ATTENTION: Citywide DSNY SAFE Disposal Event

Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty recently announced that the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will once again hold five SAFE Disposal Events (one in each borough) to provide NYC residents with a one-stop method to safely dispose of potentially harmful household products (see www.nyc.gov/safedisposal).

The acronym SAFE stands for solvents, automotive, flammables, electronics. Materials accepted include common residential items such as auto fluids, batteries, electronics, glues, medications, paint products, and more. Only NYC residential waste will be accepted at the SAFE Disposal Events. When deciding what items to bring, residents should look for products labeled with the following signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION. Products labeled DANGER represent the highest hazard level.

Please also bring any other materials stored in your home that you know may be harmful.

Event will be held from 10 am to 4 pm (rain or shine). For safety reasons, attendees may not unload their vehicles outside of the event area. There may be extended wait times.

Sunday, April 7, 2013 
Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Park Circle (corner of Parkside Ave and Prospect Park SW)
Cars approach from Ocean Ave and Lincoln Rd.

This event will also feature an info table and the blue and green recycling mascots. If you can’t participate in this event, please keep in mind that there are options year round to handle the following items: auto products, batteries, cell phones, electronics, fluorescent lamps, latex paint, mercury devices, and syringes. See www.nyc.gov/wasteless/harmful to learn more. For additional information on the SAFE events, visit www.nyc.gov/safedisposal or call 311.

ATTENTION: Love Your Block Application DUE 11/30

The Citizens Committee for New York City and NYC Service invite volunteer-led neighborhood groups to apply for a Love Your Block award.

Groups will be awarded grants of $1,000 for projects to clean up, beautify, and improve their blocks. In addition to funding, groups will receive support of City services from the Department of Transportation, Department of Sanitation, and Parks and Recreation to complete the projects.

The application is available here (http://www.citizensnyc.org/programs/grants/love_your_block.attachment/lyb-2013-5923/LYB%202013%20Application.pdf), and the deadline is November 30, 2012.

ATTENTION: Post-Sandy Updates

The Office of Council Member Letitia James is available at the District Office at 67 Hanson Place, and has been assisting residents in emergency shelters, and facilitating fallen tree removal and other Hurricane Sandy-related issues. The District Office may be contacted at (718) 260-9191.

Important information has been sent to local community organizations over the last 72 hours, and is summarized below:

Con Ed/ Electricity
As of October 31, 2012, Con Edison was able to return service to many Manhattan and Brooklyn customers who have been without service since Hurricane Sandy touched down. If you are still without service, please report to 1-800-75-CONED. The Con Ed outage map is available here: http://apps.coned.com/stormcenter_external/default.html
Please be aware that the NYPD has set-up light towers in areas that continue to be without power.

Buildings
The Department of Buildings has begun inspecting buildings in  Zone A areas to assess their structural integrity. By and large, these inspections are taking place outside of the 35th District.

However, please be aware that buildings will be tagged with one of three color placards to indicate their safety: ​
Green: the building is safe to enter
Red: the building is not safe and may not be entered
Yellow: it can be occupied conditionally (i.e. one floor may be safe while another is not.) These conditions would be explained on a placard attached to the building.

Transportation
As the MTA and New York City Transit recover, Governor Andrews Cuomo has announced that free transit will be available for Thursday (Nov 1) and Friday (Nov 2), and limited subway service will be available. WNYC has a helpful Transit Tracker available here: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/oct/28/transit-tracker/. Multiple outlets are reporting that the MTA-operated Brooklyn-Manhattan "bus bridge" is slow-moving, as is acquiring gas. Please be aware that cars entering Manhattan must have 3 passengers between the hours of 6:00AM to midnight. Roughly 4,000 taxis and livery cabs are available and allowed to do street hails and pick-up multiple fares. The city suggests an additional $10 charge per fare and notes that drivers must quote prices up front.

