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

Please Sign BK Speaks Petition In Support of RPPs

As Council Member James joins her colleagues in speaking in support of residential parking permits today, we want to bring your attention to a petition created by Brooklyn Speaks (civic associations, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups concerned about the future of development at the Atlantic Yards site) in support of a residential permit parking program for New York City in conjunction with local communities and their representatives.

An informal poll by Brownstoner also put the number of residents in support of an RPP near Barclay's at 83.6%.

Petition- http://www.petitiononline.com/petitions/rpp4nyc/signatures
Poll- http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2011/10/a-push-for-residential-permit-parking-near-the-arena/#more-73139

CM James And BK Speaks Urge Community To SPEAK UP For RPPs In Downtown, Central BK

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** October 31, 2011

Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES AND BROOKLYN SPEAKS URGE THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK UP FOR RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING IN CENTRAL BROOKLYN!
State legislation required to limit consequences of Barclays Center traffic

WHAT: Hearing of the New York City Council Committee on State and Federal Legislation
WHEN: Wednesday, 11/2 at 10:30AM
WHERE: 250 Broadway, 14th Floor

According to the Empire State Development Corporation, when the Barclays Center opens in September 2012, an expected 35% of arena patrons, or as many as 5,600 cars will travel to the site for each of the projected 220 events held each year. If nothing is done before to mitigate this volume of traffic, there will be an increased risk of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle accidents that already make Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn's most dangerous road. This barrage of traffic is also expected to cause significant delays at more than half of the intersections within a half mile of the arena. And it will result in almost 3,000 arena patrons taking curbside parking spots in Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, and Prospect Heights.

Among all of the impacts to neighborhood character and quality of life that will come from locating Atlantic Yards' arena within residential communities, none are of greater consequence to more residents than the traffic generated from arena events. But, there is a way to reduce the demand for our local streets. It's called "residential permit parking," or RPP, and it's been effective in other cities, like Boston and Chicago, where sports facilities are located in densely-populated areas. By limiting on-street parking during arena events to local residents, RPP will create a disincentive for arena patrons to drive, reducing congestion and making streets safer.

New York City requires authorization from the State legislature before it can implement RPP. On Wednesday, 11/2 at 10:30AM, the City Council will hear testimony on legislation authorizing the City to enact residential permit parking programs in the five boroughs.

The BrooklynSpeaks sponsors and Council Member James implore you to participate in this critical hearing and make your voice heard.

Please email us with your plans to attend and interest in speaking!

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DFTA's Annual Plan Summary & Public Hearings

The New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) is pleased to share with you the Annual Plan Summary for 2012-2013. This Plan provides a valuable opportunity for the Department to share its goals, objectives and program planning with the aging network. A series of public hearings on the Plan provides forums for consumers, community partners, advocates, and other interested parties to give the Department feedback and suggestions on issues that impact New York City’s older adults.

DFTA encourages you to attend and/or testify at one of the five Public Hearings in October; a Testimony Request Form can be found on their website. If you are unable to attend one of the hearings, please feel free to submit written comments via email or mail. The Department welcomes your input and values your expertise. All comments will be carefully considered.

BROOKLYN PUBLIC HEARING
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The dates of the hearings for the other boroughs are: Queens, Tuesday, October 11th; Manhattan, Monday, October 17th; Staten Island, Tuesday, October 18th; and Bronx, Friday, October 21st. All hearings will take place between 10am and noon.

To register please call 212-442-0960 or email your name and borough to testimony@aging.nyc.gov.

ATTENTION: City Council Hearings to Discuss Weather Legislation; 3/9; 1PM

Council Member Letitia James would like to extend a special thanks to everyone who wrote in and participated in the City Council's joint hearings on the City's and MTA's response to the December 2010 blizzard.

The Council got significant and meaningful feedback from hundreds of New Yorkers who know their communities and their organizations best. This, together with the nearly 25 hours of public testimony we received at our hearings, has provided many worthwhile legislative and policy ideas for improving future emergency weather responses.

Next Wednesday, March 9th, beginning at 1 p.m. in the 14th Floor Committee Room at 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, the City Council will be holding a public hearing on these ideas with the goal of improving planning, preparedness, coordination and communication.

