Vallone Continues Push For Queens Animal Shelter
City Council Member Paul Vallone (D-Bayside, College Point, Auburndale, Beechhurst, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Flushing, Douglaston, Little Neck) yesterday announced he has reintroduced his bill that would mandate full service animal shelters to be built in Queens and the Bronx.
The reintroduced measure comes just two weeks after the de Blasio administration announced the location of the City’s new Bronx Animal Shelter in the East Bronx and allocated about $60 million in capital funds to build the shelter.
This announcement leaves Queens as the only borough without an animal shelter on the horizon. Currently the borough (along with the Bronx) have “receiving centers” which do not provide many of the services that full service shelters do.
“Receiving centers are not enough! They do not provide shelter or medical care for homeless animals, nor do they provide a place to recover lost pets before they’re euthanized,” said Vallone. “Most importantly, since animals brought to these receiving centers in Queens must be transported to a full service shelter in the other boroughs, their continued absence places insurmountable pressure on the existing facilities which already operate at maximum capacity. In the end, homeless animals are the ones that face the consequences of this pressure as many otherwise healthy pets are lost to euthanasia.”
I look forward to continuing to work with our Speaker to bring a full service animal shelter to Queens. If it were its own city, Queens alone would rank as the nation’s fourth largest and it is unacceptable that no animal shelter currently exists,” Vallone added.
Schumer Secures Federal Funding For NYS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced yesterday that he successfully negotiated a bipartisan and historic agreement that will inject significant federal investment opportunities throughout the state.
Specifically, the bipartisan budget deal will boost funds towards necessary programs that help in the fight against opioid and mental health epidemics, aid in the rebuilding of the state’s crumbling Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, invest in community health centers and bolster critical infrastructure. Additionally, Schumer urged for the passage of a new law aimed at creating a special commission to solve the multi-employer pension crisis currently impacting thousands of New York Teamsters.
“This bipartisan and historic agreement is a major shot in the arm for middle-class families from Western New York to Staten Island all the way to the eastern end of Long Island. The budget deal doesn’t have everything Democrats want; it doesn’t have everything the Republicans want, but it has what the American people need,” said Schumer.
“This deal includes funding to address the opioid scourge, fund Community Health Centers, improve infrastructure, address pensions, helps working families, makes childcare more affordable and gives our dairy farmers the support they need to stay competitive. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues across the aisle to secure this deal and will continue to fight for middle-class New Yorkers,” added Schumer.
Meeks, 32 House Dems Urge Strengthening Of Community Reinvestment Act
U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, JFK Airport) yesterday led 32 other House Democrats, in writing a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin and Comptroller of the Currency Joseph M. Otting urging the Trump administration to prioritize the interests of underserved communities as they update federal regulations under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).
The CRA is a U.S. law designed to encourage commercial banks and savings associations to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Congress passed the Act in 1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods, a practice known as redlining.
“For decades now, the CRA has ensured access to capital for millions of Americans from all backgrounds, income levels, and geographic areas,” said Meeks. “With the emergence of new technologies and other shifts in banking practices, CRA rules are certainly due for modernization. But, it is paramount that any changes strengthen, not relax, the responsibilities banks have to the communities that trust them with deposits.”
The letter was sent in response to a January report by the Wall Street Journal that the Trump Administration is “planning to unveil a major revision” to federal rules under the Community Reinvestment Act.
Addabbo To Announce Changes To Select Bus Service Route
State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth), today will announce changes to the Select Bus Service (SBS) routes along Cross Bay Boulevard.
The changes come in response to Addabbo hearing many complaints from local business owners and drivers regarding the SBS lanes along the thoroughfare. The lawmaker than worked with the city’s Department of Transportation to make some changes on the route.
Other lawmakers joining Addabbo to announce the changes include Assemblymembers Stacey Pheffer Amato and Mike MIller and City Council Member Eric Ulrich.
The press conference announcing the changes is slated for 1 p.m. today, Feb. 8 outside of the C-Town Supermarket, 107-66 Cross Bay Boulevard, in Ozone Park.
Peralta, NAACP Commemorate African-American History and Heritage
State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Woodside) and the Corona-East Elmhurst branch of the NAACP will honor community leaders and activists during the African-American History and Heritage celebration today.
The event is slated for 6 p.m., today Feb. 6 at the Langton Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center. 100-01 Northern Boulevard in Corona.
