Donovan’s Hurricane Recovery Provisions Head To President’s Desk
Congressman Dan Donovan (R-South Brooklyn, Staten Island) applauded yesterday U.S. Senate passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 302), which includes critical disaster recovery reforms.
The legislation includes Hurricane Recovery provisions secured by Donovan such as:
– Making a number of reforms to the manner in which federal disaster aid is dispersed and adjusts the limits of certain disaster aid programs.
– Providing $1.7 billion in emergency-designated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) supplemental appropriations for areas affected by disasters in 2018.
The legislative package now heads to President Trump’s desk for his final approval.
“With today’s Senate passage, we are one step closer towards reforming a disaster assistance process that was terribly unfair for Superstorm Sandy victims. I was on Staten Island when Hurricane Sandy devastated our community and I saw these hardships firsthand,” said Donovan.
“This should have been addressed by our previous representative – not six years later as we approach the Superstorm Sandy anniversary later this month. I applaud congressional passage and urge President Trump to stand with New York and quickly sign this bill into law,” added Donovan.
Malliotakis Calls de Blasio’s New Chief Democracy Officer A ‘Sham’
Assembly member Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I,Ref – Staten Island/Brooklyn) denounced Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recent appointment of a new Chief Democracy Officer.
On Tuesday, the Mayor announced the appointment of Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune to the new post that will continue to develop and expand the Mayor’s DemocracyNYC agenda which aims to strengthen democracy locally and nationally by engaging more people in civic life. Fonseca-Sabune is an accomplished civil and human rights lawyer who most recently worked at the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center. During her time there, Fonseca-Sabune represented low-income tenants facing harassment by their landlords.
The new post will engage people from across all demographics in government through: developing robust voter registration drives; expanding civics lesson plans for teachers in New York City school through Civics for All; and engaging local and national partners to develop new ways to engage people civically at all levels of government – from community boards to the City Council, to our state legislature and federal government.
“It was a slap in the faces of New York City taxpayers when Mayor de Blasio created a $165,000 a year patronage job to begin with, but it only adds insult to injury to learn that Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune, the Mayor’s new ‘Chief of Democracy’ who was supposedly hired to increase voter turnout, doesn’t even vote herself,” said Malliotakis.
“De Blasio should rescind the job offer, forego creating this fictitious position and allow the Board of Elections, an independent entity, to continue doing its own work to improve voter turnout. It is because of shenanigans like this that people have become apathetic and stopped turning out to vote,” added Malliotakis.
Bichotte Invites Local Residents To Help In Design Of New Community Playground
Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Ditmas Park, Flatbush) is inviting local resident’s to help in the design of a new community playground adjacent to P.S. 31/P.S. 152.
Bichotte will hold a community meeting for those interested to provide idea on the design. The Central Brooklyn Lawmaker secured $1.3 million in funding for the schoolyard’s redesign. In addition to these funds, Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) secured $600,000 for the renovation previously.
The new space will include a farm-garden renovation allowing students from P.S. 152, P.S. 315, and Midwood High School to learn about home gardening and the benefits of healthy eating. Additionally, the garden will be used as a teaching tool for urban sustainability. Whenever the school is not in session, the entire community will be allowed to use the area.
The Trust for Public Land will be managing the design and construction process and will be coordinating with the three schools, the principles, students, and the larger community.
The event is slated for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, at P.S. 315K Auditorium, 2310 Glenwood Road in Flatbush.
For more information or to RSVP contact Susannah Laskaris at 718-619-9020 or susannahlaskaris@gmail.com.
Brannan Announces Property Tax Commission Hearing
City Council member Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach) announced yesterday that the newly formed New York City Property Tax Commission will hold its first Brooklyn public hearing this upcoming Monday.
Brannan was instrumental in the creation of the Property Tax Commission. He worked closely with Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to have the Commission included in the City’s last budget deal. The Commission’s role is to research and advise legislators on policy solutions for New York City’s property tax inequality problem.
The Commission’s Brooklyn hearing is open to the public and individuals are welcome to submit testimony. Elected officials will address the Commission first and then members from the public will get to speak in the order they sign up in upon arrival at the hearing. Brannan is encouraging homeowners and business owners from his district to attend or submit testimony.
“It doesn’t take a genius to see that the New York City property tax system is outdated and unfair. My district in Southwest Brooklyn is one of those areas that bear an extremely high burden. I heard it again and again on the campaign trail: property taxes in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, and Bensonhurst are too damn high. I didn’t make many promises during my campaign, but fighting for property tax reform was one of them,” said Brannan.
“My office still hears all the time from people complaining about their property taxes. If you care about the inequality in our city’s system, this is your chance to speak directly to the people who will be shaping property tax policy in the near future,” added Brannan.
The event is slated for 6:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15, at Brooklyn Borough Hall, at 209 Joralemon Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Members of the public are welcome to submit testimony by attending the hearing in person, by emailing their comments ahead of time to PropTaxInfo@propertytaxcommission.nyc.gov, or by uploading on the testimony submission page at www.nyc.gov/PropertyTaxReform.