Schools
The Department of Education schools are closed Thursday (Nov 1) and Friday (Nov 2). Teachers and administrators are expected to report to work on Friday for updates.

CUNY is open on Friday (Nov 2), except: Borough of Manhattan Community College, College of Staten Island, Baruch College and Kingsborough Community College.

Sanitation
The Department of Sanitation is making scheduled garbage collections as conditions permit. Recycling collections are suspended at this time.

Volunteering
This is a list of the local emergency shelters:

• NYC Technical College, 300 Jay Street
• I.S. 117, 300 Willoughby Avenue
• I.S. 55, 2021 Bergen Street
• Brooklyn Tech High School, 29 Fort Greene Place
• Boys and Girls High School, 1700 Fulton Street
• Clara Barton High School, 901 Classon Avenue

You may additionally find your local emergency shelter location here: http://gis.nyc.gov/oem/he/index.html. The Park Slope Armory and Brooklyn Technical High School in Fort Greene are hosting a large number of people, specifically seniors and people with disabilities. Those looking to volunteer or donate supplies should stop by. Otherwise, you may volunteer with NYC Service by contacting 311 or nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov. A list of volunteering opportunities is available here: http://www.dogoodrighthere.org/blog/tue-10302012-325pm/volunteer-help-after-storm.

Homeowners (Who Have Sustained Loss)
Residents and business owners who sustained losses may begin applying for assistance http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov/, or 800-621-FEMA(3362). Additionally, please log your application with New York City Communities for Change at http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=6487.

The Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, equipment, inventory, etc. that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster. Further information is available here: http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/small-business-loans/disaster-loans

Businesses (Who Have Sustained Loss)
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has created a resource guide with vital information and phone numbers businesses need to contact in order to get assistance and emergency loans. The guide can be accessed here www.ibrooklyn.com/sandy. Emergency loans will be made available to small-to-midsize businesses through the City, with caps at $10,000. Please see here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/contact/manager.shtml, or call 311 for NYC Business Solutions.

Midsize-to-large businesses that need to rebuild should contact the NYC Economic Development Corporation for further information on an emergency sales tax letter from New York City Industrial Development Authority (IDA) that will allow businesses to avoid payment of New York City and New York State sales taxes on materials purchased for rebuilding. IDA will also waive all fees and look to streamline its normal procedure. This program is expected to offer economic benefits to reconstruction projects costing $500,000 or more. Please contact Shin Mitsugi at smitsugi@nycedc.com for further information on this program.

Finally, office space at Brooklyn Army Terminal is available free of charge. This space includes approximately 40,000 square feet of warehouse area.

The Federal SBA is assisting small businesses with several loans that have been made available since New York City has been declared a Disaster Area. Please see further information here: https://www.box.com/s/jifheaiau2x8y76xqzb9
Application Filing Deadlines:
Physical Damage: December 31, 2012
Economic Injury: July 31, 2013

CM JAMES COMMENTS ON NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COLLECTION IN OUTER BOROUGHS

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
July 13, 2012

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

COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES COMMENTS ON NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL COLLECTION IN OUTER BOROUGHS

(New York, NY)— “A growing concern in the effort to keep New York City streets clean is the lack of supplemental sanitation collection from public litter baskets in the outer boroughs, which is a service that is routinely provided in many Manhattan neighborhoods.

The City’s Sanitation Department (DSNY) provides Manhattan commercial strips with dedicated trucks whose sole purpose is to empty street litter baskets located in those commercial districts as frequently as several times per day. In the outer boroughs, street litter baskets are serviced only as often as residential pickup occurs (in most communities 2-3 times a week). This supplemental service keeps Manhattan streets cleaner than many streets in the outer boroughs.

