Issues: New York City

Plans to bring trees to Sunnyside-Woodside on track

Senator Gianaris is hosting a meeting with area leaders to determine where the trees he requested to be planted in Sunnyside and Woodside should be located. Sunnyside Post wrote about the upcoming meeting.

State Sen. Mike Gianaris is holding a meeting on Friday with Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and civic leaders to determine those areas of Sunnyside and Woodside where trees need to be planted.

The meeting comes after Gianaris sent a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg urging him to plant trees in the neighborhood arguing that there was a lack of trees in many parts of the area—particularly on the south side of Queens Blvd.

June 22, 2011
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Faith-Based Community Rallies for Rent Reform

Members of the clergy from Brooklyn and elsewhere throughout the City stand with Senator Montgomery and her colleagues in calling for the passage of the Omnibus Tenant Protection Bill that not only extends the rent laws but strengthens rent controls and tenant protections. Clergy members who rallied in support of the pro-tenant legislation include Bishop Fernando Rodriguez; Bishop Calixto Rodriguez; Apostle James Duncan; Rev. Dr. David Olivencia; Rev. Dr. Victor Collier; Rev. McKinley Johnson; Rev. Willie Stovall; Rev. Norita Love; and Pastor Jancie Liefmore. Senator Montgomery is also joined by (to the Senator's right, l-r) Senators Liz Krueger,  Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Martin Dilan.

June 21, 2011
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Senator Michael Gianaris Session Remarks on Federal Terrorism Trials in NYC

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Senator Gianaris on the Senate floor discusses the importance of ensuring that New York City residents receive the proper homeland security protection.

June 15, 2011
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Senator Gianaris Applauds Increase In Film Production

New TV shows to be filmed this year due to film tax credit.

Queens, NY – A record number of new television series are scheduled to be filmed in New York State this year due to the New York State Film Production Credit championed by Senator Michael Gianaris. Eight new television series will be filmed in the state in 2011, creating more than 4,700 industry-related jobs.

The Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development announced that the film tax credit lured 70 new projects to New York since January. These projects are expected to spend a total of more than $1 billion.

June 13, 2011
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Queens Subway Transfer Station 20 Years In The Making

NY1 did a segment on the Court Square Station Complex opening. Senator Gianaris' remarks are included in the video.

It took a little more than 20 years from inception, but the new Court Square Subway Station complex in Long Island City is finished, and should make transfers quicker, cheaper and more comfortable.

The elevators and escalators complement the moving sidewalks and allow free transfers among the E, M, G and 7 lines, and the Northeast corner of Jackson Avenue and 23rd Street without having to hit the street.

"Previously, customers wanting to make this transfer would have to leave the system, use city sidewalks and re-use their Metrocards to enter the system," said New York City Transit President Thomas Prendergast.

June 3, 2011
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Senator Gianaris speaks at Court Square Station Complex ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Senator Gianaris is glad this free transfer station is open to help commuters travel more conveniently in and out of Long Island City and western Queens.

June 3, 2011
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2011 Women of Distinction | Barbara Medina

Barbara Median of Williamsburg was named this year's Woman of Distinction by Senator Dilan.

Barbara Median of Williamsburg was named this year's Woman of Distinction by Senator Dilan.

Read her bio here.

June 1, 2011
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Barbara Medina Bio

Barbara Medina was born in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn to parents from the Island of Puerto Rico. Ms. Medina is single mother of three wonderful children and has spent fourteen successful years as an Executive in the Marketing business. Ms. Medina’s career allowed her to travel to different parts of the United States developing new businesses and venturing with other companies. The experience has helped her become a voice amongst the voiceless and the value of being an independent woman.

June 1, 2011
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Senator Gianaris participates in rally protesting the closure of Ladder 128 in Long Island City.

Senator Gianaris joined Stephen Cassady, head of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, Al Hagan head of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Councilmembers Jimmy Van Bramer and Elizabeth Crowley, Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan and local residents to protest the proposed closure of Ladder Company 128 .

May 31, 2011
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Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and Civil Rights Obstructionists

May 26, 2011

For Immediate Release

Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and Civil Rights Obstructionists

New York State Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz (D-Bronx) released the following statement today in response to reports of New York City Mayor Bloomberg's speech about America's civil rights movement.

"It was disturbing today to hear Mayor Michael Bloomberg trivialize the suffering and agony of African Americans during the slave era by comparing it to the push to legalize homosexual marriage.

 

May 27, 2011
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Pols decry plan to close Ladder 128

Queens Times Ledger asked Senator Gianaris to comment on the closure of Ladder 128 in Long Island City.

