Malliotakis, Savino Decry Cuomo Congestion Pricing Plan
Assembly member Nicole Malliotakis (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) and State Senator Diane Savino (D-Coney Island) have come out strongly against Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new congestion pricing proposal.
Last week, Cuomo released a report a task force report on easing city traffic that recommended congestion pricing as a solution. The proposal would charge drivers up to $11.52 to drive through the busiest parts of Manhattan and would affect trips below 60th Street. According to initial reports, the new surcharges could range from $2 to $5 per trip for taxis, limousines and for-hire vehicles (i.e. Uber), while private cars could pay more than $11 once a day to enter the pricing zone.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has already come out against the idea and instead favors a new tax on New York City’s highest earners earmarked for transit.
“I could support the surcharge for limos, rideshare and tour buses, but not on all New York City drivers, particularly Staten Islanders who are already subject to unfair tolls. Instead of this egregious form of congestion pricing, we should focus on improving the Move NY plan, which is equitable among all boroughs and would reduce the Verrazano Bridge toll for both Brooklynites and Staten Islanders. I believe it is a much better starting point for negotiation and a plan I can support if there is a commitment to cap bridge tolls and dedicate revenue for transit projects in the most transportation-starved communities like ours,” said Malliotakis.
“I have been strong, outspoken proponent of the ‘MoveNY’ plan, which should be the foundation of any plan.” said Senator Savino. “Staten Island residents have the longest and most expensive commutes. I believe that the MoveNY plan is the most fair and equitable for the residents of New York City and the neighboring regions. I will continue to advocate for a plan that treats everyone fairly and benefits all commuters and taxpayers,” said Savino.
Donovan Votes To Protect Life On Abortion Bill
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) voted to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act, that gives all babies a fighting chance at life, last week.
The legislation requires that health care practitioners provide medical care to any infant that survives an abortion procedure or attempted abortion. The bill states that medical professionals present during the birth of a living child following an abortion procedure must “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.”
Medical professionals who fail to follow these standards will face criminal proceedings, imprisonment, and fines. Additionally, the bill makes clear that no mother will be held liable or prosecuted for violations of the law.
“This bill defends innocent babies by simply requiring medical physicians to provide the same standard of care to all children, no matter the situation surrounding their birth. Against all odds, some infants survive abortion procedures, and I think we can agree that any living, breathing baby deserves a chance to live the life they were given. This isn’t about politics or ideological differences. It’s about humanity and compassion,” said Donovan.
Treyger Applauds City’s Work For Sandy Survivors
City Council member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) applauded the work of the Committee on Recovery and Resiliency for helping Hurricane Sandy Survivors.
Alongside Council members Donovan Richards (D-Queens), Margaret Chin (D-Manhatan), Bill Perkins (D-Manhattan), Carlos Menchaca (D-Red Hook, Sunset Park), and Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx), Treyger highlighted the work done over the past four years by the city for individuals affected by the Superstorm. The Committee on Recovery and Resiliency is set to be consolidated into the Committee on Environmental Protections this year.
Treyger chaired the Committee on Recovery and Resiliency, while Richards, Chin, and Perkins all served as members. Torres co-chaired several joint hearings of the Committee on Recovery and Resiliency and the Committee on Public Housing. The committee’s oversight work has been able to secure funding and pass legislation to ensure Sandy survivors were not subject to unfair municipal fines including securing billions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to help ensure public housing stock is rebuilt more resiliently, exposing the City administration for failing to fulfill its commitment to have at least 60 emergency evacuation sites by September of 2017 compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), making sure all Southern Brooklyn schools have a permanent working boiler and including South Brooklyn in a vital U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study amongst other reforms.
“It has been more than five years since Hurricane Sandy devastated our city and there is still more work to be done to make sure our City is better prepared for the next storm — but we’ve made tremendous strides towards a safer and stronger city. Serving on the Committee on Recovery & Resiliency these past four years has given us the opportunity to meet some of the strongest and hardest working people in our city, who are rebuilding their homes, their businesses, and their lives in the wake of the worst natural disaster in our city’s history,” said a joint statement from the group.
“We’ve worked collaboratively to secure resiliency funding for projects across New York City, from Lower Manhattan to the Rockaways and from Coney Island to Staten Island. Hurricane Sandy was unlike anything our city had ever seen before, and the challenges it has forced us to tackle are very real, complex, and often difficult to address. There is certainly more to be done to complete our recovery from this storm and to truly protect ourselves from those we will face in the future,” continued the joint statement.
Ampry-Samuel To Hold Hearing On NYCHA
City Council member Alicka-Ampry-Samuel (D-East New York, Brownsville) alongside Speaker Corey Johnson and Oversight and Investigations Chair Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) will convene a joint hearing to examine the failure of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) boilers across the city.
The meeting scheduled for next month, will examine the chronic failure of heat and hot water systems at NYCHA developments across the City. In recent months, the city’s Housing Authority has been under increased examination in the wake of revelations that the agency failed to conduct lead inspections in 55,000 potentially hazardous units and then fraudulently reported the inspections.
Additionally, last week State Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) called for a review of the affordable housing lottery process after receiving multiple constituent complaints about mismanagement at all stages of the housing lottery process.
“Nearly 600,000 New Yorkers call NYCHA home. Those same New Yorkers contribute to the basic fabric of our society and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. What thousands of families had to endure during our first winter storm of 2018 was unacceptable and should not be tolerated. We need to know what went wrong and how can we be more proactive and less reactive in planning. The complicated bureaucracies should be removed and we need to work together on behalf of some of our most vulnerable residents. I look forward to the hearing and working with NYCHA and the Mayor towards real solutions,” said Ampry-Samuel.
The meeting is slated for 10 a.m., on Tuesday, Feb 6, at City Hall Chambers in Lower Manhattan.