Supplemental collection is costly and requires considerable resources. It is not something that can or should be implemented on every block within the five boroughs. Business Improvement Districts overseeing commercial strips relieve much of the burden of street cleaning along heavily-trafficked blocks. However, there needs to be a mechanism put into place that would allow residents to report areas where street litter baskets are consistently overflowing, and that would require the department to respond quickly. This would be especially useful in the 35th District, which is home to a busy transportation hub; vibrant commercial strips; and arts, cultural, and sports attractions.

I will be working with Department of Sanitation officials to discuss this matter in the coming weeks, and I hope to move forward in spearheading necessary changes to our City sanitation system.”

In 2010, Council Sanitation Committee Chair Letitia James pushed-through a revolutionary legislative recycling package that included expanding plastic recycling, a new clothing and textile recycling program, and improved public space recycling. This represented the first significant expansion of the City’s residential recycling program since it was created in 1989.

Residents may check their recycling and sanitation pickup schedule here: http://gis.nyc.gov/gisapp/sn/sanitation.jsp

###

ATTENTION: Alternate Side Suspended

The New York City Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation, has suspended alternate side parking regulations today, Monday, January 23, 2012 for Asian Lunar New Year.

All other regulations, including parking meters, remain in effect.

ATTENTION: Snow Alert 1/19

The New York City Department of Sanitation has issued a ‘snow alert’ for Thursday, January 19, 2012 starting at 6 p.m. Current forecasts indicate trace amounts to one inch of snow.

ATTENTION: FCR and CM James Again Provide FREE Waste Receptacles

Forest City Ratner (FCR) Companies and Council Member Letitia James are again providing free rodent-proof waste receptacles to 35th District residents.

The heavy-duty, plastic cans with lids are approved by the City's Department of Health.

The receptacles can be picked up at the District Office of Council Member James, 67 Hanson Place, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Bring identification and proof of address when picking up, and call (718) 260-9191 to confirm availability.

NYCC Committee on Public Safety and Sanitation Hold Hearings on Snow Plans and Emergency Protocols; 11/30; 250 Broadway

Dear Neighbor,

Next Wednesday, November 30th, the City Council's Committees on Public Safety and Sanitation and Solid Waste Management will be holding a joint oversight hearing on the borough-based snow plans and citywide winter emergency protocols issued by the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), respectively.

Copies of the DSNY borough-based snow plans are available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dsny/html/snow_plans_mapping/snowplans.shtml, and the OEM Snow Preparedness and Response Report is available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/downloads/pdf/2011snowreport.pdf.

I know snow removal and other snow-related issues are on many people's mind, especially as we edge closer to winter, and anyone who wishes to is more than welcome to attend this hearing.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in the 14th Floor Committee Room at 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

If you would like to testify, please be sure to register with the sergeant-of-arms on the 14th Floor. Due to increased building security procedures, please bring identification and allot some extra time for entry through the building lobby.

You can also email your written remarks to the Office of Council Member Letitia James at aworthydavis@council.nyc.gov.

If you have any questions about Wednesday's hearing, please feel free to contact my office at (212) 788-7081.

Thanks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,
Letitia James
Chair, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee
NYC Council

Job Opportunity: DSNY Registering Emergency Snow Laborers

The NYC Department of Sanitation is registering emergency snow laborers who can be called upon to remove snow and ice citywide from bus stops, crosswalks, and from step streets in sections of the City after heavy snowfalls. The rate of pay begins at $12 per hour and increases to $18 per hour, after completing the first 40 hours, each pay week.

Interested individuals can register at any DSNY garage between the hours of 7 AM to 3 PM, Monday through Friday. The Manhattan District 12 garage is located at 301 West 215th Street between 9th Avenue & the Harlem River in Inwood. The District 10 garage is at 110 East 131st Street between Lexington & Park Avenue and the District 9 garage is at 125 East 149th Street between Bronx Gerard Avenue & Walton Avenue.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, be eligible to work in the United States, and be capable of performing heavy physical labor. All applicants must bring their social security card and a photo copy of it; two (2) small photos (1 1/2” square) and two (2) original documents and photo copies that prove identity and employment eligibility, such as a driver’s license; federal, state or local identification; school identification with photo, or passport, at time of registration.

