Lander Introduces Legislation to Further Regulate Outside Spending on Ballot Proposals
Council Member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Gowanus) introduced new legislation yesterday to expand New York City’s strict independent expenditure laws to include disclosure requirements for outside spending on ballot propositions.
“In 2014, on the heels of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision, we created the strongest disclosure law for independent expenditure spending on behalf of candidates. We’ve already seen evidence that it is working to reduce opaque spending to promote or oppose candidates. Now, we’re taking the next step to bring the same transparency to ballot propositions on the other side of the ballot,” said Lander.
The proposed legislation would require entities making independent expenditures on behalf of ballot propositions to make the same disclosures as supporters of candidates. Any outside spending above $1,000 must be reported to the campaign finance board, and entities that spend more than $5,000 would need to disclose identifying information about major donors.
Lentol Sends Reminder About Plastic Bag Ban
Assembly Member Joseph Lentol (D-Greenpoint, Williamsburg) wants to remind everyone that single-use plastic bags are going to be prohibited in grocery stores starting March 1.
We see plastic bags caught in trees and bushes and scattered along roadsides and sidewalks. We’ve seen what happens to marine life when animals confuse plastic for food. I have long fought to protect New York’s environment, and the New York State Assembly Majority is taking steps to eliminate plastic waste and pollution, Lentol wrote.
Starting on March 1, the New York State Bag Waste Reduction Act will prohibit grocery stores and other retailers from giving out single-use plastic carryout bags. As an alternative to plastic bags, many retailers offer inexpensive reusable bags or paper bags which may be subject to a 5-cent fee, with 40 percent of the fee going to municipalities to help distribute reusable bags and 60 percent going toward the Environmental Protection Fund.
Gounardes to Unveil New Street Safety Legislation
State Senator Andrew Gounardes (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) reveal a new package of important street safety reforms at the state level and advocate to to pass key street safety legislation introduced last year in this current session.
This comes on the back of another tragic week for New York City’s pedestrians, and a deadly year in 2019 for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike across the City and particularly in southern Brooklyn,
The event is slated to take place at 12 noon on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Corner of 86th and Ridge Blvd, near PS 185, in Brooklyn.
Rose to Join with Healthcare Leaders Opposing Cuts
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) will be holding a press conference on Friday with local healthcare leaders on the impact that the Federal cuts to the NY Healthcare System will have on patients and the community.
This comes on the heels of the Administration’s decision to remove Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program funding for New York State that will impact hospitals, providers, and patients.
The conference is slated to happen at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Richmond University Medical Center, 355 Bard Avenue in Staten Island.
Ortiz’s Bill to Divest Fund from Fossil Fuel Gets Boost
Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook) announced yesterday that his legislation requiring New York State to divest pension fund dollars from fossil fuel companies gained a big boost when it received support from the New York Climate Reality Chapters Coalition.
“I am pleased that the New York Climate Reality Chapters Coalition is supporting my legislation requiring New York State to divest state pension fund dollars from fossil fuel companies,” Ortiz said. “My bill would mean our state pension fund dollars would no longer be used to support dirty, fossil fuel companies that produce climate warming carbon emissions from the fuels they sell such as oil, coal and natural gas.”
The New York Climate Reality Chapters works to implement solutions to the global climate crisis in many communities and at every level of government to educate the public about the realities of global climate change and advocate for ways to mitigate the effects of global climate change.
Brannan For More Affordable Housing
Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach) formally introduced a resolution yesterday calling on the federal government to pass and enact H.R. 4984, which would authorize funding for the creation of new affordable housing and make adjustments to the calculation of area median income (AMI).
“It sounds silly that adjusting an obscure bureaucratic calculation could make a real difference in people’s lives, but this bill would help us create more affordable housing units for those that truly need them,” Brannan said. “We need to do everything we can to provide affordable and stable housing for New Yorkers at risk of homelessness as a first priority, and to stop pouring government funding into ‘affordable housing’ that’s not really affordable.”
AMI is a figure used to determine a household eligibility for affordable housing and the amount they would pay in rent and is also defined annually by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for all cities in the country.
