effort to address the overwhelming impact this will have on mobility and local quality of life across Brooklyn,” said Adams.
“I applaud the decision to implement a free MetroCard transfer between the 3 train at Junius Street and the L train at Livonia Avenue — a measure that has been long overdue — as well as between the G train at Broadway and the J/M/Z trains at Hewes Street and Lorimer Street. I appreciate the planned implementation of a dedicated bus lane on the Williamsburg Bridge, which I called for last year, but I remain concerned about the continued lack of bus priority lanes leading from the bridge to deeper destinations in Brooklyn, including Bushwick and East Williamsburg. The lack of clarity on the cycling infrastructure plans for Grand Street and other key corridors is troubling, especially considering DOT’s public acknowledgment of the anticipated upsurge in ridership due to the shutdown.
“Most importantly, I remain frustrated that the MTA and DOT have thus far failed to comprehensively address the impact the L train shutdown will have on commuters in southeast Brooklyn. From Canarsie to Cypress Hills, riders are at risk of being left behind and the livelihood of small businesses is at stake. My administration is focused on the work we can do at Broadway Junction, including the long-awaited enactment of the Freedom Ticket pilot program, to increase affordable, accessible transit options during this transit crisis and beyond.”
Espinal Resolution Says MTA Should Use Electric Buses
City Council Member Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) saw the Council’s Transportation Committee hear his Reso No. 1443 calling upon the governor and MTA to commit to an expeditious transition to an electric bus fleet and to use electric buses as a robust part of its replacement service during the upcoming L train shutdown.
The effort is an attempt to limit the amount of air pollution pumped into the affected communities, which would only exacerbate the L train crises. With very little communication coming from either the DOT or the MTA, now is the time to ensure adequate planning goes into the shutdown to minimize both the short and long-term impact to the local residents and businesses.
“The MTA is planning to buy and use 200 new diesel buses to deal with a crisis that was caused by climate change. Just yesterday the MTA gave us some insight into how those buses will be used, but one important fact that’s missing is that we’re using new capital dollars to purchase 200 diesel buses at a time when cities across the country and world are making a commitment to purchase 100% electric buses,” said Espinal.
“The MTA said today that they plan to to start their electric bus pilot program in the next few weeks. With over a year and a half until the shutdown, that is plenty of time to gather data from their pilot program and use electric buses during the shutdown. We need a shorter pilot and bigger commitments. I still have many unanswered questions and concerns, but am pleased that now electric buses are playing a prominent role in the conversation,” the lawmaker added.
Schumer Says Fed Prison Bureau Dragging Feet On Hiring Priest
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) yesterday accused the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) on dragging its feet in hiring a Roman Catholic Chaplain for Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center and said they should hire one before Christmas.
Schumer noted that given the large Catholic population of inmates at the Brooklyn jail, hiring a Catholic Chaplain would help provide a safer environment for the entire prison and help ensure that inmates can seek support and properly worship if they choose.
“With Christmas fast approaching, and the Brooklyn facility lacking a chaplain for many months, the federal Bureau of Prisons should stop delaying and immediately hire a full-time permanent Catholic Chaplain at this facility; it is the right thing to do at the right time,” said Schumer. “That is why I’m urging the Federal Bureau of Prisons to hire a Catholic Chaplain before Christmas. The Brooklyn Diocese has a number of priests who can do the job, the BOP just needs to act. Even more, statistics show faith leaders help provide a safer environment for the entire criminal justice system and to those seeking their support.”
Donovan Cosponsors Creeper Act Banning Child Sex Dolls
U. S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island), along with a bipartisan coalition of 12 original cosponsors, yesterday introduced the Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pedophilic Robots (CREEPER) Act to ban importation and distribution of child sex dolls.
Similar bans already exist in Australia and the United Kingdom. Pedophiles buy and sell the lifelike silicone dolls, which resemble children as young as three years old, through online websites and marketplaces.
“It’s a uniquely vile person who preys on children to fulfill horrific pedophilic urges. During my 20 years as a prosecutor, I put away animals who played out their disgusting fantasies on innocent children. What I saw and heard was enough to make anybody sick. Now, as a legislator in Congress, I’m introducing a bill to ban the newest outlet for pedophiles: child sex dolls. They don’t belong in our communities,” said Donovan.
Child sex dolls are anatomically accurate renderings of young children, and include “accessories” such as false eyelashes, wigs, warming devices, and cleaning tools. They may also be customized to feature lifelike facial expressions, including sadness and fear. The dolls, which are imported from China, Hong Kong, and Japan, are purposely labeled as mannequins or models to avoid detection in the mail. Recent seizures of these dolls in the United States, UK and other global market places have highlighted the need for legislation to address this disturbing activity. There are currently no laws in the U.S. to prevent the proliferation of child sex dolls.
Law enforcement agents have said that the purchases of child sex dolls can indicate a history of offenses against children. In fact, of the 128 dolls seized in the UK, 85% percent of the men who imported them were also found in possession of child pornography. Additionally, psychologists and researchers believe that these dolls reinforce, normalize, and encourage pedophilic behavior, potentially putting more children at risk to harm.
Greenfield Reminds Non-profits to File for Property Tax Exemptions
City Councilman David G. Greenfield (D-Boro Park, Bensonhurst, Flatbush, Sunset Park, Sheepshead Bay) yesterday reminded local non-profits including yeshivas and shuls to renew their tax exempt status to avoid being issued tax bills in 2018.
The deadline for non-profits to file for exemption for the upcoming tax year is Wednesday, December 27th.
“Tax law is difficult, especially for small charities and non-profits,” Greenfield said. “But this part is simple: Every non-profit that owns property needs to renew their text exempt status, and they need to do it as soon as possible.”
Part of the confusion is due to a recent change in policy. At one time, City law allowed for uninterrupted tax-exempt status, and some institutions have yet to get used to the new renewal process. In past years, Greenfield has worked with non-profits that missed the tax exemption deadline, negotiating with the Department of Finance to ensure that non-profits are recognized as such. However, Greenfield warned, it can be a time-consuming process that may end up costing thousands of dollars in late fees.
“Save you organization the money and the work by applying now,” Greenfield said. “Applications can be submitted online, or you can follow the instructions sent to you from the City. It really couldn’t be easier. Just do it now or else it won’t be as easy.”
The DOF details how non-profits can apply for tax-exempt status online. The website is: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/finance/benefits/benefits-not-for-profit-organizations.page. The DOF also sends notice through mail and email to all non-responsive organizations with more details prior to the deadline.
Any organization with questions about this process is urged to contact Greenfield’s office can be reached at (718) 853 2704.