For more information on how to register to become an emergency snow laborer, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation.

Anyone interested in becoming an emergency snow laborer this winter will be required to fill out important paperwork before being hired.

ATTENTION: Alternate Side Suspended

The New York City Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation, has suspended alternate side parking regulations Citywide for Wednesday, October 26 2011 in observance of Diwali. They will also be suspended the following Tuesday, November 1, 2011 for All Saints Day.

Parking meter regulations remain in effect throughout the City on both days.

ATTENTION: Alternate Side Suspended

The New York City Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation, has suspended alternate side parking regulations Citywide for Thursday, October 13, 2011 and Friday, October 14, 2011 for Succoth.

Parking meter regulations remain in effect throughout the City.

REMINDER: DSNY Commissioner Reminds NYers to PICK UP AFTER DOG

The NYC Department of Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty reminds New York dog owners to pick up after their dogs.

"It’s time for all responsible dog walkers to make sure they clean up after their pets and keep themon a leash, and for all New Yorkers to reclaim their streets, sidewalks and parkland."

ATTENTION: Citizen's Cmte 2012 Love Your Block Application Available

Citizens Committee is now accepting applications for their Love Your Block grant program. Love Your Block is a special partnership between Citizens Committee and the City of New York that provides a unique opportunity for city residents to transform and beautify their neighborhoods.

Love Your Block offers resident-led volunteer groups a cash grant of $500-$1,000, as well as community-building assistance, to transform a city block. The City of New York matches the grant by providing services from the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation, and Sanitation to help improve the block; such as trash collection, vacant lot cleanup, graffiti removal, dead tree removal, tree planting, providing woodchip mulch for gardening projects, repair of and installation of street signs and street lights, and traffic safety surveys.

Please note the following key dates:

· September 20, 2011 - Grant Application Workshop (Manhattan)

· November 8, 2011 – Grant Deadline

· Early-December 2011 – Grantees Announced

· Mid-December 2011 – Program Orientation

· April - June 2012 – Project Implementation

The application may be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/65081320/LYB-2012-Application

For more information, you can visit http://www.citizensnyc.org/grants.html. If you have any questions about the Love Your Block grant, do not hesitate to contact the Citizens Committee for NYC at (212) 989-0909.

ATTENTION: FCR Companies Provide FREE Waste Receptacles

FCR Companies Provide FREE Garbage Receptacles

Forest City Ratner (FCR) Companies will provide free waste receptacles to tenants, superintendents, and building owners near the Atlantic Yards project in an effort to address the Prospect Heights rodent infestation.

Health Department-approved lidded, heavy-duty trash cans are being offered by FCR to help keep rodents away from buildings.

**To be eligible, your building must be located: south of Atlantic Avenue from 4th Avneue to Vanderbilt Avenue; Vanderbilt Avenue from Atlantic Avenue to Bergen Street; Bergen Street from Vanderbilt Avenue to 4th Avenue; 4th Avenue (East side only) from Bergen Street to Atlantic Avenue.

How to get your free garbage can:
1. Make sure your building is located within the boundaries and has 12 units or fewer;
2. At pick-up, provide photo ID and proof of address by showing a utility bill with your unit number dated within the last three months;
3. Visit the Atlantic Yards Community Liaison Office located in the trailer on Carlton Avenue (between Pacific and Dean Streets).

Cans will be available during the following hours:
Monday, August 15th- 10am-4pm
Tuesday, August 16th- 10am-3pm and 6pm-8pm
Wednesday, August 17th- 10am-4pm
Thursday, August 18th- 10am-3pm and 6pm-8pm
Friday, August 19th- 10am-1pm

For more information on how to prevent rodents, please attend an educational forum hosted by Empire State Development and New York City Departments of Health and Sanitation at the Pacific Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on--
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 from 6pm-8pm.

