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

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ATTENTION: SchoolFood Summer Meals Program

The SchoolFood Summer Meals Program is designed to provide children and young adults with a healthy alternative to junk food. Lunch is available for all children under 19 years, and all handicapped persons (regardless of age) who participate in special education programs.

FREE Breakfast and lunch will be served during the Learn to Swim Program at pools in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

Nearest Location: Commodore Barry Pool
North Elliott between Flushing Avenue & Park Avenue
[Please contact (718) 965-6578 for more information]

Meals are provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through SchoolFood, a part of the New York City Department of Education.

ATTENTION: Free Summer Food Program

July 9- Aug. 31: City-wide Free Summer Food Program
Youth up to age 18 now have access to breakfast and lunch at locations citywide. Summer school enrollment is not required to participate in the program; no application is required; and meals are available at any of the open sites, regardless of where a child lives.

Nearest Location: Lafayette Gardens
415 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11205

Times: Mon. - Fri.— Breakfast: 9AM- 10AM
Lunch: 12PM- 1PM 

For additional information or to inquire about a location please call 311 or (212) 306-3358. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/downloads/pdf/summer-food-service-program-flyer-2012.pdf

ATTENTION: DFS Foreclosure Prevention in Bed-Stuy; 7.14; Bed-Stuy

Gov. Cuomo recently announced that the Department of Financial Services (DFS), partnered with the Neighborhood Housing Services of Bedford-Stuyvesant, will provide help to homeowners struggling to keep their homes.

Foreclosure prevention specialists will be on hand in the DFS Mobile Command Center, at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza Saturday (tomorrow) from 10AM- 4PM. The program is part of the Community Health & Resource Day, and sponsored by local elected officials. Following this Saturday, the Mobile Command Center will be located at 380 Herkimer Street.

For more information, please contact the Neighborhood Housing Services of Bed-Stuy at (718) 919-2100.

ATTENTION: NYCHA New E-Payment Provider

If you are a public housing resident enrolled in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) e-payment system, and you pay your monthly rent online through automatic recurring payments. Please note: NYCHA has a new electronic rent payment process provider. Any recurring rent payments scheduled after July 13, 2012 with the old e-payment provider will be terminated.

To ensure that your rent payments are made on time, please do the following:

1. Sign-up with NYCHA’s new electronic rent payment provider: http://on.nyc.gov/nychaepayment (follow the instructions for Online Rent Payment).

2. Set-up a new recurring payment schedule

3. Enjoy the new features (free online rent statements with e-bill; no-fee online rent payments via e-check)

If you have any questions about the new online rent payment system, please call NYCHA at 212-306-4322.

CMs LETITIA JAMES, MELISSA MARK VIVERITO COMMENT ON CON ED ACTIONS AGAINST UNION AND 8,500 WORKERS

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
July 6, 2012

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis (212) 788-7081 (Council Member James)
Andrew King (212) 788-6960 (Council Member Mark Viverito)

COUNCIL MEMBERS LETITIA JAMES AND MELISSA MARK VIVERITO COMMENT ON CON ED ACTIONS AGAINST UNION AND 8,500 WORKERS

(New York, NY)— City Council Members Letitia James and Melissa Mark-Viverito deplore the extreme and irresponsible action taken by the Con Edison utility company when it locked out 8,500 workers in the early morning hours of July 1st, without a moment’s notice, in the midst of contract negotiations.

Con Ed has blamed the union for the situation, when in fact the Utility Workers of America Local 1-2 did everything it could to avert this lockout, including offering to work without a contract to ensure that New Yorkers' safety was not compromised. This dangerous action will increase the likelihood of brown-outs and blackouts for New Yorkers during this heat wave!

Kevin Burke, CEO of Con Edison who has an $11 million salary, has cut off the healthcare benefits for all 8,500 workers and their families. This is a company that recently upped its rates by 10% (among the highest in the country) and made $5 billion in profits last year, gave its CEO a $25 million compensation package and an $18 million pension, and has over 40 senior staff making at least $300,000. Yet Con Ed wants to take away the pensions for its hardworking men and women and replace them with less-dependable 401k-style plans, as well as force workers to pay a 100% increase in health care contributions.

The company has made it clear that it’s willing to lock out its workers and jeopardize its customers rather than engage in fair and honest negotiations around pensions and healthcare plans. All 8,500 utility workers are ready to reach a deal and get a fair contract so they can go back to work but Con-Ed is disregarding everything but its own greed.

