ATTENTION: Speed Reducer Requested for Carroll Street In Crown Heights

Council Member Letitia James has requested a speed reducer on Carroll Street between Nostrand Avenue and New York Avenue in partnership with the Crown Heights community.

The NYC Department of Transportations will conduct a comprehensive investigation of the proposed locations to evaluate the warrant and feasibility of a speed hump installation. We anticipate completion of the study within the next sixteen weeks. Please contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (718) 260-9191 if you have further questions.

ATTENTION: Response To FG/CH CitiBike Concerns

Dear Community:

On April 24th, I held a Town Hall meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the Bike Sharing program. This Town Hall event gave the community a chance to share their concerns and have their questions answered. To help address location and siting concerns raised on April 24th, I recently met with the DOT to identify four bike share stations for potential alterations.

Each location will be looked at individually and evaluated; they are listed below:

1. On 21 St. James Place at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue-- move bike station 1 foot to clear the bushes.
2. On Clinton Avenue and Myrtle Avenue-- DOT is looking into various options (one might be to eliminate a bike platform).
3. 185 Hall Street-- DOT will monitor usage, and would like local community members to document any issues.
4. Adelphi Street-- DOT will revisit the site and take new measurements around the tree pits.

Council Member Letitia James

Paid Sick Leave Voted Through City Council

As you may know, the City Council voted on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 to require employers with 20+ workers to provide paid sick days.

The Paid Sick Leave legislation was introduced into the Council in 2010, and received strong support by the Council's Progressive Caucus and a wide coalition of labor organizations, women's and immigrant groups, business associations, and public health organizations. Yesterday's 45-3 vote constituted over the two-thirds majority ("super-majority") needed to override a veto.

The measure, set to take effect April 1, 2014, will expand its reach to businesses with 15+ employees a year later. It will also require all city employers to provide unpaid sick leave starting in 2014.

Currently, there are 1 million New Yorker residents who don’t receive paid time off for illness and would become eligible for the benefit by 2015.

"I join my colleagues in supporting this common sense measure, and consider this a major win for all New Yorkers. Paid sick leave is good for business, and good for families," said Council Member Letitia James.

ATTENTION: Clean Up Your Credit; 5/16; 6PM; CH

For more information, contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (718) 260-9191.

CM James Criticizes Rent Guidelines Board for 2013 High Rate Increases

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
APRIL 2, 2013

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Criticizes Rent Guidelines Board for 2013 High Rate Increases

(New York, NY)— The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), the panel that sets annual rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments throughout New York, has recommended larger increases for 2013 in comparison with 2012— between 3.25 and 6.25 percent for one-year leases, and 5 to 9.5 percent for two-year leases. In a 2012 report entitled “Rents Through The Roof”, New York City Comptroller John Liu stated that almost 50% of City households spend over 30% of their income on rent, compared with 26% of households nationwide. Federal benchmarks deem rent unaffordable when it costs 30% or more of the household income.

"It is deeply concerning that the Rent Guidelines Board consistently ignores tenant advocates who push for a 1-year rent freeze," said Council Member Letitia James. "The comparably small increases voted on in 2012 seemed to indicate that the RGB recognized that many low-and-middle-income New Yorkers were struggling. Apparently this year it’s business as usual."

In 2012, the RGB voted for increases that fell 50% below the previous year— between 1.75 and 4 percent for new one-year leases, and between 3.5 and 6.75 percent for two-year renewal leases.

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Bike The Branches; 5/11; BK Central Library

Bike the Branches is a one-day bike ride to help raise critical funds for Brooklyn Public Library

On Saturday, May 11, follow one exciting route. Be sure to visit as many branches as you can, and get your official “passport” stamped at each location.

WHERE: Brooklyn Central Library

WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 2013
5:00- 7:00PM

Registration is $20 for adults and $10 for kids.

CM James Celebrates SUNY’s Withdrawal To Close Long Island College Hospital

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
APRIL 26, 2013

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Celebrates SUNY’s Withdrawal To Close Long Island College Hospital 

(New York, NY)— On April 26, 2013, SUNY withdrew its plan to close Long Island College Hospital.

“This is a major victory for Brooklynites, as well as the health providers, unions, and elected officials who fought to keep LICH open,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I hope that this win demonstrates that our public institutions need administrative support and re-development, not more cuts and closures. Brooklyn is not for sale!”

According to media reports, SUNY Downstate is believed to be developing a bigger plan for the delivery of medical care and education in Brooklyn. LICH will likely be a part of such a plan, with the hospital potentially falling under new operation.

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