For more information, please contact the Atlantic Yards Community Liaison Office at 1-866-923-5315 or communityliaison@atlanticyards.com.

CM James’ Statement Regarding Resignation of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
August 4, 2011

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

Council Member Letitia James’ Statement Regarding Resignation of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith

(New York, NY)— After serving fourteen months with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Operations Stephen Goldsmith today publicly announced his resignation from this position.

In this position, Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was integral to the development of “NYC Simplicity”, a comprehensive online system created to make City services more focused, innovative, and efficient. He was also involved with the updates to PlaNYC, the mayor’s comprehensive sustainability plan; as well as increased efficiency to the Department of Building’s construction approval process.

Deputy Mayor Goldsmith oversaw operational management during the Snow Blizzard of 2010, during which the administration failed to adequately respond to unplowed streets and overflowing garbage in many communities. At the time Council Member Letitia James, chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee, joined many of her colleagues in chastising the administration for its poor response to the blizzard, as well as being out-of-touch with the conditions in outer boroughs. In April 2011, the City Council passed a legislative package with the intent of increasing intergovernmental communications and transparency during snow emergencies. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was also heavily involved in the City’s contracting agreement, which has seen a number of high-profile errors related to poor management and insufficient oversight— the most visible being the CityTime disaster.

“I have always believed Deputy Mayor Goldsmith to be both hard-working and responsive,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I do not believe one man is responsible for the administration’s numerous blunders, and I sincerely hope he is not being punished for poor polling numbers. I look forward to working with Commissioner Holloway in his new capacity.”

Mayor Bloomberg has appointed Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Caswell F. Holloway to the Deputy Mayor for Operations position.

##

AY Rodent Control Meeting Report

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
July 20, 2011

Contact Jonathan Perez at (718) 260-9191

ATLANTIC YARDS RODENT CONTROL MEETING REPORT

This past week, Council Member Letitia James, representatives from City Council Member Steve Levin’s Office, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery’s Office, other community leaders and stakeholders met with ESDC, City agencies and Forest City Ratner Companies (FCR) at an Atlantic Yards Cabinet Meeting in Brooklyn. The meeting’s focus was on rodent infestation, which has become a serious concern in the Atlantic Yards footprint and surrounding community.

Recently, neighbors of Dean Street near the Atlantic Yards project have reported cat-size rats and an uptick in the rat population. Many have expressed concerns about the rodent population’s increase in the neighboring homes and streets surrounding the construction site. A common notion has been that rats have not been a problem until the arena’s construction, while others have referred to it as a “rat tsunami.”

During the meeting, a New York City Department of Health rodent-specialist identified a number of hotspots near the immediate area of the Atlantic Yards property. In response, Forest City Ratner stated they would provide vouchers for the community to purchase special trash cans that could contain and deter rodents. Forest City Ratner agreed to work with Colony, a pest management company, which provides integrated pest management to alleviate the situation through education, outreach, and bait control. The MTA representative in attendance also shared that employees would continue to check rat bait traps every thirty to forty days in subway stations located near Atlantic Yards.

The Department of Sanitation reported that certain recommendations would be made for homeowners in this Prospect Heights area. These include that all garbage in cans be placed on the street at or around 9 p.m. Another recommendation is garbage be put in secured cans (which would be enforced by the Sanitation Department). Forest City Ratner also stated it would lead a new initiative that separates the food waste from the construction garbage on the Atlantic Yards site.

“I appreciate Forest City Ratner’s cooperation, as well as FCR taking action on the rodent control problem. Also, I look forward to starting the process of providing vouchers to residents for steel or rubber trash cans within the next two weeks, as well as educating the public at large about this ongoing problem,” said Council Member James.

Other Prospect Heights’ issues discussed at the meeting include Council Member James’ goal to secure a new dumpster for Engine 219 and Ladder 105 on Dean Street. She also seeks funding for improvement of conditions at the Dean Street playground. Lastly, the abandoned properties near the Atlantic Yards Arena need to be addressed as possible breeding grounds of the rat population.

