Queens Lawmakers On The Move Nov. 13, 2018

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Kim Hosts Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway

Assembly member Ron Kim (D-Whitestone, Flushing, College Point, Murray Hill) will host a Turkey Giveaway for Thanksgiving this year.

The event will be held in partnership with the New York East Chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of American (AREAA – NY East).

The event is slated for 1 p.m., today, Nov. 13, at Kim’s District Office, at 136-20 38th Avenue, Suite 10A in Flushing.

Miller Responds To MTA Chair Joe Lhota Resignation

City Council member I. Daneek Miller (D-Jamaica) responded to last week’s unexpected resignation of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair Joe Lhota.

Last Friday, Lhota resigned from his top position at the city’s failing transit authority. Lhota was brought back to help with service problems last June by Governor Andrew Cuomo at time when the MTA was severely struggling with service delays. Fernando Ferrer, the vice chairman, was named acting chair. A permanent replacement will be selected when the state Senate reconvenes in January.

Lhota’s resignation is still immediately unclear as no particular reason was given last week but according to Politico, emails from earlier this year suggest  Lhota, who served as a paid director at Madison Square Garden and MSG Networks while MTA chairman, could have a conflict of interest. Lhota’s potential conflict of interest is in regards to New York Arena Partners, a partnership that includes Sterling Equities, the Scott Malkin Group, Madison Square Garden and the Oak View Group and is planning a development at Belmont Park, according to The Island Now.

The development centers around a new arena for the New York Islanders, a team MSG Networks has the broadcast rights to.

“In hindsight, Mr. Lhota’s decision to reoccupy his post at the Authority was ill-advised given his numerous affiliations with entities whose interests conflicted with those of MTA riders and local residents. I nonetheless thank him for his service during this critical period for our transit system, and wish him well in his return to the private sector,” said Miller.  

Koo To Hold Hearing On Bill Creating Office of Data Analytics

City Council member Peter Koo (D-Downtown Flushing, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill), Chair of the Committee on Technology will chair a hearing today on Intro. 1137-A, a bill that would create an office of data analytics.

The bill would codify into the Charter the mayor’s office of data analytics (MODA). The office uses analytics tools to prioritize risk more strategically, deliver services more efficiently, enforce laws more effectively and increase transparency.

The hearing is slated for 1:30 p.m., today, Nov. 13, at 250 Broadway – 16th Floor Committee Room, in Lower Manhattan.