Treyger To Address Concerns About DOE Student Transportation
City Council member Mark Treyger (D-Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Coney Island, Sea Gate), Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Education, will chair a City Council hearing today to address concerns regarding student transportation issues across the city.
Treyger, joined by New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and Council Members will hold a hearing on the Student Transportation Oversight Package (STOP).
A comprehensive package of legislation that increases transparency around the Department of Education’s Office of Pupil Transportation operations, increases oversight over bus activity, and increases efficiency in bus services, including requiring GPS tracking for yellow school buses transporting New York City’s students.
This package comes after a series of reports claiming corruption and mismanagement within the Department of Education (DOE). In recent weeks, parents and educators have complained about bus services, ranging from no-show buses or missing students to significant school bus delays and concerns about school bus drivers.
The event is slated for 1 p.m., today, Oct. 16, at City Hall – Council Chambers, in Lower Manhattan.
Deutsch Announces Free Flu Shot Events
City Council member Chaim Deutsch (D-Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Homecrest, Midwood) announced yesterday two upcoming free flu shot events for local residents.
In partnership with Coney Island Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, Deutsch will be offering local residents and families to receive the vaccination in the coming weeks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, but flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May.
The first available flu shot date is slated for 10 a.m. to 12-noon, Thursday, Nov. 1. The second event is slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9. Those interested should call Deutsch’s office at 718-368-9176 or email CDeutsch@council.nyc.gov to reserve a slot.
Colton To Host Neighborhood Cleanup
Assembly member William Colton (D-Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights) alongside District Leader Nancy Tong will be conducting another clean up in the community this week.
The event will aim to clean up parts of the district and help to improve quality of life issues for local residents.
“Cleaner streets mean a better quality of life for all people and business owners in the area and at the same time it keeps children busy and does a good deed for the community,” said Colton.
The event is slated for 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 20, at 29 Bay 25th Street in Bath Beach. Anyone who is interested in the event, please call Colton’s Office at 718-236-1598.
CM Williams To Introduce Bill Addressing Rent-Regulated Units
City Council member Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) will introduce bill, Intro 585-A, today to the City Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings.
The legislation would require the owner of a multiple dwelling to include a statement as to whether or not such multiple dwelling contains any rent-regulated apartments in their annual registration statement.
Additionally the measure would also require such owner to post a sign in such multiple dwelling indicating that the multiple dwelling contains one or more rent-regulated apartments.
The meeting is slated for 10 a.m., today, Oct. 16, at City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Ortiz Addresses High Property Taxes Displacing Seniors
Assistant Speaker Felix W. Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) recently addressed concerns regarding high property tax burdens facing seniors and hard-working homeowners.
Earlier this month, Ortiz submitted a statement to the NYC Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform, demanding that property taxes get distributed fairly amongst all economic ranges. The Commission was launched last May and works to evaluate all aspects of the current property tax system in New York City and recommend reforms to make it fairer, simpler, and more transparent, while ensuring that there is no reduction in revenue used to fund City services.
“New York City’s property-tax rate has grown at triple the rate of working New Yorkers’ incomes over the past decade, making it very hard for taxpayers at the lower end of the economic scale to make ends meet. Retired families that anticipated passing their homes on to their children now face doubt about whether they will be able to stay.
It is not fair for working families to have increasing taxes and stagnating wages while higher earning households are paying less. It is not fair for retired families to worry about losing their homes. Ortiz believes the system can be made fair by distributing the property tax burden onto those who can afford to pay it instead of those struggling to stay in their homes.
New Yorkers must be able to pay taxes they can afford; we cannot tax our residents to the point where they cannot support their families or be able to stay in the city as they are the backbone of our communities and our economy. Let’s make sure they can afford to keep New York a great city,” said Ortiz.