Legislation establishing a transparent snow planning and management process, ensuring private sector resources are sufficient and available when needed, addressing problems in emergency management, and improving communication between the Administration, public officials and the public are among the legislation that will be discussed.

Please contact the Office of Council Member Letitia James at (212) 788-7081 for more information.

CMs James, Oddo, Rose Respond to DSNY Commissioner, Supervisors Absence At Public Hearings

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 18, 2011

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

Council Members Letitia James, James Oddo, and Deborah Rose Respond To DSNY Commissioners, Supervisors Absence At Public Hearings
Urge DSNY to Communicate With Public About Circumstances Surrounding December Blizzard

New York, NY— On January 18, 2011, the New York City Council will hold the first in a number of borough-wide community hearings to discuss the December 26, 2010 snow blizzard. Today’s hearing will take place in Staten Island, NY.

These community hearings follow the New York City Council’s closed hearings on January 10, 2011 at which Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, as well as the commissioners from the Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation, the Office of Emergency Management and Fire testified. The administration has elected not to send agency commissioners or supervisors to today’s hearing, and will send community affairs representatives to represent the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).

Council Member James, who chairs the Council’s Sanitation Committee, has been vocal about the December blizzard and the poor service to the outer-boroughs in comparison to Manhattan. It is of particular importance that officials from DSNY be present at these community hearings to communicate to the public the agency’s updated protocol for handling storms and weather emergencies.

“The department has made positive changes to ensure that Brooklyn and the outer boroughs aren’t ignored during future weather emergencies,” said Council Member Letitia James. “Both the commissioner and superintendents should be at the hearings to present these changes to the community. It is unacceptable to not afford the people of the City of New York the respect of a direct dialogue.”

“This isn't as much an insult to me as a Council Member as much as it is a display of limitless arrogance and disrespect to the people of Staten Island. Too bad every year isn't an election year,” said Minority Leader James Oddo (Staten Island)

“The Mayor’s decision not to send any commissioners or supervisors to the sanitation hearings in the outer boroughs is really the height of arrogance,” said Council Member Deborah Rose (Staten Island). “ Staten Islanders unnecessarily endured several days of chaos due to the ineptitude of the Administration, but the Mayor will not send those responsible to face the public for even a few hours. How can anyone say that the Administration is responsive to the needs of the people, when it refuses to even meet with them? Residents of the outer boroughs deserve better.”

The community hearings will take place in each borough throughout this week.


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City Council Hearings Held on Outdoor ATMs, Development, and Post-Storm Clean-up

On Monday, October 25th, the Council Committee on Transportation held a hearing on Int. 257– 2010, in relation to regulating sidewalk ATMs as revocable consents and requiring safety features for all outdoor ATMs. This bill was introduced by Council Member Diana Reyna. The bill will act as a safety measure (currently there is little regulation or security rules in relation to outdoor ATM machines placed outside of non-banking businesses). The bill would look to address this loophole, and increase safety for consumers. Council Member James also has upcoming legislation regarding outdoor ATM regulation.

On Monday, the Council Committee on Land Use also held an oversight hearing which discussed development on 470 Vanderbilt Avenue.

Finally, the Council Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste, chaired by Council Member Letitia James, held a joint hearing with the Council's Committee on Parks & Recreation regarding the recent storm.

For more information on any of these hearings, or to follow-up on these issues, please contact the City Hall Office of Council Member Letitia James at (212) 788-7081.

ATTENTION: NYC-ECB Makes Appeals Available Online; Develops Info Video

The NYC Environmental Control Board (ECB) is a neutral forum where hearings on tickets issued by 12 different City Agencies are held. ECB is committed to making the administrative hearing process fair and accessible to everyone who wants their day in court, in order to assist you, ECB has:

-Enhanced its website to provide helpful information to the public
-Made free translation services available in every hearing room
-Reduced decision turn-around times to 30 days or fewer
-Created informational materials for the public

Appeals are now available online at www.nyc.gov/ecb. Hard-copy appeals are still available in office, and are available in both English and Spanish. The ECB is also concerned with offering assistance in understanding the appeals process, and have developed a 3 minute informational video. You can view the video on their website at www.nyc.gov/ecb