Johnson Pays Respects to 9/11 Victims
Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen) released the following statement last Friday, in recognition of the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks:
“September 11th is always a painful day for our City and for our nation, but it is also a reminder of New York’s resiliency. Instead of destroying our city, the attacks strengthened and united us. Too many of our neighbors, including first responders, died on that day but their heroism will never be forgotten.
“As our city battles another crisis, one that has killed more than 23,000 New Yorkers and continues to infect people, we must remember that by working together we can overcome the unthinkable and come back even stronger.”
Stringer, Liu, Rozic Call on City to Implement Green Roofs Tax Abatement
Last Thursday, City Comptroller Scott Stringer (D), State Senator John Liu (D-Queens) and Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D-Queens) sent out a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), urging him to enact a program incentivizing the construction of green roofs.
The Green Roof Tax Abatement program provides one-time property tax abatements to buildings with green roofs, or roofs covered with vegetation. It would specifically target parts of the City which are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, or which suffer from a lack of greenspace. Although it was passed into law last year, the Mayor needs to sign an executive order to authorize the Office of Sustainability to implement it.
“While we appreciate the constraints on the City’s finances, we believe the abatement will generate significant economic and social benefit,” they wrote. The program will help drive the development and retention of the green infrastructure jobs that will form a critical part of our economic recovery and the City’s future. Further, every dollar invested in green roofs is believed to generate an estimated two to three dollars in societal return.”
Read the full letter here.
Maloney Gives Props to NYC Fashion Industry
Last Friday, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) kicked off New York Fashion Week by commending the City fashion industry for persevering during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic threatened the viability of several industries in the City – the fashion industry among them. However, the industry was ready to rise to the challenge; at the crisis’s peak, companies like Gerber Technology, Retailers United, and the NYC Manufacturers Coalition banded together to produce hospital gowns and other PPE for overwhelmed hospitals in the City and beyond. Maloney helped organize the Fashion for the Frontlines coalition for precisely this purpose.
“In March and April, when New York City needed PPE, this group quickly transformed their manufacturing capabilities to aid our city at that critical moment,” said Maloney. “Fashion for the Frontlines mobilized Garment District factories – that would have otherwise been forced to close – to manufacture and distribute masks and gowns to frontline medical professionals throughout New York City. I am proud of New York’s fashion industry for quickly pivoting to virtual shows, presentations, and being leaders for our city and nation as we rebuild from COVID-19.”
Kallos to Host Emergency Preparedness Presentation
Councilmember Ben Kallos (D-Yorkville, Lenox Hill) will be hosting a virtual presentation on emergency preparedness tonight.
As hurricane season has already begun, it is vital that New Yorkers properly equip themselves for extreme weather. Kallos’s office is partnering with the City’s Department of Emergency Management to educate the public on emergency preparedness tools and procedures. Those who RSVP and attend will be eligible to receive a free “Go-Bag” of emergency supplies at a later date.
The event will take place tonight from 6-7 p.m. over Zoom. To RSVP, call 212-860-1950.
