AM Williams Hosts Toy Distribution at I.S. 68, I.S. 78, PS 115, and PS 203
Assembly Member Jaime Williams (D-Canarsie, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach) last week stepped up to assist in the distribution of toys to various students within her district.
The toys were part of generous donations from several organizations including Gov. Cuomo and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association West Indian American Day Carnival Association and the Assembly Member herself.
“In this holiday season, when so many children may not receive a present on Christmas Day, these small gifts given to all of the wonderful kindergarteners makes a world of difference in their lives. Their appreciation is not shown in words but in their pure hearted gestures of hugs and smiles.” said Williams.
Lander Delivers Lander forNYC End Of Year Message
City Council Member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Kensington, Windsor Terrace), who is rumored to be considering a run for city comptroller in 2020, kicked off his Lander forNYC movement with an email to supporters.
“We’ve witnessed a lot of suffering. Just this week, we saw the death of a second child in ICE detention, separated from his family, another casualty of a terribly cruel policy carried out in our name. Closer to home, some of our neighbors in NYCHA’s Wyckoff Gardens spent Christmas week without cooking gas. More than 60,000 of our fellow New Yorkers, including more than 20,000 kids, spent it in a homeless shelter, and several thousand more sleeping on the street,” wrote Lander in the email.
“Still, our work, together with partners, has made a real difference this year.Nearly 80,000 Uber & Lyft drivers won a big pay increase and will now earn a living-wage. More fast-food workers secured stable schedules and full-time jobs. Tenants in over 1,000 buildings will see new protections against harassment and displacement. We are moving forward to integrate our middle-schools in a truly hopeful & collaborative way. We won citywide participatory budgeting & a new civic engagement effort to strengthen our local democracy. We pushed NYC forward toward becoming the first big city to require building retrofits for energy efficiency to combat climate change. And we will very likely end this year with fewer pedestrians, cyclicts, drivers & passengers killed on our roads than any time in the last 100 years.”
Lander is also the board chair for Local Progress, a national network of progressive local elected officials across the country.
Carroll Continues Push For Congestion Pricing
Assemblymember Robert Carroll (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Ditmas Park) reported that at the recent legislative retreat many issues were discussed, but none more important than the mass transit service and funding crisis that the MTA is facing.
“I joined Transportation Alternatives, Families for Safe Streets and others to rally in support of a comprehensive congestion pricing plan, which if implemented properly without excessive carve outs will generate as much as $1.5 billion annually for our subways and buses,” wrote Carroll in his newsletter.
” These funds are desperately needed because within a few years the MTA will have a $1 billion operating deficit and a capital plan that could cost as much as $60 billion over 10 years. Without the legislature providing a substantial direct revenue stream, like congestion pricing, service will diminish drastically and fares will increase even more rapidly. In addition to the clear mass transit benefits that a congestion pricing plan would provide, it would also have a tremendous impact on reducing congestion on our streets and would cut carbon emissions by 20%.”
Bichotte Sets Her Legislative Agenda
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) last week set an ambitious legislative agenda in her happy holidays newsletter she sent to constituents.
The agenda, which the lawmaker dubbed New Year of changes in 2019 for the People of New York State included passing the Child’s Victim Act, Election Reform, Stronger Rent Laws, Criminal Justice Reform – Cash Bail Reform / Speedy Trials, Jeremiah’s law, NY HealthCare Act, Reproductive Rights, DREAM Act, Campaign For Fiscal Equity, MWBE & Small Businesses, Public schools funding, Safety, Climate Control, Fix MTA Subways, Affordable Housing and Fix NYCHA.
Bichotte also announced her State of the District address is slated for 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31 at Brooklyn College. RSVP ducloselt@nyassembly.gov or call 718-940-0428.