###

CM James' Responds to Allegations of 2010 Blizzard Sanitation Slowdown

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 10, 2011

Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES’ RESPONSE TO NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF INVESTIGATION - INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF POSSIBLE SLOWDOWN BY DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION DURING BLIZZARD OF DECEMBER 2010

Almost two feet of snow was dumped on New York City on December 26, and the Tri-state area was covered with nearly 30 inches of snow that week… Sanitation Department slowdown never verified, completely unfounded

“The report issued recently by the Department of Investigation (DOI) regarding the 2010 Blizzard confirms a significant amount of what the Council and the Sanitation Committee discovered during hearings on the blizzard of December 2010. It also brings to light a few important issues that remain unresolved, and I hope to work with DSNY to address these items in the coming months.

Above all, the report underscores the need for improved planning and transparency, which are the two primary objectives achieved by the legislative package passed by the City Council in April. DOI deserves significant credit for conducting a thorough investigation of the allegations of a slow-down, and of other factors that may have contributed to the inadequate response to the blizzard that hit New York City on December 26th and 27th of 2010.

DOI interviewed over 150 witnesses including employees from DSNY, DOT, various elected officials, and several dozen members of the public. DOI also read numerous emails, viewed photos from the public, reviewed hours of video footage obtained from the public and law enforcement sources, issued numerous subpoenas, and conferred with several different prosecutors located in New York City. A number of positive conclusions and important corrections to the record should be emphasized. Most importantly, the allegations of a slow-down were never verified and appear to be completely unfounded.

Furthermore, the vast majority of Sanitation workers were doing the best that they could under the circumstances, although even some of the best equipped plows were getting stuck because of the severe conditions - the level of personnel and equipment was commensurate with levels of recent significant storms. Although there were reports of trucks driving with raised plows, most of the reported incidents that were captured on film were circumstances where the plows were supposed to be up, and DSNY is looking into the few instances where plows appeared to be improperly raised.

When GPS was used, it appears to have been effective, and we are glad to note that DSNY is going forward with our recommendation to expand the use of GPS to all snow plows. According to the DSNY official, the Queens East 8 Garage achieved a higher percentage of streets salted and plowed during the blizzard of December 2010 compared to garages in other districts that received approximately the same amount of snow. The report does identify a number of issues that require further attention such as greater planning and coordination must be in place for sensitive locations such as hospitals.

As I pointed out at the City Council hearing on January 10th, there were significant complaints from Sanitation workers that the chains used during the storm were inadequate. The DOI report provides evidence to support this claim. According to DSNY, there were 3,760 chains that were damaged during the cleanup - about 44% of the chains used during the storm - which raises questions about whether the new chains used by DSNY are durable enough to be trusted in the future. Furthermore, a significant number of DSNY employees stated that trucks had insufficient number of chains.

Other issues cited include: the disagreement between management and rank-and-file DSNY employees regarding when to cease salting during the storm, which could have been addressed through better communication and planning, and those disagreements should be resolved before the next snow season begins. DSNY should reconsider its policy requiring that one employee stay with each and every DSNY vehicle that becomes stuck or stalled during a storm.

During a severe storm such as the December 2010 blizzard, a significant number of employees could have been reassigned to other tasks that could have expedited snow removal more directly, and the appearance of so many employees simply sitting in stalled vehicles created a negative perception of the work being done.

Finally, I also urge DSNY to review its procedures with respect to ordering the proper amount and type of snow shovels. Many lessons were learned from the 2010 Blizzard, and I am confident that when snow storms hit again this winter the City will be much better prepared to handle it in every way.”

