Thomas K. Duane

On October 12, 2011, The EPL/Environmental Advocates, the lobbying arm of Environmental Advocates of New York, issued its annual scorecard grading members of the New York State Legislature on their positions and votes on key legislation affecting New York’s air, land, water, wildlife and public health.  I am pleased to have received a 99, tied with Senators Bill Perkins, Gustavo Rivera and Jose Serrano for the highest score among members of the Legislature’s upper house.  By contrast, the average score for New York State Senators was a 70. I will continue my work to pass legislation that will have a positive impact on our environment and it is my sincere hope that when next year’s scorecard is issued, every one of my Senate colleagues will receive a similarly high mark.

While progress had been made in remediating PCB contamination at P.S. 199 (270 West 70th Street), and tests conducted earlier this year found that the concentration of PCBs in the school had fallen below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended maximum levels for elementary schools, the most recent tests found significantly elevated contamination levels in eleven of the school’s spaces.  I along with other elected officials and the school’s PTA and administration have met privately and publicly with the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about this alarming development.  At this point, the agencies are struggling to identify the source of the contamination.  On October 3, I joined U.S.

On September 20, I sent a letter to Adam Rose of Rose Associates—the managing agent for Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village (ST-PCV)—regarding tenant’s complaints of trash left for days on the sidewalks throughout the complex prior to scheduled New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) pickups. 

On September 13, I delivered testimony before the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) regarding its proposed amended rules governing City-aided and supervised limited-profit housing companies.  While I made a number of additional suggestions, as a whole, the package of proposed changes will strengthen the governance of these housing companies to facilitate the preservation of this precious affordable housing stock for current and future generations of moderate- and middle-income New Yorkers. 

File: 
HPD Rules Changes testimony.pdf

On Sunday, July 24, 2011 New York State’s Marriage Equality Law took effect – exactly thirty days from the bill’s historic Senate passage in Albany.  For the first time in the history of New York State same-sex couples are granted the right to marry the one they love with full and equal protection under the law.  Marriage in New York is now gender-neutral!

Please see attached testimony I submitted on June 20 to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) opposing any rent increases for rent regulated apartments as well as for lofts, hotels, rooming houses, single room occupancy buildings and lodging houses.  Given the continuing toll the recent economic recession has taken on average New Yorkers and the steady rent increases the RGB has approved in prior years, I am dismayed that the RGB approved rent increases of 3.75% for one-year and 7.25% for two-year rent stabilized leases.  The approval of these increases is further evidence that the RGB system is broken and unjust.  In addition to sponsoring (and advocating for) every pro-tenant bill, I am the author and prime sponsor of legislation that would reform the rent board

File: 
NYS Sen Duane RGB Testimony 2011.pdf

There are rare moments when the historical significance of an action speaks for itself and words can’t capture the magnitude.  This is one such moment.Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) New Yorkers will no longer be denied the right to marry the ones they love.  For the first time in New York’s rich history they will be granted equal protection under the law.

On the night of June 15th, one hour before the Rent Regulations were set to expire, I, along with the majority of my Democratic Colleagues, refused to support with our votes a proposal that would have extended the current rent regulations for an additional two days. This legislation was designed to allow the legislature and the governor more time to negotiate the Rent Laws.Enough. We have waited far too long for Albany to negotiate in good faith a fair, and comprehensive rent control package which protects tens of thousands of New Yorkers from predatory landlords and their connected friends in Albany who are trying to eliminate and destroy our precious affordable housing stock.