Deutsch, Louis Announce Resolution of MTA Ticket Glitch
City Councilmembers Chaim Deutsch and Farah Louis alerted the MTA of a glitch in the MTA’s bus-mounted camera system that resulted in hundreds of erroneous violations issued to motorists for parking in the B44 bus lane on Nostrand Avenue at Avenue I.
“Even a small fine can be a huge burden on New Yorkers. The cost of living in our city is overwhelming for so many, and every dollar counts. That’s why I appreciate the MTA’s immediate response when we brought the error to their attention,” said Deutsch, “As soon as they were alerted, they sprung into action, dismissing the violations and reaching out to motorists who were impacted. I also want to thank my colleague, Councilmember Farah Louis, for her leadership on this matter. As always, she is quick to respond effectively to constituent concerns.”
The section of bus lane effected is located on the east side of Nostrand Avenue, from Avenue I to Avenue H. This particular stretch of bus lane is only active during morning and evening rush hours, from 7-10 a.m. and from 4-7 p.m. Because the bus lane is curbside, parking is permitted during the lane’s inactive hours.
“Whether you are a straphanger or motorist, we can all agree that our city streets are congested. Through the expansion of bus-mounted camera enforcement, the flow of traffic has steadily improved but it should have never been at the expense of motorists,” Louis said, “As we continue to explore ways to improve the accessibility and reliability of our public transportation system, I want to thank the MTA for their assistance with fixing the glitch and dismissing the erroneously issued violations. With neighboring districts, Council Member Chaim Deutsch and I will continue to work with the MTA to ensure that our constituents’ needs are met.”
Persuad Holding a Housing Resource Fair to get Questions Answered
State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown, Ocean Hill) will hold a ‘Housing Resource Fair’ this weekend in the Canarsie High School Cafeteria.
This event is a major resource for both homeowners and tenants, helping them navigate the various City or State programs they may be qualified to receive.
“Many tenants and homeowners struggle to find affordable housing or need help maintaining their homes. Increasing property taxes, struggles with utility bills, and limited affordable housing options are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the housing burdens within my district and across this City and State,” said Persaud. “Holding these Housing Resource Fairs, can help New Yorkers learn about services and programs they may have not previously known they were eligible for, which help create significant savings in the pockets for many of my constituents.”
Homeowners will learn how to apply for exemptions, lower their property tax bills, and learn how to seek rent relief. The event is open to the public and many representatives will be there from different departments to help answer questions.
The event is slated to take place from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29 at the Canarsie High School Cafeteria, 1600 Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn.
Myrie’s District Address Coming Up
Senator Zellnor Myrie (D-Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, Sunset Park) will host his first State of the District Address with an introduction by U.S. Rep Hakeem S. Jeffries in less than a week.
At the event they will speak about what has progressed so far and what agenda lies ahead.
Events that Myrie’s office is holding include his Grow Brooklyn’s low-income tax prep assistance from 2-8 p.m., every Monday and Thursday at 1077 Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights. Make an appointment by calling (347) 682-5606 or clicking “Flatbush @ Office of State Senator Myrie” here.
The District Address is slated to take place from 2-5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23 at the Brooklyn Library Central Branch in Grand Army Plaza.
Cumbo and Lander Applaud Court on Upholding Employees
Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn) and Council Member Brad Lander (Park Slope, Gowanus, Windsor Park, Kensington) both applauded the New York State Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Fair Workweek Law, which went into effect in November of 2017.
The Legislation ensures that employers in New York give workers good faith estimates of when and how much they will work.
Some pushback came from organizations such as the Restaurant Law Center and the New York State Restaurant Association, who claimed it conflicted with, and was preempted by state labor law. The Court acknowledged that New York City’s purpose in passing the law was to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation by unpredictable scheduling.
“I am proud that this morning’s court decision is taking a step further to ensure job security among our commercial restaurant employees,” said Cumbo, “The Court acknowledged that our city’s most vulnerable populations are often exploited through unpredictable scheduling and upholding NYC’s Fair Work Week law is crucial in keeping our fast food workers safe,”
Lander, who just introduced the new bill Int. 1415 that prohibits fast food employers from firing an employee for any reason other than the employee’s failure to perform job duties, said, “Fast food workers deserve stable, predictable schedules that allow them to plan their lives and their budgets. Our Fair Work Week legislation set out to ensure that workers would get the notice and pay that they need for a decent standard of living. Thankfully, the court affirmed that goal today.”
