Queens Lawmakers On The Move — Wednesday Oct. 18, 2017

Queens County City Council News

Letitia James To Hold Press Conference on City Hall Steps About Homeless Students

Public Advocate Letitia James

Public Advocate Letitia James is taking to City Hall steps this morning to talk about homeless students in the city’s public schools. and how the Department of Education and the Department of Homeless Services haven’t supported or provided resources for them.

According to James, the Department of Education and the Department of Homeless Services haven’t supported or provided resources for them.

She will be joined by parents and representatives from Citizen’s Committee for Children and the Coalition for the homeless.

The press conference will start at 11am on the City Hall steps.


Pheffer Amato, Meeks Make Recommendations For Flood Insurance

Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato

To mark the fifth year since Superstorm Sandy, Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Broad Channel) and Representative Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) will give a list of recommendations for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The NFIP is set to be reauthorized by Congress in November and would otherwise expire on December 8.

The program’s reauthorization was slated to be one of three major legislative goals in the House before Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria showed how urgent it is to secure America’s floodplain, Pheffer Amato said in a press release.

Over half of all Americans live next to coastline and climate scientists generally agree that flooding will worsen over the next several decades, which, Pheffer Amato says, make legislative steps in the near future especially decisive in the future of the floodplain.

Sandy was one of the earliest “Superstorms” and New York’s recovery period has been a case study for how other parts of America must address flooding, Pheffer Amato said.


Senator Peralta To Send Money To Corona Self-Help Center

State Senator Jose Peralta

State Senator Jose Peralta announced yesterday that he secured a $10,000 state allocation for the Corona Self-Help Center.

The money will go towards English classes for the center’s members. The center mainly provides addiction treatment and counseling services. With the state funding, a teacher will be hired and class supplies will be bought. 

“New Yorkers who seek help and go to Corona Self-Help Center show great courage by taking the first step towards recovering from addiction and reintegrating themselves into society. We have a responsibility to assist them as much as we can to make sure they have an opportunity for social and family reintegration,” Peralta said.


Pheffer Amato Gets Crossing Guard On Rockaway Beach Freeway

Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato

State Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park, Broad Channel), along with State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. and City Councilmember Eric Ulrich (D-Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach), announced yesterday that their request for a Rockaway Beach Freeway crossing guard.

The intersection will be Beach 102nd Street and the Rockaway Beach Freeway, which is crossed by hundreds of people on their way to eight different schools each day.

NYPD Commissioner James O’Neil was the final decision maker and he was swayed by a letter by Pheffer Amato and public statements made by other politicians and civic leaders.

“This is a great victory for students, parents and public safety,” said Pheffer Amato.  “I want to thank all the students and parents who came out to our press conference in late August; Joe and Eric and their staffs; and of course Commissioner O’Neill, for recognizing the importance of staffing this intersection.  The NYPD has taken an important first step here, and we applaud them for their responsiveness and proactivity.”