Donovan Votes For Balanced Budget Amendment
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) yesterday voted for the Balanced Budget Amendment (H.J.Res.2) to support fiscal responsibility and stop unsustainable government spending.
The legislation instructs, but doesn’t mandate, Congress to balance its budget each year and requires that the federal government not spend more money than it receives in revenue.
“Every American family and business makes tough decisions each day to stick to their budgets – the federal government shouldn’t be any different. Not only can we simply not afford to continue the reckless spending that has ballooned our debt to unsustainable levels, but we also have a moral obligation to future generations to get our fiscal house in order,” said Donovan.
The United States national debt currently exceeds $21 trillion, which breaks down to about $64,500 per citizen. While Donovan voted for the measure, it did not receive the two-thirds majority approval needed to pass the House.
Deutsch Leads Veterans Committee on Tour of Veterans Homeless Shelter
City Councilman Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Midwood), chair of the council’s Veterans Committee, this week led colleagues on a tour of the Borden Avenue Veteran’s homeless shelter in Long Island City, Queens.
At his first non-budget hearing since assuming the chairmanship at the start of this new council session, Deutsch emphasized the importance of providing the members of the committee with a firsthand look at the reality of what homeless veterans experience when entering the shelter system.
“It’s easy to sit in a hearing at City Hall and visualize the subject of our discussions, but we get a far more accurate picture when we get out there and actually personally see the situation for ourselves. As members of the Veterans Committee, we are charged with advocating for our nations heroes – the men and women who sacrificed to protect our freedoms. We take that role extremely seriously, and it was helpful to have the opportunity to tour Borden, which is the largest veteran’s shelter in the City,” said Deutsch.
Tuesday’s tour was attended by City Council members, Department of Homeless Services and Department of Social Services staff, Department of Veteran’s Services staff, shelter staff and leadership of the Institute for Community Living, and veteran residents who are current occupants at Borden.
“Overall, Borden was clean and well-maintained. On-site social workers and mental health coordinators are knowledgeable and devoted to their clients. My broader concerns relate to the speed of transfer for homeless veterans to transition from the shelter system into permanent housing. DVS and DHS have done an admirable job reducing veteran homelessness overall in the City, from over 4,000 in 2011 to just over 550 this month. I’m committed to continuing to reduce that number by improving the timeframe from shelter to permanent housing, by utilizing resources in the federal government, private landlords, and HPD housing to provide quick access to housing for these veterans – most of whom qualify for City or federal housing subsidies,” said Deutsch.
Davila, Schneiderman Hold Tenant Harassment Discussion
Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, (D-Bushwick, Williamsburg) in partnership with State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s Office brought the Bushwick community together on Wednesday to raise an important discussion on Tenant Harassment.
“Many Residents throughout NYC have been dealing with tenant harassment issues and unfortunately do not always know the New York State Laws that protect them. It is essential that we educate families on this particular matter because we are talking about peoples’ living conditions, a place they call home, a place to raise a family. It’s demoralizing to see that under vulnerable circumstances families are facing the overcharging of rent, threats and intimidation, along with illegal buyouts and unassisted repairs from their landlords – it has to stop,” said Davila.
Under the state law, landlords are restricted from allowing any form of condition that may put the tenant’s life, health of safety in danger. Some of the landlord’s responsibilities are as follows:
- Before the tenant moves in, the residence must be cleaned.
- Adequate lighting must be commenced throughout the common halls and stairways
- Repairs must promptly be maintained i.e. plumbing, radiators, wiring, heaters, and furnaces
- Apartments and the surrounding area must be free of rodents, insects and trash.
- Heat must be provided during the winter season, except under the circumstances during repairs, temporary emergencies and alterations.
Eugene, Prospect Park Alliance Breaks Ground On Adult Fitness Area
City Council Member Mathieu Eugene (D-Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush) today will join with the Prospect Park Alliance in breaking ground on a new adult fitness area and other improvements to the Prospect Park Parade Grounds.
Eugene and the Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that sustains the Park, is undertaking the $750,000 renovation, which will also include a cooling misting line along the heavily used soccer fields; fix drainage problems at Field 7; reconstruct the volleyball court; and add shade trees and new seating.
The adult fitness area will contain 12 types of fitness equipment, including ones that are accessible. There will be an open area for group classes, and custom concrete “step-up” blocks. The misting line will be installed along Fields 10 and 11. Set on timers, it will provide a cooling screen of mist when the artificial turf fields are at their busiest and hottest. No water will collect on the ground—the mist evaporates to cool the air.
The ground breaking is slated for 10:30 a.m., today, April 13 at the Prospect Park Parade Ground, Enter at Parade Place (see map: https://goo.gl/maps/
Persaud, Maisel, Williams Host College & Resource Fair
Canarise lawmakers including State Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud, City Council Member Alan Maisel and Assemblywoman Jaime Williams tomorrow will host Persaud’s inaugural Senate District 19 College Fair.
The fair is to facilitate the best educational opportunities for students living and going to school in the 19th Senate District, said Persaud.
The goal is to give students access to resources and information about prospective colleges, financial aid programs, community resources and thus increasing their ability to grow and become successful members of our community.
The event is slated for 12 noon to 3 p.m., tomorrow, April 14 at the South Shore Educational Campus, 6565 Flatlands Avenue in Canarsie.
