Kavanagh Applauds State Passage of Campaign Finance, Election Reforms
State Senator Brian Kavanagh (D-Northern Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan) applauded the New York State Assembly’s passage of a series of bills aimed at reforming the state’s campaign finance and election laws yesterday.
On Wednesday, the Assembly passed a legislation that would begin strengthening New York’s campaign finance laws and reforming the electoral system. The bills would close the LLC Loophole, which allows large donors to give virtually unlimited and effectively anonymous campaign contributions, enact early voting, eliminate certain restrictions on absentee voting, and allow New Yorkers to register to vote online.
“Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our democracy, but here in New York, huge holes in our campaign finance laws encourage corruption, while antiquated, overly restrictive election laws pose obstacles to voters at every turn,” said Kavanagh.
“The Assembly once again has taken up the mantle of reform. As we look toward the remaining nine weeks of the regular legislative session in 2018, it’s time for the Senate to stand up for the integrity of our elections and our governmental institutions — to stand up for democracy itself — and pass these critical reforms,” added Kavanagh.
Cornegy Announces 3K For All Openings
City Council member Robert Cornegy Jr. (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) announced 3K For All openings yesterday.
The city program offers free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for every New York City three-year-old. Additionally, the 3-K programs lay a strong foundation for children to grow, learn, and explore the world around them.
All New York City families with children born in 2015 are eligible to apply. The early childhood education program is in Districts 4, 5, 7, 16, 23, and 27.
The program launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2016 is part of a larger effort to strengthen birth-to-five year care and education across the City.
For additional support, please contact the Outreach Team at 212-637-8000 or pre-k@schools.nyc.gov.
Lander Blasts F Train Service
City Council member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus) is continuing to denounce the F train service in Brooklyn.
Just two weeks ago straphangers experienced disastrous signal equipment failure at Bergen Street that caused delays of hundreds of trains on seven different lines and trapped passengers on a train for more than an hour.
Following that massive malfunction, MTA Chair Andy Byford, stated that signal modernization is his top priority and is expecting to upgrade the transit authority’s system in 10-15 years instead of the projected 50-year-pace. Additionally, the MTA released a memo on the Bergen Street signal failure, pledging to upgrade the crumbling signal system at the station as a key component of its five-year modernization plan, to be released next month.
“There’s still no word about how it will be paid for, or how to reconcile Governor Cuomo’s apparent preference for “ultra wideband radio” technology (cool-sounding, but unproven) vs. Byford’s greater confidence in “communications based train control” technology. But at least we’re getting past the denial phase.” said Lander.
“In the meantime, please spread the word about the Signal Fail petition. Since we launched it in November, over 17 million riders have been delayed due to signal failures. We’ll provide updates & analysis on the MTA’s modernization plan in response to our calls for action. When the signals are down, we need to keep the pressure up,” added Lander.