[...]

State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said that given the population boom and the increased number of high-rise condominiums being built in Long Island City, closing the firehouse would be “a horrible mistake.” He said when Long Island City previously lost Engine 261 in Long Island City, which closed in 2003, response times lengthened.

“The last thing we need is to lose a ladder company,” Gianaris said.

The senator also said he would work to make sure the city reverses its decision, and if anything the area needs more fire services.

May 26, 2011
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Lawmakers Vehemently Oppose Fire Company Closings

Queens Gazette asked Senator Gianaris to comment on the fire company closures announced by Mayor Bloomberg. In Gianaris' district, Ladder 128 is scheduled to be closed.

The release last week of the city’s long awaited list of fire company closings has Queens lawmakers fuming, vowing to keep open as many of the targeted units as possible.

The list, released by FDNY officials on May 18, includes four Queens fire companies in neighborhoods scattered across the borough:

•Ladder 128, 33-51 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside

•Engine 306, 40-18 214th Pl., Bayside

•Engine 294, 101-20 Jamaica Ave., Richmond Hill

May 25, 2011
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SENATOR GIANARIS FIGHTS FIRE COMPANY CLOSURES

Demands Mayor Keep Ladder 128 Open

Queens, NY – Senator Michael Gianaris is fighting against the closure of Ladder 128, a fire company located in Long Island City, Queens at 33-51 Greenpoint Avenue. This fire company recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary and serves the neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City and Greenpoint.

Mayor Bloomberg has announced that he is planning on closing 20 fire companies across New York City. Ladder 128 is one of four fire companies in Queens marked for closure.

May 23, 2011
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Local district faces firehouse closing

Sunnyside Post asked Senator Gianaris to comment on the possible closure of Ladder 128.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to close as many as 20 firehouses – including one in Long Island City—has drawn the scorn of many of this district’s politicians.

Ladder Company 128, which serves Sunnyside, Woodside, LIC, Blissville and Greenpoint, is among those firehouses that face the chopping block.

State Sen. Mike Gianaris said that “the closure of ladder company 128 would increase response times and would have a detrimental effect on the safety of people in western queens.” Gianaris added that the closure made little sense at a time when the area is expanding and developers are building more high-rise buildings.

May 23, 2011
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GOP shocker for city electric rates

New York Post wrote an article about the legislation that Senate Republicans passed that expands giveaways for electric-generating companies. We should be standing up for ratepayers not huge corporations.

ALBANY -- Last-minute legislation to head off a threatened 12-percent rate hike for New York City electricity customers was in danger last night as Senate Republicans unexpectedly passed a different measure that could cost the city nearly $2 billion.

Outraged lawmakers and city officials accused the Senate GOP of seeking a massive give-away for electric-generating companies that already are receiving city tax breaks on their property taxes.

May 17, 2011
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15 Buildings Cited in City Crackdown on Illegal Hotels

By am NY

With the power of a new state law behind him, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is cracking down on the city's illegal hotels.

The Office of Special Enforcement has shuttered or given citations to 15 of the illegal inns, defined as any residence with a "transient occupant" whose stay is less than 30 days. Under the previous law, a majority of the building's occupants had to be transient for the building to be illegal.

"Owners of illegal hotels put profits above safety, allowing renters to stay in extremely dangerous conditions and it’s disgraceful," Bloomberg said.

All of the buildings busted so far under the new law, which went effect on May, are in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

May 16, 2011
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Senate Passes Bill Giving Tenants FREE Meeting Space in Public Housing

May 2, 2011

Standing up for the rights of tenants to organize, the New York State Senate passed legislation to eliminate the financial burden to tenants who want to conduct meetings in public housing, announced Senator Velmanette Montgomery, a sponsor of the bill. 

The legislation (S.3114)  bans the imposition of a fee currently placed on tenants wishing to hold a group meeting. Under the bill, tenants would have access to a location owned by the authority which has been set aside as an area of common use for all tenants, including any community or social room.

May 3, 2011
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El Senador Estatal Rev. Rubén Díaz Felicita las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

2 de Mayo de 2011

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

 

El Senador Estatal Rev. Rubén Díaz Felicita las Fuerzas Armadas de los Estados Unidos

El Senador Estatal Rev. Rubén Díaz (D-Bronx) publicó la siguiente declaración:

“Al igual que todos los estadounidenses que vieron y oyeron al Presidente Barack Obama anunciar la muerte del terrorista más buscado del mundo, Osama Bin Laden, siento un gran sentido de patriotismo.

May 2, 2011
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