###

CM James, Sanitation Committee Chair, Supports Legislation To Ease ASP Burden

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 28, 2011

Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

Council Member James, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Supports Legislation to Ease Alternate Side Parking Burden on Brooklyn Residents
New law reduces alt-side requirements for areas that meet cleanliness standards

(Brooklyn, NY) A proposed law, (Int 287-A) addresses the Mayor’s Office of Operation’s Scorecard Cleanliness Report, which determines street cleanliness. In March 2010, my office sent a letter to the department requesting to be included in any updates on the scorecard methodology, specifically any streets chosen to be “representative” streets for the purposes of the report.

This bill, sponsored by Council Member Brad Lander empowers community boards with an average cleanliness rating of 90%, over 2 consecutive years, to submit a request to the department to receive reduced street cleaning by one day (for a qualifying district). All community boards located within the 35th CD: 2, 3, 8, and 9 are eligible for this reduction. The department would have the option to resume the original street cleaning schedule if the sanitation district receives an average score of less than 90% under the Mayor's office of operations scorecard program for any period of three consecutive months, or if the average score of the sanitation district falls below 90% over a period of two consecutive fiscal years.

“After working with the Mayor’s Office of Operations regarding their scorecard cleanliness methodology, I am pleased with the legislation being put forth. The quality of life will be better for everyone in New York City when parking becomes easier and more available,” said Council Member James. “This is good news and should decrease the amount of expensive tickets given to drivers, as well as the hassle of moving cars. Also, I believe that through giving community boards with high cleanliness ratings the option to reduce street cleaning, we are empowering communities to make independent decisions in the best interest of local residents.”

###

CM James Commends City Council Restoration of Funds for SWMP Implementation

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 26, 2011

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

Council Member Letitia James Commends City Council Restoration of Funds for SWMP Implementation
Important Plan Addresses Borough Equity and Environmental Responsibility In Waste Handling

“Last week, the New York City Council restored important capital funding for the implementation of the 2006 Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). During recent Preliminary Budget discussions, the administration proposed a budget that all but gutted SWMP by eliminating funding for critical infrastructure, and delaying that funding as far into the future as Fiscal Year 2019.

As the Chairperson of the New York City Council’s Committee on Sanitation and Waste, I believe that SWMP is both timely and integral to achieving the City's vital goal of diminishing the impact of exporting our waste outside of the City, and addressing the injustice of siting solid waste infrastructure in low-income communities.

For over ten years since the premature closure of the Fresh Kills landfill, New York City has operated under an ‘Interim Plan’ for handling waste. This system relies on privately-owned waste transfer stations concentrated in low-income communities that unfairly bear the brunt of waste-handling. In addition, the system depends heavily on long-haul trucks to export waste out of the City. In 2006, SWMP was passed in an effort to serve the critical goals of equity and environmental responsibility for the City of New York. Central to this Plan was a system of marine- and rail-based transfer stations located throughout the City that would eliminate millions of miles of truck traffic each year, as well as advance borough equity.

The Department of Sanitation’s Preliminary Budget would have effectively eliminated funding for four Marine Transfer Stations (MTSs), including all three MTSs to be sited in Manhattan (approximately 40% of the new waste-handling capacity envisioned in the SWMP plan). If this proposed budget had been implemented, this would have cut borough equity out of the SWMP, dramatically reduced its environmental benefits, and betrayed commitments made by the administration to both the City Council and the stakeholders that worked to pass the Plan. In fact, the proposal would have effectively undermined the Plan under the guise of delaying capital funding beyond the current administration. Waste and recyclables that would otherwise go to these facilities would instead be trucked to overburdened communities, and back out of the City.

I have stood by my colleagues in the New York City Council— some of whom represent districts overburdened with waste-handling facilities— to support SWMP and its important goals. In the coming years, City Council oversight will be integral as the administration and the department move forward with the construction of these facilities.”

###

ATTENTION: Alternate Side Suspended

The New York City Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Sanitation, has suspended alternate side parking regulations Citywide until further notice to facilitate snow removal.

Parking meter regulations remain in effect throughout the City.