Council Member James and Council Member Mark-Viverito stand in solidarity with the Local 1-2 utility workers and their families and urge their colleagues and all New Yorkers who believe in justice and equality to do the same.

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41st Annual International African Arts Festival; 6/30-7/4

The highly anticipated 41st Annual International African Arts Festival (IAAF) will take place Saturday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 10 AM – 9 PM rain or shine at Commodore Barry Park (Navy Street at Park and Flushing Avenues) in Brooklyn, New York. The theme of this year’s IAAF is Baadenyya (baa-deny-ya), its English translation means brotherhood and sisterhood - derives from several ethnic groups of West Africa: Mandingo (Sierra Leone/Liberia), Bambara (Mali), Malenke (Guinea), Dioula (Ivory Coast).

The International African Arts Festival (IAAF) began in 1971 as the African Street Carnival, a PTA block party fundraiser for Uhura Sasa (Freedom Now School), an independent school in Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Local entertainers, arts and crafts vendors, along with food prepared by the parents attracted an estimated 2,000 people who attended, making it an instant success. That early format of entertainment, food, and marketplace drew increasing crowds annually and became known as the African Street Carnival. Four years later, the festival moved to the field at Boys and Girls High School where it became the African Street Festival.

This year’s five-day IAAF has themes for each day with coinciding performances. Afro Latin Jazz sensation Cita Rodriquez, Daughters of Makeba Ensemble, Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble are just a few artists scheduled to participate in Saturday’s opening day’s “Tribute to Women in the Arts”. In “Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence & Bob Marley’s and Reggae’s Global Influence,” some of Sunday’s confirmed participants includes Sister Betty, New York Brass Band, K-Vibe & Ruff Scott, Destiny Africa - Children's Choir from Uganda, AKOM, Clarisa the Violin Diva, Secouba, Melame Gange and the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.

In an effort to support the five-day IAAF’s production, attendees are asked to make minimum donations of $3 per adult and $1 per child for admission.

Visit http://www.iaafestival.org/to learn more about the IAAF.
Like IAAF on Facebook www.Facebook.com/iaafestival to receive IAAF updates.
Follow IAAF on Twitter @IAAFtweet
International African Arts Festival Promo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UTgy2pW7IM&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1

Job Opportunity: School Safety Agent

SCHOOL SAFETY AGENT EXAM 2012
THE NYPD’S SCHOOL SAFETY AGENT EXAMINATION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. STARTING SALARY FOR A SCHOOL SAFETY AGENT IS $30,057.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY SIX-DAY-A-WEEK WALK IN EXAMS, AND THE APPLICATION FEE IS $47. THE EXAM PERIOD WILL CLOSE JUNE 30, 2012.

FOR INFO REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SEE HERE: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/careers/school_safety.shtml
[THE EXAM # IS 2345]

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 311.

ATTENTION: NYC Pilot Booting Program

New York City’s pilot vehicle booting program begins in Brooklyn on Monday, June 25, 2012, and will be expanded to the other boroughs throughout the summer.

Booting is an enforcement tool used primarily by transportation authorities in lieu of towing (which is time-consuming, inconvenient, and doesn't allow you access to personal belongings, such as infant car seats, prescription drugs, or important paperwork). With booting, a device is attached to a wheel of your vehicle to prevent you from moving it. You can be booted for owing the city more than $350 in parking, or red light camera or bus lane violation tickets that are in judgment. If you do not pay the judgment debt and related fees within two business days of being booted, then your vehicle may then be towed.

We encourage you to review the attached paperwork, and contact the NYC Department of Finance (at 311) with questions or concerns.

ATTENTION: Making Home Affordable Program Hosts Mortgage Assistance Event; 6/25; BK Marriott

The Obama Administration's Making Home Affordable Program, HOPE NOW and several local, non-profit partners and government agencies are hosting this event that will afford homeowners the unique opportunity to meet directly with their mortgage servicer and/or a HUD-approved housing counselor to find alternatives to foreclosure.

Several local, HUD-approved non-profit counseling organizations will be on-site as well to advise homeowners, including:

- American Debt Resources
- Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica, Inc.
- Bridge Street Development
- Brooklyn Housing and Family Services
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- Legal Services NYC
- Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation
- Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc.
- NID-HCA Greater New Jersey

WHEN: Monday, June 25, 2012
10AM- 8PM


WHERE: NY Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

For more information, contact 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).