Subject: March 2010 Community Update
From: "Assemblyman Jonathan Bing" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:29:03 -0500 (EST)

In this Issue:
• Assemblyman Bing Named Chair of the Assembly Libraries
and Education Technology Committee
• Assemblyman Bing Introduces
Legislation to Protect Disabled Individuals
• Second Avenue Subway Grants
Bill Passes Assembly
• Improving Park Space on the East Side
• Select
Bus Service Open House
• Census 2010: Be Counted
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Assemblyman Bing Named Chair of the Assembly Libraries and
Education Technology Committee

On March 4, Assemblymam Bing was named
Chair of the New York State Assembly's Libraries and Education Technology
Committee. His appointment was a result of his past efforts to ensure
that New York City libraries are properly funded. Assemblyman Bing
authored legislation adopted in the 2005-06 budget which updated the
state library funding formula based on the most recent census and
provided New York City libraries with an additional $1.5 million in aid.
He also is the author of legislation (A. 9527) to increase library aid
based on an increase in the cost-of-living adjustment factor. 

In the
community, Assemblyman Bing helped secure funding for renovations for the
Yorkville and 96th Street branch libraries in Manhattan. The funding
enabled the renovations at the Yorkville library, including new painting,
tiles and lighting, as well as new furniture. Assemblyman Bing had also
previously secured funding for the Yorkville branch to renovate its
Children's Library, which reopened in February 2007. 

Assemblyman Bing
was praised by a number of library organizations, including the New York
Public Library and the New York State Higher Education Initiative, for
his past efforts and his new appointment.
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Assemblyman Bing Introduces Legislation to Protect Disabled
Individuals

Assemblyman Bing has recently introduced legislation (A.
9757) to ensure that housing protections offered to people with
disabilities under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act are also
offered on the state level. Section 504 requires the builders of newly
constructed housing that receive federal funding to set aside two percent
of the units in the complex for persons with mobility disabilities and
five percent for persons with sensory disabilities (blindness and
deafness). However, many developers are ignoring these requirements. Even
in circumstances where these federally-funded projects have been in
architectural compliance, developers who have accepted federal funds have
not marketed the accessible units to eligible individuals with
disabilities. Assemblyman Bing's legislation would strengthen protections
for disabled individuals by incorporating the safeguards provided in
Section 504 of the federal law into New York State law.

Assemblyman
Bing has also recently introduced legislation (A. 10118) that passed the
Assembly on March 22 to make educational materials more easily accessible
for disabled individuals. His legislation ensures that disabled college
students in New York State have timely and full access to instructional
materials in suitable alternate formats. This legislation expands the
existing law to cover an additional three years. 

Finally, Assemblyman
Bing will be soon introducing legislation that prevents discrimination
based on a tenant's source of income. Landlords often reject tenants with
rental subsidies such as Section 8 or subsidies related to disabilities.
This legislation would prevent discrimination based on the source of
income and provide much-needed protections for disabled individuals.
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Second Avenue Subway Grants Bill Passes Assembly

On March
10, the Assembly passed legislation (A. 6137-A) authored by Assemblyman
Bing to establish a Second Avenue Subway construction economic
development grant program for the purpose of providing financial and
technical assistance to small and micro businesses located within the
area where construction is taking place. Assistance would be provided for
projects such capital improvements, marketing and advertising, as well as
emergency funds for endangered businesses. This is the third time the
legislation has passed the Assembly. In 2008, the legislation passed both
the Assembly and the State Senate, but was vetoed by the Governor. In
addition to legislative efforts, Assemblymember Bing has worked with
local businesses and the MTA to create the "Shop Second Avenue" campaign,
aiming to use advertising, events, outreach, press, and legislation to
offset negative effects caused by the subway's construction. Assemblyman
Bing and his office have also worked on a day-to-day basis with local
businesses and residents to ensure the continuation of utilities and
other services and preserve a full range of transportation options for
neighborhood seniors.
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Improving Park Space on the East Side
The New York City Parks
Department has announced plans to design a new park along the East River.
The new park will span from 59th Street to 63rd Street with the
possibility of the park stretching further south. The first phase of the
plan which includes a dog run, green space, and seating, has already been
completed and the remaining two phases of the project are projected to be
completed by March 2012.

Assemblyman Bing continues to advocate for
increased open space, better utilization of parkland, and improved access
to the waterfront on the East Side. The Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) has extended the deadline for removing caissons from
the Outboard Detour Roadway (ODR) on the East River between East 54th
Street and East 63rd Street. The ODR is an important element of creating
a permanent greenway on the East Side of Manhattan and Assemblyman Bing
signed onto a letter of support for maintaining the caissons in 2009.
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Select Bus Service Open House
The New York City Department of
Transportation and New York City Transit have announced an open house for
individuals to learn about the Select Bus Service/Bus Rapid Transit on
First and Second Avenue. The Open House is scheduled for Wednesday, March
24 at 6 pm at Temple Israel at 112 East 75th Street.

The Select Bus
Service will bring much needed rapid bus transportation to the East Side
of Manhattan. These buses are expected to improve bus speed and
reliability, while also helping to meet helping to meet mobility,
environmental, and public health goals. Assemblyman Bing is the sponsor
of legislation in the Assembly (A. 10201) to improve enforcement of bus
service through the utilization of bus lane cameras. To ensure the
success of this program, it is imperative that the designated bus lanes
remain free of unauthorized motor vehicles and this legislation would
help achieve this goal.
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Census 2010: Be Counted
On March 15, 2010, the United States
Census Bureau will be mailing the Census questionnaire to households
throughout the nation. Based on the results of the Census, the federal
government distributes $400 billion in aid among the states – a
significant portion of which may benefit New York City. Assemblymeman
Bing recently joined a coalition of elected officials to encourage
individuals to fill out their census questionnaires and ensure that New
York City receives its share of federal funding. This funding supports
vital social services such as the Federal Transit Capital Investment
Grants for transportation initiatives, and Title I Grants to local
educational agencies. Without these programs, thousands of families would
go without public housing assistance and New York City children would
lack additional educational programs to help them succeed in school. For
more information, please visit the 2010 Census at
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/.

Assemblyman Jonathan Bing
360
East 57th Street, Mezzanine
New York, NY 10022
(212) 605-0937
(212)
605-9948 (fax)
[email-masked] 
www.assembly.state.ny.us
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