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By David Freedlander 2/06/12 1:51pm

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NYC Lawmakers, MTA, Slam GOP Over Transit Cuts

Members of New York City’s Democratic Congressional delegation and Metropolitan Transportation Authority chief Joe Lhota gathered at Grand Central Terminal today  to call on House Republicans to cease moving forward on a bill that would strip transit agencies across the country of needed funding.

“We have people shooting dice with the economy of the City and State of New York,” said Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel, the dean of the New York delegation. He added that the bill was a cynical attempt to divide urban from rural America.

“There is no agenda that they have. Every time this issue comes up they try to take away. First just because it is the City of New York, and second, because they have a majority now, they are taking advantage of us.” Read More

By David Freedlander 1/20/12 10:24am

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Senate Postponing PIPA Vote

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced this morning that his chamber would postpone a vote on PIPA, the controversial legislation to curb online piracy.

“In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday’s vote on the PROTECT I.P. Act,” Mr. Reid said in a statement today.

The legislation under question had been the subject of furious protest. Earlier this week, hundreds marched on the offices of Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer to protest the bill, and websites like Wikipedia and Craigslist went dark. The bill has been opposed by the tech industry, but pushed by the film and recording industries, who say that piracy costs them billions of dollars a year. Read More

By David Freedlander 1/13/12 4:58pm

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Council Comes To Accord On Living Wage Bill

Christine Quinn and members of the New York City Council announced today that they had come to an agreement on a contentious living wage bill.

The new bill will not require companies in buildings in which the developer has received subsidies from the city to pay a living wage; instead, only those employees of the developers in those buildings will receive the living wage.

“I believe it is fair and appropriate for government to place requirements on a business that has voluntarily entered into an economic development agreement with the city,” Ms. Quinn said. “At the end of the day, they have a choice as to whether or not they want both the money offered to them and the wage requirements. This is a policy that is fair, one that will help workers, will not deter job growth and is one that I am honored to support.” Read More

By David Freedlander 12/16/11 12:07pm

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Schumer, Gillibrand Team Up for Cleaner Trucks

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer are teaming up to allow port cities to set their own fuel efficiency standards for trucks.

“Congress must act to provide New York, and cities all across the country, with the common sense tools they need to improve the quality of air and quality of life for millions of people,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It’s time to update federal laws and allow our nation’s ports to help reduce diesel emissions and improve air quality for all New Yorkers by putting clean trucks on the road.” Read More

By Max Seddon 11/14/11 5:19pm

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Melissa Mark-Viverito speaking at City Hall Monday. (Photo: William Alatriste)

Pols Rally To End Horse Drawn Carriages

New York’s iconic carriage horses may join the ranks of the city’s unemployed if 2013 mayoral hopefuls Bill DeBlasio and Scott Stringer have their way. The two spoke out in support of a City Council bill to phase out the horse-and-carriage industry.

“The use of horses in Midtown Manhattan as a tourist attraction should come to an end,” Manhattan Borough President Stringer said Monday at a press conference outside City Hall. “It’s not right, it’s not safe, and we can do better.” Read More

By David Freedlander 5:49pm

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Carolyn McCarthy to Introduce Bill That Would Ban Beating of Children in School

Another one for the “Hard to Believe There Isn’t Already a Law About This” file.

Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is introducing a bill tomorrow called the ”Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act,” which would end the practice of children being struck or beaten in schools by school personnel.

According to McCarthy’s office, there are currently 19 states that permit the practice. Read More

By David Freedlander 6/10/11 12:12pm

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Cuomo Proposes Crackdown on Distracted Driving

Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced new legislation today that would crackdown on use of portable electronic devices while driving–and not just Blackberrys and smart phones, but IPads, laptop computers, gaming devices and talking on a cell phone without a hands free device.

“Every day, countless drivers, particularly teenagers and young adults, drive with their eyes on Read More

By David Freedlander 5/23/11 6:18pm

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Maloney, Nadler to Reintroduce Equal Rights Amendment

Manhattan Congress members Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney announced plans to reintroduce the Equal Rights Amendment in Congress during a news conference this morning.

“While it’s true that women have made great progress in eroding sex discrimination in the past 38 years, we’ve seen that progress can all too easily be rolled back,” Maloney said. Read More